You will need 280 UCAS Tariff points to be considered for this course; selection is by portfolio and interview.

The UCAS Tariff system takes into account a wide range of qualifications including BTECs, A Levels, AS Levels, International Baccalaureate Diplomas and Access courses, to name just a few.

If you’ve studied more than one type of qualification (for example BTECs with A Levels) don’t forget to include them all in your application as they will all count towards your tariff total.

Learn all the essential skills and techniques required to become a successful photographer and get your stories noticed by the press. By shadowing professional photojournalists, you'll work on location on exciting projects with live briefs, from newspapers such as The Sunday Times. In the popular Professional Practice module, you'll have the opportunity to work with organisations such as Associated Press, Daily Mail, Ideas Tap, Magnum Photos, Photofusion and Water Aid.

Designed to reflect the skills you need in industry, your assessments are varied, creative and challenging. In one of the modules, you'll work on a brief for a weekend newspaper in a set location, submitting your project as an online magazine piece. Your work will also be assessed through moving image work, photobooks, portfolios, exhibitions, online presentations and written work.

A foundation diploma is not a requirement for entry – it is just one of a range of qualifications (for example, BTEC or Access Diploma etc.) that is accepted for admission to this course. 

A-levelsfor 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.

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.