BA Honours Photography Degree

Overview & facilities

The BA Photography Degree with Honoursat Middlesex University, Londonfocuses on editorial photography, photo-journalism, studio and fashion photography for magazines, newspapers, books, exhibitions and new media.

Our students explore the world we live in now - the world of communication, investigating the communication of ideas, opinion, comment, reportage, analysis and meaning through the medium of photography in a commercial context. They examine the range of communication media, professional practices, opportunities for authorship, roles and responsibilities of the modern photo-visual communicator.

Our BA Photography Degree with Honours focuses on editorial photography as a communicator of visual ideas and information, and is designed to help students develop the skills and knowledge essential for a successful career in the creative industry.

At the end of your degree you will exhibit your work at the Middlesex University Art and Design Degree Show.  The show is a celebration of the end of your studies and the start of your creative career, it's a great opportunity to show off your talents to friends, family and creative industry employers. 

You might also be interested in the two 12-week long Foundation courses, which run three times a year, successful completion of which will guarantee a place on a nominated BA Honours programme: Foundation in Art and Design, Intensive Short Course or Foundation in Digital Arts, Intensive Short Course.

The Grove

From September 2011 this course will be taught at The Grove in Hendon. Click here for your virtual tour.

MIDDLESEX PHOTOGRAPHY NEWS

Squiz Hamilton wins Student Photographer of the year award, fighting off tough competition from across the UK. The BA Photography student shot his images in Africa and the judges praised the Middlesex student’s work for its “unique quality and sensitivity to detail”. Take a look at his images and see Squiz talk about what the award means to him.

America brief prompts Afghanistan journey and international coverage for student: A second year BA Photography student at Middlesex University turned a brief for a course project into a journey which ended up on the pages of Newsweek in March 2010. Asef Ali Mohammad was given the brief “America” by his tutors and was told he could take any angle on it he wished. He decided to see what the “average people” of Afghanistan thought about the US intervention in their country and spent nine days in Kabul gathering the portraits and views of more than 30 Afghan citizens. His work was picked up by highly regarded photojournalism publication Foto8, who put it on their website, and has now appeared in Newsweek magazine in the USA. For more information, read our press release.

Taylor Wessing Portrait Prize: Three Photography students were selected for the 2011 Taylor Wessing Portrait Prize at the National Portrait Gallery. This is a significant competition, considered by many to be the most prestigious open submission photographic portrait prize in the world. They choose just 40 images from over 6000 entries including a significant number from outside the UK. Read the full story here.  

Middlesex students featured in Professional Photographer magazine: Trade magazine, Professional Photographer, came to Middlesex to find out our recipe for success themselves. Take a look at the article which appeared in the February 2011 issue.

Content & modules

Thecourse explores editorial photography as a communicator of ideas and information to develop the skills and knowledge essential for a successful career in the creative industry. Projects cover studio photography, portraiture, lighting and art direction, location shoots, landscape photography, sports and events, still life photography, fashion photography, architectural photography, urban landscape, reportage and photojournalism. Students also take modules in graphic design to use their images in context, designing magazines, advertising and web sites. Students explore the role of the photographer as author through self-initiated projects within the area of commercial photographic practice.

Our facilities and studios are some of the best in the country. We have excellent staff who encourage students develop their own personal style and enjoy themselves!

Modules

• Year 1

  Introduction to History of Art and Design (30 Credits) - Compulsory

  This module aims to present Design History Visual Culture as diverse and dynamic fields of study. It will introduce students to methodological approaches employed in the critical analysis of the production, representation and consumption of design and material culture, and it will encourage a historically contingent approach to comprehending design and material culture over the past century. The module will enable students to develop critical and descriptive languages of the History of Design. It will also provide the opportunity to question authorised and personal understandings of objects, subjects and environments

  Introduction to Photography (60 Credits) - Compulsory

  This module aims to introduce students to the range of skills and knowledge which define the parameters of editorial and commercial photography practice. Students work on projects which explore the medium from a historical and technical perspective and the range of commercial photography practice from documentary, reportage, portraiture, fashion, sport and advertising through to photographers as authors. They will learn to develop solutions which balance a number of conflicting criteria and develop story telling techniques. Students will learn how to work with others, to win trust and gain access and to be aware of the ethics involved. The module aims to define photography as part of a visual communication language and as relatively new development historically that has borne witness to many of the events that shape our society. It is the intention of the module to sensitise students to the messages contained in the photographic image and to foster the ability to research and analyse objectively and critically. This context is intended to form the basis for a number of photographic assignments. By the end of the module students will have encountered several stages of the photographic process with a special emphasis on research and analysis.

  Visual Communication Workshops 1 (30 Credits) - Compulsory

  This module aims to provide an opportunity to explore a variety of different graphic media and understand their value as methods of visual communication. It aims to encourage an inventive and experimental response to the use of processes and materials in workshop areas chosen from photography, screenprint, etching, lino print, letterpress, 3D design, magazine design, life drawing, animation, electronic design and bookbinding. The module also aims to offer students the opportunity to learn a range of transferable practical and technical skills in art and design, through material handling, exploration of process, production and presentation. This module also aims to provide students with the opportunity to identify and develop a range of specific transferable skills which will enable each student to independently engage in effective learning at first degree level. Additionally the module aims to provide an initial framework for the acquisition of personal and career development skills. Both of these main aims are further developed at level 2 and 3 through subject specific modules.

• Year 2

  Photography Practice (60 Credits) - Compulsory

  This module aims to develop an understanding of specialist pathways within editorial photography, to be aware of their historical context and be aware of current practice. Self directed projects will develop the student s ability to take the initiative. The module will encourage students to further specialise in different aspects of commercial photographic practice. This builds valuable experience and also helps them decide on a personal pathway. Photography is critically examined as part of a visual language that can be subjected to manipulation and many different meanings. Students will learn to work in areas of specialisation and explore open pathways within the subject focus. Projects explore studio photography, portraiture, lighting and art direction, location shoots, landscape photography, sports and events, still life photography, fashion photography, architectural photography, urban landscape, reportage and photojournalism.

  Visual Communication Workshops 2 (30 Credits) - Compulsory

  This module aims to develop an understanding of specialist subject areas of creative practice through studio and workshop based activities. It enables students to develop individual approaches to visual communication and to begin to identify broad areas of interest that could form the basis for further specialist study on their programme. It will encourage the acquisition of intermediate specialist skills to work effectively in creative workshop areas chosen from; advertising, life drawing, publicity, editorial photography, publishing, magazine design, animation, etching and print, interactive and web design. The module aims to further develop skills in using creative processes analysing, evaluating visual pieces of work and presentation methods.

• Year 3

  Critical and Contextual Proposition (30 Credits) - Compulsory

  This module aims to enable students to identify and deliver a research project that is the product of sustained and creative engagement both with a range of research resources and an area of studio-practice. The module will consolidate skills of project identification, research organisation and development, time management, written and visual analysis and the presentation of a critical argument/thesis. The module further consolidates the development of skills required for autonomous learning.

  Photography: Professional Portfolio Development Major Projects (90 Credits) - Compulsory

  This module aims to give students the opportunity to work on self-initiated projects which will explore how photographers identify commercial opportunities through their professional practice. Students will investigate specific areas chosen from ethics, politics, fashion, sport, business, social issues, events, locations, environments and human interest through the broad avenues of photojournalism, documentary and studio exploration. The module will explore the role of the photographer as author investigating self-initiated projects within the area of commercial photographic practice and the broader visual communication context. The module will give students the opportunity to initiate a photographic practice-based research proposition to explore a chosen area of current commercial photographic practice and to develop specific individual photographic practices. The module aims to enable students to develop their professional practice in editorial photography through producing a professional portfolio or collection of work tailored to the area of the creative industry that students wish to pursue as a career destination or as postgraduate study.

Entry & applying

We are looking for people who are excited about photography and visual communication, and aware of contemporary media. We interview all students who apply and look at a portfolio of art and design work. For applications from mature students we also consider work and life experience. Most successful applicants will come from an Art and Design Foundation Course or equivalent. We also accept strong candidates direct from school with A levels 220 UCAS tariff points in appropriate subjects.

You might also be interested in the two 12-week long Foundation courses, which run three times a year, successful completion of which will guarantee a place on a nominated BA Honours programme.

Foundation in Art and Design, Intensive Short Course

Foundation in Digital Arts, Intensive Short Course

Apply now

Qualifications accepted

For a comprehensive list of qualifications accepted by Middlesex, see further information under entry requirements

English language requirements

You must have competence in English language and we normally require Grade C GCSE or an equivalent qualification. The most common English Language requirements for international students are IELTS 6.0 (with minimum 5.5 in all four components) or TOEFL paper based 550 (no less than 4 in test of written English) or TOEFL internet based 80 (with no less than 17 in each component). Middlesex also offers an Intensive Academic English course (Pre-Sessional) that ranges from 5-17 weeks, depending on your level of English. Successful completion of this course would meet English language entry requirements. For more information on applying for the pre-sessional please email english@mdx.ac.uk. For details of other equivalent English language requirements that Middlesex accepts see international entry requirements. 

Entry into year two or three (transfer students)

If you have achieved a qualification such as a foundation degree or HND, or have gained credit at another university, you may be able to enter a Middlesex course in year two or three. For full details of how this works see transfer students

UK/EU applicants with existing higher education qualifications

If you have already been awarded a qualification at the same level as the course you are applying for, you may not be eligible for a tuition fee loan, see fees and funding for more information.

Applying

Applications for UK and EU students should be made to UCAS – the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service. The institution code for Middlesex is M80, and the code name is MIDDX. You also need the code for the course you wish to apply for – this is found in the 'at a glance' box above.

International students from outside the EU can make a direct application.  We have a network of regional offices across the world to assist you with your application.  They have worked with people from your region coming to Middlesex before and can help. Read more on international applications

Fees & funding

The tuition fee for the 2012/2013 academic year for UK/EU students is £9,000.
The tuition fee for the 2012/2013 academic year for International students is £10,400.

Click here to find out more about fees, funding and our scholarships in 2012.

Careers & placements

As a student,the course will enable you todevelop the skills and knowledge essential for a successful career in the creative industry.By the end of the course,you will havecreated a professional portfolio essential for entry into studio, portraiture, fashion, architectural, reportage and photo-journalism, art direction, location, landscape, sports, events, still life, magazine, newspaper, book, exhibition and new media photography.

Middlesex has strong links with art and design employers. Our industry partners sponsor final year students, give visiting lectures and hundreds of art and design agencies, organisations and other employers attend our final year degree show each year.

Our Careers Service offers you a range of support both while you’re studying with us – and after you’ve graduated.

Placements

Work placements are proven to increase your success in the job market – as well as being a fantastic experience. We encourage as many students as possible to grasp this opportunity.

We have a dedicated Placements Service which helps you find and plan for a placement.