Live
WEBINARS
The Harvard Crimson Global Essay Competition (HCGEC) gives high school students around the world the chance to sharpen their writing while connecting with leading professionals and a community of future thinkers.
Hosted online by The Harvard Crimson and Crimson Education, the competition opens doors to college preparation, creative exploration and the confidence to express ideas with impact.
Unleashing Imagination
The Art of Creative
Writing
2nd February
8 pm Ist (Gmt + 5.30)
Online
Unleashing Imagination
The Art of Creative
Writing
What IS HCGEC?
The Harvard Crimson Global Essay Competition is an annual, fully virtual writing challenge open to high school students around the world.
Designed for students aged 9-18
Accessible to students in every country with no geographical barriers
Backed by two globally respected educational institutions
Offers university-level challenges for practical application
How IT WORKS
Register according to the timeline
Wait for the HCGEC prompts to release
Choose your track between creative, argumentative, or journalistic.
Write your essay – 500 words max based on your selected prompt
Compete in the regional round – the top 10 essays per category and region are invited to participate in the global finals
Get recognised – global winners are published, endorsed and invited to earn a spot in the Harvard Crimson Summer Journalism Program
Why
IT MATTERS
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Learn to write with structure, originality and impact
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Build experience beyond the traditional classroom
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Stand out in university applications
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Explore future career tracks in writing, journalism, marketing and communication
2026 GLOBAL PRIZES
1st Place Winners
from 3 Categories
$1000
Cash Prize
+
$1000
Crimson Mentorship Credit
+
Harvard Crimson Summer Journalism Course
Essays published on the Official HCGEC
Certificate of Achievement
Global Recognition & Fame
2nd Place Winners
from 3 Categories
$750
Cash Prize
+
$750
Crimson Mentorship Credit
+
Harvard Crimson Summer Journalism Course
Essays published on the Official HCGEC
Certificate of Achievement
Global Recognition & Fame
3rd Place Winners
from 3 Categories
$500
Cash Prize
+
$500
Crimson Mentorship Credit
+
Harvard Crimson Summer Journalism Course
Essays published on the Official HCGEC
Certificate of Achievement
Global Fame & Recognition
ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNER : $100 Cash Prize Per Category
JUNIOR PRIZE : $100 Per Category for Students Between 13-15
Let’s TAKE ABOUT REAL IMPACT
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![Olivia Zhang HCGEC]()
3RD PLACE WINNER 2023 - CREATIVE
“It's a great way to give high school students the chance to share their voice, story, and talents. The best thing I learned from HCGEC was from reading other winners' writing; I gained a lot of insight on how I can craft better stories.”
Olivia Zhang
United States of America -
![Jayshil HCGEC]()
1ST Place WINNER 2024 - Argumentative
“Entering HCGEC was a fantastic choice! Through the varied prompts, I learned which writing style I am most comfortable with. Through the formatting guidelines, I forced myself to write with brevity. Through the HCGEC community, I became a more confident writer. This was an experience I whole-heartedly recommend to anyone looking for a worthy challenge.”
Jayshil Blomsted
United State of America -
![Mariana Rodrigues Chaves HCGEC]()
ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNER 2024 - Creative
“The competition made me love writing, giving me the opportunity to explore topics of my interest and be awarded for my effort.
HCGEC showed me that writing does not need to be boring, but is one of the most beautiful ways of expressing my feelings. It was such an amazing experience! “
Mariana Rodrigues Chaves
Brazil -
![Alyssa Mae D. Bones HCGEC]()
1st place 2024 - Creative
“Participating in HCGEC opened up a liberating avenue for young writers, myself included, to venture beyond our comfort zones. Through this experience, I discovered that the impact of our words transcends borders, empowering me to explore the limitless potential of expression.”
Alyssa Mae D. Bones
Phillipines -
![3rd Place Winner - 2022]()
3rd Place Winner - 2022
“I love the numerous life changing opportunities that HGEC offers.
Even if you do not win one of the prizes, the intellectual journey of writing a brilliant essay can be life changing in and of itself.”
Armand
Bostwana
5 Global REGIONS
STANDING ON THE SHOULDERS OF giants
We’re proudly powered by partners who lead the world in education, innovation and academic success.
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THE HARVARD CRIMSON
The nation’s oldest continuously published daily college newspaper, the Crimson has shaped some of the most respected journalists of our time – including over 25 Pulitzer Prize winners. Founded in 1873, it remains a symbol
of truth, inquiry and integrity. -
CRIMSON EDUCATION
Crimson Education is the world’s leading university admissions consultancy, with students 4x more likely to gain acceptance to Ivy League and Oxbridge schools. They support students in reaching their full potential – strategically, academically and personally. -
RISE
Crimson Rise is a focused early-development program that helps students aged 11–14 build strong academic, leadership, and extracurricular foundations for future top-tier admissions. As sponsor of the Junior Prize in the Harvard College Global Essay Competition, Rise supports young writers already beginning to shine -
Oxbridge Summer Scholars
A selective two-week academic program where high school students experience Oxford and Cambridge–style learning through small tutorials, expert tutors, and immersive university-level study. With peers from 15+ countries, scholars explore advanced subjects and the unique academic culture of two of the world’s most prestigious universities.