The Roger Scruton Legacy Foundation, with generous support from the Mathias Corvinus Collegium, is delighted to invite students from across the West to participate in a series of essay contests designed to reflect on the philosophical contributions of Roger Scruton. Through these contests, we encourage students to explore questions about beauty, culture, the environment, and society.

Each competition is tailored to engage students from the United Kingdom, the United States and Central Europe. We honour the spirit of inquiry that Scruton embodied and celebrate the thoughtful expressions of the next generation.

All essay submissions are due on 10 January 2024 at 11:59 pm Pacific Standard Time. The winners of each competition will be announced on 12 February 2024.

 
 
 

  • Prompt: ‘What obligations do we have to our natural or built environment?’

    Recommended resources by Roger Scruton:

    Prizes:

    First Place: £1,500

    Second Place: £750

    Eligibility:

    Open to all undergraduates enrolled in UK universities during the 2023-2024 academic year.

  • Prompt: ‘Why does beauty matter?’

    Recommended resources by Roger Scruton:

    Prizes:

    First Place: £750

    Second Place: £350

    Eligibility:

    Open to British students in Sixth Form enrolled during the 2023-2024 academic year.

  • Prompt: ‘What is the role of national identity in the cultural and political landscape of Europe today? How do the historical experiences of Cold War Europe and current challenges of European nations influence perspectives on sovereignty, unity, and the idea of a shared European culture?’

    Potential resources by Roger Scruton:

    Prizes:

    First Place: €1,500

    Second Place: €750

    Eligibility:

    Open to all undergraduates enrolled in a European university during the 2023-2024 academic year.

  • Prompt: Read Roger Scruton's essay, 'The Work of Mourning', and then answer the following question:

    ‘Does America require mourning?’

    Prizes:

    First Place: $1,500

    Second Place: $750

    Eligibility:

    Open to all undergraduates enrolled in an American college or university during the 2023-2024 academic year.

 

Submission Formatting Requirements

To ensure fairness and anonymity in judging, all essays must adhere to the following formatting guidelines:

  • Document Format: Submit your essay as a .pdf file.

  • Font and Size: Use Times New Roman in 12-point size.

  • Line Spacing: Double-space your essay text.

  • Margins: Set margins to 1 inch on all sides.

  • Identification: Do not include your name or any identifying information in the essay file.

  • Page Numbers: Include page numbers at the bottom of each page.

  • Title Page: The .pdf must include a title page that lists your essay title, the essay contest in which you are participating and the word count of your essay, excluding any bibliography or footnotes.

  • Word Count: Your essay must not exceed 2000 words.

Submissions that fail to meet these requirements may not be considered.

 
 

We look forward to reading your submissions and wish you the best of luck in your endeavour to provoke thought, inspire change and contribute to the legacy of Sir Roger Scruton.