The Duke-UNC China Leadership Summit (CLS) Essay Contest
The Duke-UNC CLS invites students around the world to write and submit essays on U.S.-China relations.
A Global Forum for Student Voices on U.S.-China Affairs
The Duke CLS Essay Competition invites high school and undergraduate students from anywhere in the world to engage substantively with the most consequential geopolitical relationship of our time.
This annual competition is designed not to test knowledge alone, but to cultivate the kind of analytical depth, original argument, and intellectual honesty that serious inquiry demands. We welcome essays that are ambitious, specific, and willing to defend a position.
Outstanding essays will be recognized at the 2027 Duke-UNC China Leadership Summit in Durham, North Carolina. Winners will also have the opportunity to attend the conference. Please note that CLS does not cover flights or accommodation.
Open globally. This contest welcomes submissions from students at any high school or university anywhere in the world. All essays must be written in English.
Competition Overview
Choose Your Category
Compare U.S. and Chinese approaches to AI governance in the last five years. What does the comparison reveal about how each government understands what AI is and what it does?
With reference to either China or the United States, what are the relative harms and benefits of economic interdependence? Looking ahead, what are the implications of such interdependence?
Many would argue the U.S. and China should cooperate on climate change, yet little progress has been made. What is one realistic step that could move them toward cooperation, and why might it work?
Note: High school students may also attempt Prompts IV-VI, subject to the 1,500-word limit. High school students who submit to the undergraduate category will be considered for recognition in the undergraduate category. Undergraduate students are limited to this category.
Imagine writing, in 2032, a prospective analysis of a major U.S.-China-related policy outcome whose origins lie in decisions being made right now. The outcome has not happened yet, but is being set up by current choices. Identify the decisions or pattern of decisions that will produce this outcome. Then, propose what should be done today to secure or avert this outcome.
As China's rise and U.S.-China competition reshape global institutions, how should middle powers and regional blocs adapt their policies over the next decade to maximize their strategic interests? Assess current dynamics, forecast likely shifts, and propose innovative strategic frameworks for your chosen actor(s).
Drawing on current models of how China, the U.S., and the EU treat data, digital infrastructure, and advanced technologies as matters of sovereign control, propose governance frameworks that are both innovative and realistic, balancing competing interests across these three actors.
Frequently Asked
Is there an entry fee?
Yes. There is a $15 fee per submission, which supports the ongoing mission of Duke-UNC CLS. Essays submitted after the October 15, 2026 deadline and before the late deadline of November 9, 2026 are accepted with an additional late fee of $15, for a total of $30 per submission. You are able to register and submit your essay up to the late deadline of November 9, 2026.
Fee Waiver: Fees are waivable. If payment is not feasible given your financial circumstances, please send a brief email to contact@dukeunccls.com explaining your situation and we will waive the fee for you.
Pay HereWhat do you get if you win?
Winning essays will be recognized at the opening ceremony of the 2027 CLS Summit. Awardees will gain exclusive access to the weekend-long conference, with the option of presenting their findings to a panel of leading experts in U.S.-China relations.
Who can enter?
The competition is open to high school and undergraduate students anywhere in the world. There are no residency, citizenship, or geographic restrictions, and all essays must be written in English.
How do I submit my essay?
Email your essay as a PDF to contact@dukeunccls.com before the deadline. Include a cover page with your full name, school, word count, and the prompt selected.
Formatting requirements:
- Double-spaced, 12-point font
- Arial or Times New Roman
- Number your pages in the bottom-right footer
How to Enter
Follow the steps below. Submissions are accepted from students anywhere in the world.
Email your essay
Send your submission to contact@dukeunccls.com under the subject line: Last Name, First Name - Duke CLS Essay Competition 2026 (e.g., "Doe, John - Duke CLS Essay Competition 2026")
Use your institutionally affiliated email if possible
Please submit your essay using your official high school or college email (e.g., johndoe@duke.edu), if possible. A personal email is also acceptable.
Attach your essay as a PDF
Your essay file should be a PDF. Please do not submit in other formats such as .docx or .pages.
Include a cover page
Your PDF must begin with a cover page. See the required fields to the right.
Cover Page Requirements
For questions, contact us at contact@dukeunccls.com. Decisions of the review committee are final.
AI Use and Academic Integrity
You may use AI tools to develop your thinking, explore counterarguments, or pressure-test your ideas. What you submit must be your own writing. The strongest essays in a competition like this are ones where a student has genuinely grappled with a hard question, formed a view, and defended it. That process does not outsource well. Reviewers are attentive to the difference, and essays that reflect original thinking will stand out over those that do not.
Plagiarism involves presenting the work or ideas of another person, with or without their consent, as your own. It applies to published and unpublished material, and may be intentional or inadvertent. Submissions found to contain plagiarism will be disqualified.
Your essay should be entirely your own work. Where you draw on the ideas or words of others, even loosely, you must acknowledge your sources explicitly. This applies whether you are quoting directly, paraphrasing, or building on someone else's argument.
Again, any submissions found to contain plagiarism will be disqualified. If you are uncertain whether something requires attribution, the answer is yes. MLA/APA/Chicago style citations are all permissible.
What We Expect
Original Work
All submissions must be the sole original work of the applicant. AI-generated content and collaborative writing are not permitted. Plagiarism will result in immediate disqualification.
Argument and Evidence
Strong essays make a clear, defensible claim and support it with specific evidence. We value precision over breadth. Avoid vague generalities and show your reasoning.
References and Format
References may be provided as appropriate. No specific citation style is required, but be consistent and clear. Include a cover page with your name, school, and selected prompt.
Category Eligibility
Undergraduate students are limited to the undergraduate category. High school students may respond to any prompt in either category. High school students who submit to the undergraduate category will be evaluated alongside undergraduates and are eligible for recognition in the undergraduate category.
Evaluation Criteria
Essays are judged on clarity of argument, quality of evidence, analytical depth, originality, and prose quality. A well-structured essay that engages honestly with counterarguments will be rewarded.
Global Submissions
Students from any country are welcome to submit. Essays must be written in English. There are no residency, citizenship, or geographic restrictions of any kind.
Ready to Submit?
Email your essay to contact@dukeunccls.com by October 15, 2026 at 11:59 PM EST. An extended deadline of November 9, 2026 is available (late fee applies). Students from anywhere in the world are welcome.