Policy Idol 2025
Apply for Policy Idol 2025
Policy Idol is an annual competition open to all current students at King’s, in which participants pitch their policy ideas to an elite panel of leading figures from the worlds of politics, academia and industry.
You can enter by yourself or as part of a team, and on the day you will have just three minutes to present your idea to the judges, who will assess your pitch on the quality of delivery and the evidence and analysis underpinning it.
Organised by the Policy Institute at King’s College London, the competition sees the best ideas selected in a series of heats, with standout pitches from each heat put through to the final. All finalists receive bespoke training in policy analysis and communications, as well as an opportunity to improve their pitch.
We are looking for pitches that tackle issues linked to one or more of the One King's Impact Priorities – priority areas where the university is working towards real-world change.
Almost any subject will fit within one of these broad categories, which are:
- A thriving and sustainable planet
- Whole-life health for mind and body
- Advancing equality and social mobility
- Peace and justice in a turbulent world
- Technology for good
What you can win
There are four cash prizes on offer at the competition:
- Overall winner: £1,000
- Best delivery: £500
- Best analysis: £500
- Audience prize: £250
How to enter
You can enter by yourself or as part of a team, and on the day you will have just three minutes to present your idea to the judges, who will assess your pitch on the quality of delivery and the evidence and analysis underpinning it.
Organised by the Policy Institute at King’s College London, the competition sees the best ideas selected in a series of heats, with standout pitches from each heat put through to the final. All finalists receive bespoke training in policy analysis and communications, as well as an opportunity to improve their pitch.
Heats will take place on the following days:
- Tuesday 11 February: 14:00-16:00
- Wednesday 12 February: 14:00-16:00
- Thursday 13 February: 14:00-16:00
- Wednesday 19 February: 11:00-13:00 and 14:00-16:00
- Thursday 20 February: 11:00-13:00
All heats will take place in person at the Policy Institute, King’s College London.
The final, which will be on Thursday 10 April 2025 takes place in front of a live audience, with both the judges and the audience voting for their favourite idea at the end of the evening.
Deadline for applications: 5pm Sunday 26th January
Apply for Policy Idol 2025
Find out more about what to expect and hear students share what they got out of the competition