Sony World Photography Awards Offers Up To $30,000 Prize Money for Students and Professional Photographers
The Sony World Photography Awards gathers students and professional photographers who want to showcase their work and receive up to $30,000 prize money., Post a Comment
- Provider
- Various
- Host country
- Italy
- Region
- Europe
About this scholarship
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[July 28, 2021August 20, 2021](https://scholarshipsforafricans.com/2021/07/28/)
The Sony World Photography Awards gathers students and professional photographers who want to showcase their work and get the chance to receive up to $30,000 prize money in the process.
In addition, winning images will be selected, shortlisted, and curated. Once narrowed down, the chosen works will be featured at the prestigious Somerset House, London each Spring as part of the Sony World Photography Awards exhibition.
**Application deadlines:**
- **OPEN CATEGORY:** January 7, 2022 at 13:00 GMT
- **PROFESSIONAL CATEGORY:** January 14, 2022 at 13:00 GMT
- **STUDENT CATEGORY:** November 30, 2021 at 13:00 GMT
- **YOUTH COMPETITION:** Varying. June 30, 2021 (for the month of June)
**See some of last year’s overall winners for the Sony World Photography Awards:**
- Winner for Wildlife & Nature Category (Professional Competition): Luis Tato (Spain) for his series Locust Invasion in East Africa
- Winner for Sports Category (Professional Competition): Anas Alkharboutli (Syrian Arab Republic) for his series Sport and Fun Instead of War and Fear.
- Youth Photographer of the Year (Design and Composition): Pubarun Basu (India) for his photo No Escape from Reality.
- Winner for Landscape Category (Professional Competition): Majid Hojjati (Islamic Republic of Iran) for his series Silent Neighborhoods
- Winner for Environment Category (Professional Competition): Simone Tramonte (Italy) for his series Net-zero Transition
- Open Photographer of the Year: Tamary Kudita (Zimbabwe)
- Documentary Photography Winner: Vito Fusco (Italy) for his series The Killing Daisy
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### Table of contents
- [About the Sony World Photography Awards](https://scholarshipsforafricans.com/sony-world-photography-awards-offers-up-to-30000-prize-money-for-students-and-professional-photographers/#h-about-the-sony-world-photography-awards)
- [Prize Money and More Contest Details](https://scholarshipsforafricans.com/sony-world-photography-awards-offers-up-to-30000-prize-money-for-students-and-professional-photographers/#h-prize-money-and-more-contest-details)
- [Professional Competition](https://scholarshipsforafricans.com/sony-world-photography-awards-offers-up-to-30000-prize-money-for-students-and-professional-photographers/#h-professional-competition)
- [Open Competition](https://scholarshipsforafricans.com/sony-world-photography-awards-offers-up-to-30000-prize-money-for-students-and-professional-photographers/#h-open-competition)
- [Youth Competition](https://scholarshipsforafricans.com/sony-world-photography-awards-offers-up-to-30000-prize-money-for-students-and-professional-photographers/#h-youth-competition)
- [Student Competition](https://scholarshipsforafricans.com/sony-world-photography-awards-offers-up-to-30000-prize-money-for-students-and-professional-photographers/#h-student-competition)
- [Eligibility Criteria for Students and Professional Photographers](https://scholarshipsforafricans.com/sony-world-photography-awards-offers-up-to-30000-prize-money-for-students-and-professional-photographers/#h-eligibility-criteria-for-students-and-professional-photographers)
- [How to Apply](https://scholarshipsforafricans.com/sony-world-photography-awards-offers-up-to-30000-prize-money-for-students-and-professional-photographers/#h-how-to-apply)
## About the Sony World Photography Awards
Currently on its 14th year, the Sony World Photography Awards is deemed the largest photography competition. It was first established in 2007 under the World Photography Organization.
The competition has helped support photographers around the world, celebrated and showcased their work, as well as nurtured the medium of photography on a global scale.
Furthermore, the awards are open to all photographers regardless of experience. Joining the said competition can help kickstart any aspiring photographer’s career through winning or being short-listed.
## Prize Money and More Contest Details
The Sony World Photography Awards has four competitions, namely: professional, open, youth, and student. To learn more, please refer below.
### Professional Competition
This section rewards the best photo series worldwide. It is open to anyone submitting a series of five to 10 images per category. There are ten diverse categories under the professional competition. In the end, up to seven shortlisted photographers per category and a top three will be awarded.
One overall winner will receive the title of Photographer of the Year along with a $25,000 prize money. On top of this, Sony will be giving the awardee free digital imaging equipment, a certificate and trophy, global press exposure, inclusion and a personal copy of the Sony Photography Awards book, and become part of the World Photography Organization’s online community.
### Open Competition
For the Open Competition, Sony rewards the world’s best single images. The floor is open to anyone willing to submit a single image taken this 2021. In the end, 15 lucky photographers will be shortlisted in every 10 diverse categories.
Other than the Open Photographer of the Year title and other perks, the topper will take home $5,000.
### Youth Competition
This category has similar rules and benefits to the Open Competition. However, the only difference is that this particular section shall recognize the best single images shot by photographers aged 12-19. Please do note that there are no cash prizes for this particular competition.
### Student Competition
The Student Competition of the Sony World Photography Awards provides a platform for photography students worldwide. Anyone aged 18-30 years old may freely take part in the contest.
For this challenge, the students will answer a set [brief](https://www.worldphoto.org/sony-world-photography-awards/student) with five to 10 images.
## Eligibility Criteria for Students and Professional Photographers
This opportunity is open to both student and professional photographers globally. There are no restrictions of race and nationality. The general rule that stands is that all submitted images for the competition must have been taken in 2021.
For the individual eligibility rules and criteria of each competition, visit the official [Sony World Photography Awards webpage](https://www.worldphoto.org/sony-world-photography-awards)
## How to Apply
In order to join the contest, please register via the [competition entry platform](https://users.worldphoto.org/user). The succeeding steps will then be instructed by the award-giving body soon after.
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Eligibility criteria
Always cross-check eligibility against the sponsor's official site before applying — sponsor rules can change between intakes.
- Citizen or permanent resident of an eligible African country
- Willing to study in Italy
- Strong academic record — typically a minimum GPA equivalent to a UK 2:1 / US 3.3
- English-language proficiency demonstrated by IELTS, TOEFL or an MOI letter
- Two academic or professional references able to speak to your potential
Required documents
A planning baseline drawn from how 90%+ of African scholarship sponsors structure their checklist. The sponsor's portal is the source of truth for any single application.
- Valid international passport (bio page scan)
- Most recent academic transcripts (sealed or e-verified copies)
- Curriculum vitae / résumé (1–2 pages, reverse-chronological)
- Personal statement or motivation letter (500–1,000 words, tailored to the sponsor)
- Two to three reference letters (academic for students, professional for working applicants)
- Proof of English proficiency (IELTS, TOEFL or Duolingo) — Medium-of-Instruction letter may substitute for Anglophone-Africa graduates
- Passport-sized photograph meeting ICAO biometric standards
- Country-of-origin proof (national ID or birth certificate) — required by many Africa-focused funders
Deadline timeline
The sponsor has not published a fixed deadline yet. Use the milestones below as a generic 12-month plan; substitute dates once the intake window opens.
- 12 months out
Register for tests (IELTS/TOEFL/SAT/GRE), shortlist 3–5 universities, identify referees.
- 6 months out
Sit your tests, draft a personal statement, request transcripts and confirm reference letters.
- 3 months out
Finalise essays, upload supporting documents, complete the online application portal.
- 1 month out
Final review, double-check uploaded files, submit a week before the deadline to avoid portal issues.
- Application deadline
Submit by 23:59 in the sponsor's stated time zone — usually local to the sponsor, not your country.
Frequently asked questions
Who can apply for the Sony World Photography Awards Offers Up To $30,000 Prize Money for Students and Professional Photographers?+
Applicants must be eligible African nationals applying at the the stated level level, meet the academic and English-language requirements set by Various, and be able to relocate to Italy for the duration of the programme.
Is the Sony World Photography Awards Offers Up To $30,000 Prize Money for Students and Professional Photographers fully funded?+
Funding model: Funding type varies — check the official site. Where listed as fully funded, the award typically covers tuition, monthly stipend, health insurance and round-trip airfare. Always confirm the latest funding breakdown on the sponsor's official page.
When is the application deadline?+
The application deadline is varies by intake — see the official site. Submit at least one week early — sponsor portals frequently slow or fail in the final 24 hours, and late submissions are not accepted under any circumstances.
What documents do I need to apply?+
At minimum: passport bio page, academic transcripts, CV, personal statement, two to three references, and an English-language test score (IELTS, TOEFL or Duolingo). Research-led Masters and PhD applications also require a research proposal and a writing sample.
How can I improve my chance of winning?+
Apply early, tailor every essay to the specific sponsor (do not recycle a generic statement), secure at least one reference who knows your work in detail, and apply to two or three additional scholarships in parallel — never rely on a single application.