AIEN formerly AIPN/Networking/Student Outreach/Student Writing Competition

Student Writing Competition

2026-2027 Student Writing Competition

Since 2001, AIEN has sponsored an annual Student Writing Competition, providing students with the opportunity to submit an original essay on a topic related to international energy negotiations, including matters of contract, law, or policy.

The winning student will receive registration to either the AIEN International Energy Summit (June 15–17, 2027, at the Westin Singapore Hotel in Singapore) or the Model Contracts Workshop (date to be announced, Vancouver, Canada). The prize also includes:

Roundtrip coach airfare (advance purchase)
Up to $300 in reimbursable travel expenses (with receipts)
Standard hotel accommodations during the conference
One year of complimentary AIEN student membership

AIEN reserves the right to award one winner or no winner if no submission meets the competition standards. Previous Student Writing Competition winners are not eligible to participate.

Students enrolled at schools associated with our Education Advisory Board program must submit their essays to their faculty representative, who may nominate up to four (4) papers from that school. Students attending non-participating schools may submit their essays directly to AIEN.

Qualified applicants must be current AIEN members or applicants for membership and be full-time seniors in a four-year program or graduate students enrolled at an accredited university during either the Fall 2026 or Spring 2027 semester.

Please review the Student Writing Briefing Document below for complete details on qualifications and required documentation.

The Student Writing Committee will evaluate submissions based on the following criteria:

Applicant is a current AIEN member or applicant for AIEN membership.
Essay does not exceed 4,000 words (excluding footnotes; approximately 12 double-spaced pages).
Essay addresses a topic directly related to international energy negotiations, such as contract, legal, or policy matters.
Footnotes follow Bluebook citation format and are placed at the bottom of each page.

The 2026-2027 Student Writing Competition is now open!

Deadline to apply: December 15, 2026

Winners Announced: On or around January 8, 2027

Questions? Please contact education@aien.org

*Students related to current AIEN Officers or Directors or past winners are not eligible to win. Previous Student Writing Competition winners are excluded from participating. By submitting an entry, you certify that you are not related to any foreign (outside the United States) government official, nor are you subject to any United States economic sanctions.

Click here to view the 2026-2027 briefing document.