Exchange Photo Essay Contest

Deadline: 

• All submissions must be received by Thursday, November 13, 2025.

Eligibility:

• A current UVic outbound exchange student (Fall 2025), or
• A past participant in the International Centre for Students exchange program within the last two years (September 2023–present)

Submissions Guidelines

• Submit your photo essay using the online submission form Photo Contest Submission Form.
• You may submit one photo essay consisting of 3–5 photos and a 400–800 word narrative.

The photo must NOT contain:

• Any offensive language or symbols
• Illegal or inappropriate behaviour
• Nudity and/or sexual behaviour 
• Information that can identify any individual 
• Any identifiable trade-marks, brands, or logos
• Advertisements or commercial messages
• Any other content that UVic determines in its sole discretion to be objectionable and/or inappropriate.

Your photo must be:

• Taken in the country of your exchange
• Free of any watermarks or added text
• Be in the original format; photographs may not be changed to add or remove objects or individuals 
• Not be in violation of any applicable law;
• Not infringe anyone else’s (i) copyright or other intellectual property rights, (ii) privacy or personality rights or (iii) other rights;

Permissions:

• By submitting your photos to the Exchange Photo Essay Contest, you grant the University of Victoria permission to use your images for educational or promotional purposes. This includes potential display on UVic websites, in publications, and in other promotional materials.
• By entering the contest, you confirm that you own the submitted photo.
• If your photos feature other individuals, ensure you have their permission. By entering the contest, you confirm that you have obtained consent from all subjects in your photos. Failure of each photo participant to grant permission for the photo submission to be entered into the contest will render the photo submission ineligible for consideration.
• If a child's face is visible, a parent or guardian must sign UVic's Photo and Video Subject Release Form. Attach the form to the Photo Contest Submission Form, mail it to PO Box 3025 / Victoria, BC / V8W 3P2, or drop it off at the front desk in the Jamie Cassels Centre, room 202d.

By entering this contest, you confirm that you have read, understood, and accept all of the terms and conditions outlined.

• Contest is sponsored by the University of Victoria as represented by the International Centre for Students 
• Contest is open to all current UVIC students that have either completed exchange in the past 2 years or are currently on exchange (January 2022-present)
• Contest ends on November 8, 2024 at 12PM PST
• Each participant may submit a maximum of three (3) entries.

Other Conditions

• By entering this contest, you declare that you have complied with all of these rules and met all eligibility requirements.
• You grant UVic a non-exclusive, royalty-free, sub-licensable, worldwide, transferable, perpetual licence to:
  1. Use, copy, adapt, communicate, distribute, publicly display and create compilations and derivative works or merchandise from any photo you submit as an entry to this contest (including any caption you have posted with your photo); and
  2. Use your name, city or town of residence, and/or any statements made by you in connection with your entry
• You allow UVic to: (a) edit, reformat, rearrange, and/or combine your photo with other materials, or otherwise modify it; (b) use your original or modified photo in UVic promotional materials; and/or (c) share your photo, or any edited version of it, on social media platforms.
• Entrants may be required to provide a release to UVic.
• Entrants agree their name may be announced on UVic’s website and other associated media sites if he or she is selected as one of the winners of the contest.
• UVic reserves the right to amend these rules or to terminate the contest at any time without any liability to any contestant or third party. Any amendments to these contest rules and regulations will be posted on the contest website.

• Personal Information: UVic will collect and use personal information from participants solely for the purposes of administering this contest and conducting the promotional activities permitted. UVic will not share entrants' personal information with third parties, except as required by law. Additionally, UVic will not contact participants for any reason outside of the contest, unless they have provided consent to receive relevant communications from UVic, or as permitted by applicable laws.

   

Photos essays will not be accepted after the deadline. We encourage you to submit your photo essay early to avoid any potential technical issues.

If you have technical issues or have any questions about the contest, please contact goglobal@uvic.ca.