BA (Hons) Photography
BA (Hons) Photography
Institution code: N39Course 3 Year UCAS code: W640Course 4 Year UCAS code: W641Course length: 3 or 4 year options
Creative Skillset approved and recognised by the Association of Photographers, our BA (Hons) Photography degree course will establish you as a professional practitioner, ready for a successful career within the photographic industries.
You’ll develop a highly personal, unique and creatively aspirational practice, while perfecting the practical skills and understanding to apply your vision to a range of contexts within the creative industries. Whether you pursue a career in advertising, editorial, fashion, or another role in the creative industries, your style will be unmistakable.
Your photography skills
As you hone your craft you’ll learn how to commercialise your creative output, thinking about how to apply your approach to briefs and the needs of clients to produce aspirational work that has application in a range of industries.
Access to a wide range of industry-level photographic and lighting equipment throughout your degree will give you the tools to produce imaginative and original images to the highest possible standards. Pushing the boundaries of photographic practices, you’ll learn how to produce compelling photography using whatever technology is most suitable to support your creative vision.
Your photography future
Reflecting the industry today by employing predominantly digital technology, this undergraduate photography course will see you actively engage in the rapidly developing nature of photography and exploring the possibilities of new and emerging technologies such as digital moving image and CGI.
With a visiting industry guest speaker featured almost every week and regular opportunities to receive feedback from current practitioners, business skills like self-promotion, networking and client management are front and centre throughout your degree, meaning you’ll graduate with momentum as you enter the industry.
Graduates work in a broad range of careers including
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You’ll also get specialist creative careers advice from our Careers Team in the Ideas FactoryNUA to help support you as you plan your career.
Accredited by:
Course content
- Year 1
- Explore your individual approach to photographic practice through a range of projects
- Learn to strengthen your understanding of the communicative aspects of photography through subtle changes and the use of visual elements, technique and context
- Work with studio and location lighting, digital cameras and large format inkjet printers
- Develop production and post-production skills in the Digital Darkroom.
- Year 2
- Explore the application of your creative practice within professional contexts including fashion, advertising and editorial projects
- Apply your visual approach across a range of genres utilising new and emerging technologies - digital moving image and CGI
- Investigate the opportunities of collaborative practice to develop your ideas and image making beyond the boundaries of photography
- Enter national competitions like AOP Awards, D&AD and Canon Shoot Like a Pro.
- Year 3
- Apply your unique individual approach - informed by your interests and passions - to the production of a professional portfolio
- Develop your understanding of the photographic industries and build your networks
- Gain entrepreneurial and employability skills
- Participate in a London graduate showcase, presenting the very best work to industry
- Prepare a detailed Research Report that informs your professional practice.
Student work
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Convention
Typical UK offers
A / AS Levels – GCE
GCE A/AS Levels 3 A-level qualifications at grades BBB, at least one of which must be in an art, design or media related subject. Where candidates are not taking 3 A-levels, NUA will consider combinations of A-level/AS-level and other Level 3 qualifications.
BTEC Extended Diploma (QCF or RQF)
Distinction, Merit, Merit in an art, design or media related subject
BTEC Diploma (QCF or RQF)
Distinction*, Distinction* in an art, design or media related subject
UAL Extended Diploma
Merit
UAL Level 3 Foundation Diploma in Art and Design
Merit
UAL Level 4 Foundation Diploma in Art and Design
Pass
Foundation Diploma in Art and Design
Merit
Access to Higher Education Diploma (Art and Design)
Pass
International Baccalaureate Diploma
A minimum of 32 points
NUA welcomes applicants of all ages from all backgrounds. Your application will be primarily assessed through interview and portfolio review so even if you have no formal qualifications or do not meet our typical offers it can still be worth applying.
If you are studying at the time of your application and your interview is successful, it is likely that you will receive a conditional offer.
If the qualification that you are studying is not shown, do not worry as we are able to accept other pre-entry qualifications as well as combinations of different qualifications. Please do contact our Student Recruitment Team if you have any queries.
International applications
We accept qualifications from all over the world, to find our entry requirements from a specific country, please check our dedicated international pages.
Most international students are required to hold an English language qualification. Applicants are required to have a minimum UKVI approved IELTS exam score of 6.0 overall, with a minimum of 5.5 in each section. Equivalent English language qualifications are acceptable such as, IB English language syllabus A or B/English Literature (Grade 4).
You can email us on international@nua.ac.uk if you’d like to discuss your application individually.
BA (Hons) Photography degree portfolio guidance
Your portfolio should be relevant to this course, but you can include a wide range of work that shows your creativity, technical competence and understanding of what makes an image stand out.
You may wish to include some of the following:
- Photography, such as portraits, landscapes, live or staged events, architecture, interiors, fashion and technical challenges such as reconstructions of popular images
- Film, animation or moving image work
- Images emphasising retouching and/or colouring skills
- Images edited using Adobe Photoshop or Adobe InDesign
- Story boards
- Editorial based work
- Compositing skills and collage based imagery
- Collaborations with other students and creatives.
Further portfolio advice and tips
Get more advice on portfolio presentation formats and layouts.
Your interview
After you apply to study BA Photography at NUA we’ll invite you to an interview on campus or by Skype or telephone, depending on your circumstance.
If you apply by the UCAS deadline of 15 January your interview will usually take place in February. We’ll ask you to prepare your portfolio ready to bring with you or submit online ahead of your interview.
Fees and Funding
The cost of your course is determined by your status as either ‘UK/EU’ or ‘International’, so it’s important to check your fee status. If you’re unsure, the UKCISA website will help you determine whether you’re eligible to pay a UK/EU fee (also called a ‘home’ fee). If you’d prefer to speak to NUA directly, please contact student.finance@nua.ac.uk
UK/EU students are eligible for a tuition fee loan from the UK government, meaning you won’t have to pay your fees up front. Further details about tuition fee loans are provided below. International students are not eligible for the UK government tuition fee loan.
2018/19 Tuition Fees For New Entrants
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Citizen status |
Course |
Fee |
|
UK/EU nationality |
Undergraduate degree (full-time three and four year degree) |
£9,250 |
|
International (non-EU) |
Undergraduate degree (full-time three and four year degree) |
£13,700 |
Fees will remain the same for each year of your course.
International students
Find out more about 2018 fees for international students and the support available.
Financial support for UK/EU students in 2018
Tuition fee loans and loans for living costs are available, as well as non-repayable NUA bursaries that take into account family income. Find how to apply for funding.
Tuition Fee Loan for Undergraduate study
Tuition fee loans are available for UK and EU students.
- Available to cover the full cost of your tuition
- You don’t have to pay for your course up front yourself
- Only start paying back when you are earning over £25,000 per year
Maintenance Loan for Undergraduate study – 2018/19
Student Maintenance Loans are available for UK and eligible EU students to help with living costs such as accommodation, food, clothes, travel and course expenses. The amount students receive is dependent on household income and any maintenance grant received.
- A loan of up to £8,700 may be available if you live away from home.
- A loan of up to £7,324 may be available if you live with your parents.
How can you find out more?
To learn more about loans, repayment calculations and other financial support, visit Student Finance. If you have any questions about fees, please email student.finance@nua.ac.uk
Scholarships
Find out about scholarship programmes available to NUA applicants.
Bursaries
NUA offers bursaries to new students whose household income is £42,875 or less.
NUA alumni, staff and feeder staff discount
All NUA alumni are eligible for a £1,000 discount on NUA postgraduate degree fees. All NUA staff and staff from feeder institutions are eligible for a £500 discount on NUA postgraduate degree fees.
Four year degree
Four year degrees are exactly the same as our three year degrees but include an extra year of study at the beginning – Year 0.
Year 0 is about developing the skills, knowledge and the confidence you need to successfully complete your degree course. Building on your experience from A Level or equivalent courses, the Year 0 curriculum allows time to develop the practical, creative and conceptual skills that are critical to successfully completing an undergraduate degree at NUA. You will achieve this, making full use of the University workshops and studio facilities.
While studying Year 0 BA (Hons) Photography you will build upon key technical and craft skills that are fundamental to a sustainable photographic practice. The first project is centred upon studying and utilising techniques of lighting, composition and framing of key photographic references, working both on location and within the studio.
You will then build on these skills through exploration of ideas around self-portraiture. Project briefs encourage visual research, documentation and communication within a range of different contexts. You will work with course tutors and have the opportunity to join first, second and third year students for guest lectures.
Typical UK offers and entry requirements for Year 0 entry
GCE A/AS Levels
2 A-level qualifications at grades CC or higher, at least one of which must be in an art, design or media related subject.
BTEC Extended Diploma (QCF or RQF)
Merit, Merit, Pass in an art, design or media related subject
BTEC Diploma (QCF or RQF)
Distinction, Merit in an art, design or media related subject
UAL Extended Diploma
An overall Pass
UAL Level 3 Foundation Diploma in Art and Design
An overall Pass
Foundation Diploma in Art and Design
Pass
Access to Higher Education Diploma (Art and Design)
Pass
International Baccalaureate Diploma
A minimum of 28 points
Students
Leoni Lessmann
"When I first started at NUA my work was mainly portraiture but the course has enabled me to develop my skills in still life photography – it really pushed me into finding my own photographic focus and style."
BA (Hons) Photography
Jordan Hudson
"Norwich is a beautiful fusion of modern and historic buildings; there’s an endless list of cafes and restaurants, modern shopping complexes and a river running through the heart."
BA (Hons) Photography
Denisa Ilie
"From cameras and computers to software and printers, everything we needed was there to facilitate a professional approach to our projects."
BA (Hons) Photography
Charlotte Simpson
"Throughout my course I’ve seen my work improve both technically and visually. I feel really aware of the industry."
BA (Hons) Photography
Teaching
staff
Lecturers
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Andi Sapey
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Sophie Lachowycz
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Andy Earl (Visiting Lecturer)
Music Photographer and NUA Visiting Professor
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Fiona Yaron-Field (Visiting Lecturer)
Co-founder and co-editor of ‘Uncertain States’ -
Robert Wilson (Visiting Lecturer)
Internationally renowned commercial photographer
Need help? Chat to our friendly recruitment team
Book a place on an Open Day, or to find out more about how to apply for a course at NUA, please contact Lynne, Sam, Tom, or Tori:
Call: +44 (0) 1603 610561
Email: studentrecruitment@nua.ac.uk
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