On Monday 15th September 2025, Brasenose College, Oxford, opened its doors to celebrate the fifth year of the MASSOLIT Video Essay Competition. The event, hosted by Dr Joe Organ and Holly Plater, brought together all the winners including the overall competition winner, Nicole Lutaaya.
From left to right: Mordecai Watson, DingDing Zhou, Imogen Watson, Ashley Zhao, Nicole Lutaaya, Limor Hirst, Jegajeeth Jayaraj, Lizzy Lui and Adam Alexander Horn.
The day began with the filming of Nicole in the Amersi Room, a beautiful space overlooking the new Quad. From there, students and teachers enjoyed a tour of the college, gaining a real sense of Oxford life, before sitting down to lunch at high table – an honour that gave everyone a taste of collegiate tradition.
For many students, the visit was an eye-opening experience. One runner-up, Jegajeeth, reflected: “Before today I had never considered applying to a collegiate-style university, but the sense of community has really shone through today and showed me what I could be missing.”
Beyond the formalities, the day gave students a chance to meet like-minded peers from across the country. Conversations
sparked, connections were made, and for some, the idea of pursuing higher education in a collegiate environment became a genuine possibility. As Dr Joe Brogan explained the competition benefits students in a variety of ways: “Students should participate in this competition because it's wonderful for not only their own personal growth, they have a lot of research skills that go into it as well as learning better communication skills and public speaking, but also the networking.”
The day concluded with speeches from both Brasenose and MASSOLIT representatives, followed by the presentation of certificates. Dr Joe Organ reminded students that participation in the competition is itself a valuable achievement: “Competing in this style of competition, whether you make the top ten or not, is a great anecdote for your personal statements. Being able to discuss the learning journey you went through – from deciding a topic to researching it to the final video production – demonstrates the kind of commitment universities are looking for.”
The Video Essay Competition continues to grow each year, providing students with an opportunity to explore their intellectual curiosity, build confidence, and strengthen their applications. For teachers, it offers a platform to encourage students to stretch themselves beyond the classroom and experience what academic life at university might be like.
We’re delighted to confirm that the competition will return for 2026, more information will be announced in the new year via our social media and newsletter. In the meantime you can watch this year's top ten via the MASSOLIT YouTube channel.
If you have any questions please contact support@massolit.io.