University of Oxford - SHELLEY‑MILLS PRIZE

Shelley-Mills Prize

The author of the best essay on the works of William Shakespeare will win a one-off cash prize of about 585 EUR (£500). This prize is awarded once a year by the Department of English at the University of Oxford. Your essay must be between 2,000 and 5,000 words in length and address a set topic, which changes every year. From 2025 to 26, the topic was ‘Shakespeare and the Senses’. In some years, the jury does not award a prize if none of the entries is of a high enough standard.

Who can apply

• University: You are currently a student at the University of Oxford.
• Level: You may be a Bachelor’s or Master’s student.
• Field of study: Any topic. Your essay simply needs to focus on Shakespeare’s works.
• Nationality: Any nationality can apply.

How to apply

You should submit your essay via the faculty’s online form. You should also provide a short ‘motto’ of no more than 10 words. This is a sentence that will enable the judging panel to identify your entry whilst keeping your name anonymous. The closing date for entries is the Monday of week 8 in the Hilary term. For 2026–27, this is 8 March 2027.

How realistic are your chances?

This prize is restricted to a small target group: only students at the University of Oxford are eligible to apply, and applications are made by submitting a single essay, which is assessed on the basis of its quality – not on academic grades or financial need. Only a few students will write 2,000 to 5,000 words on a specified Shakespeare topic, so the pool of entrants is small. If you write a compelling essay that clearly addresses the given title, you stand a real chance. Bear in mind that in years when no entry is deemed good enough, the jury will not award a prize.