
Press & Editorial Photography BA(Hons)
Use the power of photography to communicate with a global audience.
Course overview
On this Press & editorial Photography degree, you'll discover how to use the power of photography to tell stories, expose truths, prompt emotion or provoke action via the news and media. You’ll learn to shoot with a clear sense of purpose, while gaining industry expertise and professional insight. Working in long-form documentary photography, news, sport and fashion, as well as immersive multimedia narrative, you’ll acquire the skills to communicate in fresh and engaging ways on this photojournalism course.
You will:
- Work like a professional photographer from the start, while gaining valuable industry insight and technical know-how
- Have full access to our state-of-the-art educational photographic facility, which includes the latest camera equipment, studios and post-production technology
- Benefit from the support of our experienced academic team and a programme of visiting lecturers and industry mentors
- Enjoy opportunities for local, national and international work placements
- Have the opportunity to take part in local and international study trips, to places including London and New York
- Develop essential skills in creative problem solving and collaboration, and an understanding of photographic law, ethics and human rights
The Integrated Foundation Year and placement year pathways for this course are new for entry year 2023 and subject to validation.
Lead image by Alice McDonald.
Course details
On this Press & Editorial Photography degree, you'll have the opportunity to gain a BA(Hons) degree over three years or study Press & Editorial Photography BA(Hons) with an Integrated Foundation Year and/or placement year options.
From day one, you’ll work as a photographer in the field and the studio, acquiring the essential skills of visual storytelling.
From photography’s history and theories to essential technical and creative skills, this photojournalism course will teach you what lies behind the everyday practice of photographers and publications. You’ll study practical modules, communication and copyright, and magazine and layout production.
Modules
Essentials of Photographic Narrative
In this module, you’ll develop your narrative photographic technique through a series of assignments designed to build your skills of observation, your ability to find stories and the technical understanding required to create compelling images.
Professional Practice
This module will equip you with the basis for your growing identity as a professional photographer. You’ll build your own website, create your CV and develop a network of professional contacts.
Histories, Theories, Practices and Contexts of Press & Editorial Photography
We’ll cover key debates and theories in communication and cultural studies, such as the changing role of photography as a social practice; how photojournalism has evolved within news and magazine industries; the growth of digital storytelling; the changing political and economic structures of journalism, and its role in shaping public opinion.
Photographic Narrative in Context
You’ll produce relevant, real-world work that aligns with, and is attractive to, pre-existing editorial print spaces and clients. As part of this, you will recognise valid content relevant to specific spaces, by understanding products, audiences and markets within a press and editorial context.
Critical Approaches to Press & Editorial Photography
This module provides an introduction to the varying ways that images convey meaning, and how we read them. Through a series of lectures, discussions, workshops and student-led seminars, you’ll engage with the origins of these theoretical and philosophical conventions in image communication.
We’ll explore theoretical studies alongside ethics, representation and media law. You’ll develop audio and multimedia skills, and promote your work in print, online and at an exhibition in London. We’ll also help you develop your professional network as you complete a work placement and get the opportunity to study abroad.
Modules
Audio Visual & Multimedia
This module will demonstrate the power and potential of multimedia storytelling. Through an introduction to the diversity inherent within multimedia practice, and via practical workshops and processes, you will learn how to marry story, content and context to create work that resonates with an audience.
Media Law, Ethics & Human Rights
Through this module, you’ll develop a working knowledge of the legal and ethical frameworks that impact on story identification, gathering and publishing across digital and print media.
Audiences
This module introduces you to the theory and practice of engaging and understanding audiences across a range of media and contexts. Working in groups, you will develop the identity of your project, assign the necessary roles to manage the project, and complete the production, editing and curation of content.
Cultural & Critical Context of News, Editorial and Photojournalism Genre
We’ll consider generic conventions across media and how they shape public knowledge. In doing so, we’ll look at specific journalism, documentary, editorial, photojournalism and visual storytelling genres. A combination of lectures and seminars will encourage you to critically contextualise practices with wider social, cultural, technical and political contexts.
You can choose to take an optional placement year after your second year on a three-year programme, or after your third year if you’re studying for a degree with an Integrated Foundation Year.
You’ll be responsible for finding your own placement, with support from the RealWORKS employability team.
Choosing this option will enhance your industry experience and skills while studying.
How you’ll study during your placement year
You’ll spend time working in a professional context, as part of a business or organisation. This can be in one role, or up to three, and must be for a minimum of 24 weeks.
You’ll develop in-demand workplace skills, deepen your insight into industry and grow your network of contacts, all of which could help you get ahead in your career after graduation.
Throughout this year, you’ll develop a portfolio of work that includes critical self-reflection on what has been learned from the experience. You’ll be required to evidence your experiences, the skills you’ve learned and your professional growth.
On top of producing a multi-part developmental portfolio and completing your dissertation, you’ll work toward a final major project in a subject area and medium of your choice.
Modules
Developmental portfolio
The developmental portfolio is driven by and designed for each individual, being built upon previous portfolio success and married to the unique aspirations of each student. You’ll be supported in this development process through stages of proposal, portfolio and reflection. You will align your ambitions and abilities with the five-part practical construct, ensuring that your unique voice is heard and supported. This module will help you to identify your specific strengths, which will direct future possibilities.
Dissertation
Your dissertation is the major piece of academic work undertaken in the final year of study, and is an opportunity for you to explore your own interests. While writing, you’ll engage with research and analysis into the historical and professional concepts, practices and theories that have been introduced during the course. Although supported by workshops, seminars and specific supervision, the emphasis of this module is student-led independent learning.
Final portfolio
Building on previous experience, and especially upon the strengths of your developmental portfolio, you’ll design individual and unique outputs that speak to an identified audience. Evidencing a deep and clear understanding of context and purpose, your creative work will be dictated by you with the support of your tutors. Your final submission will be highly professional, creative and critically engaged.
Why study an Integrated Foundation Year route?
If you’re taking on a new subject that you haven’t studied in depth before, have been out of education for a while or have a non-standard educational background then an Integrated Foundation Year degree may be the right choice for you. It is a four-year degree with an Integrated Foundation Year to start, which allows you to explore the primary elements of your subject before progressing on to the remaining three years of the BA(Hons) degree.
What you'll study in your Foundation year
If you choose this pathway, you'll study five core modules in your Foundation year. These are all designed to help you explore the foundational elements of your subject. You'll gain relevant technical skills, learn to experiment and take risks, develop an understanding of professional practice, have opportunities to work across disciplines and collaborate with other students on live project briefs.
Modules
Explore
You'll begin your foundation year by working collaboratively with others to explore themes of the future. You'll take risks, experiment through play and be supported to break through barriers.
Technique
You'll take subject-specific workshops and develop essential technical and practical skills in your area of study. You'll also enhance your analytical and organisational abilities.
Apply
You'll work with your peer group to think beyond discipline by addressing a societal or global issue. You'll then showcase your work to your peers and deliver and accompanying evaluation of your process.
Industry
You'll enhance your creative and practical skills in your subject specialism by responding to typical industry briefs, underpinned by focused research and experiments. You'll also gain industry insights through guest lectures and workshops.
Launch
You'll develop your unique identity in your specialism through the production of a self-initiated body of work. Your final project will be the bridge to your next year, fully supported by evaluative reviews and critical analysis of the work you have created.
After the Foundation year, you progress into Year One of the full three-year degree, equipped with a deeper knowledge of your subject, a clear understanding of your strengths, and develop a practical and technical skillset and the confidence to excel in your chosen subject.
If you apply for and enrol onto a degree with an Integrated Foundation Year, you’ll have the option to switch onto a five-year version including a placement year. That means you’ll complete the first three years of your course before completing a placement in industry in your fourth year and returning to Falmouth for the fifth year of your programme.
The Integrated Foundation Year pathway for this course is new for entry year 2023 and subject to validation.
The modules above are those being studied by our students, or proposed new ones. Programme structures and modules can change as part of our curriculum enhancement and review processes. If a certain module is important to you, please discuss it with the Course Leader.
From module information to course aims and assessment criteria, discover the full course details
How you'll learn
You’ll take on practical projects and build your portfolio, as well as completing essays, lectures and seminar presentations. Throughout this exciting photojournalism course, you’ll have the chance to complete work placements in places like New York, Amsterdam and London, gain paid commissions at our in-house photo agency, and work with our industry partners around the world. You’ll have the opportunity to develop your technical skills through local and international study trips and workshops, while our visiting lecture programme will introduce you to some of the photo industry’s most influential practitioners.
At Falmouth, we use a 'digitally enhanced learning & teaching' approach. Your experience will always be predominantly in-person, including seminars, tutorials and studio teaching, with some, more targeted elements, being online either live (synchronous) or pre-recorded (asynchronous). You can read more here.
How you'll be assessed
100% of your assessment will be coursework.
Assessment methods
- Foundation year assessments are 100% coursework based
- Continuous assessment with no formal examinations
- Portfolios, presentations and essays
- End of year project and exhibition
Stories from our community
Explore student projects, graduate successes, staff news and industry insights

Graduate Spotlight: Photographer Alex Leat
02 May 2023
Meet Press & Editorial Photography graduate Alex Leat.

Image courtesy of Jenna Hinton and Emily Smith
Landscape art project aims to boost wellbeing and creative curiosity
09 March 2023
A Cornish ‘sand art’ master has coached a group of Falmouth University students through a projec...

Falmouth graduate lands Guardian cover story
24 February 2023
Philippa Kelly secured the front page of the Guardian’s Saturday magazine with her project on 100 ...

First-year student named Student Photographer of the Year
21 October 2022
Press & Editorial Photography student Ryan Jenkinson has been named Nikon Student Photographer of th...

Graduate lands exhibition at Selfridges, Oxford Street
12 January 2021
Press and Editorial Photography graduate Marco Kesseler will have his Sony World Photography awarded...

Photography Student Snaps Best in Show at the AOP Student Awards
27 July 2020
BA(Hons) Press and Editorial Photography graduate Elliot Caunce has received the Best in Show title ...

Splendid Isolation in Scotland
26 June 2020
We caught up with Elliot Caunce in April when he introduced us to Davey, a Scottish man who's been s...

Graduate Fighting Against Acid Attacks
09 April 2020
Press and Editorial Photography Graduate Ellie Smeaton was so inspired by one of her university proj...

Student film on BBC The Social
08 April 2020

Cameron Smith Wins Student Photographer of the Year
10 March 2020
Press & Editorial Photography student, Cameron Smith, won 2019 Fujifilm Student Photographe...

Four Students Nominated for UK Photography Awards
14 February 2020
Four Press & Editorial Photography students have been shortlisted for the UK Picture Editors Gui...

Student Captures Strength of Storm Ciara for the News
12 February 2020
Press & Editorial Photography student, Cameron Smith, caught Storm Ciara in action at Porthleven...

Student on Assignment for Getty Images
15 January 2020
Third year Press & Editorial Photography student, Will Dax, went on assignment for Getty Images ...

Photographer Shortlisted for Regional Award
30 August 2019
Press & Editorial Photography graduate Peter Flude has been shortlisted for this year's South We...

Institute of Photography Publishes Zine Celebrating Student Work
23 June 2019
Mayn Creative, our in-house photo and video agency, is excited to announce that the Institute of Pho...

Photography Grad Becomes NatGeo Explorer
03 June 2019
Amy Romer has been making some serious waves with her photography. Since graduating from BA(Hons) Pr...

Powerful Photography: Graduate Lands Job at Barcroft Media
23 April 2019
Photography plays a huge part in our lives; from the adverts we see, the articles we read and the so...

Photographer Inspires Students
09 April 2019
Photography students met one of their idols last week when they welcomed British documentary photogr...

Double-Whammy: Two Students Shortlisted for Photographer of the Year
14 March 2019
Every year, the UK Picture Editors’ Guild runs a competition to find Britain’s most talented pho...

Industry Insight with Professional Photographer
13 February 2019
Hannah Starkey, Visiting Professor at the Institute of Photography, specialises in photographing wom...
Staff
You’ll learn from our team’s experience working with companies like the New York Daily News, The Sunday Times Magazine, Rex/Shutterstock, The Guardian Magazine, Marie Claire, and The South China Morning Post.
Some members of staff only teach on specific modules, and your course might not feature every staff member who teaches on the course.

Tom Ingate
Senior Lecturer in Photography
My undergraduate was in photographic communication from Falmouth Collage of Art and my teacher train...

Gretchen Viehmann
Head of Press & Editorial Photography
Gretchen has been the Director of Photography for both the New York Post and the New York Daily...

Eva Cooney
Lecturer, Press & Editorial Photography
My work as a photographer is rooted in classic photojournalism but since then I have developed a mor...

Dan Cainey
Technical Operations Team Leader, The Institute of Photography
Dan manages the technical staff and facilities within the Institute of Photography. He first arrived...

David White
Course Leader: BA(Hons) Press & Editorial Photography
I joined Falmouth University in 2011. Prior to my appointment as course leader on Press & Editor...

Kate Bell
Photography Technician
I graduated from Manchester Metropolitan in 2007 with a First Degree Hons in BA Photography. During ...

Dave Mann
Technical Instructor
I have worked as a professional photographer and photography educator&n...
Facilities
- Large professional-standard studios
- Black & white and colour darkrooms
- Fully colour-managed digital suites
- Film and paper processing facilities
- Digital training area with Adobe Software
- Professional printing and mounting services
- Photography store containing a wide range of equipment for loan

Photography Facilities
Housing dark rooms, post-production suites, full professional studios and gallery, our Institute of ...

Library Facilities
Offering extensive collections, our two libraries provide a wealth of digital resources, magazines, ...

Sports Centre
Our Sports Centre, on Penryn Campus, includes a spacious gym with up to 90 of the latest, new statio...
Careers
Our graduates have worked as:
- Photographer at The New York Times
- Picture Editor at The Telegraph and Features Photo Editor at The Times
- Video Editor at TikTok
- Staff Photographers at Shutterstock, Solent News and Photo Agency and SWNS
How to apply
Apply via UCAS
Ready to join us? You can apply through UCAS. You'll need to reference the course and University code (F33).
Applying as an international student?
International students can apply for a course through UCAS, via an agent or directly with the university. For more information about how to apply as an international student, visit our international applications page.
Course route | UCAS code |
---|---|
Press & Editorial Photography BA(Hons) three year degree | WP65 |
Press & Editorial Photography BA(Hons) with Integrated Foundation Year (new for entry year 2023) | FY22 |
Press & Editorial Photography BA(Hons) with placement year (new for entry year 2023) | PY39 |

Application advice & interview information
Go to ToolkitWe consider all applications on their own individual merit and potential. We invite all applicants to an interview day or audition to give them the opportunity to demonstrate this along with what inspires and motivates them in their field. Applicants will also be able to show their portfolio or give a performance depending on the course. We welcome applications from all subject backgrounds, whether you’ve specialised in STEM, the arts or humanities.
Course route | Entry requirements |
---|---|
BA/BSc(Hons) three year degree | 104 – 120 UCAS Tariff points |
BA/BSc(Hons) four year degree with placement year | 104 – 120 UCAS Tariff points |
BA/BSc(Hons) four year degree with Integrated Foundation Year | 80 – 120 UCAS Tariff points |
Check the title of your course to see if it's a BA or BSc award. UCAS Tariff points will primarily be from Level 3 qualifications such as but not limited to A-levels, T Levels, a BTEC/UAL Extended Diploma or a Foundation Diploma.
For applicants whose first language is English we require you to have or be working towards GCSE English Language Grade 4 (C), or equivalent.
If English is not your first language you will need to meet the same standard which is equivalent to the IELTS Academic 6.0 overall score, with at least 5.5 in Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening. We accept a range of in country equivalencies and approved tests.
If you need a student visa to study in the UK, you may need to take a recognised language test. You can read our English Language Requirements for more information.
For starting your studies in 2023
UK applications: 25 January 2023 (for equal consideration)
Applications after the 25 January will be considered on a first-come, first-served as long as there are places available. Apply for this course now.
International fee payers
International fee payers can apply throughout the year. But we recommend applying as early as possible, to make time for visa and travel arrangements.
What we're looking for
We want someone who:
- Has visual skills, technical ability and engages with photographic narrative.
- Can communicate verbally and through writing.
- Knows about photographic history, contemporary practitioners and current affairs.
- Is curious about the world, and eager to explore through photography and storytelling.
Fees, costs & funding
Tuition fees
Annual tuition fee | Student |
---|---|
£9,250 per year | Full-time UK |
£17,460 per year | Full-time EU/international |
Annual tuition fee | Student |
---|---|
£9,250 per year | Full-time UK |
£17,460 per year | Full-time EU/international |
£1,850 per placement year | Full-Time UK and EU/international |
Tuition fees are set annually and are subject to review each year. The University may therefore raise tuition fees in the second or subsequent years of a course, in line with inflation and/or the maximum permitted by law or Government policy. Students will be notified of any changes as soon as possible.
The figures above don't include accommodation and living costs
Typical course costs
- £300 - Recurring annual costs
- £500-£700 - One off costs for the course duration (compulsory trips, final portfolios or shows, etc)
- £800-£1000 - Optional study visits and placements for the course duration
If you need to bring equipment or materials with you, these will be outlined in your Welcome Letter.
Additional typical course costs for Integrated Foundation Year pathway
- £250 for materials
- A laptop/desktop computer
- Adobe Creative Suite
In order to participate in our digitally enhanced learning approach, you'll need to have a personal laptop/desktop computer. Depending on your subject, you may need a specific type of computer. If you're unsure about what you might need, please contact our course advisors.
Funding
For information about funding available, please visit our student funding pages.
Ask a student
What better way to find out about life at Falmouth University than by asking our current students?
From course details and academic support, to the social scene and settling in, our students are ready and available to answer any questions you might have. Simply set up your account, send them a question and they'll get back to you within 24 hours.
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