BA (Hons) Commercial Photography (Jan 2025 Start)
Our January entry (Spring term) BA (Hons) degrees allow students to study flexibly at home, in the studio or at our dedicated international host institution. You'll complete your first year of study by the beginning of August, progressing straight into your second year in September after a summer break.
Student Nic Rickard discusses her experience on the Interior Design January Start degree at Arts University Plymouth.
<p>We are excited to offer a selection of BA (Hons) creative courses through our new distance learning provision, starting in January (<a href="https://www.aup.ac.uk/study/distance-learning/key-dates">click here to see the Key Dates for our Distance Learning courses</a>). Our vision for excellence in art and design distance learning, under the banner of our <a href="https://www.aup.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/learning-teaching-assessment" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Connected Campus,</a> affords students flexibility in their studies whilst being a valued part of our community. </p>
<p>These three-year courses all share a common distance-learning first year, while specialising in a chosen subject, then progressing into named awards in year two and three. </p>
<p>The first year of your <strong>January entry </strong>BA (Hons) Commercial Photography course <strong>can be studied at home, in your own studio space, </strong>or at our<strong> dedicated international host institution</strong>. You will begin in January, and your studies will finish in August, allowing you to <strong>immediately progress on to your second year </strong>of study in person, on campus at Arts University Plymouth, in September.<br /></p>
<p>Our BA (Hons) Commercial Photography course will equip you with advanced technical skills in studio and location lighting, digital capture and post-production techniques. This is an integrated programme of study with industry-oriented assignment, hands-on workshops and expert tuition. You will also develop your industry knowledge and professional skills to enable you to find work in high-end commercial photographic practice. </p>
<p>Our curriculum is geared towards employability and enterprise. We develop photographers who are technically proficient, visually sophisticated and professionally astute – who understand trends in the industry, how to pitch for business, and who graduate with a broad range of transferable skills that enable them to succeed in the creative industries. </p>
<p>Working both individually and with real-world mentors, you’ll gain vocational experience to be able to flourish both academically and professionally. You will acquire a broad range of entrepreneurial abilities in marketing, self- promotion and business development, enabling you to develop a financially sustainable practice, fundamental to your success in the industry. <br /></p>
Mark Ronson for NME Magazine, Andy Ford.
<p>Our curriculum includes a rich schedule of visiting lecturers and photographers, many of whom also take an active role in running practical workshops, contributing to group critiques and seminar discussions, and providing portfolio review sessions. And we are regularly visited by talented photography alumni, with graduates including Harry Borden, Suki Dhanda, Tom Oldham and Candice Farmer. Some also provide work placement and assisting opportunities. Sessions by visitors are recorded wherever possible and shared with the university community. <br /></p>
<p>Our students attend world-class events including the annual Visual Culture Symposium in London, where speakers have included picture editors from The Telegraph and The Guardian, amongst acclaimed international photographers. You’ll also be encouraged to enter graduate showcases and awards, with one of our recent graduates winning Best in Show - first runner up, at Free Range 2019.<a href="https://cms.plymouthart.ac.uk/admin/entries/courses/%7Bassets_12244%3A%7Bfiledir_1%7DBA_Commercial_Photography/24324692579_66720509ce_k.jpg%7D"></a><br /></p>
<p>Beginning in January, your accelerated first-year will take place online, learning remotely with the support of our teaching and technical team, as well as industry practitioners. You’ll develop your confidence in responding to client briefs while demonstrating creative problem-solving and conceptualisation skills. </p>
<p>Our Commercial Photography course also benefits from a strong connection with the prestigious Association of Photographers (AOP), with UK students offered free membership.<br /></p>
<p>In the second year, you’ll be able to learn face-to-face with real industry clients and build a professional portfolio using our state-of-the-art facilities. Recent course contributors include Getty Images, The Met Office, Mercedes-Benz, and Pro-Direct Sport. <br /></p>
Rhiannon Brassington
<p dir="ltr">In your first year, you’ll gain remote access to all of our UK campus-based services including our Student Support, Careers, Library, Academic Skills and Digital Education team, ensuring you can gain personalised advice on welfare, finances, English language support, time management, IT and access to digital resources (including an online database of e-journals, research papers, films and more).</p>
<p>Once you are in your second year, students can enjoy access our photographic resources including industry-standard studios, with an infinity cove to create seamless backdrops for shoots and a series of well-equipped studios for portrait and product photography. We also provide access to lighting and high-end digital camera equipment, large-format scanners, post-production suites and 6,000 pieces of kit that are free to hire from our Equipment Resource Centre.<br /></p>
<p>If you are an international student studying at one of our partner institutions, like Artslink in Shanghai, you may be able to access specialist facilities to support your studies, however, it is not essential to succeed on this course.</p>
Meet BA (Hons) Photography graduate, Andy Ford.
Andrew Young
<p>If you are joining one of our <a href="https://www.aup.ac.uk/study/distance-learning" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><strong>January 2025-start degrees</strong></a> beginning in the Spring term, you will pay the tuition fees advertised for the academic cycle 2024/25.</p>
<p>For new full-time UK students, this will be <strong>£9,250 </strong>per year. For full-time international and EU students joining us from a partner provider, this will be <strong>£16,500</strong>. </p>
<p>Please note that the nature of this course's remote first year only allows for full-time study, however, if you are classed as a home student (i.e based in the UK), in your second and third year you may opt to study the rest of your degree part-time as per our other undergraduate students.</p>
<p>All students at Arts University Plymouth can access specialist support via our Student Support Team. Our trained advisers offer information and guidance on student finance and funding, disability support, counselling and more.<a href="https://www.aup.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/disability-support-and-reasonable-adjustments" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><br /><br />Click here</a> to read more about the support we offer.</p>
<p>For more information on how our January-start degrees work and a full list of courses available, please <a href="https://www.aup.ac.uk/study/distance-learning" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">click here</a>.</p><ul><li><strong>Email: </strong><a href="mailto:hello@aup.ac.uk">hello@aup.ac.uk</a> / <a href="mailto:COMMERCIALPHOTO@aup.ac.uk">commercialphoto@aup.ac.uk</a><br /></li><li><strong>Tel:</strong> +44 (0)1752 203434</li><li><strong>Insta:</strong> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/aup_commercialphoto/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">@aup_commercialphoto</a><br /></li><li><strong>Twitter: </strong><a href="https://twitter.com/commphotopca" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">@commphotopca</a><br /></li></ul>
