University of Oxford - ENGLISH POEM ON A SACRED SUBJECT

English Poem on a Sacred Subject

You will receive a cash prize of about 1,450 EUR (at least £1,250) for the best English-language poem on a specified religious theme. The Department of English at the University of Oxford organises this competition every three years. For round 2025–2028, you must choose one of three set prompts, including lines by Emily Dickinson and from the Book of Ecclesiastes 3:7 (“a time to be silent and a time to speak”), and write a poem in response. The prize will only be awarded if an entry is of a sufficiently high standard.

Who can apply

• Member of Oxford with a degree: You must be a member of the University of Oxford and hold an academic qualification. This may be a degree from the University of Oxford, a Master’s degree (MA) awarded by affiliation or by virtue of status, or a degree from another university.
• Not a past winner: You haven’t won this prize yet.
• Any subject: It doesn’t matter what you’re studying, as long as you can write a poem in English on the given topic.
• Nationality: Any nationality can apply.

How to apply

Submit your poem via the Faculty of English Studies’ online entry form and upload it as an attachment. Entries are anonymous. Instead of your name, please use a ‘motto’ – a short sentence of up to 10 words that characterises your entry. The closing date for entries is the Monday of the 8th week of the Trinity term in the year in which the prize is awarded.

How realistic are your chances?

This prize is highly selective. It is awarded only once every three years, requires the winner to be a member of Oxford and to hold a university degree, and recognises a single winning poem on a specified theme. The pool of entrants is therefore small. Judgement is based on the quality of a single poem, so success depends on how well your entry meets the requirements. If you are a confident poet who meets the criteria, a compelling entry stands a real chance of success.