The Bilby Prize
UK-wide essay competition · Ages 14 to 18 · Finance and economics

Argue your case on how money really works.

A free essay competition for students across the UK. Choose one question on finance or economics, write up to 1,500 words, and enter work you can point to in future applications.

Register for free Read the questions
Open to
Ages 14 to 18, UK
Length
1,000 to 1,500 words
Entry fee
£0.00
Essays due
28 Feb 2027
Winners named
31 Mar 2027

Choose one question

Take a clear side and defend it. Use real data, name your sources, and deal with the best argument against you.

Monetary policy

Should the Bank of England aim for an inflation rate below 2%?

Work and growth

Would a four-day working week help or harm the UK economy?

Markets

Do index funds make financial markets less efficient?

Key dates

Register any time before the closing date. Essays are accepted from the day you register.

DateEntry
1 Dec 2026Registration opens
31 Jan 2027Registration closes
28 Feb 2027Essays due by 23:59
31 Mar 2027Winners and shortlist announced

Rules

Who can enter. Students aged 14 to 18 on 28 February 2027 who live in the UK. One entry per person.
Two age groups. Junior (14 to 15) and Senior (16 to 18) are judged separately.
Your own work. The essay must be written by you. List every source. If you used an AI tool for anything, say what for in a short note.
Format. Submit a PDF of 1,000 to 1,500 words, not counting the bibliography. Leave your name off the file so judging is anonymous.
Under 16. Junior entrants need a parent or guardian to give consent when they register.
How to submit. Register below, then email your essay as a PDF to bilbyprize@gmail.com, using your registration email address in the subject line.

How essays are judged

  • Quality of argument40
  • Use of evidence and data30
  • Clarity and structure20
  • Original thinking10
  • Total100

Register your entry

Registering takes two minutes. After you submit, you will see how to send in your essay.

We collect these details only to run the competition. They are seen by the organiser and deleted after the results are announced.

Required for Junior entrants, who must have a parent or guardian's consent.

Questions

Do I need to study economics?
No. Any student aged 14 to 18 can enter. The judges are looking for clear thinking and good evidence, not A level knowledge.
Can I use charts or data tables?
Yes. Up to two charts or tables are allowed and do not count towards the word limit. Label them and give the source.
Can I enter more than once?
No. Each student can submit one essay, so pick the question you can argue best.
What do winners receive?
Certificates and publications