The Royal Photographic Society - Joan Wakelin Bursary

• The Royal Photographic Society

• Deadline: July 14th, 2025

• Category: Social Documentary Photography

• Prize: £2,000 + Travel

• Entry Fees: Free

• REGISTRATION: CLICK HERE

The Joan Wakelin Bursary, administered by The Royal Photographic Society (RPS) in collaboration with The Guardian, provides an annual award of £2,000 to support the creation of a compelling photographic essay focused on a significant social documentary issue taking place overseas. This bursary is designed to assist photographers in producing impactful visual narratives that highlight important international concerns.

Established in 2005, this bursary honors the legacy of Joan Wakelin, a highly respected documentary photographer and Honorary Fellow of The RPS. Her dedication to storytelling through photography serves as the inspiration for this award. The bursary strictly funds new projects and does not provide financial assistance for existing or ongoing work. Additionally, projects that involve travel to or within active war zones are not eligible for funding, as safety remains a priority.

Applications for the 2025 Joan Wakelin Bursary will close on 14 July 2025. To begin the application process or to continue working on an existing submission, applicants must visit the official application portal, where they can log in using their RPS Account credentials or create a new account if they do not already have one.