Photography BA(Hons)

Why study BA(Hons) Photography at University College Falmouth?

BA(Hons) Photography course leaflet (1.51 MB)

Falmouth is widely recognised as one of the UK's leading centres for the study of photography. Here you'll learn from highly experienced tutors and high-profile visiting lecturers from a wide range of photographic disciplines - including fine art, commercial and documentary contexts - providing you with industry know-how and the skills required to create a portfolio of work that will help launch your career.

Workshops and self-funded visits to galleries and studios are key components of the course, while our industry-standard Photography Centre will provide you with excellent facilities and a creative, inspiring environment in which to study your craft.

Tell me more about the BA(Hons) Photography course

Falmouth's photography degree enjoys a long-held reputation for being one of the best in the country. For us, it's all about vision, experimentation, research and knowing your audience. We'll equip you with the skills and experience required to communicate effectively and begin an exciting career in the photographic industry.

From the outset, you'll explore all the key techniques that are needed to practice photography successfully, using both traditional and digital technology across a range of photographic media. You'll then go on, through personally developed work, to select from these in order to establish your own vision and style. Lectures and essays will aid this process as well as examining the historical and cultural importance of photography to provide further context.

Professional Practice is a core element of the course and prepares you to find employment after you graduate, helping you to make all-important contacts and to gain vital experience of working on live briefs. Whether you intend to work as a photographer or in a related field such as picture research, we'll help you develop your own style and gain an understanding of what's required for you to succeed professionally.

Project work is supported by trips to local and national galleries, studios and companies, and an extensive programme of practical inductions, visiting lecturers, workshops, seminars and tutorials. You'll be encouraged to take your own initiative to find projects, work experience and exhibitions so that you become an independent and confident photographer.

"The general atmosphere is very good at Falmouth; one feels that the tutors keep a close contact with the students, monitoring their progress. There also seems to be a strong work ethic instilled into the students which is very important in the Photography profession. The whole course is very well organised." Frank Herholdt, Photographer

Course projects

Audience in the Community: This project by first year BA(Hons) Photography students, Jon Blyth, Tim Mills, Matt Pontin, Michelle Sank and Alex di Savoia, involved working within the community around Penryn and Falmouth town and coastal areas, making images about these spaces. The final works created were then returned to the community as a series of exhibitions at Miss Peapods café, the Greenbank Hotel, JAM Records, The Pier café, The Front bar, Falmouth Watersports Centre and Gylly Beach Café. There is also an online version of the project, which you're invited to visit:
www.kickapps.com/audience in the community project

Audience in the Community 2008 (3.65 MB)

Audience in the Community 2007 (4.67 MB)

Staff websites

At Falmouth, you'll be taught by tutors who practise photography professionally. They'll encourage you to question your assumptions and prejudices about your own work, and to participate in a wide spectrum of different areas of photography - both in the studio and on location. Examples of their work can be viewed on their websites.

Steven Tynan
Course Leader, BA(Hons) Photography
www.steventynan.co.uk

Sue Boafo
Senior Lecturer in Photography
www.axisweb.org

Karen Brett
Lecturer in Photography
www.karenbrett.com

Michelle Sank
Lecturer in Photography
www.michellesank.com

Adrian Brown
Part Time Lecturer, BA(Hons) Photography
www.adrianbrown.com

Spencer Murphy
Part Time Lecturer, BA(Hons) Photography
www.spencermurphy.co.uk

Justin Quinnell
Part Time Lecturer in Photography
www.pinholephotography.org

Deborah Baker
Joint Course Leader, MA Photography
www.deborahbaker.eu

Facilities

The Peter Lanyon Building provides specialist facilities for University College Falmouth and the University of Exeter. It includes University College Falmouth’s new £7m state-of-the-art Photography Centre and Digital Animation Studio, together with enhanced media facilities.

• State-of-the-art Photography Centre boasting the latest photographic equipment
• Extensive studio space
• High specification printers
• Dark rooms
• Black and white and colour processing areas

More information about these new facilities is available here

Course outline

Level 1

• Photographic Practice
• Historical & Cultural Studies
• Professional Practice

Level 2

• Photographic Practice
• Historical & Cultural Studies
• Professional Practice

Level 3

• Major Project - Portfolio
• Long Essay & Critical Reflection on Practice

Answers and advice about the course

If you have any queries about the course please visit our HelpMe Forum

HelpMe Forum

Career opportunities

Graduates from our course in photography gain employment as independent and commercial photographers working in such areas as editorial publishing, advertising, exhibition presentation, visual documentation, digital manipulation, electronic imaging and a range of management roles connected with the photographic business. Further career opportunities include:

• Freelance or agency photographer
• In-house communications
• Public relations consultancy
• Web content management
• Events management and promotion
• Journalism
• Postgraduate study

Course entry requirements

Foundation Diploma; or National Diploma, 14-19 Specialist Diploma, or other appropriate level 3 qualifications/experience.

For further information about BA(Hons) Photography at University College Falmouth, please email admissions@falmouth.ac.uk or telephone Admissions on 01326 214384.

Interview dates and selection process

Interviews will commence in December.

The interview will include a campus tour, while portfolios are assessed, followed by individual interviews.

Applicants will be selected for interview based on a CD of work. They will be asked to bring a portfolio to interview, containing not only photography, but evidence of research and writing skills, together with any other artwork, 3D work or evidence of idea development, eg sketchbooks or workbooks.

Location: Tremough Campus

Related courses

• Marine & Natural History Photography BA(Hons)
• Press & Editorial Photography BA(Hons)