Applications are currently accepting applications for the Fraser Institute’s Student Essay Contest 2026. Interested applicants are encouraged to click here to learn more about this opportunity and apply for it.
About Fraser Institute’s Student Essay Contest
The Fraser Institute Student Essay Contest is an academic writing competition designed to encourage critical thinking and policy analysis among students interested in economics, public policy, and Canadian prosperity.
Benefits of Fraser Institute’s Student Essay Contest
The competition offers cash prizes across three student categories:
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High School
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Undergraduate
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Graduate
Prize Structure
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First Prize: $1,500
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Second Prize: $1,000
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Third Prize: $750
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Fourth Prize: $500
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Fifth Prize: $250
Additional Benefits
Beyond cash prizes, selected essays may receive:
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Peer-review opportunities
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Publication consideration
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Early academic exposure
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Recognition within policy and academic communities
These opportunities can help students strengthen their academic and professional profiles.
Fraser Institute’s Student Essay Contest Requirements
- This contest is open to all High School, Undergraduate, and Graduate students in Canada and to Canadian students studying abroad. A student is defined as someone who attends school in the 2025/2026 school year or is enrolled to attend in 2026/2027.
- If you are an international student studying in Canada, you are eligible to participate in our 2026 Student Essay Contest.
Essay Requirements:
- Essays must be between 1,000-1,500 words (not including references).
- Introductory cover page that includes name of the author(s), mailing address, phone number, and e-mail address.
- High School students should include school and grade.
- Post-Secondary students should include school, major and year of graduation.
- Entries must include references cited from academic sources. Any academically acceptable referencing style may be used.
- Entry must be a single document, the header of each page of the essay must include the author’s full name and page number.
- Entries will be judged on originality, clear expression of ideas, the ability to empirically support their argument and understanding competitive markets and/or the impact of government intervention.
- Submitted in PDF format.
- Full outline of all contest rules can be found in 2026 Essay Contest Rules.
Application Date and Process
- Click on the link to the application website to apply.
Application Deadline
05 June, 2026
Opportunity Application
View details of
Fraser Institute’s Student Essay Contest
Apply for Fraser Institute’s Student Essay Contest
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