USEMS/FSEM Essay Competition

Run jointly with the Faculty of Sport and Exercise Medicine (FSEM), open to undergraduates and recent graduates across medicine, physiotherapy and allied healthcare.

2026 competition

AI in Sport and Exercise Medicine: A Powerful Ally or a Potential Risk?

Write your essay in the form of a journal editorial on this topic.

Submissions closed 31st January 2026 — winner to be announced soon

Eligibility

• Undergraduates (medical, physiotherapy, allied healthcare professionals) enrolled on a healthcare course at university in England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, or the Republic of Ireland on the closing date
• Recently graduated (within 2 years, e.g. foundation doctors/equivalent)

Award

• £100 prize
• A one-day BASEM conference ticket
• Publication of the winning piece in BASEM Today

Format requirements

• Written in the style of a journal editorial — a piece expressing the author's opinion on a topic of public interest, aiming to persuade the reader
• Times New Roman, size 12, maximum 800 words (excluding title and references)
• Up to 3 tables, graphs or images (not essential)
• Quotes identified in quotation marks and appropriately referenced
• No more than 8 references, Vancouver style (numbered superscript)
• Short, succinct title (max two lines, size 12)
• Sub-headings recommended
• Total word count included at the end

Submission details

In the body of your email, state your full name, university, course and year of study (or graduation date), undergraduate or recent graduate status, employer (if graduated), and contact details (email and mobile). Attach your essay as a Word document or PDF.

Label your essay with the topic title only — your essay and filename must not contain your name or any identifying information, so it can be marked anonymously.

Ask about the next round

Past winners

Previous Essay Competition winners

Chronological, most recent first.