The Wits/PPS “Health Economics for Africa” Essay Competition showcases the voices of undergraduates and postgraduates at African universities on health economic issues critical to Africa this is to advance the discipline of health economics on the global stage.
About University of the Witwatersrand
Wits University is taking the lead in reimagining trendy Braamfontein to further our contribution in delivering high level scarce skills for the global knowledge economy. Our location in Johannesburg, the economic and industrial heartland of the African continent, places us in good stead to interact with the public and private sectors, civil society and other social agents to effect meaningful change in society. ... continue reading
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University of the Witwatersrand Health Economics Africa Essay Competition
Aim and Benefits of University of the Witwatersrand Health Economics Africa Essay Competition
Undergraduates Cash prizes:
- 1st prize USD 2,000
- 2nd prize USD 1,000
- 3rd prize USD 500
Top 10: eCertificate; a health economist and media specialist will work with the top 10 to publicise their ‘voices’ on social media.
Postgraduate Cash prizes:
- 1st prize USD 5,000
- 2nd prize USD 3,000
- 3rd prize USD 1,000
A published health economist(s) will mentor each of the three winners to publish their paper in a scientific journal.
Top 10: eCertificate; a health economist and media specialist will work with the top 10 to publicise their ‘voices’ on social media.
Requirements for University of the Witwatersrand Health Economics Africa Essay Competition Qualification
Undergraduate Eligibility
- This competition is open to undergraduate students from any discipline currently enrolled in any university on the African continent in a Bachelors or Honours degree (entrants will be required to upload a certified proof of registration/enrolment in 2025 as part of the submission process).
- Essays have to focus on the following topics:
- The Cost of Distance: When Geography Shapes Health
- Climate on the Clinic Doorstep
- Antibiotics and the Dilemmas of Healthcare Decisions
- What – and Who – Keeps the Health System Running
- Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Healthcare
- The Political Economy of Health Financing
Postgraduate Eligibility
- This competition is open to postgraduate students from any discipline currently enrolled in a Master’s or Doctoral/PhD degree at any university on the African continent (entrants will be required to upload a certified proof of registration/enrolment in 2025 as part of the submission process).
- Papers must address a question or issue grounded in health economics, incorporating the application of economic principles and methods to health and healthcare. Papers may draw on other disciplines, but the central contribution should advance the understanding of economic aspects of health systems, health policy, and/or health behavior.
Interview date, Process and Venue for University of the Witwatersrand Health Economics Africa Essay Competition
Rules:
The organiser reserves the right to not make an award.
- Entrants may only submit one entry.
- The central focus in the entrant’s essay has to be one of the above topics. Essays focusing on issue outside this scope, will not be reviewed.
- Entrants should cite at least three academic sources in the essay.
- The essay must be the entrant’s own original, unpublished work. Joint, team and co-authored entries are not permitted.
Artificial Intelligence: The use of AI is permitted, but only where employed responsibly and ethically to augment the entrant’s own work and writing. A declaration on AI use is required on submission.
Citations and References: Entrants must use one of two citation formats, APA or Harvard, for all in-text citations and the list of references. Entrants must ensure that all information or quotes that are not their own work are properly cited.
Check also:
Tony Elumelu Foundation African Entrepreneurship Programme 2026
Application Deadline
January 31, 2026How to Apply
Undergraduate Submissions
The Oxford Abstracts platform is used for submissions.
To access the submissions page, you need to first register at: www.oxfordabstracts.com
Format
- Length: Essays should be 800-1000 words long (excluding title and references).
- On submission: Copy and paste the title, main text, and references into the relevant sections in the online form.
- Language: Essays must be written in English.
Postgraduate Submissions
The Oxford Abstracts platform is used for submissions.
To access the submissions page, you need to first register at: www.oxfordabstracts.com
Format
- Length: Papers should be 4,500–5,500 words long (excluding title, abstract and references; include the word count for the main text on the title page – do NOT include your name or any personal information on the title page, ONLY the title.
- Formatting: Typed, in single-spaced 12?point Times New Roman font.
- File Type: Submit a single PDF file via the designated submission portal (to preserve anonymity, do not include your name or other personal information in the file name).
- Language: Papers must be written in English.
For more Information, visit University of the Witwatersrand Johannesburg webpage
