International Poetry Competition, Deadline: 31 August 2016.

The Oxford Brookes Poetry Centre is delighted to launch its 2016 International Poetry Competition to celebrate the power of poetry across the world!

General Terms and Conditions:

• The Oxford Brookes International Poetry Competition 2016 (the “Competition”) is organised by the Poetry Centre of Oxford Brookes University (“OBU”).
• The competition is open to anyone aged 18 or over at the time of entering unless excluded by these Rules. By entering the Competition, you confirm that you understand and agree to accept these Rules.
• International entries are welcome.
• You do not have to be a published poet to enter.
• The closing date of the competition is midnight (UK time) 31 August 2016.  The competition opens for entries at midnight (UK time) 29 April 2016.
• There are two categories in the Competition i) Open and ii) English as a Second Language (ESL). To be eligible for the ESL category entrants must confirm that English is not their first language when they pay their entry fee online.
• There is no limit to the number of entries a single entrant can make.
• Entries will not be returned so please keep a copy.
• Under no circumstances can alterations be made to poems once entered. If entrants wish to correct errors in their poem, they must withdraw it from the Competition and enter again with payment of entry fee. No correspondence or discussion about amendments will be entered into.
• Current direct or indirect OBU employees and staff (who may also be students) and their spouses/partners are not eligible to enter; neither are any current or former Competition judges.
• OBU cannot accept any responsibility for any damage, loss, injury or disappointment suffered by any entrant entering the Competition.
• OBU reserves the right both to cancel the Competition and to amend these Rules where it is deemed necessary or to account for circumstances beyond OBU’s control. Any notice of cancellation or changes to the Rules will be posted on the Poetry Centre website.
• In the event of any dispute regarding these Rules or any other matter relating to the Competition, the decision of OBU shall be final and no correspondence or discussion shall be entered into.
• Entries not complying with the Competition Rules will be disqualified, as will entrants in breach of the Rules.
• Entrants must not approach or attempt to influence any judge or member of OBU staff over Competition matters.
• The Competition Rules will be governed by English law and any dispute will be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales.
Poems
• All entries are judged anonymously and the poet’s name must not appear on the poem However, you must give your real name as part of your submission, even if you prefer that your work is published under a pseudonym.
• All poems must have a title and must not exceed 50 lines in length (excluding title).
• Entries can be on any subject.
• Poems must be the original work of the entrant.
• Entries must not have been published in print, on websites, public areas of social networking sites, broadcast, have featured among the winners of another competition or be submitted elsewhere for consideration.
• Poems must be written primarily in English, though a few words or phrases in another language or languages can be included.
• Entrants may submit poems translated into English providing the source text is their own original work and has not been published in print, on websites, public areas of social networking sites, broadcast, featured among the winners of another competition or be submitted elsewhere for consideration.
Prizes
• The winner of the Open category will receive a prize of £1,000.
• The winner of the ESL category will receive a prize of £1,000.
• The runner-up (second-placed poem) in the Open category will receive a prize of £200.
• The runner-up (second-placed poem) in the ESL category will receive a prize of £200.
• One Special Commendation non-cash prize in the Open Category.
• One Special Commendation non-cash prize in the ESL Category.
• Prize winners will be paid directly into the same bank account from which the fee for the entry was originally paid.
• No poet may win more than one cash prize.
• OBU reserves the right, in conjunction with the Competition judge, not to award the prizes, or to reduce or split the prize money if, in their opinion, such action is justified for any reason.
• The prize money is generated entirely through entry fees and maybe reduced if an insufficient number of entries is received.
The winners of each category will receive £1000 and both runners-up £200.
The competition deadline is midnight on 31 August 2016.
Scholarship Link