Entry is open for a programme that offers students from Northern Ireland scholarships to spend a year studying in the United States.
Study USA provides opportunities for students to study business and management for a year in American colleges across 34 states.
The programme — which the Department of Employment and Learning launched in 2011 — offers a bursary facility to eligible students, and aims to raise academic standards and promotes the building of employability skills.
Participating students also have the opportunity to gain valuable international experience and business knowledge and to develop their management and leadership skills for their return to Northern Ireland and future careers.
David Alderdice, director of British Council Northern Ireland, said: “In order for Northern Ireland to compete internationally we must develop young people who are comfortable in the global marketplace.
The Study USA programme certainly delivers in this regard.”
Students do not need to be from a business background to apply to the programme and applications are open to full-time, pre-final year students of any discipline studying on degree or HND courses.
A graduation ceremony for this year’s participants was held on October 4 in the Belfast Harbour Commissioners Office.
Speaking at the event, minister Stephen Farry said: “I would like to welcome home the returning students and commend them all on their hard work throughout the past year.
“They have been positive ambassadors for Northern Ireland and I am confident that the skills and knowledge they have acquired during their studies in the United States will aid them immensely.
“My department has committed £2.4m to support the Study USA programme over the 2014-15 period and for the first time, this year we provided support for an internship programme, focusing on work placement opportunities in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) and sales and marketing.”
From the 72 students who took part in last year’s programme, five students were selected based on achieving top academic marks and given the opportunity to complete an essay highlighting how their experience has helped further their employability.
From this, Queen’s University Geography student, Lucy Trotter, was named as the “Student of the Year” at the ceremony.
Lucy said: “The essay was about how the Study USA programme helped my employability, which I found quite easy to write, as it was a fantastic experience and it has helped me in a number of different ways.
“For example, I will be able to show future employers that I can adapt to new situations and structures and quickly pick up new skills.”
For more information on the 2014-2015 Study USA programme and to download an application form, visit www.britishcouncil.org/northernireland-susa.
The closing date for completed applications is Friday, November 22.