The Fraser Institute hosts an annual Student Essay Contest to promote student participation in economic discourse on current events and public policy. This contest affords students the opportunity to have their work peer-reviewed and published early on in their academic career. In addition, we offer exciting cash prizes for the top five winning submissions!
The Fraser Institute's 2024 Student Essay Contest is now closed. Thank you to all the students who submitted their work. We look forward to reading your essay and your contributions to economic and public policy discourse. Due to the volume of submissions, we will announce winning essays in early fall 2024. All participants will receive an email in regards to the status of their submission.
We will be announcing our 2025 Student Essay Contest prompt in early 2025. To be the first to know about the 2025 Student Essay Contest click the subscribe link below:
Subscribe for 2025 Student Essay Contest Updates
Learn more about essay contest requirements and submission process by reading our Contest Rules and FAQ Student Essay Contest.
Categories and Prizes:
| Prizes | High School | Undergraduate | Graduate |
| 1st Prize | $1,500 | $1,500 | $1,500 |
| 2nd Prize | $1,000 | $1,000 | $1,000 |
| 3rd Prize | $750 | $750 | $750 |
| 4th Prize | $500 | $500 | $500 |
| 5th Prize | $250 | $250 | $250 |
Useful Links
2023 Essay Contest Winners
| 1st Place ($1,500) | |
|---|---|
| High School Category | Ethan Yang, St. George's Senior School |
| Undergraduate | Louis Mercier, HEC Montreal |
| Graduate | Joseph McKinnon, Carleton University |
| 2nd Place ($1,000) | |
| High School Category | Saqib Syed, Cresecent Heights High School |
| Undergraduate | Joseph Cressatti, McGill University |
| Graduate | Yasser Elfahli, University of Ottawa |
| 3rd Place ($750) | |
| High School Category | Fiona Weiler, Lord Beaverbrook High School |
| Undergraduate | Martin Edwini-Bonsu, University of British Columbia |
| Graduate | Anais Blanchard, HEC Montreal |
| 4th Place ($500) | |
| High School Category | Emma So & Lucas Orfanides, St. Augustine Catholic High School |
| Undergraduate | Melanie Chan, University of British Columbia |
| Graduate | Matthew Taylor, University of Saskatchewan |
| 5th Place ($250) | |
| High School Category | William Clarke, A.Y. Jackson Secondary School |
| Undergraduate | Isaac Bahler, Dalhousie University |
| Graduate | David Jones, University of Toronto |
Previous winners archive:
2023 Student Essay Contest Winners
2022 Student Essay Contest Winners
2021 Student Essay Contest Winners
2020 Student Essay Contest Winners
2019 Student Essay Contest Winners
2018 Student Essay Contest Winners
2017 Student Essay Contest Winners
2016 Student Essay Contest Winners
2015 Student Essay Contest Winners
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