Photography

You will be able to study the following qualifications in this subject: 

• Level 1 UAL Diploma Art, Design and Media?(1 year) 

• Level 2 UAL Diploma Art and Design?(1 year) Media and Photography Pathway 

• Level 3 UAL Diploma and Extended Diploma in Creative Practice (2 years) Photography Pathway 

Our level 1 & 2  introduce you to creative practice with an emphasis on traditional and digital media, so you build a broad, confident skill set rather than specialising too soon. You'll learn traditional and fundamental  techniques such as using creative adobe editing digital tools, developing real technical control over materials before deciding where your interests lie. 

At Photography Level 3 pathway we give you hands-on training with proper camera equipment and industry software, alongside space to develop your own creative style. 

Art, Design and Communication covers portrait, landscape, documentary and studio photography, along with the technical foundations every photographer needs: manual camera settings, lighting, composition and professional editing in Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop. 

You'll build technical confidence in our studios applying it to your own projects, developing a portfolio that shows range — from carefully lit studio portraits to documentary work shot out in the world. 

Real-world context 

We co-design parts of the course with practising photographers and industry specialists, so what you learn reflects real creative practice. You'll gain experience of working in a professional context, creating photographic work for clients including community groups, and private and public organisations — building the confidence, experience and relevant portfolio that support your next step. Trips and exhibition visits also enrich your cultural and creative knowledge. 

By the end, you'll have a technically strong, varied portfolio and genuine camera and editing skills, ready for progression to Foundation or degree study, or an entry-level role in photography or content creation. 

Where it can take you 

Photographer · Photo Editor · Content Creator · Videographer · Studio Assistant · Further Creative study at BA Hons level 

Work Experience 

It is very important that you develop your experience in your industry and that you complete a work placement. We can support you with this and have a team dedicated to contacting employers. We invite employers and organisations to come in to offer you opportunities to complete projects and tasks. We also have industry master classes and guest speakers from your industry specialism who will broaden your understanding of the career routes you may choose to progress to. 

You are continually assessed to establish what you have learnt from each module and assignment.

To ensure you are ready for a demanding and successful career in the creative industries many of your assessments are in line with the industry standards and protocols. This means you may be asked to pitch your ideas, present information to communicate to an audience or work with an employer to create a solution and outcome for a project. With each project you will be asked to produce a portfolio of evidence, which is also formally assessed by your tutors at different points through the year. Your feedback will be kept on our digital assessment platform at final assessment points but tutorials will discuss your progress and set you new and stretching targets.

Your final grade is established through your final major project where you will use a selection of the skills and techniques you have learnt, practised and developed on the course. This project is examined by external moderators and is exhibited for your peers and tutors to assess.

If you are studying Maths and English you will have a final examination to test your knowledge.

• Higher Education at University or University Campus Oldham - FdA’s in Photography, Graphic Design and Creative Media
• Design Apprenticeship
• Photographer
• Art Director (advertising)
• Copywriter
• Illustrator
• Web designer
• App designer
• Editorial designer
• Animator
• Typographer
• Logo designer
• Education
• Printmaker
• Artist/Practitioner
• Entrepreneur
• Packaging
• Retail (windows & display)
• Wearable design (fashion)
• Fashion marketing & branding
• Photographer's assistant
• Stylist
• Set designer
• Runner/researcher
• Processing Lab Technician