Rex Nettleford Prize, Oriel College, Oxford University

About the Program: The Rex Nettleford Prize is a prestigious academic award designed for Year 12 students in the UK (Class 11 in India). Named in honor of the distinguished Jamaican scholar Rex Nettleford, this prize is hosted by Oriel College, Oxford University.

It aims to recognize outstanding academic achievement, creativity, and intellectual curiosity. The prize encourages students to explore various disciplines, fostering a passion for learning and personal development.

Relevant for: Class 11

Conducted by: Oriel College University of Oxford

Submission closure date: Essays must be received by 12 midnight on Friday 15^th March 2024.

Awards & Recognition:

First Prize: The top-performing student receives a cash award, a certificate of achievement, and the opportunity for academic mentorship.

Runner-up Prizes: Additional commendable entries may receive certificates of recognition and valuable academic resources.

Questions for 2024: Candidates must answer ONE of the following questions. Candidates should feel free to focus their answer in terms of its historical period, geographical centre and cultural range.

1. How have ideas about nature shaped the histories and legacies of colonialism?

2. What role has education played in the history of colonialism? Discuss in terms of specific educational practices, institutions, or curricula.

3. How, if at all, has ancient imperialism influenced modern imperialism?

4. Pick an example of popular or vernacular culture (for example, a song, film, sartorial style, novel, poem, dance, dish, meme, etc.) and explain it in relation to the histories of colonialism. How does your chosen example represent, contest, reflect, or otherwise respond to some specific aspect of colonialism?

Submission Guidelines

1. Essays should be no more than 2,500 words in length and should be on ONE of the given questions below.
2. The candidate may answer the question they select from the perspective of any discipline of their choosing (e.g. History, English Literature, Economics, etc.) but they must indicate at the head of their essay which discipline they have chosen.
3. Essays should be word processed and submitted to outreach@oriel.ox.ac.uk. Submissions should be in PDF format and attached as a copy to email.
4. Essays that are submitted as cloud files may not be considered.
5. A font size not less than 12pt should be used; page margins should be set to no less than 2.54cm.
6. Essays should be accompanied by a bibliography, which does not count towards the word limit.
7. Entries must be sent with a completed entry form, which is available on its website.
8. Submissions should be accompanied by a signed statement from a teacher that the essay is the student’s original, unaided work and that it does not directly relate to the syllabuses of the A level subjects they are studying.

Award event: Prizes will be awarded at Oriel College on the occasion of the Rex Nettleford Lecture during Trinity term 2024.

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