2026 ESSAY PRIZE TERMS AND CONDITIONS

• It is the responsibility of the participant to ensure that their essay does not infringe the copyright of any third party.

• All entries must be the original work of the entrant and any form of plagiarism will result in automatic disqualification.

• Entries must be between 1500-2000 words in length.

• Endnotes and bibliographies are not included in the specified word count and a list of sources is not mandatory.

• The deadline for receipt of entries is 12 noon on Sunday April 12, 2026 and late entries cannot be accepted.

• In view of the advancement of artificial intelligence, students who are in contention for a prize or commendation may be contacted to arrange a conversation to discuss their research and development process.

• This verification process is to ensure that the work was written solely by the entrant and not by any other person or artificial intelligence.

• Participation in the competition implies that Consensus retains unlimited, non-exclusive rights to reproduction and distribution without further compensation.

• Consensus reserves the right to modify the format and content of essays for publication purposes, though original authorship will always be acknowledged.

• Essays winning a prize or highly commended may be published by Consensus on the website or elsewhere.

• Winners may be invited to read their essays at awards ceremonies, but there will be no obligation for them to do so.

• Entrants agree to the free use of their names, photographs, and general locations for publicity and news purposes if their essays win a prize or are highly commended.

• Consensus reserves the right to use participant information for promotional purposes without further consent or payment.

• The judges’ decision is final and not subject to appeal.

• No correspondence or feedback will be entered into regarding the results or the adjudication process.