Young Anthropologist
A 1,000-word essay competition for those interested in issues of identity and culture.
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The 2025 Young Anthropologist Competition is now open.
What should I write about?
You will be given the question your essay should answer once you have registered. Your entry should be no more than 1,000 words and must be a completely original piece of your own writing.
Eligibility
The Young Anthropologist competition is for people aged 16–18. Applicants should be currently studying at a school or college in the UK. For a full list of entry criteria, please see our terms and conditions.
Judging
Once the closing date for submissions has passed, all entries will be read by our judging panel and a shortlist is drawn up. From this shortlist, we will select one winner and two runners-up.
The chair of the judging panel this year is Sultan Doughan, Lecturer and Convenor of MA Anthropology and Museum Practice in the Department of Anthropology at Goldsmiths.
Prize
All shortlisted entries will win a small prize. Two runners-up will receive £50 each. The winner of the Young Anthropologist will receive £1,000 and an invitation to an event at Goldsmiths.
Do you need some inspiration on what to write about? Take a look at our previous winners' entries.