Photography with Foundation Year

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Among 111 UK higher education institutions with 3,000+ graduates (HESA Graduate Outcomes 2026).

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Get ready for degree-level study with our degree with a foundation year. In Year 0, you’ll be part of a supportive Visual Media Foundation Year community, gaining relevant academic, digital and communication skills, as well as foundational skills in your specialist visual media subject area and the confidence to complete a full honours degree as part of this four-year course.

You’ll be able to begin this course without needing to meet the standard Level 3 entry requirements, as Year 0 is designed to help you build the foundations for lifelong learning, technological innovation, and future study. Successful completion of the Foundation Year means you can progress directly into Year 1 of your degree.

Our Photography degree at Canterbury Christ Church University will introduce you to different areas of photography and help you see images from a fresh perspective. You’ll explore how photography can be used for communication and creative expression, while developing your own identity as a practitioner.

You’ll be taught by experienced professional photographers who will nurture your development and provide opportunities to gain industry insight through guest speakers, exhibitions and collaborative projects.

Using industry-standard darkrooms and studios, you’ll experiment with a wide range of photographic processes, from analogue portraiture and studio still life to experimental techniques and high-quality commercial image-making. You’ll develop the technical understanding, creative ambition and professional awareness needed for a career in the creative industries.

What you’ll learn across your four-year course

• Master the intricate photographic process using industry-standard darkrooms and studios.

• Develop practical photographic skills alongside advanced visual research techniques.

• Appreciate photography as a powerful medium for communication and creative expression.

• Gain real-world insight through guest speakers, collaborative projects and opportunities to exhibit your work.

• Study on a course accredited by the Association of Photographers (AOP).

• Take part in regular exhibition and gallery-based sessions, including the opportunity to exhibit your own work.

• Opt to do a placement year between Years 2 and 3 to gain first-hand industry experience. You can choose this option once you’ve joined us, and we’ll support you throughout.

You’ll learn current industry practices and understand how professional photographic techniques can be applied across a variety of creative arts sectors. Working on real-world projects will also prepare you for the collaborative and interconnected nature of modern creative roles.

Upon graduation, you’ll have the specialist and transferable skills needed to begin your career, along with an understanding of the diverse pathways available to photography graduates. The course’s emphasis on adaptability and lifelong learning will also help you respond to changes within this continually evolving field.

This course offers the opportunity to study abroad for a year, giving selected students the chance to learn at one of our partner institutions in North America.

Specialist facilities

You’ll have access to a range of excellent facilities, including our dedicated creative arts building, Daphne Oram, which houses:

• Digital imaging suites

• Fully equipped darkrooms

• Photographic studios

• Mirrorless canon cameras including R5’s, Fuji GFX digital medium format, a selection of analogue cameras in large, medium and 35mm formats

For a list of core and likely optional modules, please visit our website.