From the Classroom to the World Stage: Hankai Students Rank Top 10% Globally in the John Locke Essay Competition

Source: https://www.johnlockeinstitute.com/essay-competition

In a global competition that drew over 34,000 entries from some of the world’s most academically ambitious students, four Hankai learners achieved top-tier recognition in the prestigious John Locke Essay Competition—earning spots in the top 10% globally and receiving official Commendation Awards.

This marks the third consecutive year that Hankai students have been celebrated in this elite international contest. Their success stands as a testament not only to their academic ability, but to the school’s strong mentorship and commitment to global excellence.

Our 2024 John Locke Commended Scholar

These students were selected from thousands of candidates worldwide after excelling in the categories of philosophy, law, psychology, and economics. Each of them received full support from the Humanities Department at Hankai—from topic selection to final edits—demonstrating the power of collaborative, inquiry-driven learning.

• Cloria Weng

• Emily SUN

• Jerry WANG

• Apollo WANG

What Is the John Locke Essay Competition?

The John Locke Essay Competition, founded by the John Locke Institute in Oxford, is an internationally renowned contest in the humanities and social sciences. It partners with professors from Oxford, Princeton, Brown, and Buckingham, and is recognized for identifying high-potential global thinkers.

With past award winners gaining admission to Harvard, Stanford, Yale, Oxford, and Cambridge, this competition is often described as the “Olympics of the Humanities” or the “Ivy League pipeline for global liberal arts thinkers.”

This Year’s Essay Topics 

Philosophy

Psychology

Politics

Economics

History

Law

Theology

How Hankai’s Humanities Department Empowered Students

To support success in the 2025 John Locke Essay Competition, Hankai’s Humanities Department provided a rich academic ecosystem that included:

1. [Before Writing] Three customizable academic writing templates: Designed for different thinking styles—argumentative, comparative, and inquiry-based—these frameworks helped students structure their essays strategically.
2. [Before Writing] Detailed topic breakdowns for every essay question: Teachers dissected each prompt, offering insight into key controversies, contextual knowledge, and relevant real-world applications.
3. [Before Writing]Curated reading lists: Students were given guided access to foundational texts, journal articles, and scholarly case studies tailored to each category (Philosophy, Law, Economics, etc.).
4. [While Writing] Keyword glossaries and research prompts: These helped students learn the academic vocabulary necessary to write with clarity and sophistication.
5. [While Writing] 1:1 feedback sessions and peer critique workshops: Teachers met regularly with students for revisions, while structured peer reviews helped refine ideas and arguments.

All the resources mentioned above can be found by clicking here: John Locke Essay Competition 2025 - Hankai Student Guide

Key Information for Participants

1. Entry Fee: Free
2. Word Limit: 2,000 words (excluding references)
3. Essay Format: PDF, file name must follow required naming conventions
4. Essay Deadline: June 30, 2025
5. Shortlist Announcement: August 14, 2025
6. Academic Conference in Oxford: October 3–5, 2025
7. Awards Dinner: October 4, 2025

Essays are assessed by leading academics from Oxford and Princeton, based on:

1. Depth of Knowledge
2. Argumentation and Logic
3. Originality and Insight
4. Persuasive Clarity

Plagiarism, AI-generated content, and non-original work are strictly disqualified.

Why This Competition Matters

For students following the Cambridge curriculum, the John Locke Essay Competition is more than an academic exercise. It trains learners to become:

1. Independent thinkers
2. Ethical decision-makers
3. Global citizens ready to lead in complex social and academic environments

“Our students’ commendations in Law, Psychology, and beyond aren’t just awards,” said the Head of Humanities. “They are a celebration of 21st-century learners—thoughtful, curious, and ready to contribute to a global dialogue.” - Head of Humanities of Nanjing Hankai Academy