The Yale International Relations
Global Essay Competition
2024-2025
Eligibility: Students from Grades 8-12 
Registration Fee: USD 25 Registration is Open!
APPLY NOW
Eligibility: Students from Grades 8-12 Registration Fee: USD 25 Registration is Open!
APPLY NOW The Yale International Relations Essay competition provides an exciting opportunity for students to show their talents and ideas to Yale students and receive feedback from students accomplished in International Relations.
This competition inspires students to push their boundaries and experiment with diverse writing styles, enhancing their overall writing proficiency., with participants from across the globe.
01Valuable feedback to enhance your writing proficiency.
02Opportunity to challenge and refine your academic capabilities.
03Recognition and awards for the top 3 essays.
04Designation as "Finalists" for the top 25% of participants, acknowledging their exceptional contributions.
All Participants to receive certificates from Yale International Relations Association and Learn with Leaders
Exhibit good grammar and a coherent, strong structure.
Demonstrate an awareness of the world around them.
Clearly answer the question by explaining the significance of the issue.
Be bold and exciting to read.
Begin to explore potential solutions to the issue.
Be thought-provoking, leaving the reader with questions to ponder.
The Yale International Relations Association is the largest student-run organizations at Yale College. After the political turbulence of the 1960s, a group of Yale students came together seeking to promote a better understanding of global affairs. As a result, the Yale International Relations Association (YIRA) was founded in 1969.
YIRA strives to foster conversation about international relations on campus and beyond through conferences, classes, travel, publications, and speaker and social events. We aim to create an inclusive, diverse, and accessible educational space for students, providing resources that enrich public speaking, leadership, critical analysis, and problem-solving abilities so members may best apply their passion for international relations and give back to the world.
Shalina Effendi is a sophomore at Yale University from Houston, Texas majoring in Global Affairs. On campus, she serves as the secretary for the Yale International Relations Association, Director-General of Yale Model UN Dubai, and compete on the Model UN team at Yale.
Noah Killeen is a second-year student at Yale College, majoring in Ethics, Politics, & Economics, with plans to attend law school after graduation. He is actively involved in the Model UN Competitive Team, Yale Votes, and the Yale Undergraduate Law Journal. In addition to his extracurricular activities, he works as an Undergraduate Recruitment Coordinator for the Admissions Office, where he connects with prospective and incoming students and organizes events. Originally from Goodyear, Arizona, he enjoys playing tennis, hiking, and driving with friends during his free time.
Poppy is an international student from South Wales and is a Sophomore in Morse college. She has a passion for understanding the world and has pursued this through her double major in History and Politics and through extra curricular activities such as MUNTY (Yale's competitive MUN Team). Poppy is proudly Head Delegate of MUNTY. In addition to this, she has worked on MUN conferences in India and Singapore, volunteers with multiple social outreach groups on campus and is a passionate climate and social justice activist having launched the UK’s first Climate Refugee petition. Beyond this, Poppy loves Taylor Swift, horse riding and hanging out with her friends!