Applications Now Open for the RSTMH Student Essay Competition 2026: Open to Students Wordwide @Unknown

The RSTMH Student Essay Competition 2026 offers students around the world a valuable platform to share their ideas and perspectives on pressing issues in global health.

Organized annually by the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (RSTMH), the competition encourages students to critically engage with complex health challenges while demonstrating academic insight, research skills, and original thinking.

Designed to support students from the early stages of their careers, the competition invites participants to explore topics related to global health and tropical medicine.

Through this initiative, RSTMH aims to promote thoughtful discussion and innovative ideas from the next generation of health leaders.

2026 RSTMH Essay Competition Theme

The 2026 Student Essay Competition officially opened for submissions on Thursday, 5 March 2026, with the submission deadline set for Friday, 5 June 2026 at 23:00 PM UTC.

This year’s essay topic addresses a highly relevant and evolving issue in global health:

“From your own perspective and experience, how will recent funding cuts transform global health?”

In recent months, reductions in funding from national governments and other stakeholders have significantly impacted research projects and health programs worldwide. Students are invited to reflect on these changes and analyze how they could reshape the future of global health systems, research priorities, and healthcare delivery.

Entrants are expected to present a personal perspective supported by credible evidence, combining academic scholarship with critical analysis and original thought.

Who Can Enter?

The competition is open to full-time students anywhere in the world who are currently studying:

• A global health degree, or
• Any degree program that includes a component of global health or medicine

Participants must provide proof of student status at the time of submission. The inclusive eligibility criteria aim to encourage participation from students across disciplines, recognizing that global health challenges require diverse perspectives and expertise.

Essay Guidelines and Requirements

To ensure fairness and academic quality, participants must follow specific guidelines when preparing their essays.

Word Count

• Essays must be 1,500 to 2,000 words, excluding references, footnotes, and tables.
• A 150–200 word summary must accompany the essay.
• Submissions without the summary will not be considered.

Language and Format

• Essays must be written in English.
• Students are encouraged to organize their work into clear, logical sections with headings.
• Only one essay per student may be submitted.

Referencing

All sources must be properly cited. References should be numbered in the order they appear in the text and indicated using brackets—for example, (2) for reference number two. References do not count toward the word limit.

Original Work and Responsible AI Use

RSTMH emphasizes academic integrity and originality in all submissions. Essays must be the student’s own work and must not have been previously published.

The organization acknowledges that artificial intelligence tools can assist in academic writing when used responsibly. Students may use AI tools to:

• Check grammar and clarity
• Improve sentence flow or structure

However, AI must not be used to generate the entire essay or substantial sections of it. Submissions should reflect the student’s own research, analysis, and writing.

All participants must include a brief declaration explaining how AI tools were used, if applicable. Essays suspected of being generated largely by AI may be disqualified.

How Essays Are Judged

Submissions will be reviewed by the RSTMH Education and Training Committee, which will select the winning entry and may also recognize highly commended essays.

The judging panel evaluates entries based on several key criteria:

1. The strength of the personal perspective and how it connects to national or global health contexts
2. The structure and organization of the essay
3. The clarity and readability of the writing
4. The quality of evidence and use of references
5. The essay’s ability to engage and inspire readers

The committee’s decision is final.

Prize and Recognition

The student who submits the winning essay will receive:

• £200 cash prize
• One year of free RSTMH student membership (new or renewal)
• A certificate presented at an RSTMH event in 2026

Winning and highly commended essays may also gain additional visibility through RSTMH publications and communication channels.

Publication Opportunities

RSTMH may publish selected submissions, including the winning essay, across several platforms, such as:

• The RSTMH website
• Organizational newsletters
• Other communication channels
• The society’s scientific journal

Additionally, anonymized data about competition submissions may be shared publicly. By entering the competition, participants agree to these publication conditions.

Past Student Essay Prize Winners

The RSTMH Student Essay Prize has grown steadily since its launch and continues to highlight emerging global health thinkers.

Recent winners include:

• 2025 Student Essay Prize Winner – announced on 25 November 2025
• 2024 Student Essay Prize Winner – Will Matupi
• 2023 Student Essay Prize Winner – awarded for an essay addressing emerging global health challenges over the next five years

These past winners demonstrate the competition’s role in promoting insightful analysis and innovative thinking within the global health community.

Why the Competition Matters

The RSTMH Student Essay Competition plays an important role in encouraging student engagement with global health policy, research, and innovation. By providing a platform for students to share their perspectives, the competition fosters dialogue about the future of healthcare systems and research funding worldwide.

At a time when global health funding is shifting and challenges are becoming increasingly complex, the insights of students and emerging professionals are more valuable than ever.

How to Learn More or Get in Touch

Students interested in participating or seeking more information about the competition can contact RSTMH directly:

• Email: info@rstmh.org
• Phone: +44 (0)20 7405 2628

Registered Address:
Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
Ground Floor, Office Suite 1
21 John Street, London, WC1N 2BF, United Kingdom

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For students passionate about global health, the RSTMH Student Essay Competition 2026 provides an opportunity to contribute to meaningful discussions and gain international recognition for their ideas.

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Disclaimer: Global South Opportunities (GSO) is not the organization that is offering this position. For any inquiries, please contact the official organization directly. Please do not send your applications & CVs to GSO, as we are unable to process them. Due to the high volume of emails, we receive daily, we may not be able to respond to all inquiries. Thank you for your understanding.