Plymouth College of Art

Photography BA (Hons)

Founded on our long established tradition of delivering high quality photographic education, our BA (Hons) Photography programme produces graduates who have a wide range of skills, knowledge and experience, enabling them to shape their futures and make a positive impact in the photographic and creative industries.

We will immerse you in the diverse landscape of contemporary photographic practice, from social documentary, landscape and environmental studies, to fine art, editorial, and curatorial practice.

Practical, conceptually based assignments, supported with expert tuition and hands-on workshops will develop your basic skills to enable you to become confident with a wide range of camera formats and image-making techniques.

In your first year the focus will be on darkroom practice and film-based capture, gradually leading in year 2 towards experimentation with both chemical and digital technologies to produce a portfolio of innovative and distinctive imagery.

Deepening experimentation and research driven practice during the third year leads to the development of your creative and professional identity, culminating an exhibition at a major national venue.

Commercial Photography for Fashion, Advertising and Editorial BA (Hons)

From capturing a news story in one insightful picture to framing a dramatic fashion shot for a magazine cover, commercial photography has the power to move and inspire. This programme has been designed for the next generation of visually expressive commercial photographers.

To succeed in today’s fast moving and competitive photographic industry, graduates require a broad range of skills, combining technical excellence with visual awareness, creativity, innovation, business acumen and enterprise. On our commercial photography programme you’ll have the opportunity to develop excellence in all of these areas.

Practical industry-oriented assignments – supported with expert tuition and hands-on workshops using high-end camera and lighting equipment – will develop your technical skills. Our photographic resources, studios and digital suites are among the best-resourced in the country, giving you access to industrial-standard specialist resources.

You’ll be working with and alongside the staff team and members of the photographic industry, who will help you to develop the confidence to respond to client briefs, while demonstrating excellent creative and professional skills. In your second year, you’ll work with real clients to build a strong, professional portfolio.

The commercial focus of the programme includes excellent business and professional practice sessions and working on live briefs, and also offers students placements with a wide range of businesses.

This BA (Hons) programme is new for 2015 and subject to validation by the Open University.