Student photographers pay attention: Canon has unveiled an exciting new scheme across the UK and Ireland to provide engaging and educational photographic experiences.

The new Canon Student Network will give students access to opportunities such as seminars on photography business from professionals in the industry, a headline photo competition where one winner will have his or her image featuring as the header for a major Canon ad campaign and a chance to “Shoot the Show” at London Fashion Week.

Canon also says that the programme will provide great networking opportunities that should give those seriously considering a career in photography a little extra push to get on the first rung of the ladder.

The programme is being rolled out at eleven universities across the UK and Ireland: Ravensbourne, Norwich University, City of Westminster College, Leicester College, Reid Kerr College, Middlesex University, Plymouth College of Art, University of the Arts London, University of East London, University College Falmouth, and Griffith College.

Students need to be in their first or second year of studying a photography course at one of these universities (second-year students need to own a Canon camera and lens), and have to be signed up to Canon’s Project 1709 online image management system. A course for third year students is being rolled out next academic year.

To sign up, students should head to http://www.canonstudentnetwork.co.uk/.