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BA (Hons) Photography (BA (Hons))

  • Jobs Well Campus – Carmarthen School of Art
3 years full-time; part-time study available

BA (Hons) Photography at Carmarthen School of Art, Coleg Sir Gâr is an established programme, designed to encourage creativity and develop photographic skills based on individual interests, while embracing a broad technical and conceptual approach that reflects the developments and trends of contemporary photographic practice. Combining new technologies with traditional working practices (digital and silver-based), supported by an integrated theory programme, this course enables learners to work confidently and professionally while developing a career in photography.

Individual student approaches are supported by lecturers; whose own practices are informed by a wide range of experience including documentary, editorial, fashion, commercial, fine art photography, publishing, and content creation. Our school provides a friendly and supportive environment for students to explore their options and develop their individual style and potential. Class sizes are small and tutor contact is second to none.

Key to our learners’ success, we work closely with our students to develop their critical and entrepreneurial thinking, crucial to securing employment within the photographic industry, and this programme ensures that graduates leave with a broad professional portfolio, demonstrating personal identity, as well as transferable skills, enhancing opportunity and employability. Recent graduates have been recognised in a number of high profile awards, including The Taylor Wessing Award, Rankin, Bafta Cymru, Printspace Trajectory, The Association of Photographers and The World Photography Organisation; with commissions provided by the  the National Museum of Wales / National Portrait Gallery / Y Senedd / The British Council / The National Trust / Ffotogallery, amongst many other successes.

Course details

Study modes:
  • Full time
  • Part time
Institution code:
C22
UCAS code:
W640
Course length:
3 years full-time; part-time study available

What you will learn

The programme is well resourced with a range of professional cameras, studio and location lighting for contemporary photography. It has dedicated computer resources commensurate with industry, for professional digital darkroom work and creative image processing, as well as traditional darkroom with analogue methods of working, to reflect renewed interest in silver photography.

With consideration to professional photography practice including freelance and creative industries, our programme is designed to provide students with opportunities to explore expressive image making for art practice, whilst also being conscious of the broader potential for a visually orientated society of multimedia consumers. Module content covers a wide breadth of photographic approaches, offering opportunities to work in documentary, fashion, editorial, commercial and fine art photography, thereby engendering vocational potentials and sustainable employability.

Year 1 – A skills based year delivered through a series of tutor led workshops and independent study.

Year 2 – A developmental year devised to allow you to apply the skills gained in year one to identify personal strengths and areas of interest within a range of industry relevant contexts.

Year 3 – A personal negotiated brief which allows you to consolidate your practice and build a portfolio in preparation for future progression and personal ambitions, culminating in an opportunity to showcase your work in a final degree show.

Fine Art Photographer, Fashion Photographer, Documentary Photographer, Photo Journalism, Advertising Photographer, Stills Photographer for film & television, Wildlife / Landscape Photographer, teacher/lecturer, Postgraduate study (MA, PhD).

Assessment is ongoing through workshop plenary sessions, critiques, formative and summative assessment with aural and written feedback.

Tariff score points accepted: A minimum of 96 points or equivalent portfolio ability for mature applicants.

Selection procedures

All applicants need to apply online through UCAS, our UCAS Institution code is C22 and our course code is W640. Offers will be made based on the UCAS application, predicted grades (if applicable), UCAS reference and one to one interview. Programme Directors interview every applicant and discuss your portfolio of artwork and ambitions with you. This is a vital part of our selection process to ensure that the course is right for you and you are right for the course. Due to developing a relationship with you from the start our drop-out rates are minimal. As we continuously strive to turn students into successful professional practitioners.

Mature applicants with relevant prior experience are welcome and are considered on an individual basis. International students will be interviewed by video conferencing.

There is no additional Studio fee. However, it is likely that you will incur additional costs for specialist materials, printing and for course related excursions.

This Framework aims to develop your professional skills and competence alongside your academic subject knowledge. You’ll study up to 40 credits per level throughout your programme from the Graduate Attributes Framework.  The Graduate Attribute modules are designed to enable you to develop, and evidence, a range of career-focused skills related to your subject area. These skills include digital competency, research and project management, as well as such personal competencies as communication, creativity, self-reflection, resilience and problem-solving.

Find out more about the Graduate Attributes Framework

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