Terms of Use

Last updated: June 2026

By using this website, you agree to these Terms of Use. Please read them carefully.

An independent guide

This site is an independent educational guide to the Harvard International Review (HIR) Academic Writing Contest. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Harvard International Review or Harvard University. All names, logos, and trademarks are the property of their respective owners and are referred to here only to describe the contest.

Information, not official rules

We work to keep this guide accurate and current, but prompts, dates, fees, and rules are set by the contest organizer and can change. Nothing on this site is official. Before you register or submit, confirm all details on the official contest page. We are not responsible for decisions made in reliance on information here that has since changed.

Our content

The text, design, and original graphics on this site are ours unless otherwise credited, and may not be copied or republished without permission. You may share links to our pages freely.

Coaching services

We offer optional, paid coaching to help students prepare. Coaching is a supplement to a student’s own work—not a substitute for it—and we do not write, co-author, or edit essays into the student’s submission on their behalf. We make no guarantee of any award, score, or admission outcome.

External links

This site links to third-party websites, including the official contest site. We are not responsible for the content or practices of sites we do not operate.

Limitation of liability

This site is provided “as is.” To the fullest extent permitted by law, we are not liable for any loss arising from your use of the site or reliance on its content.

Changes

We may update these terms from time to time. Continued use of the site after changes means you accept the updated terms.

Contact

Questions about these terms? Reach us through our contact page.