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Photography

  • BA (Hons)
  • 3 Years
  • Full-time
  • 21/09/2026
  • Undergraduate
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More about University of Plymouth

Course options

2025-20262026-2027
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Course summary

Create, explore and analyse images, discovering the medium’s endless potential. Gain deep insight into photography's cultural, historical and professional context, and develop the skills, style and confidence to thrive in the creative industries.

Creative freedom and professional facilities
Experiment with analogue and digital tools, refine technical skills and explore your artistic voice in a supportive, well-equipped setting.

Real-world experience
Use photography to address global and environmental issues, collaborate with charities and broaden your perspective through European trips and international study opportunities.

Inspiring career pathways
Enjoy Plymouth’s coastal lifestyle, blending nature and creativity from Dartmoor shoots to paddle boarding. Learn from industry professionals and join a network of successful alumni in diverse photography careers.

This course is for you if...

  • you have creative curiosity and a desire to explore ideas visually

  • you are interested in collaborating with other creatives on shared ideas and projects

  • you want to master and experiment with both digital and analogue tools

  • you are excited to venture onto a varied and dynamic photography career.

Modules

Year 1: Experiment & Explore

  • Technical workshops and hands-on activities establish an understanding of professional working methods, including studio practice, analogue processes, digital workflow, bookmaking, and digital and traditional printing.
  • Work with new people in new places in new ways. Whether it is making images on the Dartmoor field trip or working collectively on a brief directed by an industry professional, new opportunities will be available to you.
  • Lectures and seminars contextualise your work through the study of contemporary and historical practices.

Year 2 - Develop & Collaborate

  • Develop new ways of working and thinking about photography through the teaching of new technologies and methods of production and publication.
  • Work across disciplines using one of the United Nations Sustainability Development Goals to engage with and promote awareness of global (environmental) concerns.
  • Begin to consider your future and life after graduation by researching career opportunities and engaging in the Artist Talks programmes with established professionals.

Final year - Resolve & Exhibit

  • Research, produce and resolve a major body of work for publication and exhibition at the Summer Degree Show.
  • Consolidate and refine career ambitions and life after graduation through talks and workshops from graduates and industry speakers.
  • Contextualise and critically articulate your work in relation to various audiences and the opportunities these provide: editorial, commercial, fashion, fine art, post-grad study and research.

For up to date details, please refer to our website or contact the institution directly.

Assessment method

For up to date details, please refer to our website or contact the institution directly.

Qualified teacher status (QTS)

To work as a teacher at a state school in England or Wales, you will need to achieve qualified teacher status (QTS). This is offered on this course for the following level:

  • Course does not award QTS

Ways to study this course

Campuses

  • Main Site

Study options

  • BA (Hons) • Full-time • 3 Years

Start dates

  • 21/09/2026

Apply by
14 January

This is the equal consideration deadline. You can still apply after this date, but your application may not receive guaranteed consideration.

Application codes

Course code:
W640
Institution code:
P60
Campus name:
Main Site
Campus Code:
-
Points of Entry:
Year 1, 2, 3

University of Plymouth has participated in the Teaching Excellence Framework. These ratings were awarded in 2023, for four years.

See why these ratings were awarded
What does this TEF outcome mean?

How to apply

Apply by
14 January

This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.

Application codes

Course code:
W640
Institution code:
P60
Campus name:
Main Site
Campus Code:
-

Points of entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

  • Year 1
  • Year 2
  • Year 3

International applicants

The University of Plymouth has a dedicated International Student Advice (ISA) service who will support you from the day you accept an offer at the University, right through to graduation. They will offer help and advice so you can get the most out of your studies, and your time in the UK, visit www.plymouth.ac.uk/student-life/services/international-students/international-student-advice for more information. Once you have applied through UCAS, your conditional offer letters will also be sent to you by email, so be sure to enter your current email address on your application and to check this email regularly. You'll need your unconditional letter, and the Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) that we'll send you, when applying for your student visa to the UK. A tuition fee deposit will be required before we'll send you the CAS. We're a licenced Sponsor under the Points Based System. To comply with our duties as a Sponsor, we're required to check other aspects of your application in addition to your academic achievements, for example any previous studies, financial status and your immigration history in the UK. For course entry requirements (inc. English requirements) please refer to the specific page for the course you are interested in (www.plymouth.ac.uk/study). A recognised English language qualification (e.g. IELTS) would be required or successful completion of one of the University's pre-sessional English Language courses. Check our country pages to find out more about application from your specific home country www.plymouth.ac.uk/international/study/international-students-country-guides. International fees, please visit our fees and funding pages www.plymouth.ac.uk/study/fees. If you have any questions please contact admissions@plymouth.ac.uk.

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Entry requirements

Qualification requirements

UCAS Tariff - 104 points

Including a minimum of 2 A Levels

A level

104 tariff points, including a minimum of 2 A Levels

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016) - DMM

In any subject

Access to HE Diploma

Pass a named Access to HE Diploma (e.g. Preferably Art & Design, Humanities or Combined), with at least 33 credits at Merit and/or Distinction.

Scottish Higher

In combination with Advanced Highers

AS

Considered in combination

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma (first teaching from September 2016) - D*D

In any subject

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Foundation Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)

Considered in combination

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate (first teaching from September 2016)

Considered in combination

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Certificate (first teaching from September 2016)

Considered in combination

Scottish Advanced Higher

104 tariff points, including two Advanced Highers English and Maths accepted within as GCSE equivalent

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme - 26 points

English and Mathematics accepted within as GCSE equivalent

WJEC Level 3 Advanced Skills Baccalaureate Wales - C

This would be accepted in combination of other level 3 qualifications

Welsh Baccalaureate - Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate (last awarded Summer 2024) - C

This would be accepted in combination of other level 3 qualifications

Extended Project

Considered in combination

Leaving Certificate - Higher Level (Ireland) (first awarded in 2017)

104 tariff points. English and Mathematics accepted within as GCSE equivalent.

T Level - M

In digital production, design and development.

Find out more about qualification requirements for this course.

Additional entry requirements

Portfolio
As part of your application you are required to submit a digital portfolio. • Submit your work as digital images only, taken from either original digitally-based work, scans of flat work, or photographs of three-dimensional work. • Your portfolio should be a collection of JPEG images saved as either a single compressed file, if JPEG format, OR as a single compressed file or single combined file, if PDF format. • Acceptable digital formats are limited to only JPEG or PDF files; we cannot guarantee that we will be able to view work sent in other formats, so please adhere to the guidelines. • Online portfolio submissions can also be considered, but please ensure that the files are public and can be viewed by anyone with a link. Further information on: https://plymouth.ac.uk/arts-interviews

English language requirements

TestGradeAdditional details
IELTS (Academic)6With 5.5 in all elements.

Contextual admissions

Universities and colleges consider more than grades when assessing applications and may make offers based on a range of criteria. Learn more about contextual offers.

At the University of Plymouth, we believe in building a welcoming and inclusive community that supports every student to achieve their full potential.

With our contextual offer scheme, we may extend offers below our standard entry criteria to those applicants whose circumstances and experiences could have impacted their education and academic performance. You can check your eligibility for a contextual offer using our online postcode checker.

Learn more on the University of Plymouth website

Historical entry grades data BETA

This section shows the range of grades students (with UK A-Levels or Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diplomas) who received offers were previously accepted with (learn more). It is designed to support your research but does not guarantee whether you will or won't get a place. Admissions teams consider various factors, including interviews, subject requirements, and entrance tests. Check all course entry requirements for eligibility.

Not enough data available

We are unable to show previous accepted grades for this course. This could be because the course is new, it's a postgraduate course, there isn't enough historical data, or the provider has opted out of sharing their entry grades data for this course - learn more.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

No fee information has been provided for this course

Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website.

Additional fee information

For all information about tuition fees, please visit our fees and funding pages at www.plymouth.ac.uk/study/fees

  • Fees are correct at the time of publication and may be subject to change.

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