Zombie Apocalypse Scholarship 2026 - $2,000 Unigo
The Zombie Apocalypse Scholarship from Unigo turns pop-culture survival planning into real college cash. Legal U.S. residents who are at least 14 and enrolled or planning to enroll in an accredited college, university, or trade school can submit one original English response describing how they would escape zombies on campus, where they would hide, and the top five items they would bring. The listing advertises a $2,000 award; official rules also reference a $1,500 scholarship check paid to your school after proof of enrollment. Applications open after 31 October 2025 and close at 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time on 31 October 2026. Judges score writing ability, creativity, originality, and overall excellence at 25% each.
What is the Zombie Apocalypse Scholarship?
Unigo built a whole catalog of quirky, short-essay scholarships, and the Zombie Apocalypse award might be the most fun entry in the bunch. Instead of transcripts and recommendation letters, you sketch a survival plan for when your math professor and cafeteria staff turn into the walking dead.
The prompt is specific: explain how you would dodge zombies, name your hideout, and list five items you would not leave behind. You get 250 words, English only, and one shot per person. Legal U.S. residents from every state plus the District of Columbia can enter if they are at least 14 and headed to (or already in) accredited postsecondary study.
The prize helps with real tuition bills even if the topic is fictional. The public listing shows $2,000, while the printed official rules also reference a $1,500 institutional check, so read the live rules when you apply. Winners typically hear back around late January after the Halloween-season deadline.
If you binge zombie shows anyway, this is your chance to turn that plot brainstorming into college money. Keep the tone creative but clean, because obscene entries are disqualified, and Unigo keeps ownership of submitted essays for marketing use.
Eligibility
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✓Legal U.S. resident in a state or DCYou must be a legal resident of one of the fifty United States or the District of Columbia when you apply. International students without U.S. legal residency cannot enter.
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✓At least 14 years oldApplicants must be fourteen or older at the time of application.
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✓Enrolled or planning postsecondary studyYou must be currently enrolled in an accredited college, university, or trade school, or enroll no later than fall 2031 per Unigo official rules.
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✓One application per personUnigo accepts only one application per individual. Duplicate entries can disqualify you.
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✓Original 250-word English responseWrite a previously unpublished zombie survival plan in English with correct spelling and grammar. Responses over 250 words or containing obscene content are disqualified.
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✓Not an Unigo employee or immediate familyCurrent Unigo employees, officers, directors, agents, and their immediate family members living at the same address are not eligible.
Benefits
- Advertised prize $2,000 toward college costs
- Official rules prize $1,500 check to your school
- Payment timing After proof of enrollment (by 2031)
- GPA requirement None for this contest
- Transcripts Not required at application
- Renewable funding One-time award
- Cash paid to student Paid to accredited institution
Document checklist
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✓Online Unigo Zombie Apocalypse applicationComplete the form at unigo.com/our-scholarships with name, contact information, background details, and academic details.
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✓250-word survival essayAnswer the campus zombie prompt: where you would hide, how you would avoid the undead, and your top-five survival items. Maximum 250 words.
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✓Accurate enrollment informationState your current school or planned postsecondary enrollment honestly. Winners must later submit proof of enrollment to receive funds.
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✓Winner affidavit and tax forms (if selected)Potential winners complete an Affidavit of Eligibility, publicity release, and IRS W-9 within ten days of notification.
How to apply
Deadline and timeline
FAQ
What is the Zombie Apocalypse Scholarship?
It is a creative writing scholarship from Unigo that asks students to imagine their high school or college overrun by zombies and explain their escape plan, hideout, and top-five survival items in 250 words or less.
How much is the Zombie Apocalypse Scholarship worth?
The scholarship page lists a $2,000 award amount. Unigo official rules also describe a $1,500 scholarship check made payable to the winner's accredited postsecondary institution after proof of enrollment. Confirm the live rules on unigo.com before you apply.
Can District of Columbia residents apply for the Zombie Apocalypse Scholarship?
Yes. Eligibility covers legal residents of all fifty states and the District of Columbia who meet age and enrollment requirements.
When is the Zombie Apocalypse Scholarship deadline?
Applications are due by 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time on 31 October 2026. The cycle typically opens one year earlier on 31 October 2025.
What is the Zombie Apocalypse Scholarship essay prompt?
You describe how you would avoid zombies after your school is overrun, where you would hide, and the top five things you would bring to stay alive. The response must be 250 words or fewer in English.
Does the Zombie Apocalypse Scholarship require a minimum GPA?
No. Unigo does not list a GPA minimum or require transcripts for this contest. Your short written response drives selection.
Who judges the Zombie Apocalypse Scholarship?
A qualified Unigo panel scores applications on writing ability, creativity, originality, and overall excellence, each weighted at 25%. Ties go to the higher overall excellence score.
When are Zombie Apocalypse Scholarship winners announced?
Unigo states the winner will be notified by email or phone on or around 31 January 2027 after the October 2026 deadline.
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