Photography, Video and Digital Imaging BA (Hons)

Course structure

This course is structured so that you will explore different approaches and styles of photography and moving image to build your skills, your creative approaches and understanding of the practice as you develop your own aesthetic and intellectual position as an image maker.

You will have opportunities to experiment and challenge yourself, present your ideas to your peers and test your work in the real world

Year 1 (national level 4):

Core modules:

• Making Photography: Truth and Fiction (40 credits)

Make your own visual explorations, exploring the key differences between objective and subjective photography. Build your experience across different technical skills, including learning to work in the photographic studio and on location, drawing on a range of different cameras. Develop your skills in sequencing and editing as well as your own photographic works through the set brief as truth or fiction.

• Photography Provocations (40 credits)

Break the rules in photography! Be introduced to a broad range of techniques and processes. Be able to explore how meaning can be constructed and controlled, even within more experimental approaches to practice. Through the encompassing of traditional and cutting-edge techniques of image making, you’ll be able to develop your skills, challenge the common constraints of the photographic image and explore new ways of provoking photography.

• Investigating Photography (20 credits)

Become fully conversant with the digital resources available across the Northern Centre of Photography and develop your skills as a learner and a practitioner. Begin to develop your own approach to making work informed by different resources, including photographic archives, libraries, regional galleries and museums and the work of other practitioners.

• Creative Moving Image (20 credits)

Explore how the moving image has converged with the still image through digital technology, and make your own moving image work. Develop skills in creating moving image production, informed by both contemporary and early moving image work – from video art to YouTube. Consider how a contemporary photographer might move seamlessly between the still and moving image.

Year 2 (national level 5):

Core modules:

• Narratives and Story Telling (40 credits)

Learn how to become an engaging visual storyteller and how to initiate and complete your own individual, self-directed project. Employ a professional approach to your working practice through research, production skills, editing and effective time-management. Understand the wider issues raised by the context of your project and its proposed audience. Discover the work of different contemporary artists and photographers who use photography and/or creative moving image to tell a range of stories. Explore different possibilities through editing and sequencing and narrative devices. Present your final work in either book/zine form or a multi-media piece.

• Sites for Practice (40 credits)

Gain real-world experience of researching and developing a photographic or moving image project to completion and for final site-sensitive public presentation. Explore appropriate physical and virtual public spaces and contexts for your work and develop your understanding of relevant ethical, material and audience considerations. Set and manage a creative project budget. Gain experience in producing, presenting and advertising your own work. Expand your understanding of context and audience and how the meaning of your work is constructed. Begin to find a place for your practice in society and start to build your professional profile.

• Issues in Contemporary Photographic Practice (20 credits)

Explore the challenges and opportunities of rapidly changing digital photographic cultures, and the diverse ways in which contemporary photography is disseminated and consumed by a variety of audiences both online and offline. Explore key contemporary debates including inclusivity, diversity and sustainability. Consider the broader social role of lens-based practitioners and identify professional role models to inform your own emerging practice.

• Collaborative Creativity (20 credits)

Negotiate a relevant placement where you will position your practical and creative skills, build networks and begin to identify relevant professional pathways. Alternatively, work with fellow students from across our different Arts disciplines to create a group

Final year (national level 6):

Core modules:

• Practice and Pitch (40 credits)

Identify an individual area of interest and develop an in-depth, practice-led exploration in that area. Take the opportunity to experiment with, challenge and develop your working practice and establish a highly considered and reflective professional approach.

• Publish/Present (40 credits)

Develop an individual self-negotiated final project that is ready for public presentation in an appropriate context, media and format. Produce a fully resolved body of work with detailed consideration of where and how you will reach your intended audience. Celebrate your success at the University Degree Shows.

• Your Research Project (20 credits)

Explore in depth a specific aspect of the theory, history or contemporary practice of photography, video, and/or digital imaging or research and situate your own area of professional practice. Devise and develop your research topic with individualised guidance from our experienced module tutors. Benefit from seminars and workshops that cover advanced research skills, including information search and retrieval, as well as skills in academic writing and referencing, report writing and presentation. Investigate and prepare for your future career or equip yourself with key understanding of research processes necessary for further postgraduate work.

• Your Professional Presence (20 credits)

Advance your understanding of professional photographic practices, creative careers, professional networks and approaches to enterprise. Explore real world case studies and find role models that enable you to develop your own professional skills. Enhance your ability to communicate effectively and reach new audiences, clients and customers in appropriate digital formats.

 

Entry requirements

Part-time study

If you study this course on a part-time basis you will typically complete 40-80 credits in a year, rather than the 120 credits of full-time students. All modules are taught during the day time and you will be studying alongside full-time students.

Portfolio requirements

We’re interested in your creative potential; please prepare a portfolio of work you have completed so far. We’re not looking for perfection as we appreciate you may still be developing work. We’d like to see: 

• A variety of work – we want to see a range of styles and technique
• Work completed in or outside of your studies
• Ideas that you feel didn’t work
• Research: examples of various forms of investigation
• A USB stick or online link with any digital and screen-based work
• Accompanied by work in progress, sketch books and development work

We’ll ask you to come in for an interview to allow us to get to know each other. We’re interested in your approach to your work, your awareness and your understanding of photography, video and digital imaging as well as what you’re passionate about, interests, influences, and experiences. We’ll also ask you about your plans for the future and the research you have done to find a suitable course.

 

If English is not your first language you should have at least one of the following qualifications (or equivalent) as a minimum.

International English Language Testing System (IELTS)

You need an overall score of 6.0, with at least 5.5 or higher in each component: reading, writing, listening and speaking. An alternative approved Secure English Language Test (SELT) will also be accepted if the applicant’s element scores are equivalent to those required for IELTS. After 6 April 2015, you must take your IELTS exams at one of the test centres listed on the UKVI website.

Pearson Test of English Academic

You need an overall score of 59 with no less than 59 in each skill.

Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE)

You need grade C or above.

Cambridge Certification in Advanced English (CAE)

You need grade C or above.

 

Fees and finance

Full-time fees

The annual fee for this course is:

• £9,250 if you are from the UK/Europe*
• £13,000 if you are an international student

Part-time fees

Tuition fees for part-time students are £6,935 per 120 credits.

Please note that part-time courses are not available to international students who require a Student visa to study in the UK.

*European Union (EU), EEA (European Economic Area) and Swiss nationals who do not qualify for the EU Settlement Scheme are classed as international, however, for 22/23 admission you will receive a European student fee scholarship and will pay the home tuition fee rate for the duration of your studies. The discounted fee will be reflected in your offer letter. Learn more in our Help and Advice article.

Take a look at the Your Finances section to find out about the scholarships and bursaries that may be available to you.

This information was correct at the time of publication.

 

Deadlines

26 January 2022 – UCAS deadline

Applications for all UCAS Undergraduate courses, except those with a 15 October deadline, should arrive at UCAS by 6pm on 26 January 2022. This is the ‘equal consideration’ deadline, which means course providers must consider all applications received by this time equally. 

25 February 2022 – UCAS Extra opens

If you’ve used all five choices, and you’re not holding any offers, you can add another choice using Extra.

19 May 2022 – University decision deadline

If you applied by 26 January and you’re still awaiting a decision from one of your choices, we have until today to decide whether we’re making you an offer. Any choices that are still outstanding after this will be made unsuccessful.

9 June 2022 – Deadline to reply to offers

If you receive all your university decisions by 19 May, you must reply to any offers by today (except if you are using Extra to find a place), otherwise they’ll be declined.

30 June 2022 – Final day to make an application to five universities

You can still apply with up to five choices until 6pm today. After this, your application will automatically be entered into Clearing. 

4 July 2022 – Final day to apply for a course in Extra 

This is the last day to add an Extra option to your 2022 application. If you don’t hold any offers after this, you will be able to add an additional choice using Clearing.