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Young photographers have until 20 June 2008 to apply online, with a digital portfolio, to the Ian Parry Scholarship 2008 and the chance to win £3,000 towards an assignment.

The award – sponsored by Canon, Getty Images and The Sunday Times - is in memory of the photojournalist Ian Parry who died, whilst on assignment for the Sunday Times during the Romanian revolution in 1989, aged 24.

The Scholarship was set up by Aidan Sullivan, then picture editor of the Sunday Times (now vice president photo assignments for Getty Images), and Ian’s friends and family in order to build something positive from such a tragic death.

The annual competition is international and is open to photographers who are either attending a full-time recognised photography course or who are 24 years old and under. Entrants must submit a digital portfolio of not more than 12 of their photographs, a completed entry form, plus a brief synopsis of a project they would undertake if they won the award.

As well as the main prize of £3,000 awards of £500 will go to those photographers who are awarded highly commended and commended by the 2008 jury.

The 2007 Ian Parry judging panel included (from left to right) Tom Stoddart, former Ian Parry Scholarship winner Harriet Logan, Philip Blenkinsop, and legendary photojournalist Don McCullin.

The winner’s work will be published in The Sunday Times Magazine, and all of the Scholarship’s previous winners have progressed into a professional photography career whilst still supporting the award. Previous winners include Jonas Bendiksen, Ziyah Gafic, Irina Wering, and Aranxta Cedillo. The 2007 winner was Ivor Prickett for his portfolio of images 'The Quiet after the Storm: Croatia's Serbian Returnees' depicting the little covered story of Serbs returning to Croatia.

World Press Photo has agreed, for the fifth year in a row, to automatically accept the winner onto its final list of nominees for the Joop Swart Masterclass to be held in Amsterdam.

Judging will be held on 1 July at the Frontline Club in London and the 2008 jury includes Don McCullin, Jonas Bendiksen, Tom Stoddart (Getty Images), Cheryl Newman (photography director, Saturday Telegraph magazine), John Downing (former chief photographer of the Daily Express), Steve Blogg (Getty Images), and Ian’s family.

A print exhibition showcasing all of the winning entries will take place in London at the Getty Images Gallery from 7 to 16 August 2008.

Other sponsors of the Scholarship include the Frontline Club, the British Journal of Photography and the Getty Gallery. To apply for the Ian Parry Scholarship 2008 online just click here and follow the application instructions on the site.