• The competition is open exclusively to students who are currently enrolled in an undergraduate or master’s degree programme at a recognised university in the United Kingdom (England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland).•  Entrants must be registered students at the time of submission. Students who have completed their studies but not yet formally graduated are eligible, provided they remain on the university’s register.•  The competition is not open to doctoral (PhD) students, alumni, or applicants to universities who are not yet enrolled.•  All disciplines of study are eligible; there is no restriction by subject area.•  Proof of current enrolment may be required as part of the entry process.
• Entries must be entirely your own work and by submitting to the competition, you are confirming that this is the case.  Any evidence to the contrary will result in immediate disqualification.
• Entries must not have been previously published, self-published or posted online (including on a website or blog).
• Use of AI for entries is not permitted.
• If your entry has been long-listed or shortlisted in other competitions, but not won a prize, it will be eligible.
• You must inform us immediately should your entry be published or win a prize elsewhere.

• Entries will open in October 2025 for the 2026 competition. The competition is free to enter.
• Only one entry per person is allowed.
• Entries are made by completion of a short online submission form which allows you to attach an anonymised word document of a maximum of 3000 words.  No minimum.  The title is not included in the word count.  We also ask for some brief information about yourself, why you want to enter and how Orwell has influenced your writing.
• You will receive an automated e-mail confirming receipt of your entry. Please check your spam folder.
• The deadline for entries will be advised in due course.
• Please ensure you read the rules of the competition carefully before you enter.

• The story must be presented in 12 pt Times Roman double spaced –  with each page numbered and the document ending with a word count.
• Save the file as a Microsoft Word document (.doc or .docx).  We also accept pdf versions.
• The file name should be the title of the story only, typed exactly the same as on the document, for example: Animal Farm.
• Do not include your name or contact details in the file title or it will be disqualified.
• Once the story has been submitted electronically, it cannot be altered.

Worldwide copyright of each entry remains with the author, but The Orwell Society will have full unrestricted rights to publish the winning entry in the Society’s Journal. Extracts from the story may be used in promotional material, including on social media and on the Society’s website.

If your entry doesn’t comply with all the terms and conditions noted above, it will be disqualified without further notification.

Judging will take place after the competition deadline closes.  The judges’ decision is final and no individual correspondence can be entered into. Judges are unable to comment on individual entries. The Orwell Society reserves the right to change the panel of judges without notice.

Entrants shortlisted by the judges will be informed by e-mail by 20th April 2026.

A prize-giving event for the winner and runner up, will be held as part of the The Orwell Society AGM on Saturday 9th May 2026.

Hopefully this will give you some encouragement and inspiration – good luck!

Holly Domney, City University London’s MA in Creative Writing and Publishing and 2016 winner:

“I took a simple idea and wasn’t afraid to take it to the extreme and make it dark. Always have an agenda when you write, mine was to promote equality between the sexes, what’s yours?”

Eleni Socratous, on the University of Warwick’s BA in English Literature and Creative Writing and 2021 winner:

“My advice is not to be scared to put yourself out there. It can be daunting as it makes you feel vulnerable to let others see your work, but if you want to progress as a writer then you have to take that first step. I highly recommend taking part in such competitions, because it forces you to get out of your comfort zone, while also exposing you to the literary world beyond university. It is not about winning; it is about pressing that “send” button and knowing someone is going to read your work and judge it. It is about having the courage to do that.”