BA (Hons) Photography with Foundation year
Course overview
Start date
September 2021
Subject area
Art and Design
Attendance
Full-time, 4 years
Part-time
Learning
On campus, dual delivery
Course summary
This extended course is perfect if you want a degree in Photography but you don’t meet the standard entry requirements.
You could be focusing on the catwalk at a top London fashion show. Or on a commercial shoot for a major magazine advertisement campaign. Or joining one of the world’s best photographers on a job. The course is a practical one, designed to excite and challenge at the same time as it teaches you.
Affiliated to the Association of Photographers, the leading organisation representing professionals in the industry, our course will arm you with the skills to make a living from photography.
It's no coincidence that our graduates have so often gone on to successful careers, establishing highly successful studios or being assistants to the best in the industry.
It’s because they’ve been instructed by renowned photographers in the full range of the subject, from commercial photography, fashion and portraiture to still life, landscape, moving image and fine art.
Return to campus: dual delivery
In a Covid-secure environment, enjoy learning on our state-of-the-art campuses and flex between online delivery
Find out moreIndustry experts
You’ll have the chance to learn from a team of international practitioners, leading London photographers and the networks of ‘cool’ East London
Practical experience
You’ll learn a wide range of creative processes and practices from working with medium/large format cameras to interactive digital and moving image projects, enabling you to grow your practice and expand digital potential.
Career prospects
You will be supported in developing a photography career, following in the footsteps graduates who have established successful studio and photography careers in a broad range of genres.
Watch Dragos' (Association of Photographers (AOP) finalist) video to hear his experience of being a Photography student at UEL.
Karolina Chojnacka
BA (Hons) Communication and Cultural Studies
During my Foundation year, I learned study skills, step by step, in an engaging way, so when I started the full course, I was better able to focus on the theoretical content, rather than worrying about how to write essays. It was also a great chance to learn with students from different courses and backgrounds.
Fees and funding
Tuition Fee Loan
You can apply for a loan to cover the cost of your tuition fees, which will be paid directly to UEL. There are no up-front fees required. Repayment only starts after you finish your course and are earning over £25,000. If you haven’t finished repaying your loan after 30 years it will be automatically cancelled.
To apply visit gov.uk/student-finance
Maintenance Loan
You can apply for a loan to help with living costs such as food, travel and accommodation. How much you can borrow depends on where you live and study, and whether you are currently on welfare benefits. The maximum loan you can apply for is £12,382.
To apply visit gov.uk/student-finance
Supplementary Grants
The government also offer the following additional support:
- Parent’s Learning Allowance
- Adult Dependants' Grant
- Childcare Grant
- Disabled Students’ Allowance
For further information visit gov.uk/student-finance
All students will receive:
Bursaries Schemes for which you can apply
- Care Leaver and Foyer Bursary - up to £1,500
- Progression Bursary - up to £2,000
- Engagement Bursary - up to £2,000
- Hardship Bursary - up to £2,000
- Helena Kennedy Foundation - £1,500
- Going Global – awards range from £300 - £700
Scholarships Schemes for which you can apply
- Vice Chancellor Scholarship - up to £27,750 over three years
- Dean Scholarship - up to £13,500 over three years
- Civic Engagement Scholarship - £1,000
- EU Scholarship (EU Only) - £1,000
- ELSEF Scholarship - £1,000
- UTC Scholarship - £1,500
- Sports Scholarships - up to £6,000
There are a number of external organisations that offer financial help to
students. Please see the below list to view additional support options.
Alternatively, you can visit the Scholarship Search website.
Please note that the University of East London is not responsible for
the content of these external sites and is not associated in any way
with the funding schemes and their application processes.
Bank Of England Scholarship Programme
European Funding GuideThe Student Disability Association Fund
Some courses offer the option of a placement year, giving you the chance to gain valuable work experience in a relevant industry between your second and third years. If you are an international student on a Tier 4 visa, you are able to undertake a placement if it is an integral and assessed part of your course.
In 2018/19 placement year tuition fees are set at £1,060.
The Student Money Advice and Rights Team (SMART) are here to help you navigate your finances while you're a student at the University of East London.
We can give you advice, information and guidance on government and university funds so that you receive your full funding entitlement.
Email: study@uel.ac.uk
Phone: 020 8223 4444
Tuition Fee Loan
You can apply for a loan to cover the cost of your tuition fees, which will be paid directly to UEL. There are no up-front fees required. Repayment only starts after you finish your course and are earning over £25,000. If you haven’t finished repaying your loan after 30 years it will automatically be cancelled.
For information visit gov.uk/student-finance
Please note EU students can only apply for their funding using a paper application form.
To download a form visit www.gov.uk/student-finance-forms
All students will receive:
Bursaries Schemes for which you can apply
- Care Leaver and Foyer Bursary - up to £1,500
- Progression Bursary - up to £2,000
- Engagement Bursary - up to £2,000
- Hardship Bursary - up to £2,000
- Helena Kennedy Foundation - £1,500
- Going Global – awards range from £300 - £700
Scholarships Schemes for which you can apply
- Vice Chancellor Scholarship - up to £27,750 over three years
- Dean Scholarship - up to £13,500 over three years
- Civic Engagement Scholarship - £1,000
- EU Scholarship (EU Only) - £1,000
- ELSEF Scholarship - £1,000
- UTC Scholarship - £1,500
- Sports Scholarships - up to £6,000
There are a number of external organisations that offer financial help to
students. Please see the below list to view additional support options.
Alternatively, you can visit the Scholarship Search website.
Please note that the University of East London is not responsible for
the content of these external sites and is not associated in any way
with the funding schemes and their application processes.
Bank Of England Scholarship Programme
European Funding GuideThe Student Disability Association Fund
Some courses offer the option of a placement year, giving you the chance to gain valuable work experience in a relevant industry between your second and third years. If you are an international student on a Tier 4 visa, you are able to undertake a placement if it is an integral and assessed part of your course.
In 2018/19 placement year tuition fees are set at £1,060.
The Student Money Advice and Rights Team (SMART) are here to help you navigate your finances while you're a student at the University of East London.
We can give you advice, information and guidance on government and university funds so that you receive your full funding entitlement.
Email: study@uel.ac.uk
Phone: 020 8223 4444
At UEL, we understand that studying in another country is a big financial commitment. If you apply early for an undergraduate, you may be entitled to a scholarship of up to £3,000.You can find out more about the international scholarships here.
The Student Money Advice and Rights Team (SMART) also run an Emergency International Fund to assist international students in hardship.
You can contact our SMART team on 02082233333 or study@uel.ac.uk
As part of the Tier 4 student visa requirements, UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) estimate that you will need £1,265* per month to cover your living costs. It includes expenses for accommodation, food and drink, travel within London, text books, entertainment, clothing, toiletries and laundry. Most Tier 4 students are required to show they have sufficient funds to cover the first nine months of the course before they start- a total of £11,385- in addition to the tuition fees. You can find more information about the specific requirements of the Tier 4 student visa here. The amount that you will spend can vary depending on your lifestyle. The UKCISA International Student Calculator can help you plan and manage your money.
* Please note the Immigration Rules are subject to change and this figure is likely to be increased by UKVI year on year. Please therefore check our ISA pages (www.uel.ac.uk/isa) for more information at the time of preparing your visa application.
Deposits and paying by instalments
International students are required to pay a deposit prior to being issued a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS).
Your remaining balance will be paid in five monthly instalments over your first term. The first of these instalments must be paid when completing your enrolment on arrival at UEL. Please follow the payment instructions here.
After the required payment has been made, you will be asked to complete the online International Student Reply Form to confirm your acceptance of our offer and of our terms of admittance and fees policy.
Our International team at UEL are available for advice and guidance on studying in London, fees, scholarships and visa requirements.
Email: international@uel.ac.uk
Entry requirements
- September 2021
-
Degree with Foundation Year
64
New UCAS Points
Access to HE Diploma (QAA approved) with 60 credits overall and 45 credits at Level 3
We will also consider the UEL New Beginnings pre-entry course
The portfolio should show evidence of observational drawing, the development of an idea through to a completed illustration, and techniques and processes that you have worked with. We are particularly interested in seeing your sketchbooks / journals to see how you develop your ideas.
At interview you should be prepared to discuss your work, ideas and ambitions. You should also be able to discuss graphic artists, illustrators or animators who influence you.
Overall IELTS score of 5.5 with a minimum of 5.5 in Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking (or recognised equivalent).
If you do not meet the academic English language requirements for your course, you may be eligible to enrol onto a pre-sessional English programme. The length of the course will depend on your current level of English and the requirements for your degree programme. We offer a 5-week and an 11-week pre-sessional course. Find out more here.
Level 2 equivalences such as Level 2 Functional Skills in English / Maths, Level 2 Key Skills in Communication / Application of Number and Level 2 Adult Literacy / Adult Numeracy
Please note that some courses require applicants to meet the entry requirements outlined on the course page. Our pre-entry Information Advice and Guidance Team are able to provide further advice on entry requirements and suitability for study.
What you'll learn
We’ll teach you how to make the best images both in the studio and on location as you also delve into the history of your subject and research photographic practice.
In the first of your three years here you’ll build confidence in your photographic techniques and equipment, learning subjects such as light balance, lens use and darkroom skills.
Your second year concentrates more on the different genres of photography and their place in today’s world. Then, you’ll be ready for your major final-year project, building the specialist portfolio of your work which could be the passport to a career in photography.
In between, you could enter a photography competition. In 2014, our students finished first, second and third in Canon’s national portraiture contest for students.
Study trips abroad are arranged, too, such as visits to Helsinki’s Aalto University and to Paris Photo, the annual international art fair of photography in the French capital.
What you'll study and when
We consistently review our courses to ensure we are up-to-date with industry changes and requirements from our graduates. As a result, our modules are subject to change.
- Professional Life (Mental Wealth) (Core)
- Art & Design Workshops, Processes & Skills (Core)
- Art & Design Studio Practice & Portfolio (Core)
- Art & Design Specialist Workshops, Processes & Skills (Core)
- Art & Design Specialist Studio Practice & Portfolio (Core)
- Art & Design Contextual Studies (Core)
- Professional Life 1 (Mental Wealth) (Core)
- Practice 1 (Core)
- Contextual Studies 1 (Core)
- Research into Practice 1 (Core)
- Experimentation and Application 1A (Core)
- Experimentation and Application 1B (Core)
- Professional Life 2 (Mental Wealth) (Core)
- Practice 2 (Core)
- Contextual Studies 2 (Core)
- Research into Practice 2 (Core)
- Advanced Experimentation and Applications (Core)
- Advanced Practice (Core)
- Professional Life 3 (Mental Wealth) (Core)
- Practice 3 (Core)
- Independent Major Project Part A (Core)
- Independent Major Project Part B (Core)
- Research into Practice 3 – Global Photography (Optional)
- Research into Practice 3 – Extended Research Project (Optional)
How you'll be assessed
You'll be required to present work for assessment in the form of exhibition, portfolio presentation, oral presentation or in the form of an evaluative learning journal, report or essay.
The course includes 30-credit and 45-credit modules which are assessed at the end of each year. The marks from the second and third years are used to formulate your final degree award.
Course specification Foundation Year SpecificationHow you'll learn
You’ll learn with the best and from the best. Our teaching staff are led by Ralph Hall, a towering figure in the world of commercial photography. He’s done everything from taking stills for Oscar-nominated films to working on projects alongside Sir Paul McCartney and winning D&AD awards – the Oscars of the advertising world - for his commercial shoots.
Ralph’s colleagues are experts in varied areas too, from fine art to magazine photography. Their expertise and support will guide you through your course.
Our extensive industry contacts open doors, too. As well as collaborating on projects with your fellow students on other courses such as graphic design and fashion, you’ll have the chance to work with partners outside the University. In the past, they’ve included Canon, the BBC and the Institute of International Visual Arts.
In 2014, some students worked on a project for John Lewis while, twice a year, Canon invite some of our students to shoot the catwalk at London Fashion Weekend alongside some of the best photographers in the business.
Three students recently had the privilege of helping Tim Flach, one of the world’s finest photographers of animals.
Who will teach on this course
The teaching team includes qualified academics, practitioners and industry experts as guest speakers. Full details of the academics will be provided in the student handbook and module guides.
Your future career
Our course shapes and nurtures top-quality photographers. Don’t just take our word for it, though. When photography icon and East End boy David Bailey collected his honorary doctorate from UEL in 2014, he and National Portrait Gallery director Sandy Nairne praised the exceptional standard of our students’ work.
It is little wonder that so many of our graduates have gone on to carve out successful careers in various areas of the business.
Recent success stories include a graduate who worked on movie location in New Zealand photo-graphing The Hobbit. Another did a similar job at Shepperton Studios for the latest Star Wars film.
Meanwhile, Ken Kamara, who worked with Rankin during his course, has been assisting several top photographers on major ad campaigns.
Some of our alumni have set up their own studios to take family and social portraits. Another group set up the innovative new fashion magazine, Tirade.
Every year, our students’ work is featured at the influential Free Range Art and Design show in Brick Lane and some graduates have been snapped up by impressed employers who attend.
Explore the different career options you can pursue with this degree and see the median salaries of the sector on our Career Coach portal
