Entering an international student competition could be a great way to gain experience in your dream career – not to mention the prizes on offer.
University life is full of opportunities for students to start gaining professional experience and prepare to impress future potential employers.
You may not immediately think of student competitions in this context, but they're certainly worth considering.
Ranging from awards for student filmmakers to global contests for budding architects, international student competitions are a chance to really challenge yourself and prove your ability to compete at a global level.
Whatever your subject, career interest or hobby, there’s bound to be a student competition out there for you. Here are just five of the global student contests currently running...
1. Formula Student
Organized by the UK’s Institution of Mechanical Engineers, the Formula Student competition challenges teams of students from around the world to design, build and race a single-seat racing car, all within the space of one year.
Cars are judged on acceleration, handling and endurance in time-trial races held in the UK at Silverstone, one of the world’s top motorsports venues. Teams are also assessed on design, costing and business presentation.
The 2012 contest will feature 134 student teams from universities in 34 different countries, including Australia, Netherlands, Thailand, Egypt, Iran and South Africa.
2. Tall Building Design Competition
The relatively new International Student Tall Building Design Competition is an initiative of the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH), a non-profit organization based in Chicago, US.
This contest is open to all students registered at a university, either as individuals or as teams of up to five members, and having team members from a mixture of subject areas is encouraged.
The challenge is to design a tall building for a specific location, which teams must select themselves. Entries are assessed on four criteria: creative approach, response to site, sustainability and functionality.
Five teams are selected to present their projects to a professional jury, and each of these top five teams receives a cash prize, which will be US$8,500 for the overall winner in 2012.
3. Student Focus
The Student Focus contest, hosted by the World Photography Organization, is open to photography students aged between 18 and 28.
Each year the competition has a different theme – ‘celebrations’ in 2012. Ten finalists are selected to have their entries displayed at the World Photo London show and printed in the annual World Photography Awards book.
Each finalist takes home a professional camera, while the overall winner also receives additional photography equipment for their university. Around 200 institutions worldwide are currently registered to participate in Student Focus.
4. Global Business Challenge
Organized by the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA), the annual Global Business Challenge invites entries from teams of four full-time undergraduate students.
After an initial case study analysis competition, between four and six teams are shortlisted from each participating region. These teams then compete in the next stage, which includes making a video, giving a presentation, and responding to judges’ questions.
The finalists chosen from each region have the opportunity to travel to the global final, which will be held in Sri Lanka in 2012, to present their work to an international panel of judges.
Universities across Europe, Oceania, Africa and Asia currently participate in the CIMA Global Business Challenge.
5. Student Academy Awards
Hosted by the US Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (more often known just as the Academy), the Student Academy Awards are the equivalent of the Oscars for student filmmakers.
There are four categories of entry for students at universities in the US – narrative, animation, documentary and alternative – as well as the ‘foreign film’ category for those outside the US.
Up to three finalists are selected in each category. All have the chance to attend an Oscars-style ceremony in Beverly Hills, where they find out whether they’ve won a gold, silver or bronze award.
Each comes with a cash prize, up to US$5,000 – not to mention the promise of future greatness.
These are just a few of the fantastic international student competitions out there. If you have any other recommendations, please share them in our student community.