BA (Hons) Photography with Foundation

Once you graduate, there are far more options than simply being 'a photographer'. Our graduates have gone on to work as commercial freelancers, artists exhibiting and publishing nationally and internationally, picture editors, art directors, designers, lecturers, and company directors.

• Where could your degree in photography take you?

• Inspiration from our graduates

Your foundation year will:

• Welcome you to an engaging, experiential learning environment with a focus on active exploration, experimentation and discovery across a wide range of material, methods and media.
• Help develop your practical, technical and creative skills through studio and workshop based projects.
• Provide training in key learning skills for further undergraduate study and build an awareness of practise, context and theory.
• Introduce you to the accessible community of experienced academics, practitioners and technical staff that will support you on your studies. 
• Give you access to a wide range of enviable specialist workshops, laboratories and facilities across the campus and become part of our vibrant student community through the various opportunities available within the School of Art, Design and Architecture.
• Enable you to explore and develop your personal interests and strengths as a creative practitioner. 

This course is an integrated part of the BA (Hons) Photography degree at the University of Plymouth. Successful completion of your foundation year (Year 0) will not lead to a separate award or qualification in its own right but provides progression onto Year 1 of:

• BA (Hons) Photography

Or one of the following visual communication related degree programmes: 

• BA (Hons) Creative Media
• BA (Hons) Fine Art
• BA (Hons) Illustration
• BA (Hons) Graphic Design with Typography
• BA (Hons) Digital Media Design
• BSc (Hons) Digital Media Design
• BA (Hons) Game Art and Design.

When you join the BA (Hons) Photography with Foundation, you will:

• Experiment - a key feature of our course is the space to experiment. During the three years there is a great deal of focus on the way you develop your photography, both in practice, and in ideas.
• Document - a growing aspect of the course, in response to contemporary practice, is the importance of the photographic document. This includes opportunities to develop as a contemporary documentary practitioner.
• Collaborate - a valuable skill for any creative practitioner, collaboration is sewn throughout our course including short studio projects, group presentations, a collaborative practice module, and our unique Set Construction Project that allows you to work collaboratively and develop the skills to build, style and photograph your own studio sets.
• Think differently - an important aspect of our course is the development of you as a critically aware contemporary photographer. This means that you can move between ways of working that span the commercial and artistic worlds. The life of a contemporary practitioner is a varied and multi-faceted affair, and the skills taught on this course help you to navigate this exciting world.
• Plymouth - take advantage of our stunning location in the South West. This natural resource will inspire your creative practice with its rural and city landscapes, brooding moors and dramatic coastline.
• Explore - broaden your understanding of photographic practice in other cultures - our international opportunities include a residential field trip to Europe in year 1 and rich opportunities for studying abroad in countries like Germany, Romania, Sweden, Cyprus, Slovenia, France, Slovakia, Norway, New Zealand and the USA in year 2.
• Facilities - achieve your creative goals with our excellent facilities and resources, including a custom-built analogue and digital resource and an extensive Artist Book Collection. Be free to work when the inspiration takes you with our resources open from 8am to midnight, seven days a week and throughout the holidays.
• Visitors - deepen your understanding of the subject with our lively visiting speaker series, featuring well-known practitioners and former students talking about their work and career paths. Past speakers have included: Brett Rogers, Director of the Photographers Gallery; celebrated documentary photographer Ed Clark; image makers Anna Fox, Simon Roberts, Charlotte Dumas, Ori Gersht, Martin Parr, Mark Power, David Goldblatt, Laura Pannack and more.
• We also work with Specialist Professional Practice visitors who create clear links between the creative practice of the course, and professional outlets in the future.

• Year 0

• Core modules

  • ADA001 Materials, Methods and Media

    This module will introduce students to various techniques, materials and mediums through practise-based experiments, play and problem solving. You will be introduced to different creative processes and methods of working that will help you to develop your ideas and engage in critical and reflective practice.

  • ADA002 Image, Type and Narrative

    Students will experiment with media, photography and typography to explore the relationship between image and word. This module enables students to gain knowledge within subject areas and explore the importance of developing an independent voice. Projects will become increasingly student driven as they develop their ability to propose ideas and solutions through self-directed inquiry, discovery and production.

  • ADA003 Risk and Resolution

    Students will consolidate their skills, knowledge and understanding in initiating, researching, developing and presenting a final project and exhibition. This module will also enable students to continue to research and develop their strengths as an independent art and design practitioner and prepare them for their next stage of study.

  • ADA004 Critical Themes in Art & Design

    This module introduces students to transformative phases within the historical and contemporary context of art, design, photography and media. Students will learn to ask critical questions and find answers through information gathering, reading and research. Through articulating responses, students will be introduced to academic conventions in preparation for progression to further Higher Education.

• Year 1

• Core modules

  • PHO419 Storytelling

    Students explore the art of storytelling in the form of an editorial/journalistic photo essay and a bookwork, introducing and expanding the practices of editing, sequencing, portraiture, layout, design, to further refine an understanding of professional context. The relationship between individual practice, ideas and the context of others¿ work is continued.

  • PHO420 Essentials

    In this module students develop an understanding of core photographic, technical and methodological processes of observational practice. Key photographic processes are explored through workshops, tutorials and personal photographic exploration. The relationship between individual practice, ideas and the context of others¿ work is explored.

  • PHO421 Establishing Practice

    Students develop an understanding of core photographic observational and constructed practice, including portraiture and still life. During workshops, seminars, and personal photographic exploration, key skills are developed. The relationship between individual practice, ideas and the context of others¿ work is explored.

  • PHO422 Histories 1

    In this module students are introduced to a wide range of photographic histories, which chart the development of the medium, its characteristics, its practitioners and practices, and its proliferation throughout society. Students gain a broad knowledge and understanding of these histories and acquire skills in critical thinking, research, writing and presentation, which are used to explore and challenge conventional understandings.

  • PHO423 Histories 2

    In this module students expand their knowledge of photographic histories and further develop their skills in critical thinking, research and writing, building upon the knowledge and skills developed in `Histories 1¿, with greater emphasis being placed on the practice of academic writing.

  • PHO424 Making a Mark

    Students explore a range of `alternative¿ photographic processes, and techniques for printing photographic images. During a carousel of workshops and seminars, students are introduced to new processes, and facilities in the university. The relationship between individual practice, ideas and the context of others¿ work is explored through individual exploration.

• Year 2

• Core modules

  • PHO518 Collaboration

    The module offers the opportunity to work collaboratively. Individual practice is developed through projects collaborating with an external individual, group or organisation.

  • PHO520 Tableaux

    The module offers the opportunity to work collaboratively. Students work in groups to build and photograph an ambitious set construction in the studio or on location.

  • PHO521 Practising Theory

    In this module students are introduced to a wide range of photographic theories and related discourses. They develop more advanced critical skills, including analysis and evaluation, and the application of theoretical concepts to photographic practice, as well as academic writing and research skills. Students continue to develop undergraduate research processes through the use of the University¿s ILS facilities and procedures and prepare for the final year Dissertation.

  Optional modules

  • DOCU501 Mediations

    This module engages students in forms of contemporary documentary practice involving still and moving image, sound and text. These elements form the basis of a range of skills utilised as methods of intervention in disseminating current narratives. A single, short-duration multimedia piece is constructed over the course of the module.

  • PHO514 Developing Practice

    This module presents an opportunity to build on previous experiences in order to further develop personal creative skills and interests within the context of contemporary photographic practices.

  • PHO515 Critical Practices

    In this module students investigate the integration of theoretical ideas into photographic practice, exploring the various forms that this can take within historical and contemporary practice. They devise a plan of personal work that explores such correspondences, giving careful consideration to subject matter, visual (and textual) approach and presentation of work. The final part of the module will be concerned with preparation for the final year dissertation.

  • PHO519 Exploration

    The module is designed to extend students¿ experience and understanding of subjects beyond their immediate location. Students spend a minimum of ten weeks on location, offering the opportunity to increase communication skills, self reliance, a greater awareness of cultural values and increased professional prospects.

  • PHO522 Futures

    Through practical project work and its refinement, students prepare for the final year of study through the development of a self-negotiated study programme. Technical, methodological and theoretical elements of practice are consolidated.

• Final Year

• Core modules

  • PHO601 Negotiation

    In this module each student develops an ambitious individual programme of photographic practice in negotiation with tutors, through careful reflection on personal aims and objectives for the final year of study.

  • PHO620 Resolution

    After an initial period of self-initiated preparation, research and consultation, a written proposal for the production of a body of work is prepared and submitted. Subject to the approval of the programme team, the student undertakes a period of self-negotiated study leading to the production of a substantial body of work, supported by a critical reflection.

  Optional modules

  • PHO617 Dissertation

    This module completes the Photography research syllabus with an extended essay, researched and written by each student. Students have the opportunity to research and reflect on a subject of their choice, within an area associated with their practice discipline.

  • PHO618 Extended Dissertation

    This module completes the Photography research syllabus with an extended essay, researched and written by each student. Students have the opportunity to research and reflect on a subject of their choice, within an area associated with their practice discipline.

  • PHO619 Professional Futures

    Across the final semester, students reflect on both their own individual post University aspirations, as well as the current state of the field. This externally looking module supports students to understand and prepare for life after the degree.

Every undergraduate taught course has a detailed programme specification document describing the course aims, the course structure, the teaching and learning methods, the learning outcomes and the rules of assessment.

The following programme specification represents the latest course structure and may be subject to change:

BA Hons Photography with Foundation Programme Specification 2020 21 6750

UCAS tariff

32 - 48

Don’t have 32–48 UCAS tariff points? We will consider ‘non-standard’ applications on a case-by-case basis.

A levels: For Level 3 entry the Tariff points entry level will normally be 32–48 points from A level or equivalent. Non-standard applicants will normally be interviewed.

BTEC National Diploma/QCF Extended

Irish Leaving Certificate: Irish Highers, H5 in five subjects equivalent to 32–48 points.

International Baccalaureate: 24 overall

Proficiency in English: Students for whom English is an additional language will need to demonstrate ability in spoken and written English equivalent to an IELTS score of 6.0 and/or successfully complete the university’s special test before entering the foundation year.

English language requirements

We welcome applicants with international qualifications. To view other accepted qualifications please refer to our tariff glossary.

We are looking for applicants with good potential including with non-standard qualifications and background, so will consider every application on a case by case basis. Alternatively, if you have any questions or concerns about meeting the entry requirements listed above we would encourage you to contact the Admissions Team on +44 1752 585858 or email admissions@plymouth.ac.uk, where a member of the team can offer you further advice.