Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to pay any registration fee to join the Research Essay Competition?
No, there is no entry fee payable. Participation is free.
When is the deadline for the entries?
All entries must be received by 23:59 (GMT+8) on 14 July 2024 (extended). We are unable to accept any late entries. Entries that are submitted on time will receive an acknowledgement email from the CIIM Research Essay Competition student editor.
Can I submit more than one entry?
Yes, you may. While there is no limit to the number of entries per participant, only a maximum of one winning entry per participant will be selected for publication..
Your entry must be in MS Word document (.doc or .docx), double-spaced and typed in font type Arial, font size 12, with a normal margin.
For further information about our submission requirements, kindly refer to the CIIM Competition Terms and Conditions of the SIMI Research Essay Competition 2024.
Are references necessary?
Yes, references and/or a bibliography is necessary. This is an academic essay. Any charts, tables, references and appendices are not counted towards the word count.
You can find further guidance on referencing and prescribed citation styles in the CIIM Competition Terms and Conditions of the SIMI Research Essay Competition 2024.
How many words should my essay be?
Your final entry should be between 2,700 - 3,300 words. Charts, tables, references, and appendices do not count towards the word count.
Can I include images, diagrams and tables?
Illustrations such as charts, tables, diagrams and equations may be included in your essay as long as they are relevant to the content of your essay. Having said that, you are encouraged to take extra care in their formatting of the same to ensure that the presentation quality is not compromised.
English is not my first language, will this disadvantage me?
No. The basic requirements for entrants is to articulate your arguments succinctly, convey your points clearly, and use plain language such as linking words to balance your argument.
Previous winners of the CIIM Research Essay Competition included individuals who were multilingual, with English as their second or third language.
Do you have a past example of a winning entry for reference?
Topics of previous winning entries can be viewed via their respective pages: Volume 1, Volume 2, Volume 3, Volume 4, Volume 5, Volume 6, Volume 7, Volume 8.
What is the judging criteria?
Essays will be judged according to the following criteria:
- The novelty of the topic chosen;
- The originality and quality of the arguments and ideas expressed; and
- Correct use of referencing and or acknowledgement of material drawn from other sources.
In addition, consideration will be given to:
- Clarity of expression, including logical flow of content; and
- Correct use of the English language, including spelling and punctuation.
Do you have any advice?
Our main advice would be to read widely and think about a topic or issue that you can relate to mediation. Take some time to plan your response. Ensure that you remain focused on your chosen topic throughout your answer and try not to stray into tangential topics.
Our second piece of advice would be to proofread your work before submission.