Rules applying to all categories:

1. Unless otherwise stated, all work entered must have been published in the student media since April 1st, 2008.

2. Unless otherwise stated, 3 different examples of your work must be submitted with the appropriate application form. Check the categories page carefully to make sure you are submitting the correct material to avoid disappointment.

3. All students must pre-register their intention to enter the 3 Student Media Awards between January 20th, 2009 and Febuary 27th, 2009. You then have until March 6th, 2009 to submit physical entries and samples to the Oxygen office, which must also include an appilcation form. Pre-registration availble here. Unless otherwise stated, 3 Student Media Awards are not open to students who have worked professionally in the category into which they are entering (not including summer work and internships).

5. Any publication which receives professional assistance in design, maintenance or production is not eligible to enter. This does not apply in the website of the year category where professional design help is allowed, but must be stated on the application form.

6. The closing date for completed, returned applications is 5.00pm, March 6th, 2009 to 3 Smedias, Oxygen, Basement, 11 Sallymount Avenue, Ranelagh, Dublin 6. Please, please note- an application form must accompany every entry.

7. Application forms may be photocopied.

8. Applications are submitted at the owner's risk and cannot be returned.

9. Not a rule, but a suggestion. Cut out the articles you are submitting for the journalism and writer categories and past them on to stiff backing card- not too big please! This makes things much easier for the judges. And they're the people you want to impress. Please don't send torn pages from the newspaper with jagged edges and highlighter all over them.

10. Radio Entries are accepted on CD only. TV or animation entries must be on DVD (VHS entires will not be viewed- for your own good, don't send them!). No other formats will be accepted. This might sound crazy but we did receive blank disks last year, so best to check and make sure before you send them in.

11. Photography entrants must supply prints of their photos. Photocopies or newspaper reproductions will not be accepted. Prints to be no larger than A4 size.

12. Each entry must be accompanied by a completed application form. All application forms must be signed by the entrant and all application fees and support material included. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

13. In the case of a group entry [e.g. radio production or short film] one form should be submitted signed on behalf of the group. This form should contain the names of all members of the group. There is no need for each member of the group to fill in separate forms.

14. The fee is €12 per entry [1-9 entries], or €10 each for 10 or more entries [per publication i.e. everyone on your paper put together]. This is to cover organisational and administration costs and may be paid by cash or cheque (make cheques payable to Oxygen please). Each shortlisted entry gets free admission to the awards ceremony. There will also be a limited number of free tickets available from the oxygen website.

15. This contest is open to full-time students of the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.

16. The judges' decision is final. No entries will be returned and no correspondence will be entered into regarding the judging of the competition.

17. The winners will be announced on Thursday April 2nd in Dublin's Mansion house

18. The 3 Student Media Awards are produced and run by Oxygen. Oxygen reserves the right to change the rules without notice.

19. You must be an Oxygen member to enter. Joining is easy, it only takes a minute, click here to do so.

20. This is important: You may only enter a category once. But you can enter as many categories as you like.

21. Any attempt to contact or canvass judges will result in immediate disqualification from this and future Student Media Awards.

22. The organisers of the awards may request proof from applicants that they are full-time students, or othewise conforming to the criteria specified in category descriptions regarding their full-time professional or academic status.

The organisers cannot undertake the return of submissions as they are archived for reference purposes. Neither oxygen or the organising committee accept responsibility for any entries lost or damaged in transit.