Overview:

The LSE Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Essay Competition, run by the Department of International History at the London School of Economics, is open to Year 12 and Year 13 students across the UK.

Students are invited to submit a historically informed essay responding to the following question:

As the United States marks 250 years, how should historians assess the nation’s progress toward the truths that its Declaration of Independence holds to be self-evident?

Essays should address the question with reference to ONE of the following themes:

• Disability

• Gender

• Race

Prizes:

• 1st Place: £150 Tango voucher

• 2nd Place: £100 Tango voucher

• 2 × Honourable Mentions: £25 Tango vouchers each

Word count: Maximum 1,200 words
Eligibility: Year 12 and 12 students, UK-based

Deadline:

The deadline is 15th May 2026.