Michigan State University’s International Studies and Programs annual Global Focus Photo Contest is back for another year of awe-inspiring views from across the globe.

The contest is open to Spartan students, faculty, staff, scholars, retirees and alumni, and encourages all who enter to share their experiences abroad through photos and stories beginning Oct. 1.

For more than 25 years, Global Focus has recognized Spartans who capture outstanding photos of people, places, moments and treasures from around the world. Photos may be taken from any time period but must be the original work photographed by amateur photographers outside the United States.

AI-generated images and images manipulated or enhanced to change the original state of the photo will not be considered.
Any MSU-affiliated student, scholar, employee or alum may enter one of three categories (Student/Scholar, Faculty/Staff/Retiree, and Alumni) as well as the Global Spartan Pride category, which highlights the places Spartan gear has traveled from the Gobi Desert to Machu Picchu and everywhere in between.

Back by popular demand, the final category is the Best Story Behind the Photo.

Prizes in the form of gift certificates and/or Global Spartan swag will be awarded to winners from each category.

All photo entries will be evaluated by a panel of judges representing global and expert perspectives and announced in November during International Education Week. Winners will be selected from each entrant category, and their images will be shared broadly across MSU platforms with some professionally framed and prominently displayed in the International Center.

For more information about contest categories and to submit entries, visit the International Studies and Programs website by Oct. 31.