BA (Hons) Photography

In your final year you will refine your practice and produce a substantial body of work for exhibition. The relationship between theory, practice and technical skills will be consolidated and your knowledge of professional practice deepened. With the opportunity to use our extensive alumni and professional network you will be able to make informed choices in preparation for your future career.

All students are registered for the award of BA (Hons); however, exit awards are available if you leave the course early, having successfully completed one or two levels. If you successfully complete a level of the course, you will automatically be entitled to progress to the next level.

For the award of a Certificate of Higher Education (CertHE), you must have achieved a minimum of 120 credits at Level 4. This qualification may be awarded if you leave the University following successful completion of the first year of your course.

For the award of a Diploma of Higher Education (DipHE), you must have achieved a minimum of 240 credits of which a minimum of 120 must be at Level 5. This qualification may be awarded if you leave the University following successful completion of the second year of your course.

For the award of a BA (Hons) you must have achieved a minimum of 360 credits of which a minimum of 240 must be at Level 5 or above, of which a minimum of 120 credits must be at Level 6. This qualification will be awarded upon successful completion of your course.

A BA without Honours may be awarded if you have achieved 300 credits, at least 180 of which are at Level 5 or above, and at least 60 of which are at Level 6.

The nature and level of the course means that students are drawn from a wide range of backgrounds with a variety of talents, aspirations and experiences.

We look for creative potential through the medium of photography and an indication of your personal ideas and interests, so bring with you any journals, idea books and sketchbooks together with your finished work.

The qualities we look for are reflected in the course structure:- a commitment to the medium,- sensitivity towards its capacity for making visual statements - an awareness of the importance of its history and contemporary practices.

An interest in broad cultural issues is also desirable (i.e. film, music, literature, fine art etc.). We are looking for an engaged attitude and a personality that is able to cope with academic study as well as studio practice. Above all, applicants must be able to generate ideas and work in a self-motivated way.

Typical questions you will be asked are:

• Why do you want to be a photographer?
• Who are your influences?
• What qualities would you bring to a peer group?
• What do you personally wish to achieve on the course?
• Discuss your ambitions.

The ability to contextualise and to talk about work is of particular importance for this course.

The course objectives are met by deploying a wide variety of teaching and learning methods including projects, lectures, seminars, group critiques and tutorials. In consultation with the Course Leader, staff are responsible for co-ordinating individual units of study, and for selecting appropriate methods of delivery according to subject matter and student experience.

The methods employed induct you to the disciplines required of a creative practitioner and promote the development of transferable and adaptable skills

The study time allocated to each unit in the course incorporates a balance of formal teaching, tutorial support and independent learning. The course is structured progressively to provide increased opportunities for independent learning as you reach the later stages of the course.

The progressive promotion of independent learning reflects your anticipated maturity as a student and allows you to direct your learning towards individual goals. The teaching in Level 4 is directed at providing you with the knowledge, concepts and skills to take increasing responsibility for the management of your own learning.

Teaching is directed at supporting individual engagement in learning although there will be opportunities for you to work in teams to enable you to learn the value of peer co-operation.

For every unit of your course, we will inform you of what you are expected to learn; what you have to submit; how your work will be assessed; and the deadline for presenting your work for assessment. This is made available through Unit Information, which is on your course blog.

You will receive a final mark for each unit in the form of a percentage, which will be recorded on your formal record of achievement (transcript). Each component of assessment is graded using a notched marking scale, whereby only certain marks are used within each grade. The only marks available within any ten-point band are *2, *5 and *8 (e.g. 62, 65, 68). These marks correspond to a low, mid, and high level of achievement within each grade band.

The University has agreed that, during 2019/20, it will run a pilot project. This will mean that on some courses, one unit at Level 4 will be assessed on a Pass / Fail basis only, with written feedback but no numerical grade. If your course has been selected for the pilot, your Course Leader will tell you this, and the details will be clearly expressed on the Unit Information Sheet.

All learning outcomes must be passed to successfully complete the unit.

On successful completion of your Honours degree course, you will be awarded a degree classification based on your unit marks. The final classification is determined using all unit marks at Levels 5 and 6 using two different algorithms, which are detailed in the HE Student Regulations. If the two algorithms produce different results, you will be awarded the higher class of degree.

If you have joined Level 6 through either the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) route or having completed a Foundation Degree (FdA), the final classification is determined using only your unit marks at Level 6.

For further information on assessment, progression, awards and classifications, please visit https://viewpoint.aub.ac.uk

The expansive nature of the course has enabled graduates to work in all kinds of roles, in many areas of the creative industries worldwide. Where will this course take you?

Contemporary Artists and Photographers, exhibiting in commercial galleries and museums worldwide. Commercial Photographers and Directors working for the most prestigious clients worldwide, represented by leading agencies such as Webber Represents. Artist Filmmakers, winners of the 2019 Jerwood/FVU Award. Film Directors, commissioned by BBC New Creatives 2019. Museum Directors, Gallerists, Gallery Managers, worldwide. Creative Producers, working for Apple in San Francisco, California. Photographic Agency Directors. Advertising Directors. Art Directors. Art buyers. Photographers Assistants. Photographic Technicians. Lighting Technicians. Studio Managers. Studio Assistants. Creative Retouchers. Artist Assistants. Art Handlers. Installation Technicians. Fine Art Framers and Fabricators. Picture Librarians. Archivists. Curators. Gallery Education Officers. Teachers. Technician Tutors. Lecturers. Course Leaders.

Students studying this course achieve great things and have won prestigious and high profile awards, such as:

• APHE Bursary
• Eizo Award
• Float Art Prize
• Photograd mentorship
• Portrait of Britain winner
• South West Graduate Photography Prize