Student Award 2009: winners announced!

The winning entry 2009

The winner

The winner of the Subject Centre's undergraduate student essay competition 2009 is Laura Gent, 4th year Modern Languages student at the University of Newcastle upon Tyne. Read Laura's winning essay: "How have you been inspired by studying languages, linguistics or area studies at university?"

Runners up

• Deborah Adams, 4th year Humanities with English Language student at the Open University
• Vladislav Mackevic, 2nd year International Relations and English student at Aston University
• Amelia Villiers-Stuart, 1st year French and English Literature student at the University of Edinburgh

Are you a student studying for a degree in Languages, Linguistics or Area Studies?

Would you like
to win £250 for
a 1,000-word essay?

Well now's
your chance!

Would you like the opportunity to express your views on "How have you been inspired by studying languages, linguistics or area studies at university?"

The Higher Education Academy Subject Centre for Languages, Linguistics and Area Studies is giving you the chance to offer your opinions and experiences in a 1000-word essay. This opportunity is open to anyone studying Languages, Linguistics or Area Studies as part of their HE course.

The winning essay will be put on the Subject Centre website, will be featured in our magazine and will give you the opportunity of going to the HE Academy Conference.

So, get writing - and share your thoughts in the field of Languages, Linguistics and Area Studies!

NB: We reserve editorial rights for any essays we choose to publish.

Submit your essay

Deadline for submission: 31st March 2009

Please email your essay to Paula Davis (pd2@soton.ac.uk). Please ensure you include your:

• Name
• University
• Department
• Course title
• Year of Study
• Term address/ Home address (please state which one you use as main)
• Contact email address
• Contact telephone number

Click here to download a cover sheet to submit with your essay.

For examples of what makes an award-winning essay, read the 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008 winning essays; it may help you get started. Good luck!

Further details

Criteria

Submitted essays will be assessed against the following criteria. Your work should:

• Answer the question by describing how you have been inspired by studying at university.
• Give the reader an overview of the factors that led to your answer, including specific examples as appropriate.
• Provide an individual and honest account.
• Be entertaining and interesting to read.
• Be well written in terms of structure, grammar and spelling.
• Not vary from the 1,000 word guideline by more than 10% either way.
• Be submitted on the application form in electronic format.