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Introduction
Why choose this course?
Overview
You'll explore the evolving role of photography in the 21st century while developing a distinct identity as a photographer. You'll balance academic study with hands-on photographic practice. Our teaching focuses on photography as a profession and a visual language appropriate for the creative industries. You'll have the support to develop a professional practice centered around your passions.
The course is flexible, with the opportunity to specialise in:
 fashion
 still-life
 portraiture
 sports
 interiors
 music
 food
 documentary
 contemporary art practice.
You will learn skills from moving image production to concept generation, social media implementation, and analogue and darkroom practice. A third year optional work placement/ internship will help you progress your skills.
You'll learn from leading photographers and creatives working within the creative industries. You will gain strong technical, creative and communicative skills, all informed by an understanding of photography as a visual language.
Wherever possible we make our conditional offers using the UCAS Tariff. The combination of A-level grades listed here would be just one way of achieving the UCAS Tariff points for this course.
Standard offer
UCAS Tariff Points: 112
A Level: BBC
IB Points: 30
BTEC: DMM
Contextual offer
UCAS Tariff Points: 88
A Level: CCD
IB Points: 27
BTEC: MMM
Further offer details
We welcome applications from candidates with alternative qualifications, and from mature students.
Modules
Year 1
Compulsory modules
• Photography Project 1: The self & the other
• Professional Contexts 1: Exhibiting Photographs
• Histories and Theories 1: The politics & poetics of looking
• Photography Project 2: Location & environment
• Professional Contexts 2: Modes and sites of publication
• Histories and Theories 2: Space, place & culture
Year 2
Compulsory modules
• Photography Project 3: Mediation & moving image
• Professional Contexts 3a: Photography and the Creative Industries
• Professional Contexts 4: Professional Practice
• Histories & Theories 3: Media, culture & communication
• Photography project 4: Visual narratives & cultural contexts
• Histories & Theories 4: Ethics, politics and visual narratives
Optional modules
• Professional Contexts 4a: Editorial photography
Year 3 (placement year)
Optional modules
Career Development Placement
Career Development Placement The aim of this module is to develop the professional profile and professional confidence of a student through experiential learning opportunities and engagement with external organisations by undergoing work placements, internships and industry experiences. It aims to enable students to manage their own learning and self-direction through identifying opportunities that align to their disciplinary ambitions, situating their practice in a professional context. It offers a range of options including an Enterprise Residency where students can operate as freelancers and develop ideas for a start-up business with the full support of Brookes Enterprise Support.
Year 4 (or year 3 if no placement)
Compulsory modules
• Photography Project 5: Research & development
• Written Research Project
• Photography Project 6: Independent Practice
Learning and teaching
The first year provides opportunity to explore your passions and interests outside of photography. You will use your interests to identify an area of specialisation. This will provide you with the basic skills and insights fundamental to aspects of photographic practice and theory. You will have the opportunity to explore moving image creation, visual narrative, darkroom practice and digital workflow.
In the second year you will develop your specialisation, further evolving your own interests and career trajectory. You will create your own website, an online presence through social media channels and undertake a work placement within the creative industries.
Your final year is made-up of modules that encourage confidence and independence. It culminates with an in-depth critical analysis dissertation, and an opportunity to develop a self-directed body of work with which to showcase your development. An end of year degree show will allow you to present your portfolio to industry.
Entry Criteria
ENTRY REQUIRED DOCUMENTS
Home Office Share Code
For EU students only.
IF no Qualification
Please provide CV with at least 2 years of work experience, and employee reference letter.
Entry requirements
Specific entry requirements
GCSE: Grade 4 (C) in Mathematics and English
Our standard entry requirement is three A-levels or equivalent qualifications. In some cases, courses have specific required subjects and additional GCSE requirements. In addition to A-levels, we accept a wide range of other qualifications including:
 the Welsh Baccalaureate
 the Access to Higher Education Diploma
 a BTEC National Certificate, Diploma or Extended Diploma at a good standard and in a relevant subject
 the International Baccalaureate Diploma
 the European Baccalaureate Diploma
 Scottish qualifications – five subjects in SCE with two at Higher level or one at Advanced Higher level, or three subjects in Scottish Highers or two at Advanced Higher level
 a recognised foundation course
 T-levels*.
 * T-levels are a relatively new qualification but are already included in the UCAS tariff. We welcome prospective students who are taking this qualification to apply. For some programmes with specific required subjects, particular subject areas or occupational specialisms may be required.
Selection process
Applicants are offered places through:
 a portfolio review - see guidance below
 an interview with a member of staff from the programme
Portfolio guidance:
What are we looking for?
Your portfolio should introduce us to your work, passions and skills as a photographer. We want to see your interests outside of photography and how they inform what, where and who you photograph. Through your portfolio we encourage you to demonstrate your inspirations and what motivates you as a photographer. It is important that your portfolio contains a range of work including recent work for college / school and personal self-initiated images.
What do you need to include?
 Your portfolio should feature between 10 - 15 photographic images that you feel represent who you are and what you like to photograph.
 Your images should be formatted to fit pages which are all the same size.
 Within your portfolio, you can also share with us other visual work that gives us insight into your creative background. For example, if you have any of the following, you could include a link to your Instagram page, YouTube account or examples of self-created video.
 In addition to your portfolio of photographs you should include images of your workbook or sketchbook. These demonstrate your creative processes and show the research, reflection and analysis that is behind your photographs. They help us to understand your practice as a photographer.
You can present your portfolio as a PDF file or you can use an online service to put your portfolio together such as Issuu or a similar provider of your choice.
When putting your portfolio together, ensure that it is well organised and that your work is clearly labelled. The portfolio is all about you as a photographer, so give it the best possible chance of making a good impression.
English language requirements
If English is not your first language then you will need to show that your English language skills are at a high enough level to succeed in your studies.
The entry requirement for your course will be expressed as an IELTS level and refers to the IELTS Academic version of this test. We are now also accepting the IELTS Indicator test, you can find out more about the test on the IELTS Indication site. The University however does accept a wide range of additional English language qualifications, which can be found below.
The university’s English language requirements in IELTS levels are as follows:
Course IELTS level
All other undergraduate courses 6.0 overall with 6.0 in reading and writing, 5.5 in listening and speaking
Law, Architecture, Interior Architecture, English Literature (including combined honours), English Literature and Creative Writing 6.5 overall with 6.0 in reading and writing, 5.5 in listening and speaking
Health and Social Care courses 6.5 or 7.0 overall with 6.5 or 7.0 in all components (see individual entries for course details)
Nutrition BSc (Hons) 6.5 overall with a minimum of 6.0 in each component
Built Environment Foundation,
Computing Foundation,
Engineering Foundation 6.0 with 6.0 in reading and writing, 5.5 in listening and speaking
International Foundation Business and Technology,
International Foundation Arts, Humanities and Law 5.5 overall with 5.5 in all skills
International Foundation Diploma 5.0 overall with 5.0 in all skills
If you need a student visa you must take an IELTS for UKVI test.
International Foundation Diploma (Extended pathway) 4.5 overall with 4.5 in all skills
If you need a student visa you must take an IELTS for UKVI test.
Assessment
ASSESSMENT METHODS
1. INTERNAL ENGLISH TEST if you don't have an English accredited certificate
2. Academic Interview
Learning and assessment
This course is structured around a sequence of six photography projects. Your learning will incorporate creative experimentation, critical and historical approaches, professional standards and technical methods.
The Photography projects focus on the development of your practice, voice and identity as a photographer.
The Histories and Theories modules are linked to practical work, bringing depth, intelligence and insights to your practice. This will ensure the development of transferable skills, so that you can graduate confident, articulate and culturally aware in preparation for a wide range of career opportunities.
Professional Contexts modules are about the process of translating great ideas, personal interests and creative work into realisable, professional propositions. You will develop a range of practical skills in order to do this.
Career Opportunities
You will graduate with an informed knowledge of the industry and strong technical competencies. Your specialisations and industry understanding will allow you to stand out from the crowd. You will have developed your practice, voice and identity as a photographer and visual communicator. The course has strong links with the creative industries, locally, nationally and globally, who offer a rich network of expertise and support, bringing invaluable first-hand accounts of professional life and offering perspectives throughout the three years of the course.
Potential career options include:
 photographic practice
 publishing
 marketing
 television production
 film production
 post-production
 design studios
 social media
 photo editor/researcher
 curation
 press relations
 teaching.
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