Photography student

Course details

UCAS Code

W990

Year of entry

2024

Duration

3 YRS (FT)

UCAS Tariff

80-112

Institution Code

G53

Location

Wrexham

*Subject to re-validation

Course Highlights

Strong industry links

including professional guest speakers

Opportunities

to study abroad or take part in projects with an international dimension

Exhibit your work

in an end-of-year degree show

Why choose? this course?

Developed for students with a passion for independent photography, film and cinema, this innovative multi-genre programme combines practice, theory and professionalism. Whether you prefer to work with the still or moving image, you can creatively and conceptually explore film and photography on our inspiring, challenging and rewarding degree.

Students will:

  • Discover a range of skills including how the lens can be used creatively as a tool for storytelling, specialist and experimental camera techniques, lighting for studio and location work, editing and post-production.
  • Be encouraged to acquire unique approaches to the photography and film disciplines.
  • Develop and research their own ideas in relation to project briefs, learning transferable skills needed to work as an imaginative professional.
  • Generate and produce ideas through location and studio work.
  • Be guided in making submissions for international galleries, expositions, festivals, drama, documentary, advertising, music media and other forms of digital imagery and visual effects.
  • *Study a course that has been ranked 5th in Wales as part of the Art & Design subject league table for Teaching Quality in The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2023.
Art student painting

Art and Designat Wrexham University

Key course features

  • Close industry connections with supporting guest lecturers
  • Links with the leading galleries and arts organizations from around the North West offering support and advise, tours and talks as well as portfolio reviews.
  • Regular field trips to studios, galleries as well as photography and film festivals.
  • Be part of an end of year degree show exhibition - view the 2022 Degree Show e-magazine, Unjammed.

What you will study

YEAR 1 (LEVEL 4)

Year 1 introduces you to a wide variety of creative image making techniques and disciplines in both digital and analogue approaches. This includes training in digital editing software for both the still and moving image, studio training, as well as traditional film and darkroom experience. You will also be introduced to the key elements of art and design and cultural significance.

MODULES

  • History and Context
  • Creative Futures 1
  • Visual Communication
  • Creative Lens-Based Media
  • Contemporary Themes
  • Time and Language

YEAR 2 (LEVEL 5)

Entering year 2, you will be asked to apply a wide range of approaches to lens based media from year 1 to professional project briefs including documentary films and extensive bodies of stills photography. These practical briefs are supported by in-depth software and technical training. You will also be introduced and supported in academic discourse as well as professional practice.

MODULES

  • Critical Thinking
  • Creative Futures 2
  • Post Production Techniques
  • Visual Communications Across Cultures
  • Specialist Study (Photography & Film)

YEAR 3 (LEVEL 6)

You will be supported in structuring and project managing your own pathways in your desired area of creativity through 2 self-directed and tutorial led modules. These are intended to aid you in building the very strongest portfolio of individual creative work for your final exhibition before graduation. This is critically underpinned by a choice in traditional dissertation or research paper option to academic writing. This is delivered alongside professional practice readying you to enter the world of work. 

MODULES

  • Dissertation
  • Creative Futures 3
  • Negotiated Practice
  • Photography and Film Degree Project

 

The information listed in this section is an overview of the academic content of the programme that will take the form of either core or option modules. Modules are designated as core or option in accordance with professional body requirements and internal academic framework review, so may be subject to change. 

Entry requirements & applying

The academic requirements for the course are 80-112 UCAS tariff points at GCE A-level or equivalent but all applications are considered on an individual basis, and we also take work experience into consideration, vocational training/qualifications as well as individual motivation and potential are also key aspects in selection.

Teaching & Assessment

To enable students to develop creatively, formative and summative feedbacks are given.

Formative assessment offering advice on how to improve your work occurs at key points before Christmas and before Easter. This provides time for students to reflect on their progress prior to a final or summative assessment.

Assessment is designed to enable students to participate in the measurement of their own progress. Students will submit a range of coursework including an online reflective journal/blog, sketchbooks, design sheets, finished artworks, screen-based work, installations, technical/production files, essays and audio-visual presentations.

Teaching and Learning

The majority of the active teaching and learning is studio/workshop based and practical in nature supported with lectures, demonstrations (both onsite and on location), tutorials, seminars and critiques. There is also a programme of talks by specialist guest speakers as well as field trips.

Wrexham University is committed to supporting our students to maximise their academic potential.

We offer workshops and support sessions in areas such as academic writing, effective note-making and preparing for assignments. Students can book appointments with academic skills tutors dedicated to helping deal with the practicalities of university work. Our Student Support section has more information on the help available.

In terms of particular needs, the University’s Inclusion team can provide appropriate guidance and support should any students require reasonable adjustments to be made because of a recognised prevailing disability, medical condition, or specific learning difference.

Career prospects

Our Careers and employability service is there to help you make decisions and plan the next steps towards a bright future. From finding work or further study to working out your interests, skills and aspirations, they can provide you with the expert information, advice and guidance you need.

Your degree will prepare you for work in art and design, film and photographic industries and in education.

Photography & Film, like all of our Art and Design undergraduate programmes, has a strong vocational and academic ethos that aims to ensure graduates acquire a range of vocationally relevant skills. Integral to this ethos is the responsibility to ensure that our graduates have a portfolio of abilities and attributes which will allow them to thrive in the 21st century workplace. It takes into account the fact that the future needs of the creative industries are likely to be very different. It therefore aims to prepare ‘independent learners’ who on completion of their studies are able to flourish within increasingly diverse professional contexts.

You will gain a high level of realistic and practical experience of working in the professional creative environment whilst you are on the programme. Students are encouraged to initiate, organise and participate in off-site projects and engage in professional opportunities, including commercial activities that have the potential to launch their career in photography or film and the boundaries that straddles these two disciplines.

Many Photography & Film graduates go on pursue careers as:

  • Independent film-makers, directors, photographers in large or small companies
  • Freelancing or setting up in business
  • Independent art practice
  • Teaching in further or higher education or in primary and secondary schools
  • Gallery or other forms of exhibition work, or as education officers
  • Researchers
  • Technicians

Further study opportunities are also available at MA or PGCE level.

Fees & funding

You do not have to pay your tuition fees upfront.

The fees you pay and the support available will depend on a number of different factors. Full information can be found on our fees & finance pages. You will also find information about what your fees include in the fee FAQs.

All fees are subject to any changes in government policy, view our undergraduate fees.

Programme specification

You can see the full programme specification here.

 

Accommodation

If you’re looking for a place to stay while you study then take a look at our Accommodation to get more information on your options, including our on-campus halls of residence Wrexham Village.

Subject to re-validation

As part of its continuous quality assurance and enhancement, the University reviews its courses on a regular basis to ensure that they reflect the needs of students and employers. Periodic review of the existing programmes is required every five years and major changes may be made to the programmes during the re-validation process. As soon as the programmes are re-validated the details of the course will be confirmed. The majority of courses that are still ‘subject to re-validation’ are approved by the validation process; however, this is not guaranteed and should the course not go ahead as planned, or be significantly amended, you will be informed by the university and assistance will be provided to those who have been offered a place to find a suitable alternative course either at Wrexham University or at another provider.

International

If you are applying as an European / International Student, and live outside of the UK, you should make your application through our online application system, Centurus.

For information about the university’s entry requirements for EU/international students, please visit our international section