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Don't miss the chance to secure your place on our 2024 programmes in Sydney, running from 3rd -13th January! Hurry as spaces are filling up fast.

Immerse Essay Competition: Win a 100% scholarship for our transformative programmes

Overview

What is the Immerse Education Essay Competition?

The Immerse Education Essay Competition provides the opportunity for students aged 13-18 to submit essay responses to a question of their choice relating to a subject of interest. There are over twenty questions to choose from which can be found in our full Essay Competition Guide. 10 winners will receive a 100% scholarship to study with us at a world-leading university of their choosing. Outstanding runners-up also receive partial scholarships.

Essay competition timeline

7th September 2023
Competition opens

4th January 2024
Competition closes

6th February 2024
Results announced

January, July & August 2024
Programme dates

Who can apply?

The Immerse Education Essay Competition is open to students worldwide of all nationalities. You must be aged between 13-18 during your chosen programme.

List of Essay Topics

Receive a prospectus / syllabus overview by email.

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Essay Competition 2024 - Immerse Education

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Join the Immerse Education Essay Competition for a chance to be awarded a 100% scholarship. Runner-up prizes available.

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Oxford University Press Story Writing Competition

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Oxford University Press Story Writing Competition

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Write your story - use your imagination and creativity to the full, but do remember that your inspiration is ' Old Friends '.

You may choose your own title in keeping with ' Old Friends '.

Complete all sections of the online entry, attaching your story as a Word document. Entries can be in Arabic or in English. To submit your story in Arabic, please click here.

You should submit under the appropriate age category, which relates to your age by 24 October 2022. Please note the word limit for each category:

Ages 11 and under (maximum of 500 words)

Ages 12-14 (maximum of 1000 words)

Ages 15-17 (maximum of 1500 words)

Age 18-25 (maximum of 1500 words)

Participants must be full-time students in schools, colleges and universities.

Registration opens on 6 June 2022.

The deadline to submit your story is 24 October 2022.

Story Competition: Tips and Guidelines

The theme 'Old Friends' is about companionships, good times, creating lasting memories, and reconnecting with friends who we may have lost contact with. The idea is to celebrate and cherish the joy of all the wonderful friendships we create over the years.

This theme also encourages you to think if you have ever considered a book as an 'Old Friend'. Books stay with us once we read them. We remember parts of books that moved us - made us cry or laugh. We sometimes read books again to reignite our connection with them and they always stay our loyal companions for times when we most need them.

A good story often encompasses the outcomes of struggles, which are an essential element in any story. Observe the environment around you and ask yourself questions that can assist you in identifying exciting and valuable experiences! You can always approach the story from different angles: What new insights have you gained as a result of your new experiences? What effect did it have on your life?

There is no one way to approach a story, remember to always use your creativity to tell your story. This year's theme will allow you to share and express your vision of friendship! Have fun with this theme and be as creative as you can!

Which of these storylines is the better story?

Person 1 and Person 2 are driving off into the sunset when a masked man suddenly appears...

Which story would you rather read? Most likely, you will want to read Story B. Why is that? Because Story B has a , something that may stop the characters from achieving what they want. Can they overcome it? How? What happens in the end? This is the basis of the plot. And if the characters and the plot are interesting, the reader will want to know how it ends.

All stories must have a problem or conflict. Check it out - take any story or film or TV series you already know and find the problem. (Longer stories may have several problems to be solved.)

Ideas for stories are always about asking questions:

'Old Friends' is the inspiration for this year's competition, so the questions you must ask are varied:

What does 'Old Friends' mean in the context of your story?

How will you use 'Old Friends' within your story?

Does the specific 'Old Friends'-theme you have created cause any constraints that affect your plot?

How would you use 'Old Friends' as a metaphor?

In a short story, it is sensible to only have one problem and a maximum of 3 characters.

This will make asking and answering your questions more straightforward.

What actually happens in the end? It is always good to know how the story ends when you start writing.

Don't be afraid to write more than one draft or to discard bad ideas (or even good ideas, if they don't fit - they might end up fitting another story!)

'He woke up and it was all a dream' is NOT a good ending! Think about what the ending means:

Is it satisfying for the characters, and for the reader?

Is the ending earned, or have you taken the easy way out?

If you can't think of a good ending, go back to your plan and find out what's missing - or sometimes, what is complicating things and can be removed.

Keep the storyline simple.

The smaller the word limit, the simpler it must be. However ambitious you want to be, making the story over-complicated and rushed is never a good answer.

Plan: Write a brief 5-point outline for your story.

The better the planning, the easier the writing. A plan also helps with paragraphing.

Here is a very simple example of an outline:

Section 1. In her new home, unhappy Jane explores the attic & finds a parcel with a baby's tiny gown and shoes.

Section 2. Jane is curious. Why is that the only thing left in the house? Who was the baby? Where is the family now?

Section 3. Asks the neighbours and gets a negative reaction from everyone. Why? What is the secret? She is even more determined now.

Section 4. Goes to the library. Gets the same reaction. Jane is frustrated. An old man in the library overhears, 'accidentally' bumps into her and whispers the name of the local newspaper and a date. Jane checks it out and learns the truth. Finds the name and address in the online phone directory.

Section 5. Jane takes the parcel to the owner, hears the full story. Both are now happy and Jane makes her first friend.

Now write your story.

Let your reader imagine making that journey with your character.

Use a mixture of good description, action and dialogue so they can feel, see and hear, even maybe smell and taste what your character can. Let the reader know what the character is feeling.

Which one of these makes you feel the fear?

Or
'He could not speak, his heart was beating wildly in his chest and his feet felt glued to the floor.'
Don't spell emotions out for the reader, instead let your characters' words and actions describe whether they are happy or not with life and the way things turn out. The idea of 'Show, don't tell' is particularly important when creating new worlds within your story, as your readers need to feel they can see, hear, touch and even smell the world to believe in it properly.

Well done, you've written your story. Now you have one more very important thing to do.

It helps if you wait some time before you read your story. That way you will read it more like a reader than a writer.

Read what you actually wrote - not what you think you wrote. Find and correct the mistakes (the red and green underlines on your word processor can help, so don't ignore them, but also don't accept bad advice from a computer!)

Hear where the pauses are. Have you used correct punctuation? Have you used speech marks and new paragraphs so your reader knows who is speaking now? Does it sound like real speech? If you are unable to say it, your reader will not be able to read it.

As you read, look out for the following:

Have you used a good variety of sentence structure and the best words to do the job?

Are there sections you should cut or places where you need more detail?

How did you want your reader to feel or think? Have you achieved your aim?

Have you followed the rules about word count, and used Times New Roman, point 12?

Respect yourself and your readers and you will please the judges.

Enjoy! Submit! Good luck!

Frequently Asked Questions

To help aspiring writers as they consider story ideas, draft, revise and edit, the frequently asked questions and answers below are organized according to the different stages in the writing process:

Pre-Writing

No, brainstorming is a very free process. Many writers jot down any and all ideas that come to them in no particular form. Then they go back and consider which ideas they like. You can also make mind maps to help in brainstorming. Does brainstorming have to be done in steps?

Can you take inspiration from other writers?
Inspiration, yes. Exact ideas or words, no. Use your imagination or your own experience to come up with creative ideas of your own.

What is the meaning of 'figurative'?
'Figurative' refers to symbolic or metaphorical meaning. For example, 'Her daughter was her sunshine' includes a figurative use of 'sunshine'. The daughter is not the sun, of course, but she brings happiness to the mother like sunshine after a dark night.

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Write your story - use your imagination and creativity to the full, but do remember that your inspiration is ' Old Friends '. You may choose your own title in keeping with ' Old Friends '. Complete all sections of the online entry, attaching your story as a Word document.

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The letter must be on a single side of an A4 sheet of paper, using your best handwriting.

Write a letter to an author, suggesting an alternative 'beginning' to their story/book. Tell them why you want to change the original 'beginning' and why the new one would work better, in your opinion.

The recommended word limit is 200-400 words max.

Entries should be handwritten using a fountain pen or any other type of ink pen, such as a rollerball or ball point pen. No other mediums (such as pencils or coloured pencils) should be used.

Doodles, drawings, border designs and simple artwork are permitted provided they do not affect or cover up the content of the letter.

Letters must be scanned clearly, the right way up using a printer/scanner or phone scanner - no photos.

Complete all sections of the online entry form, attaching your scanned handwritten letter in PDF format.

Entries can be in Arabic or English. To submit your letter in Arabic, please click here.

You should submit under the appropriate age category (Ages: 8-10, 11-13, 14-18), which relates to your age in accordance with the competition deadline.

The deadline to submit your letter is 11 December 2023.

A handwritten letter is a lot more personal than its digital counterpart. Handwriting, the choice of pen and ink create a unique visual combination.

Top tips for writing a winning letter

1. Think about what pen to use. We love fountain pens, but you can use any ink pen that suits you.

2. Consider your choice of ink and paper. We recommend keeping it simple by using blue or black ink on white paper, but beautiful ink comes in many colours and can create a strong and distinctive tone.

3. Handwritten letters usually look best on plain white paper, but some people may find it easier to write on lined paper.

4. The word limit for the competition is 200 words. Don't feel like you have to use them all up or fill every blank space on the page. Remember that sometimes less is more.

5. Write carefully in your best handwriting.

6. Using traditional, italic and calligraphic styles can give a nice look, but make sure the writing is easily legible. If the script is too elaborate, it can be difficult for the judges to read.

7. Feel free to be creative with your handwriting. If you would like to put in a small illustration, thought bubble, or an arrow pointing to another piece of text, you can. But remember: this is a letter-writing competition, not an art, calligraphy or drawing competition!

1. Think carefully about what you want to convey. Be brief and to the point.
2. Creativity and originality in the content of the letter are important. Make it memorable or surprising.
3. Make sure your grammar, spelling and punctuation are on point.
4. Using emotive and descriptive vocabulary will help your entry stand out.

Special tips:
You might have been asked to change the ending of a book or story. However, have you ever thought of a new 'beginning' for a book? Think about the author to whom you would want to address the letter. Which book of theirs would you choose to suggest a different 'beginning' for?

These questions below may help you too:

Did you ever read a book that you thought could have begun differently?

What would you like the new 'beginning' to be?

Would you include something new - like a new character or a new setting?

Do you think the 'beginning' would work better if it had a quote or an image? What could it be?

Why do you want to change the original 'beginning'?

And now, let's begin!

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The letter must be on a single side of an A4 sheet of paper, using your best handwriting. Write a letter to an author, suggesting an alternative 'beginning' to their story/book. Tell them why you want to change the original 'beginning' and why the new one would work better, in your opinion.

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How the Competition Works

First Round

The list of books for the first round of the Chevron Readers' Cup 2024 have now been announced. Please find the list of books here.

Teams of students are chosen by the school (maximum of 4 students per team).

Each school/branch may enter up to two teams in Primary (up to age 11) and up to two teams in Secondary (age 12 to 16).

Each school appoints one designated coordinator for the competition.

Schools register their teams online via the form below from 4 September 2023.

Upon registration, you will receive a confirmation email that includes the dates for the first round per age group.

The closing date to register the teams is 2 October 2023.

You can purchase the books from Magrudy's bookshops around the UAE. Visit their website for store locations.

Please Note: The first round will take place virtually.

The link to the Round One questions, along with the virtual round procedure will be emailed to all registered teams prior to the first round.

The first round questions will consist of a written quiz on the three books.

An email will be sent to all participating schools announcing the finalists.

Certificates of Participation will be emailed automatically to all teams after the completion of the first round.

Final Round

The list of books for the final round of the Chevron Readers' Cup 2024 is yet to be announced.

The 20 teams in each age group with the highest scores go head-to-head in the finals of the Chevron Readers' Cup competition.

School coordinators for teams that have reached the finals will receive an email notifying them of the two additional books to be read for the final round.

The finals will take place during the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature in late January/early February 2024.

In the finals, the questions will be read out and the students will write down/type out their answers.

Questions will cover the two new books and feature a review of the three first round books.

The Prize Giving Ceremony for each age group will follow the completion of the final round held during the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature in late January/early February 2024.

Prizes

The winners will be honoured at a Prize Giving Ceremony in late January/early February 2024. The overall first-place teams in each age group will receive:

A trophy for each winning school

A book voucher for AED 1000 for each winning team that can be used at Magrudy's bookshops

A medal for each team member

The second and third place teams will be honoured at the ceremony and receive:

Medals for each team member

A voucher for AED 500 that can be used at Magrudy's bookshops

Winners of the 2023 competition.

Key Dates

The Emirates LitFest will take place from 31 January - 6 February 2024.

Student teams will read three books for the first round and two additional books for the final round.

Terms and Conditions

Only registered teams are allowed to participate in the first round.

Each school can enter up to two teams of four students (maximum) per language per age group.

Please ensure the age of the students in the team (for each age category) is based on the closing date of the competition - 2 October 2023.

Entrants are welcome from the GCC (UAE, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia , Oman, Qatar, and Kuwait). Finalists must be prepared to attend the final rounds in Dubai at their own expense.

The entrants give permission for the Emirates Literature Foundation and Emirates Airline Festival of Literature to publicise photographic images of the participating students in all stages of the competition in related publicity material and activities. Schools should be aware that they might need to obtain parental consent for this.

Judges' decisions are final and no correspondence will be entered into with regard to these decisions.

For confidentiality reasons we are unable to share individual team scores with schools.

The Emirates Literature Foundation is not responsible for any lost or stolen vouchers after being awarded to the school/students at the awarding ceremony.

Please note that participating schools which do not adhere to the said terms and conditions will be disqualified.

Please check that you have followed and agree to all the terms and conditions before submitting your registration.

Enter the Competition

This competition is now closed! Thank you for your interest!

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The list of books for the first round of the Chevron Readers' Cup 2024 have now been announced. Please find the list of books here. Teams of students are chosen by the school (maximum of 4 students per team).

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National Young Authors’ Fair 2024 | Student Registration

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Thanks for joining the world’s largest book-writing competition for children! Explore global opportunities, publish your book, and win exciting awards at the National Young Authors’ Fair - 2024.

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National Young Authors’ Fair 2024 | Student Registration

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Thanks for joining the world’s largest book-writing competition for children! Explore global opportunities, publish your book, and win exciting awards at the National Young Authors’ Fair - 2024.