BSA Young Sociologist of the Year Competition

Win £100 for you and recognition for your school or college!

Are you aged 16-19 and studying Sociology at A-level, AS-level, Scottish Higher or equivalent post-16 qualification? If so, this is your chance to enter a national competition exploring a key sociological theme, and showcase your creativity and insight. One winner from each category will receive £100.

This year's question is: ‘How much can individual behaviour do to solve a collective environmental crisis?’

What are you interested in? How does this relate to the above and use sociology to answer the question as part of a research project? We encourage you to be as creative and original as possible in your approach – whether you choose to write an essay, record a podcast or produce a short video. Use your sociological imagination to engage with the topic in a way that feels meaningful and insightful to you.

How to Enter

Please email your completed entry form to the BSA Membership Team by 4pm on Monday, 2 November 2026.

You can submit your work in one of two formats:

  • Written Essay (approx. 2,000 words)
  • Audio-Visual Submission (e.g. podcast or video, max 10 minutes)

Key Criteria

  • Entrants must be aged 16-19 and studying Sociology at A-level, AS-level, Scottish Higher or equivalent post-16 qualification.
  • A maximum of 5 entries per school or college will be accepted across both formats. If more than five entries are submitted, we will contact the teacher listed on the form to select five for consideration. If we do not receive a timely response, only the first five entries submitted will be judged.
  • Primary research is optional.  You may include your own empirical research (e.g. surveys or interviews), but it is not required. Where research is carried out, this must abide by the BSA’s Statement of Ethical Practice.
  • Both the written and audio-visual category winners will receive £100.

Audio-Visual Submission Guidance

  • Submissions must be no longer than 10 minutes.
  • Accepted formats: MP4, AVI, or WMV (must be playable on standard Windows PCs).
  • Do not submit Apple-only formats such as .mov or. keynote.
  • Please ensure your video or podcast submission does not include your full name or school within the file (e.g. in the title, spoken content or visuals), as entries are judged anonymously.
  • We recommend sending your audio-visual entry from the same email address used on your application form or attaching it alongside your completed entry form.

Deadline: 4pm on Monday, 2 November 2026.

If you have any questions regarding the competition criteria, please contact the BSA Membership Team.

The British Sociological Association (BSA) is the national subject association for sociologists in the UK and its primary objective is to promote sociology. The BSA is the largest sociological network in the UK and is the public face of sociology in Britain.

 

 

Winners Archive button.