Level: Undergraduate
Study Mode: Full-time / Part-time
Duration: 2 years (full-time)4 years (part-time)
Application: To UCAS (full-time)Direct to the College (part-time)
Application Deadline:
Missed the UCAS deadline of 15 Jan 13? We are happy to consider late applications - please contact us at headmin@hca.ac.uk
Click here to view the Programme Specification for this course
Photography has become a global communication tool to inform, persuade and sell products and ideas in an increasingly sophisticated fashion.
The FDA Commercial Photography course aims to equip students who have the drive and ambition to work in this competitive yet highly rewarding field with the skills and knowledge to utilise the complexity of the photographic language effectively within their own preferred professional practice.
Students will be introduced to a wide range of techniques and materials related to commercial studio and location photography ranging from Product to Fashion, Photojournalism to Portrait, Landscape and more. Live project work and work placement form an integral part of this broad-based course and students are encouraged to develop a pro-active approach throughout. Much emphasis is placed on transferrable skills essential to be able to compete in this competitive environment. Seminar, Lectures practical workshops and tutorials aim to develop competence, confidence and communication skills vital to working as a professional.
The degree is validated and awarded by the University of Wales, UK. For further details email registryhelpdesk@wales.ac.uk
The programme is delivered by a team of qualified and dedicated lecturers and technicians whose external knowledge and experience is brought to the learning environment and who are involved with their own practice in various fields. Individual tutorial support is key to the delivery of the course philosophy in enabling students to develop their own informed practice within the medium alongside technical workshops, seminars, lectures and critiques that provide the space for essential contextual contemporary debate.
The course is proactive in ‘looking out’ of the learning environment, encouraging students to engage with many external live projects. The course is enriched by a number of professionals from various arenas in the photographic world who teach into the course programme throughout the academic year as Visiting Tutors, including Bridget Coaker from The Guardian and Rhonda Wilson MBE from Rhubarb Rhubarb – the Photographic Development Agency. The course has strong links with The Hereford Photography Festival which often provides students with the opportunity to exhibit and gain experience of curatorial responsibilities. Course trips throughout the academic year to national and international exhibitions and events, photography festivals and seminars further enrich the learning experience.
The course shares a number of modules with the BA (Hons) Photography programme in particular at the academic level.
Modules in Year 1 introduce students to key technical, conceptual and theoretical aspects of photography. Practice based modules demand individual visual and conceptual response to photographic genres, whilst gaining experience of essential techniques and approaches. These include all traditional and digital camera formats, working within the chemical and digital darkrooms, working on location and in the studio. Theoretical modules introduce and instigate essential historical and contemporary contextual understanding and debate.
In year 2 students are expected to be at a stage where they are taking more independent direction of their practice and their destination. The acquired theoretical, contextual and technical knowledge gained and established through previous years will have informed individual direction with regards to practice and purpose. Work-based Learning will provide the ‘live’ experience needed to understand working practices within the industry.
On graduation you can expect to be in a position where you are able to establish your own practice across a range of photographic activity such as photo journalism, travel, corporate identity, industrial, architectural, scientific, medical, advertising and fashion, exhibition and book publication. A range of non practical options also exist such as studio management, gallery and arts management and journalism.
Alternatively, in order to extend your qualification and range of professional skills, you may wish to consider a third year of study by moving onto the BA (Hons) Top-Up year here at the College.
Minimum age 18
Successful portfolio interview
150 - 200 UCAS Tariff Points
Mature Students with related experience
All applications to our Full Time Higher Education courses should be made via UCAS – for more details on how to apply, click here
For details regarding funding and bursaries please click here