Marine & Natural History Photography with Integrated Foundation Year

Develop your skills by entering the creative industries on an Integrated Foundation Year degree.

If you’re interested in taking on a new subject that you’ve not had the opportunity to study in depth before, or have been out of education for a while, then our Integrated Foundation Year courses might be for you. These four-year courses include an introductory year to help you build the core skills needed for specialist degree-level study.

This is a chance for you to let your imagination run wild and explore your creativity, expand your professional skills and develop enhanced subject knowledge in the domain you want to study. We’ll help nurture your expertise in problem solving, risk-taking, designing and making as you develop your abilities through five core modules.

After your foundation year, you’ll have a deeper knowledge of your subject, a clear understanding of your strengths, a developed practical and technical skill set and the confidence to excel in your chosen degree subject when you join other students for the rest of your course.

Tell powerful conservation stories with your camera. Join a passionate group of environmentalists who believe that images can change the world. Evolve as a skilled communicator, exploring important and powerful ecological and conservation issues and bring them to life with your camera.

Combining the rigour of research with the creativity of storytelling, you’ll expose some of the biggest challenges that face people and planet, while celebrating the beauty of nature.

Based in some of the most outstanding landscapes in the UK, you’ll learn from award-winning and industry-connected photographers, expert filmmakers, explorers and scientists, gaining career-boosting insights and opportunities during your studies.

While developing technical proficiency, we also encourage students to think critically, to ask questions and to challenge patterns of thought and behaviour to make a difference.

You will:
Develop technical, design thinking and production skills in your chosen specialism.
Learn teamwork, leadership and project management skills through a variety of learning environments.
Develop critical thinking and creative problem-solving skills through the development of unique and innovative projects.
Complete your chosen degree over a four-year period.
Cornwall’s diverse marine and land environments will be your studio – you can get from campus to coast or moorland in a matter of minutes 
Rivalling professional studios, our facilities and stores are stacked with high-spec digital and analogue equipment and are some of the best of any UK university
You'll gain insider insights and professional connections through masterclasses, guest speakers, field trips and live briefs
We encourage adventure – former students have travelled to the Ecuadorian rainforest, Indonesian coral reefs, and Norwegian glaciers to produce their Major Projects
You’ll become part of our close-knit, globe-trotting alumni that have picked up huge commissions (BBC, Netflix) and awards for their work
As part of our supportive creative community, you’ll start building your professional network from day one of your degree

On this course, you'll develop a passionate understanding of earth’s habitats and fragile ecosystems while mastering the technical film and photographic skills to create images that inspire, move and educate audiences.

As well as developing an industry-ready portfolio of original work, you’ll graduate with the professional skills to turn your creative practice into a rewarding career.

Foundation Year:
In your foundation year, you'll study five core modules: three short modules in the first study block and two in the second (one short, one long). These are all designed to help you explore the foundational elements of both creative practice and your chosen specialism. 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.

After your foundation year, you'll have a deeper knowledge of your subject, a clear understanding of your strengths, a developed practical and technical skillset and the confidence to excel in your chosen degree subject when you join other students for the rest of your course.

Modules:
Explore
Technique
Apply
Industry
Launch

Year one
You'll practice photographic skills alongside research and critical thinking. During this year, you'll explore biodiversity and habitat, as well as the marine environment, and will participate in a number of local field trips to land and marine locations.

Modules
Base Camp
Research and Critical Thinking
Biodiversity and Habitat
Exploring Practice: Land or Underwater
Communicating Nature
The Marine Environment

Year two
Alongside studying moving image and still photography, you'll develop your research and critical thinking skills, explore global conservation, and get ready for your own research project. You will also get the opportunity to undertake a short period of work experience.

Modules
Extending Practice: Land or Underwater
Introduction to Filmmaking
Natural History Stories
Photography of the Natural World
Independent Filmmaking Practice
Work Experience

Year three
In the final year of the course, you’ll create your Major Project using still or moving images, or a combination of both. You will support this with an extensive piece of writing about the subject of your project, along with a career plan to help you move into your chosen area of the industry.

Modules
Project Development
Culture and the Environment
Major Project
Professional and Entrepreneurial Practice

We regularly review course and module content to ensure our students receive a high-quality and rewarding academic experience. As such, there may be changes made to the curriculum which are not immediately reflected in the content displayed on our website. Optional modules may be updated to maintain the best experience. Any students or applicants affected will be informed of approved changes directly.

Foundation Year assessments are 100% coursework based.

Assessment will take place at the end of each module, and you'll get feedback and evaluation throughout the year. You'll be assessed through visual, verbal and written assignments, including your portfolio and a reflective journal. In your foundation year all assessments are pass/fail to encourage students to take risks and engage with the feedback provided.

Progressing in your specialism
Students studying on courses with an Integrated Foundation Year must successfully complete and pass all foundation modules before they can progress to the next stage of their course.

Your specialism
100% of your assessment will be coursework.

Practice-based modules will be assessed on the presentation of portfolios, including preparatory work.
Critical studies modules will be assessed on written assignments or presentations.
In the final year, you’ll be assessed on your major independent project which is supported by an extended piece of contextual writing and a professional portfolio.

Feedback is given throughout the modules to help you improve your work.