AN American basketball player's inspiring story of student life in Worcester has placed him in line for a major award.

Josh Cooprider, a postgraduate student at University College Worcester has been shortlisted in the International Student Awards.

The awards - run by the British Council, the UK's international organisation for educational opportunities and cultural relations - recognise international students who have learned new skills, achieved personal ambitions, enjoyed new experiences or made a contribution to their community since coming to the UK.

Josh, aged 25, chose to study at UCW so that he could play basketball.

He graduated from Northwest Nazarene University in the US with a degree in business and was planning to start his career and settle down when he received a call from Mick Donovan, a senior lecturer at UCW.

Mr Donovan had a particular interest in basketball and was looking for an American basketball player to play for Worcester Wolves, the England National Basketball League team based at UCW.

Josh is now studying for his MPhil research degree, while coaching basketball at Malvern College and playing for the Wolves.

He described his British experiences in the form of a letter home to his mum and dad.

The judges were imp-ressed enough to put Josh through to the final stages of the competition, and the chance to win a prestigious award and up to £2,000. The final winners are due to be announced later this month.

"I'm really enjoying my time over here and love working alongside so many well-motivated people," he said.

"The atmosphere here is terrific and the basketball great fun. I'm thrilled to have reached the short-list stage of the International Student Awards and hope that I get through to the finals."