***The 2015 Competition has now closed***
The results of this year’s competition will be announced in due course
Download the 2015 Student Essay Competition Poster here
To encourage a new generation of feminist scholars, the FWSA sponsors an annual student essay competition for work which is innovative, interdisciplinary and grounded in feminist theory and practice. The top seven entries will be judged by our judging panel and will be published in the Journal of International Women’s Studies. In addition, the winner will receive a year’s free FWSA membership and a publisher’s prize.
Students at any stage of their studies at a British or Irish university are encouraged to submit work that has not been previously published and is not currently under consideration for publication, or for competitions which result in publication elsewhere. Essays should be 6,000 – 7,000 words (including footnotes and bibliography), must be submitted electronically and including a completed competition coversheet. Please use your surname as the file name (e.g. ‘ROY’). Please note that entries without this coversheet will not be considered.
Please download the coversheet here
Read the previous winning essays from FWSA Student Essay Competition in the Journal of International Women’s Studies
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Hi there,
A year ago my professor of Gender Studies suggested I enter my essay in this competition.
I would love to rework the essay and submit, however, I am studying in Australia, is it exclusively for British and Irish students?
Kind regards,
Rachael
Hi Rachael,
Thanks for your interest. Unfortunately, the competition is only open to students studying at British and Irish universities.
Best wishes,
Bridget
Does this year’s competition have a theme?
No, we are happy to accept any essay that engages with feminism
Hello,
I was just wondering if you accept feminist readings of literary/theatrical works? I ask as I have been using the theories of Beauvoir and her feminist descendants to establish a new phenomenological reading of female protagonists of the Samuel Beckett canon. I have taken a look at previous winning essays, and I am not sure if my work would qualify for this completion or not, although I would love to enter!
Best wishes,
Susie
Hi Susie,
There is no particular theme for the competition this year, so we are open to everything with a feminist angle! This sounds really interesting so please feel free to enter.
Good Luck!
Hi,
If an essay has been previously submitted, but not published, are we able to extend and resubmit them?
Hi,
Yes that’s fine!
Hello there,
I completed my MA in November and I’m graduating in April. My tutor advised me to submit for this competition. Am I still considered a student at the moment if my actual course has finished, but I have yet to graduate?
Thanks
Fiona
Hi Fiona,
Yes, that’s fine. Good Luck!
Hi,
I have submitted an article of 1200 words elsewhere that may or may not be published which is based on the assignment I want to submit. Will that be Ok? The article only scratches the surface of my assignment because of the low number of words. In addition, it only discusses the findings in the literature review and not the research findings as this was not included.
Hi Elaine,
Yes this is fine, Good Luck in the competition!
Is it possible to submit two entries?
Thanks!
Hi,
The competition is limited to one entry per person.
Good Luck!
Hi,
Do all essays need to be between 6000-7000? Will it seriously hamper chances if it is not?
Francesca.
Hi Francesca,
Yes they must be between 6-7000.
Hello,
Is there a preferred referencing style for submissions?
Stephanie
Please use the style used in the Journal of International Women’s Studies – http://vc.bridgew.edu/jiws/
I have an essay I’m considering submitting but it’s formatted using MHRA guidelines. Would I need to reformat it for submission?
Please format it using the style in the Journal of International Women’s Studies, where the winning entries will be published – http://vc.bridgew.edu/jiws/
Hi,
I was just wondering, should an abstract be included at the start of the essay or will I just submit the essay itself. Also, would you like the cover page included in the same document as essay or is it ok to email with the essay and cover sheet as two separate documents.
Thank you for your time.
Hi,
Yes please include an abstract. And please send them both within the same document if possible.
Thank you
Hi, My course doesn’t start until September 22nd of this year. May I still apply?
Yes, as long as you are confirmed on the course
Hi!
I am sure all the entrants are excited to hear the results of the competition- do you have an estimated time frame when the winners will be announced?
All the best
Roxanne
Hi Roxanne,
We’re in the judging process at the moment, which will be taking place until August. More details to be announced nearer that time!
Are there any updates about when the announcement will be made? I know this is a busy time of year for everyone. Thank you!
It should be within the next few weeks