NEWS

ICU Global Youth Essay Competition 2025

Update: July 14, 2025

Prizes

Pre-registration Open Date:	Tuesday, September 9, 2025, 11:00 JST
Pre-registration Close Date:	Friday, September 19, 2025, 15:00 JST
Essay Submission Open Date:	Monday, October 6, 2025, 9:00 JST
Essay Submission Close Date:	Friday, October 10, 2025, 15:00 JST
Announcement of short-listed applicants:	At the end of October by email to short-listed applicants.
Announcement of Winners:	By January 12, 2026. Results will be announced on the ICU website and by email.
Participation fee:	Free
Certificate:	We issue winner certificates but not participation certificates.

Application Process:

1. Please pre-register through this form during the periods specified above.
   Pre-registration form
   In case we receive more than 350 entries, we may close the registration early.
2. When your pre-registration is accepted, we will notify your registration number and the form to upload your essay. Please take your time to brush up your essay for a month. Between October 6 and 10, submit your essay in PDF format and input necessary information to the form.
3. The essay must follow the designated format. Please see the sample here.
4. Before submitting, ask one person to review and provide feedback on your essay (250 characters/ approx. 50 words). You must submit this feedback in your essay form. It could be a teacher, family member, friend, or classmate.
5. All the participants can only submit once.

2025 Essay Questions

Essays must focus on one of this year's topics. Select one of the following questions from the areas of human rights and current events.

• ICU's "Service-Learning" program has been a pioneer in Japan since 2002. This program focuses on learning through service (voluntary) activities, combined with reflection and prepares students to become life-long learners who think critically and act in service of others and world peace. Have you engaged in such service activities in your community? Based on your reflection, what did you learn about yourself and the community? To deepen your learning, what perspectives would you like to explore at university?
  
• From its founding after World War II, ICU has been committed to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Article 19 focuses on the "right to freedom of opinion and expression." Have you ever had an experience that made you realize how important this right is? What can you do immediately---beyond posting on social media---to uphold this right? Start by looking for resources in your community.

Tips

• There are no right answers to these questions; we are not looking for essays that propose the "correct" solutions that already exist. We want to learn about YOUR original ideas. As you write, start by reflecting on your own experience, think about what the problem is, and then write your own opinion.
• A good essay has a good thesis and organized arguments (introduction, body, and conclusion).

How to Write

Language: Essays must be written in English.
Word Limit: No more than 650 words, excluding essay title and works cited
Essay Title: Essays must have a title. Please create a title that best describes the essence of your essay. The title does not count towards the word limit.
Essays must abide by the ICU Policy on Academic Integrity and ICU's Perspective on the Use of Generative AI by Students.

Eligibility

Applicants must be aged 15-17 as of September 19, 2025 (inclusive) and must currently reside outside of Japan. Students enrolled in a post-secondary education as of October 9, 2025 are ineligible to apply.

How are essays evaluated?

A group of judges from ICU and the Japan ICU Foundation will evaluate all essays using the following factors:

• Thesis
• Supporting arguments
• Originality
• Execution of writing (Audience/Coherence/Clarity/Grammar/Style)

All essays will be checked for plagiarism as well as AI generators checker.

An essay will be disqualified if:

• It does not address the topic.
• It does not include a title.
• An applicant covers more than one topic.
• It is not the applicant's original work (including the use of AI).

Please Note

The winners' full name, essay, title, school name, and location will be shared on the Global Youth Essay Competition website. Other information may be displayed upon receiving consent from winners and their guardians.

Past Winners

Visit the website below to read the winners' essays.

Result of 2024 Result of 2023
Result of 2022 Result of 2021

About the Organizers

International Christian University is a leading private university characterized by its bilingual (Japanese/English) liberal arts education in Tokyo, Japan. From its establishment in 1953, ICU has aimed to educate students in an international setting to be stewards of a just and peaceful world. Visit Website.
ICU Website

The Japan ICU Foundation is an independent educational foundation based in New York City. Its mission is to work with International Christian University to nurture global citizens who contribute to the well-being of humanity. Visit Website.
JICUF Website

Contact

ICU Public Relations Office
TEL: +81-422-33-3058
EMAIL: ICU-Essay@icu.ac.jp

FAQs

How do I submit my essay?

You should first sign up to the pre-registration form. Then, please submit your essay online to the designated folder you recieve by email. Please see above for the specific time and date and format.

I am 17 years old now. Am I eligible to apply?

If you are 17 years old on September 19, 2025, the last date of pre-registration, you are eligible to apply. Please also note that if you will be attending post-secondary education by September 19, 2025, you are not eligible to apply.

Should I cite my sources?

Although this essay competition is not aimed to look at your research skills, you must cite the source of any quotes, ideas, thoughts, or words in your essay that are not your own. This can be done by including in-text citations (which count toward the 650-word limit). Additionally, you may include full citations (which DO NOT count toward the word limit) in the Works Cited or Bibliography. MLA and APA styles are recommended. Failure to identify non-original material will result in disqualification.

May I receive a certificate of participation?

You may not receive a certificate of participation, only winners.

Can I use a translator?

No. We cannot accept an essay that is translated as a whole because it will not be your original work.

My high school includes "college" in its name. Can I apply?

Yes. If your school is designated as secondary education in your country, you are eligible. The name of your school does not matter in this case.