JASNA Student Essay Contest
Jane Austen Society of North America · Direct application
About this scholarship
The Jane Austen Society of North America's annual student essay contest encourages study of Jane Austen's works. First, second, and third place winners in each of three divisions receive cash scholarships of $1,000, $500, and $250, and first place winners are invited to attend JASNA's Annual General Meeting.
The high school division is open to all high school students, including freshmen, sophomores, and juniors; separate divisions serve college/university and graduate students, so entrants compete only within their own level. Each year's contest sets an essay topic on one or more of Austen's novels.
Students submit essays directly through JASNA's website before the published deadline. The 2026 contest closed June 1, 2026; the next topic is posted each November, with submissions accepted starting in February.