2 years part-time
Part-time
£14,000 (INT) *
We’re planning to teach through a flexible combination of online and face to face learning as we start the new academic year. If you’re thinking about starting in autumn 2020, there’s more detail on how we’ll deliver your course below.
Overview
This course will now start in January 2021 as we've changed some of our teaching arrangements in response to the coronavirus outbreak. You'll get the same great learning experience with much support to enable you to do your best with this later start date.
This course is no longer accepting applications for 2020 entry. The next entry is January 2021
Our practice and research-based course will challenge you to explore, question and evolve as a photographer. The course provides you with a creative and energetic working environment in which to produce a major photographic project using some of the best traditional and state-of-the-art facilities in the UK, encouraged and supported by world-class academic and technical staff.
Why study MA Photography at Middlesex University?
At Middlesex, our practice-led approach to photography ensures you spend your postgraduate studies fully immersed in both making work and thinking about its connections with wider photographic discourse. Through a series of photographic projects, or a single large project, you will experiment with both new and traditional photography and whether behind a camera, in post-production or reflecting critically on your practice, you will be thoroughly supported by a staff team of research-active, photography practitioners. Access to diverse range of professional photographers, guest lecturers and technical advisers, will further enhance both your knowledge and skills of photography, as well as your exposure to the wider industry.
Online delivery and technical support will allow you to continue to produce industry-standard digital work in addition to the hands-on experience that you will gain through access to high quality resources in our dedicated art and design building. With Apple Macintosh Pro workstations, A2 Epson printers, Hasselblad film scanners, studios, as well as a range of darkrooms including colour, black and white, and digital, you'll have everything you need to push yourself to your full potential and take the next step towards a stimulating and successful career.
Course highlights
- Masterclasses and workshops from high-profile speakers such as Rhiannon Adam, Adrian Bradshaw, Rachael Burns, Julian Calder, Brian Harris, Cheryl Newman, Martin Parr, Kate Peters, Ingrid Pollard, Simon Roberts, Nicola Shipley and Jem Southam.
- Access to some of London's best photography resources, including the V&A Print and Drawing Study Room.
- Explore subjects through photography (and possibly video), with development of skills across Adobe Creative Cloud.
- Strong focus on professional presentation skills, in both digital and print form.
- Access to networking opportunities and world-leading research and expertise.
- As a student of this course you'll receive a free electronic textbook for every module.
Find out more
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Course content
What will you study on MA Photography?
Through a combination of practical and theoretical work, you will study the technical, contextual and historical elements of all forms of photography. You will study the equipment and techniques used to produce professional photographs in industry.
What will you gain?
You will further develop your skills and experience in taking professional photographs, whether in a fully-equipped studio or on location. You will also learn to use photography as a medium of communication, and develop the ability to conceptualise and create photographic projects for commercial and artistic purposes. You will be prepared to make professional use of the equipment, tools, cameras and software regarded as the industry-standard in creative industries worldwide.
Modules
We’ve made sure that the skills and knowledge that you’ll gain on your course will not change during the coronavirus outbreak. If you’re applying to start this course or progressing into year one, two or three this autumn, your module information is below.
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Modules
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Developing Practice – Term 1 (30 credits)
In this module you will explore a chosen area of photography in a contemporary context while enhancing your technical skills. You will employ a variety of reflective methods to develop your own creative research proposal with the advanced communication skills to present, discuss and evaluate your work effectively.
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Critical Debates – Term 1 (30 credits)
In this module you will explore the key concepts, ideas, issues and research methodologies relating to the practice and theory of photography. With particular focus on the cultural and social contexts within your chosen discipline, you'll produce a portfolio of critical responses to contemporary debates in research and professional practice.
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Image and Insight – Term 2 (30 credits)
In this module you will explore what it is to be an independent author in photography with particular focus on the contemporary outlets and possibilities for your work, such as social media. Through in-depth examination of modern and historical photographers you will begin to establish your place, purpose and direction in the industry.
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Advanced Research – Term 2 (30 credits)
In this module you will examine a diverse range of advanced approaches to photography research using both historical and contemporary sources. You will explore the work of practitioners and scholars in photography, and the contemporary research problems they face. You will produce an illustrated Research Survey demonstrating your investigations and findings.
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Major Project – Term 3 (60 credits)
Using research methodologies, concepts and processes previously explored in the course you will evaluate interrelationships between theory and practice. You will produce a portfolio or public exhibition of a substantial body of practice work supported by critical and reflective written work that demonstrates your resolution and expertise.
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More information about this course
See the course specification for more information about typical course content outside of the coronavirus outbreak:
Optional modules are usually available at levels 5 and 6, although optional modules are not offered on every course. Where optional modules are available, you will be asked to make your choice during the previous academic year. If we have insufficient numbers of students interested in an optional module, or there are staffing changes which affect the teaching, it may not be offered. If an optional module will not run, we will advise you after the module selection period when numbers are confirmed, or at the earliest time that the programme team make the decision not to run the module, and help you choose an alternative module.
Teaching
If you’re interested in January 2021 courses, we will provide more information on plans for teaching and learning in the coming months.
How is MA Photography taught?
This course is divided into five modules taken over three semesters (if studied full time). Each module is designed to be flexible, allowing you to bring your own photography interests to the assignments while extending the boundaries of current photographic practice through experimentation, research, analysis, and creative exploration.
Assessment
We’re planning to deliver our assessment in a similar way to previous years. We will review this regularly, and let you know in advance of your assessment if we need to make any changes.
Your skills, knowledge and understanding will be entirely assessed by coursework including practical projects, oral presentations and supporting written work. There are no exams.
Teaching and learning
Changes for students in 2020
If you’re starting university in 2020, we’ll be teaching you in different ways to make sure you get the best learning experience possible. You’ll learn through live sessions with teaching staff and have the chance to study independently too, with access to all the online resources you need through our globally available student portal.
We’re planning different scenarios for teaching so that we can be flexible. While we’re social distancing, we’re aiming to teach you through some small group sessions on campus, with larger lectures delivered online and available to you on-demand. If you’re unable to make it to campus at first, or we need to limit access to campus in the future, your course can be delivered fully online.
The table below shows current plans for your learning across a typical week, including scheduled live online teaching and an indication of what we hope to teach face to face, where you can make it to campus. While some weeks might look different to this, due to how we schedule classes, the table gives you an idea of what to expect based on the overall number of teaching hours on your course.
You’ll receive final arrangements for your teaching and a full course timetable before you start.
Scenario 1: course delivered fully online | |||
1. | Live learning | Contact time per week, per level: | Part-time: 5 hours Full-time: 10 hours |
2. | Self-paced learning time | Average hours per week, per level: | Part-time: 10 hours Full-time: 20 hours |
3. | On demand resources | Average hours per week, per level: | 2 hours |
Scenario 2: course delivered with a mix of online and face to face learning with social distancing in place | |||
1. | Live learning | Contact time per week, per level: | Part-time: 5 hours Full-time: 10 hours |
2. | Self-paced learning time | Average hours per week, per level: | Part-time: 10 hours Full-time: 20 hours |
3. | On demand resources | Average hours per week, per level: | 1-2 hours |
4. | Face-to-face sessions | Contact time per week, per level: | Part-time: 2 hours Full-time: 4 hours |
Read more about our scenarios for returning to campus and what they might mean for your teaching and learning experience, and how you’ll be able to access student support.
Future plans for teaching
We’re developing our timetable for face to face teaching with current government advice on social distancing to keep you safe. If social distancing requirements are lifted, we’ll start to safely move back towards our usual teaching arrangements with more opportunities for face to face learning. Some learning and support might stay online in this scenario. If more restrictions are put in place, or there is another lockdown, we’ll be prepared to deliver your learning and support fully online, with alternative arrangements made for any required placements. We’ll always give you notice of any changes that we make.
Definitions of terms
- Live learning – Live learning will cover everything you’ll do with teaching staff like lectures, seminars, workshops and other classes, and we’ll schedule all of this for you. This might include some study outside your regular timetable, like taking part in discussion forums or online blogs where you’re supported by academic staff.
- Independent learning – Independent learning is all the studying you’ll do outside your live learning sessions with teaching staff. This self-paced study will give you the chance to learn, prepare, revise and reflect in your own time as you need to, and you’ll have access to on-demand resources and materials to help you do your best.
- Self-paced study – Self-paced study will give you the chance to learn wherever and whenever you want to and at your own pace, outside your live learning sessions. This independent learning could include reading and reflection, preparation for classes, revision or homework along with access to other online activities such as quizzes.
- On-demand resources – You'll have access to on-demand resources like pre-recorded video lectures and workshops as part of your independent study. You’ll be able to review and revisit whenever you need to at your own pace.
- Face to face sessions – Wherever it’s possible to do so, and we can make the necessary arrangements to ensure your safety, you’ll be able to attend scheduled sessions, workshops or appointments on campus as part of your live learning. The number of hours given in this scenario provides an indication of the number of hours of face to face learning you could expect, and a full timetable will be provided to you before the start of your course.
Support
You’ll have a strong support network available to you to make sure you develop all the necessary academic skills you need to do well on your course.
Our support services will mainly be delivered online and you’ll have access to a range of different resources so you can get the help you need, whether you’re studying at home or have the opportunity to come to campus.
You’ll have access to one to one and group sessions for personal learning and academic support from our library and IT teams, and our network of learning experts. Our teams will also be here to offer financial advice, and personal wellbeing, mental health and disability support.
More on teaching for your subject in 2020/21
Read our guide to what’s been happening in your subject area recently and more about what to expect this autumn.
Entry requirements
Fees and funding
Student work
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Rob Pickard
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Aleksandra Wojcik
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Student albums
Careers
How will MA Photography support your career?
This course will prepare you for a diverse range of careers within the creative and photographic industries, from commercial organisations to photojournalism and the arts. With strong links to art and design employers in the UK and abroad we support the individual ambitions of every one of our students while they are studying with us and after graduation.
Our graduates are recognised worldwide for their high quality work in photography with several students achieving remarkable success soon after graduating. These include winning entries in the British Journal of Photography’s recent Portrait of Britain competition, finalists in the National Portrait Gallery Taylor Wessing Photographic Portrait Prize, and a winner of the Sony WPO Student Focus Award.
Facilities
The art and design facilities, studios and workshops at our £80 million purpose-built building on campus in North London are recognised as among the best in country. With a wide range of digital media, equipment, software and library facilities on-site you'll benefit from unique levels of access to both the latest forms of technology and traditional tools with expert support to help you develop your work.
Or explore all our Art and Design Facilities to find out more about our specialist facilities for photography.
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Students have access to facilities including dark rooms and print rooms
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Students have access to facilities including dark rooms and print rooms
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Top class facilities on offer at Middlesex
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A range of photography rooms on offer
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Facilities on offer at Middlesex
Contact us
We’ll carefully manage any future changes to courses, or the support and other services available to you, if these are necessary because of things like changes to government health and safety advice, or any changes to the law.
Any decisions will be taken in line with both external advice and the University’s Regulations which include information on this.
Our priority will always be to maintain academic standards and quality so that your learning outcomes are not affected by any adjustments that we may have to make.
At all times we’ll aim to keep you well informed of how we may need to respond to changing circumstances, and about support that we’ll provide to you.
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