BA (Hons) Photography with Foundation Year

Why study this subject?

If names like Rankin, David Bailey and Sally Mann are familiar to you and you have a unique eye for imagery, then a degree in photography could be the right path for you.

Whether you want to specialise in editorial, fashion, product, portrait, documentary or arts-based photography, you can develop your skills and unleash your ideas at BNU. With this degree you will have the opportunity to turn your passion into your future career.

Why study at Buckinghamshire New University?

With a history of delivering expert craft, art and design education for more than 130 years, Buckinghamshire New University is the perfect place to start your creative career.

Our BA (Hons) Photography course is run by a team of professional experts and lecturers, you’ll discover a range of photography styles during your time with us, from portrait to product.

You’ll also have the opportunity to take part in guest workshops and masterclasses. With London only a short journey away, you’ll be able to visit endless museums, galleries and landscapes for inspiration.

As well as this you'll get the chance to collaborate with students from other courses, working on projects with students studying film and TV production, creative advertising, graphic design and fashion and textiles.

Using our professionally equipped facilities you can bring your visions to life. This includes Adobe Creative Suite programmes and our professional studios and wet print darkroom.

What will I study?

Our course gives you many opportunities to explore the diverse world of Photography. This course takes a strong ‘active learning’ approach, so you’ll have lots of opportunity to build and develop your skills working on your own photography projects.

We’ll help you explore the concepts and contexts behind photography work, so you can find new ways to express yourself, and take your practice to a more dynamic level. You’ll also undertake research to develop a theoretical and critical underpinning of the subject, learning new ways of thinking and working, and pushing traditional boundaries of the medium.

How will I be taught and assessed?

This course is offered as a four-year programme, including an initial Foundation Year. The Foundation Year will allow you to develop your academic study skills and build confidence in your abilities, identifying your own strengths and development needs for progression onto an undergraduate degree. As well as having the space to explore different types of photography, to see where your interests lie, we’ll make sure you understand the business side of working as a professional photographer.

You’ll learn how to set yourself up as a freelancer, and deal with everything from your own marketing, to tax and finance. You’ll learn about the professional bodies that exist to protect photographers’ work and rights, such as the Association of Photographers.

We’ll also look at how to work on different platforms, from galleries to websites, and how to evolve your practice to cater for different audiences.

Adding to the vast expertise of our teaching staff, we’ll bring in guest lecturers to give you further insights through our dynamic visiting lecture programme. You’ll hear from leading practitioners including artists, curators and professionals working across the industry.

You will be part of a large and exciting creative community, collaborating with students from other courses, too, working on projects with others studying subjects such as fashion, design or performing arts.

At the end of your course, you’ll exhibit your photography work as part of our popular Art and Design Summer Show. There’s also the opportunity to show your work at other exhibitions across London including the Free Range show for graduates. It’s a chance to showcase your talents outside the University, and potentially catch the attention of future employers or creative bodies.

Placements Plus

BNU is a Placements Plus university. So, whatever degree you do, you can be sure there’ll be plenty of industry-relevant opportunities on offer, to help you get into your chosen field.

We’ll also prepare you for work beforehand, with special skills for work training, further boosting your CV, and building skills employers will value. In recognition of the value we place on these skills we have incorporated this experience into your study time.

Placements Plus is all about helping you get some valuable experience under your belt while you’re a student, to increase your choices later, and help you get the graduate-level job you want.