How to Participate in the European Sociological Essay Olympiad

The European Sociological Essay Olympiad (ESEO) is open to high school students from any European country. The maximum age limit for participants is 19 years.

ESEO is an international educational initiative founded on the participation of national delegations, which are composed of up to two nominated students annually and up to two accompanying educators, professors, or mentors, selected by the ESEO executive board

National Delegations and Selection Process

Unlike traditional competitions, ESEO recognizes that academic talent and sociological insight manifest in diverse ways, not solely within the confines of formal exams or controlled environments. As such, each country’s delegation selects its student representatives through an open, thoughtful review process of writing submissions.

Each National Delegation consists of two to three qualified professionals — typically educators, researchers, professors, or experienced sociologists — who have been formally approved by the ESEO Executive Board. These delegations are responsible for organizing their national selection procedure and ensuring fair, inclusive access to the selection process for interested students.

How Students Are Selected

Students may discover the opportunity to participate in the ESEO through their schools, academic institutions, independent research, or recommendations from educators. To be considered, students submit a writing sample in any form of academic or reflective essay, article, or critical commentary related to sociological, historical, economic, literary (etc..) topics. The national delegation reviews these submissions, evaluating the originality, critical thinking, and sociological relevance of the work. Selections are based on merit and intellectual promise, aiming to identify students whose written work reflects insight, creativity, and an engagement with social inquiry.

No formal examination or prior competition is required.

The ESEO values diverse forms of academic expression and acknowledges that students demonstrate sociological aptitude in varied settings and formats.

Each national delegation usually sets its own timeline for reviewing submitted essays and other writing samples. Typically, delegations allocate between 4 to 8 weeks for this process, giving students ample time to prepare and submit their work thoughtfully. This flexible period allows delegations to carefully evaluate submissions, engage with students if needed, and select representatives who best reflect the spirit and goals of ESEO.

— Anna K., Greece, 2024

“Taking part in ESEO was an eye-opening experience. I loved being able to write about social issues I really care about, without the pressure of exams or timed tests. When I got my award, it felt like someone genuinely heard my ideas — that meant a lot to me.”

Alexa Young, CA

How to Submit Your Sample and Contact Your National Delegation

Students interested in participating in the European Sociological Essay Olympiad (ESEO) and representing their nation must submit their original, authored, and unpublished essay or written work to their national delegation for consideration. To begin this process:

Identify your national delegation and find the official contact email address for submissions. Each national delegation operates through an official ESEO email address in the following format:[countryname]@eusocolympiad.org
Compose a formal email expressing your interest in participating in the ESEO. This email should clearly state the participant’s full name, current school or academic institution, and a brief note of intent regarding their interest in the competition. The completed sample should be attached to the same email in a commonly accessible file format such as PDF or DOCX.
Students submit a writing sample (such as a sociological essay, reflection, or relevant academic text) to their country’s national delegation.
The submitted work must be your own original creation and must not have been published previously.
These submissions may be solicited through cooperating academic schools, universities, national educational organizations, youth academic programs, or by the student’s own initiative.
The national delegation evaluates all submissions and selects one or two students based on academic merit, originality, and sociological insight.

Only students selected and nominated by their country’s approved delegation may represent their country at ESEO.

National delegations will review all submissions and notify students of their selection at least one month prior to the official ESEO essay submission deadline. This ensures that participants have adequate time to prepare and finalize their entries for the Olympiad.

For the current list of national delegations and their official email addresses, please refer to the document here: ESEO National Delegations Contact List

Preparation and Delegation-Supported Initiatives

Participating national delegations are encouraged to foster interest in sociological inquiry by establishing local essay clubs, workshops, or preparatory seminars for prospective candidates. These initiatives may operate independently or in collaboration with other national or international groups, provided that all final essay submissions remain the sole, original work of the individual participant. While such clubs and sessions may offer valuable opportunities for discussion, debate, and guided reading, the ESEO upholds strict standards of academic integrity, ensuring that the competition remains a fair and independent demonstration of each student’s own capabilities.

What If Your Country Does Not Have a National Delegation?

If a country does not yet have an official delegation, interested students, educators, or institutions may contact the ESEO International Committee directly at: executiveboard@eusocolympiad.org

The Executive Board can assist in:

Approving a temporary delegation for that year
Nominating students directly where appropriate
Supporting the creation of a national delegation for future participation.

**Withdrawal Policy:

Selected participants who, for any reason, wish to withdraw from the competition must notify their national delegation, which will in turn formally inform the ESEO Executive Board. However, to ensure fairness and maintain the integrity of the selection process, withdrawn participants cannot be replaced once the official list of representatives has been submitted to the ESEO Board. Delegations are therefore encouraged to select participants who are confident in their availability and commitment for the entire competition cycle.