Why study this course?
The Photography (including foundation year) BA (Hons) is a four-year degree that includes an intensive foundation year (Year 0), which will give you the chance to explore a range of creative approaches and build a substantial portfolio of work before you progress to your subsequent years of studying photography.
This is a great route into a photography degree, particularly if you don’t hold the necessary requirements to begin a three-year undergraduate photography degree.
More about this course
During your foundation year you’ll have the opportunity to explore a number of different artistic directions and gain a broad spectrum of creative skills before going on to specialise more specifically in photography at the end of your first year of study.
You’ll begin your foundation year by undertaking a range of short and intensive studio workshops that will allow you to develop key photography skills and techniques, which will stand you in good stead for the rest of your degree. You’ll also develop a strong work ethic, which is essential when studying an art-related degree.
You will follow these intensive workshops with longer projects that will allow you to delve deeper into your own creative style and approach, strengthening your independence as an artist and photographer.
You will also look at creative practice from a contemporary, conceptual, cultural and historical context through lectures and seminars.
Feedback is essential to your development as a creative practitioner, so throughout the course there will be plenty of opportunities for your peers and tutors to critique your work. This will not only allow you to improve your artistic practice, but will also help you prepare for the exhibition at the end of the year, when your work will be on show to the general public.
After completing your foundation year, you will study the same modules and content as students enrolled on our Photography BA (Hons).
However, if you decide during your foundation year that you’d prefer to specialise in another art-related subject, there will be flexibility to do this.
Accreditation of Prior Learning
Any university-level qualifications or relevant experience you gain prior to starting university could count towards your course
Modular structure
The modules listed below are for the academic year 2022/23 and represent the course modules at this time. Modules and module details (including, but not limited to, location and time) are subject to change over time.
Year 0 modules include:
Critical & Contextual Studies: Foundation (core, 30 credits)
Formats (core, 30 credits)
Project (core, 30 credits)
Techniques (core, 30 credits)
Year 1 modules include:
Critical & Contextual Studies 1 (Art) (core, 30 credits)
Project Work 1 (core, 30 credits)
Techniques: Photography (core, 30 credits)
Visual Intelligence (core, 30 credits)
Year 2 modules include:
Critical & Contextual Studies 2 (Art) (core, 30 credits)
Methods and Enquiry 1 (core, 30 credits)
Professional Practice 1: Photography (core, 30 credits)
Project Work 2 (core, 30 credits)
Year 3 modules include:
Critical & Contextual Studies 3: Dissertation (Art) (core, 30 credits)
Major Project (core, 30 credits)
Methods and Enquiry 2 (core, 30 credits)
Professional Practice 2: Photography (core, 30 credits)
What is a degree with a foundation year at the School of Art, Architecture and Design?
This is a four-year degree course with a built-in foundation year (Year 0). A foundation year in our School of Art, Architecture and Design is the starting point for many of the art, architecture and design students and acts as an introduction to the wide range of creative practices explored within the University. You may join us with a clear idea of the subject you intend to study or you may use it as an opportunity to explore a number of different directions or experiment with your creativity. A foundation year degree is also a great choice if you don’t meet the necessary entry requirements for the standard undergraduate degree. You’ll graduate with a full undergraduate degree with the same title and award as those who studied the three-year course.
