Scholarship Details
The Wits/PPS “Health Economics for Africa” Essay Competition 2026 is a prestigious academic contest organised by the PPS Chair in Health Economics at the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits). It provides a platform for undergraduate and postgraduate students from African universities to research and write about critical health economics issues that have real implications for health systems and policy across the continent. This competition encourages emerging African scholars to contribute to debates on health financing, access to care, and policy solutions that can shape the future of health in Africa.
Benefits
Participants in the Wits/PPS Essay Competition can win significant cash prizes and career-boosting recognition:
Undergraduate Competition Prizes:
- 🥇 1st Prize: USD 2,000
- 🥈 2nd Prize: USD 1,000
- 🥉 3rd Prize: USD 500
- 📜 Top 10 eCertificates and promotion of their work on public platforms
Postgraduate Competition Prizes:
- 🥇 1st Prize: USD 5,000
- 🥈 2nd Prize: USD 3,000
- 🥉 3rd Prize: USD 1,000
- 📜 Top 10 eCertificates with support from health economists to promote and publicise top work
Winning or placing in this competition offers cash rewards, recognition, and valuable academic exposure that can strengthen your CV, portfolio, and research profile.
Eligibility
This essay competition is open to students from any discipline enrolled at a university in Africa, subject to the following criteria:
Undergraduate Level:
- Currently enrolled in a Bachelor’s or Honours degree programme at an African university
- Must provide certified proof of registration for 2025
Postgraduate Level:
- Currently enrolled in a Master’s or PhD programme at an African university
- Must provide certified proof of registration for 2025
All entries must be original, unpublished work and entrants may submit only one essay or paper. Joint or co-authored submissions are not permitted.
Required Documents
To submit your entry, you will need:
- Essay or research paper (depending on your level — see Format below)
- Certified proof of enrolment/registration at your university for 2025
- Academic references or citations as required by the competition guidelines
- Declaration of originality with your submission
- For postgraduate submissions, ensure no personal identifiers appear in the document filename (maintains anonymity)
Essays and papers must be submitted through the Oxford Abstracts platform, which requires registration before making a submission.
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Essay/Paper Format
Undergraduate Entries:
- Length: 800–1,000 words (excluding title & references)
- Language: English
- Essays must focus squarely on one of the listed health economics topics.
Postgraduate Entries:
- Length: 4,500–5,500 words (excluding title, abstract & references)
- Format: Single-spaced, Times New Roman, 12 pt font, PDF
- Papers must address an issue grounded in health economics with analytical depth and contribution to policy understanding.
Deadline
📅 Submission Deadline: 31 January 2026 at 23:59 GMT
All entries must be submitted online through the competition portal by this deadline. Late submissions are not accepted.
How to Apply
Follow these steps to apply:
- Visit the competition page hosted on the Wits website and review full guidelines.
- Register on Oxford Abstracts (the submission platform) and create an account.
- Prepare your essay or research paper according to the required format for your level.
- Upload your submission through the Oxford Abstracts portal before the deadline.
- Include a clear certified proof of enrolment/registration for 2025.
- Confirm and submit — you will receive confirmation of your entry.
Ensure you follow all formatting and submission rules to avoid disqualification.
FAQs
Who can enter this competition?
African university students (undergraduate and postgraduate) from any discipline interested in health economics.
Are joint entries allowed?
No — each student may submit only one individual essay or research paper.
What language should essays be written in?
All submissions must be in English.
Is there any publication opportunity?
Top 10 entrants may have their work publicised on media platforms with support from health economics professionals.
What happens after submission?
Entries are screened for compliance and then reviewed by a judging panel. Shortlisted candidates may be invited for an online interview.
This competition is an excellent chance for African students to amplify their voices on health economics, secure cash awards, and build academic credibility — all while addressing pressing policy challenges shaping the health sector in Africa.
