The International Student Awards 2011 is an exciting competition that celebrates the achievements of international students and their contributions to life in the UK.

The Awards are run by the British Council, the UK's international organisation for educational opportunities and cultural relations.

How to enter

Entry is simple: all you have to do is write a letter 'home' telling a family member, teacher or friend about your time in the UK, and how it has challenged and excited you.

A panel of judges – NUS representatives, education professionals and British Council colleagues – will choose the best letters to become shining examples of UK life for future international students.    

Eligibility

To enter the International Student Awards 2011, entrants must fulfil all of the following requirements:

• they must be studying at an eligible UK institution*
• they must be following a full-time course of study and be on a course lasting a minimum of six months
• they must be aged 15 years or over by the competition closing date of 19 January 2011
• they must be nationals and citizens of a country outside the UK, and ordinarily live outside the UK
• boarding school students must be full-time boarders aged 15 years or over.

Shine! is not open to members of the British Council or their families, expatriate UK citizens and their children, including dependants of the British Armed Forces.    

Eligible institutions  

Entrants should be currently enrolled on a course of study at one of the following:

• A publicly funded UK higher and further education institution, or a private institution that has been appropriately quality assured.
• A UK independent secondary boarding school that is accredited through the Independent Schools Council (ISC) or the Scottish Council for Independent Schools (SCIS) and STABIS (State Boarding Schools Information Service) schools.
• An Independent UK college of further education that is accredited by the British Accreditation Council (BAC) and offering courses with UK quality assurance.
• A UK institution with Open University validation (all courses).
• An English language and teaching institution that is accredited by the British Council through the English in Britain Accreditation Scheme.
  
  

This competition is entirely web based so you can enter online. The deadline for entries is 19 January 2011.

For further information about the Shine! International Student Awards or to submit your letter, please click here. If you have any questions, please contact the Shine! team at the British Council on shine@britishcouncil.org.