Photography BA (Hons)

• A-levels: For those applying with A-levels only, grades ABB are expected, supported by a strong portfolio.
• BTEC: DDM.
• International Baccalaureate: 34 points.
• Access to HE Diploma: Pass with 60 credits overall. Art and design diploma preferred. At least 45 credits at level 3, with 24 credits at merit or above.
• GCSE (minimum grade C): A good profile.

English Language Requirement:

• IELTS 6.0 overall, with 6.0 in writing and a minimum of 5.5 in the other elements.

Other:

• Art and design foundation diploma
• Interview and portfolio review

Note that we do not defer places on the course for first year entry or accept direct entry/transfer to level six (third year) of the course. Transfer/direct entry into level five may be possible if there is space, but is considered on an individual basis.

Portfolio advice
Once we have received your application we ask to see a digital portfolio of your photographic work on a Tumblr website. This should show the current stage of development of your creative photographic work, your influences and artistic and photographic interests. We are primarily interested in seeing coherent project work that explores your ideas. Therefore, portfolio images are expected to demonstrate appropriate consideration and organisation. We are not interested at this stage in work that only demonstrates technique – we can teach that upon successful entry to the course. A critical essay on the work of a photographer or a photographic genre should be submitted with the portfolio.

Interview
If invited for interview, please be prepared to demonstrate:

• your knowledge of the course and its context
• enthusiasm, commitment, awareness of current art and photographic practices
• ability to discuss your work and its development
• a willingness to engage with photography in a scholarly way through independent study and written work
• enthusiasm for working in groups and independently

The interview will involve discussion of your work. Please bring a portfolio box, book or case of printed work to enable this discussion. We expect the print portfolio to be a considered collection of photographic work:

• coherently organised into projects
• exploring and visualising ideas
• between 20 and 30 images

Year 1

In the first year, there are four themed practice modules, each normally lasting six-seven weeks:

• Photography and Identity (broadly explores portraiture)
• Photography and Place (broadly explores landscape)
• The photograph as document (explores the photograph as a factual record)
• The photograph as Fiction (explores the idea of photography as an imaginary kind of picture)

And there are two Historical and Critical Studies modules:

• Origins and Histories of Photography
• Documents and Fictions

Year 2

In Year 2, students choose the projects for practice modules from a range of possibilities informed by staff research interests. Themes vary from year to year. Past project themes have included ‘Archives’, ‘Journeys’, ‘Traces’, ‘Unlikely Spaces’ etc. In the second year, students are also encouraged to experiment with other media such as moving image and sound, and they organise an exhibition within and outside of the university. At the end of the year, an independent project that prepares you for the self-directed rigours of the third year is undertaken, in realistic, professional working conditions. Again, lectures and seminars take place one day a week introducing key concepts and debates in contemporary practice.

Final year

In the third year, students consolidate their own personal work through:

• Minor Project
• Major Project
• Professional Practice module
• Dissertation.