University of Oxford - MATTHEW ARNOLD MEMORIAL PRIZE

Benefit

A prize of approximately 590 EUR (£500) is awarded for the best essay on a set topic. The topic is usually a quotation from the Victorian poet and critic Matthew Arnold, which you are free to interpret as you wish – as a literary, creative or analytical essay, or a combination of these. A second prize of approximately 415 EUR (£350) may also be awarded, and a runner-up may be named. The prize is organised by the Department of English at the University of Oxford. It is a one-off award for a single essay, not an ongoing monthly grant.

Eligibility

• University: You’re studying at the University of Oxford.
• Level: You are either a Bachelor’s student who has passed an examination to qualify for a BA degree, or a Master’s student.
• Nationality: Any nationality can apply.
• What you submit: An essay on the given topic, written from your own perspective.

How to apply

Please submit your essay to the Secretariat of the Department of English by the deadline in the Hilary term, on the Monday of the 7th week (a date in the Oxford academic year that changes each year). Entries will be marked anonymously. Please include a short ‘motto’ of no more than 10 words – for example, a quotation or song lyrics – so that the judges can match your essay to you without seeing your name. Please also submit the Faculty’s contact form together with your essay.

How realistic are your chances?

The prize is open exclusively to Oxford students studying English, so the pool of entrants is small; however, the prize is awarded for the best essay, not to everyone who meets the entry criteria. Your chances depend on the quality of your essay on the given topic, and the prize will only be awarded if an entry meets a sufficiently high standard. If you write well and offer a fresh perspective on Arnold’s quote, you stand a real chance.