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: CLOSED. Click HERE for more Opportunities

Are you a photographer with a passion for social documentary storytelling? Do you have an idea for a compelling photographic essay that sheds light on an overseas social issue? The Joan Wakelin Bursary, jointly administered by The RPS and The Guardian, offers £2,000 in funding to help bring your vision to life. This prestigious award supports the creation of new documentary projects that explore meaningful narratives through photography.

Established in 2005 in honor of Joan Wakelin, a celebrated documentary photographer and Honorary Fellow of The RPS, this bursary was designed to foster impactful storytelling. If you have a fresh idea for a project, this is your chance to secure funding—however, please note that the bursary only supports new work and does not fund ongoing projects. Additionally, for safety reasons, proposals that involve travel to or within war zones will not be considered.

Don’t miss this opportunity! The application deadline is 14 July 2025. If you’re ready to apply, or if you need to continue an existing application, visit the official application portal, where you can log in using your RPS Account credentials or create a new account to get started.