Uttam Kumar from India was the grand winner, chosen by a panel of judges out of seven finalists who were flown to Australia after submitting winning digital postcard designs over the seven week campaign.

Launched in October to boost interest in Australia as a study destination, Austrade said the competition “far exceeded expectations” attracting 37,000 postcard entries from 190 countries, 850,000 visits to the website and a million views of the competition video.

Kumar’s winning digital post card entry

To enter, students were asked to design a digital post card depicting their future and how Australia education could help them realise it.

The finalists were flown to Australia for a ten-day study tour including visits to tertiary institutions across the country.

During the tour, the finalists were interviewed by a judging panel made up of Michael Fox CEO and Co founder of Shoes of Prey, Helen Zimmerman Executive General Manager, Navitas Ltd and President of the International Education Association of Australia, and a senior Austrade executive.

Kumar will receive 12 months study, return flights, accommodation, a stipend and the opportunity for an internship. Currently a student at Indian Institute of Technology, Kumar plans to study a master’s degree in materials science or engineering at the University of New South Wales.

“Mr. Kumar particularly impressed the judges with the clarity, honesty and creativity with which he made his case,” Austrade said in a statement.