Armstrong Arts and Humanities Essay Competition
The competition is open to students attending state-maintained schools in the UK, and who are in their penultimate year of education (Year 12 in England and Wales, S5 in Scotland, or Year 13 in Northern Ireland).
Essay Questions
The essay questions cover the breadth of arts and humanities subjects offered at undergraduate level at the University of Cambridge.
Questions are often multi-disciplinary, designed to encourage entries to consider the connections between various subjects, and to allow entries to approach the question from varying angles. Effective essays will present a clear argument supported by specific, relevant examples.
Essay Questions
1. Are there some fundamental rights which legislation cannot remove?
If you are interested in this question, you may wish to explore Cambridge undergraduate courses in Human, Social, and Political Sciences, and Law.
2. Is translation more like an art or more like a science?
If you are interested in this question, you may wish to explore Cambridge undergraduate courses in Anglo-Saxon, Norse, and Celtic; Asian and Middle Eastern Studies; Classics; Modern and Medieval Languages; and Theology, Religion, and Philosophy of Religion.
3. “It's all about feeling. If you can play 1,000 notes a minute, and it just goes straight across the board and there’s no feeling, it doesn't mean anything.” – B. B. King (blues guitarist), The Life of Riley (2012 documentary film). Discuss the role of feeling in music-making, and answer the question ‘could a robot be a good guitarist?’
If you are interested in this question, you may wish to explore Cambridge undergraduate courses in Music, and Philosophy.
4. ‘Crime does not exist. Only acts exist, acts are often given different meanings within various social frameworks.’ (Christie, 2004). Do you agree?
If you are interested in this question, you may wish to explore Cambridge undergraduate courses in Human, Social, and Political Sciences, and Law.
5. For studying literature, the selection of a canon should not only be based on quality of the texts but also on equal representation, in terms of age, gender and ethnicity, of its intended readers. Do you agree?
If you are interested in this question, you may wish to explore Cambridge undergraduate courses in Asian and Middle Eastern Studies; Classics; Education; English; and Modern and Medieval Languages.
6. If aliens existed, would they have a concept of God?
If you are interested in this question, you may wish to explore Cambridge undergraduate courses in Philosophy, and Theology, Religion, and Philosophy of Religion.
7. ‘As one reads history . . . one is absolutely sickened not by the crimes the wicked have committed, but by the punishments the good have inflicted’ (Oscar Wilde, 1891). How should punishments be determined?
If you are interested in this question, you may wish to explore Cambridge undergraduate courses in Education; History, and Human, Social, and Political Sciences.
8. Does the power of multi-national corporations now exceed that of the nation state?
If you are interested in this question, you may wish to explore Cambridge undergraduate courses in History; Human, Social, and Political Sciences; and Law.
9. Why do languages change?
If you are interested in this question, you may wish to explore Cambridge undergraduate courses in Anglo-Saxon, Norse, and Celtic; Asian and Middle Eastern Studies; Classics; Linguistics; Modern and Medieval Languages; and Theology, Religion, and Philosophy of Religion.
10. "We are bored when we don't know what we are waiting for. That we do know, or think we know, is nearly always the expression of our superficiality or inattention. Boredom is the threshold to great deeds." (Walter Benjamin, The Arcades Project, 105). Write an essay in defence of boredom using this quotation as a starting point.
If you are interested in this question, you may wish to explore Cambridge undergraduate courses in English; Human, Social, and Political Sciences; Philosophy; and Theology, Religion, and Philosophy of Religion.
11. What can the study of sexuality in the ancient world teach us about the formation of the modern self?
If you are interested in this question, you may wish to explore Cambridge undergraduate courses in Archaeology; Classics; English; History; and Human, Social, and Political Sciences.
12. "A picture is worth a thousand words". What is the place of studying texts in a world that is increasingly dependent on visual communication?
If you are interested in this question, you may wish to explore Cambridge undergraduate courses in Asian and Middle Eastern Studies; Classics; English; History of Art; Linguistics; and Modern and Medieval Languages.
The essay questions are available to view in PDF format here:
Entering
Submissions should adhere to the word limit of 2,000 words, which does not include footnotes or bibliographies. The word count should be stated at the end of the essay.
All sources should be cited and listed in a bibliography. We understand that entrants may not have prior experience of referencing and would recommend Harvard referencing system website for an explanation of the Harvard referencing system. Entrants are welcome to use alternative reference styles if they prefer.
Entrants should submit one essay only. The submission must be entirely the entrant’s own work, and should not contain any work generated by ChatGPT or other forms of artificial intelligence. The competition judges are mindful of the advancements in generative AI and will disqualify any submissions which demonstrate similarities to responses produced by AI tools. Entries must not be submitted or have been submitted to an exam board as part of any coursework, extended essay, or Extended Project Qualification (EPQ), either in part or in full.
The deadline for submissions is 3 May 2024 at 18:00.
Essays should be submitted by the form at the link below.
Submit EssayPrize
First prize: £300
Second prize: £200
Third Prize £100.
Honourable mentions may also be awarded. Prize winners will be invited to visit Magdalene College in Summer 2024.
The webinars below, recorded in 2023, may provide some advice and inspiration for researching, writing, and refining your essay.
If you have any questions regarding the competition, please contact Natalie Thompson, Schools Liaison Officer, by emailing access@magd.cam.ac.uk.
Essay-writing Webinars
Magdalene College Schools Liaison Officer is delivering a series of webinars to provide advice on the stages of the essay-writing process.
Planning and Researching
The Writing Process
Refining and Referencing
If you have any questions regarding the competition, please contact Natalie Thompson, Schools Liaison Officer, by emailing access@magd.cam.ac.uk.