Elie Wiesel Prize In Ethics Essay Contest
Direct application
$10,000
3 winners
Eligibility
Education level
Undergraduate
About this scholarship
Full-time undergraduate students at accredited four-year U.S. colleges and universities may enter the Elie Wiesel Foundation Prize in Ethics Essay Contest. Study-abroad students enrolled at a U.S. institution are eligible. High school, community college, part-time, graduate, and unaccredited students are not.
The first-place award is $10,000, with additional second- and third-place prizes among three total awards. Submit an original, unpublished essay of 3,000 to 4,000 words on an ethics-related topic of your choice. Essays must follow formatting guidelines and cannot include AI-generated content.
Founded in 1989, the contest encourages ethical reflection through student writing.
Essay question
What else to submit
- Original unpublished essay
- Official enrollment verification from registrar or National Student Clearinghouse
- Single essay only; one essay per student per year
- Essay length: 2,500-3,500 words (3,500 is the maximum)
- Must be the original, unpublished work of one student (papers previously submitted for class are acceptable)
- AI-generated or AI-assisted writing is strictly prohibited
- Must be written in English, titled, double-spaced, 12-point readable font (e.g. Times New Roman), 1-inch margins, numbered pages
- Judged anonymously: do NOT include name, school, or identifying references on essay or title page
- Submit online at www.ethicsprize.org as a PDF
- Upload official enrollment verification (Registrar letter or National Student Clearinghouse document) confirming full-time undergraduate status for Spring 2026
- Certify intent to continue studies in Fall 2026
- Faculty Sponsor optional but encouraged (must verify before deadline if used)
- Eligibility: registered full-time undergraduates at accredited four-year U.S. colleges/universities in Spring 2026 continuing in Fall 2026
- Deadline: January 20, 2026, 5:00 PM Pacific Time
- Submit one English-language essay online as a PDF.
- Essay must meet required formatting and word-count rules.
- AI-generated or AI-assisted writing is prohibited.
- Do not include name, school, or other identifying references in the essay or title page.
- Study-abroad students remain eligible when enrolled at a U.S. institution.
- Faculty sponsor is optional.