Global Focus 2025 opens Oct. 1

Photo contest celebrates international engagement and open to all Spartans

By: Beth Brauer

Michigan State University’s International Studies and Programs invites Spartan students, faculty, staff, scholars, retirees and alumni to share their experiences through the annual Global Focus photo contest starting Oct. 1.

busy street with a view of a building with four spires during golden hour in Hyderabad, India
"Hyderabad Hubbub" by Salil Sapre

For 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 at any time 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 Amazon to Tower Bridge and everything in between. One final category open to all is the Best Story Behind the Photo.

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

The Cliffs of Mohr, lush green grasses and a tower with people surrounding it
"The Beauty of Moher" by Aidan Tripp

All photo entries will be evaluated by a panel of judges representing global and expert perspectives with winners 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.

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

This story originally appeared on the International Studies and Programs website.

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