The course is taught by photographers experienced in a range of styles and techniques in the studios, classrooms, darkroom and editing suites at UCW’s Loxton Campus – a bespoke facility for the creative arts. Students on this course can also study at the new University Centre in the Winter Gardens in the centre of Weston.

A range of inspiring practitioners also contribute to this course, talking to our students about what it takes to be a successful and influential photographer. In recent years we’ve welcomed Richard Billingham, Lua Ribeira, Laura El-Tantawy, Jessa Fairbrother, Amak Mahmoodian and Alejandro Acin, to name just a few of our guest speakers.

Students on this course are provided with membership of the Royal Photographic Society and upon graduating will gain an RPS Associate Distinction. The affiliation will also entitle you to a range of benefits including additional courses, visits to exhibitions and collaborative events.

While there is an expectation that by enrolling on this course you will purchase your own camera, the cost of using our photography equipment is covered by the course fees. So you will have access to Canon 5DS, Nikon D800, Nikon D7000 cameras, medium format rangefinders, twin and single lens reflex cameras, a wide range of lenses, Elinchrom location lighting kits and wireless studio kits.

The course culminates in the opportunity to showcase your work under your own branding to members of the public, with previous end of year shows being held in Bristol and London.

You will also be offered the opportunity to curate the UCW Photography Competition, which involves seeking submissions from across the region and working with your peers and guest judges to pick the winners.

Please contact the course leader Sam Brooks or UCW’s HEART student services team if you have any questions. It would also be great to meet you and show you around at our next Open Day.

*This course is subject to approval.

Students who pass this course are awarded a degree from Bath Spa University. The agreement between Bath Spa University and UCW is reviewed on an ongoing basis to ensure academic standards are maintained.

Full-time tuition fees: £8,500 per year.
Part-time tuition fees: £6,375 per year.

This covers all of the teaching and assessment elements that are required for you to complete the course.

It also includes:

• Membership of the Royal Photographic Society.
• The use of UCW cameras and photography equipment.
• Attendance at guest lectures at UCW.
• Annual £10 printing and photocopying allowance for full-time students and £5 for part-time students.
• The use of UCW computer equipment at any of our campuses and access to Microsoft Office 365 while you are enrolled with UCW.
• The loans of books from our libraries.
• Access to all of the UCW student support and careers services.

It does not include:

• Optional studio/exhibition visits at an approximate cost of £40 each.
• Optional residential visits at an approximate cost of £50 (UK) and £100 (overseas) per night.
• Fees for submitting your work to competitions.
• Extra printing and photocopying above the £10/£5 limit.
• The cost of books you may wish to purchase.
• Transport between our campuses, and to/from your partner university and any work placements. We encourage students to take advantage of termly bus passes to reduce transport costs.
• Accommodation and other living costs.

There is also an expectation that students on this course will spend at least £250 on a camera, lens and memory card if they do not already own these. Additionally, students on this course will need to purchase a print archive box, sketchbook, darkroom paper and other consumables such as film, all at an additional expense.

UCW publishes its Tuition Fees Policy on the Wider Information Set page of this website. You may also be eligible for additional financial support, depending on your circumstances.