Why study this course?
This is a top-up version of our Photography BA (Hons) degree. A top-up degree is the final year (Level 6) of an undergraduate degree course and is for those who have a foundation degree, Higher National Diploma or equivalent qualification, or those wishing to study the final year of their degree in London.
This innovative Photography BA (Top-up) is taught in the heart of London's art and media hub where you'll find inspiration all around you. You'll develop essential digital and analogue photography skills alongside moving image expertise, as well as learning about professional practice, exploring links with other art forms and discovering the history and aesthetics of photography through practice and theory. Visit londonmetarts.photography for a look at our students' work, exhibitions, publications and more.
Our photography courses ranked highly in the latest National Student Survey (NSS), scoring 87% for overall student satisfaction.
And our Photography BA degree was awarded Photography Course of the Year 2022 by the Association of Photographers (AOP).
More about this course
This course will help you to develop an understanding of the diverse range of photographic practices and opportunities open to you. It is centred around each individual, allowing you to construct a unique and personal creative identity and develop an understanding of how to make the most of this within diverse professional contexts.
On this top-up degree, you'll develop your individual creative practice and portfolio and learn the transferable skills needed for a career as a professional photographer or in an associated profession.
The degree is taught at one of the UK’s few art schools to be equipped with both colour and black-and-white darkroom facilities.
The course not only enables you to build excellent industry standard photographic skills and theoretical knowledge to support and extend your creative vision, but also helps you apply these to moving image work. You’ll also explore more adventurous and experimental outcomes on the margins of traditional practice.
You’ll be supported by our team of experienced tutors, all of whom are active practitioners carrying out commissions or regularly showcasing their work nationally and internationally.
You’ll also have access, and the chance to contribute, to the East End Photography Archive at the School.
Assessment
There are no exams on this course. Instead you'll be assessed through practical and written coursework at the end of each year and throughout the course you’ll be given valuable verbal and written feedback as your work progresses.
Fees and key information
Apply nowEntry requirements
In addition to the University's standard entry requirements, you should have one of the following:
- 240 credits from a Higher National Diploma (HND), Foundation Degree (FdA/ FdSc) or equivalent international qualification in a relevant subject
- 240 credits from years 1 and 2 of an undergraduate degree (BA/BSc) in a relevant subject at a different institution
- a portfolio interview
Suitable applicants living in the UK will be invited to a portfolio interview.
Applicants living outside the UK will be required to submit a portfolio of work via email.
We encourage applications from international/EU students with equivalent qualifications and also accept mature students with diverse backgrounds and experiences.
Accreditation of Prior Learning
Any university-level qualifications or relevant experience you gain prior to starting university could count towards your course at London Met. Find out more about applying for Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL).
English language requirements
To study a degree at London Met, you must be able to demonstrate proficiency in the English language. If you require a Student visa you may need to provide the results of a Secure English Language Test (SELT) such as Academic IELTS. This course requires you to meet our standard requirements
If you need (or wish) to improve your English before starting your degree, the University offers a Pre-sessional Academic English course to help you build your confidence and reach the level of English you require.
Modular structure
The modules listed below are for the academic year 2022/23 and represent the course modules at this time. Modules and module details (including, but not limited to, location and time) are subject to change over time.
Year 3 modules include:
- This module currently runs:
- all year (September start) - Wednesday afternoon
- all year (September start) - Wednesday morning
Critical and Contextual Studies (CCS) Level 6 results in an independent dissertation. It builds on two years of undergraduate study or previous experience that critically engages students in the history and theory of their discipline, its extent and conventions, and its broader social and material context in culture and contemporary practice.
Students undertake an enquiry into a topic of their own choice and, based on this enquiry, develop a sustained critical study in support of their practice, building on techniques and knowledge developed in previous years and previous experience. This study demonstrates the student’s ability to thoroughly research a topic, use appropriate methods of investigation, and work in a methodical and organised way to develop a coherent argument. It affords a sophisticated instrument for interrogating, testing and presenting ideas, and encourages the student to deploy and develop a variety of skills to show how well they can conduct and present a critical investigation.
The module rewards criticality and innovation, and provides a platform for ambitious independent work. To this end, it offers individual supervision designed to support the student’s learning. The subject matter of the dissertation can be theoretical, technical, or historical. In terms of format, the dissertation may be envisaged in different ways and can include visual, technical or other non-written material which may form the subject of the enquiry and comprise an integral part of the whole.
The dissertation may be practice-based and include field-work and primary research in its methodology; or it might be academic and theoretical in its outlook and draw predominantly on secondary sources. Its form and approach can reflect a broad range of discipline-specific approaches based on discussion and agreement with the supervisor and/or course leader. - This module currently runs:
- all year (September start) - Thursday afternoon
- all year (September start) - Thursday morning
FA6P01 Major Project marks the summation of the programme of studies in four undergraduate courses. The project comprises a major piece of independent study, produced under supervision and guidance. The purpose of the major project is to demonstrate the application and integration of the skills and knowledge gained throughout the course.
The module requires the student to frame appropriate questions for their project, followed by a period of research and development, culminating in the submission of a final body of work using ideas, techniques and processes at the forefront of art or photography, determined by the scope and character of the initial aims and objectives of the project. The module will be supported by a series of project planning workshops. On this basis, the module will require the student to frame the project in contemporary terms and be able to justify in a presentation the methods employed in its execution, including the conceptual and practical aims of the project and its intended audience or reception.
The FA6P01 Major Project module is shared by, serves and sustains the Honours awards in the BA Fine Art, BA Fashion Photography, BA Painting and BA Photography courses and is delivered in a seamless and integral relationship with the work of other core modules in the level. Students are expected to reflect upon and present the complexity of critical and creative relationships between and across the body of work undertaken in Level 6, including in the Critical and Contextual Studies dissertation.
The module aims to allow students to show they have acquired coherent and detailed knowledge at the forefront of fine art or photography, able to deploy critical thinking with accuracy by developing and sharing the context for their project, compiling a journal of experimentation, research and development that supports the production of a substantial body of work.
By planning and communicating to peers the framing of appropriate questions, method of enquiry and context for their project in advance, one of this module’s objectives is to enable students to have the solid background and clear information to make decisions about and solve for themselves complex and unpredictable problems encountered in a project they have initiated and executed themselves.
The module aims to allow students to show how they can manage project time professionally, and so give themselves plenty of time to evaluate, edit and finesse their project as a result.
- This module currently runs:
- all year (September start) - Monday morning
The FA6010 Methods and Enquiry 2 module supports intensive research and development towards the realisation of a major art or photographic project in the parallel module FA6P01 Major Project. The module involves students in presenting an outline of their individual method of enquiry addressing a final major project .
During the module, students test out working methods, clarify their intentions, and frame their project in a contemporary context. The module involves an extensive period of independent research practice and development, to be documented and reflected on demonstrating a critical evaluation of an expanded Critical Contextual Framework
The FA6010 Methods and Enquiry 2 module is shared by, serves and sustains the Honours awards in the BA Fine Art, BA Fashion Photography, BA Painting and BA Photography courses, delivered in a seamless and integral relationship with the work of other core modules in the level. Students are expected to reflect upon and represent the complexity of critical and creative relationships between and across the body of work undertaken in Level 6, including in the Critical and Contextual Studies dissertation.
The module aims to allow students to show they have acquired coherent and detailed knowledge at the forefront of art or photography, able to deploy critical thinking with accuracy by developing and sharing method of enquiry over the course of a major project.
By planning and communicating method of enquiry to peers in advance, one of this module’s objectives is to enable students to make decisions about and solve complex and unpredictable problems encountered in a project they have initiated and executed themselves.
The module also aims to enable students to demonstrate skills in reflection on and evaluation of concepts used in method of enquiry and judgements made over materials and techniques in project, via a public dialogue with a specialist audience - their peers.
- This module currently runs:
- all year (September start) - Monday afternoon
FA6007 Professional Practice 2: Photography is a subject-specific module supporting students to further develop their professional and academic skills, including their practical and conceptual understanding of the codes, conventions and issues associated with display and presentation. Students are expected to synthesise the experience and knowledge gained over the course or through previous experience, and employ a range of transferable skills in communication, negotiation, analysis, project planning and project management.
The module includes lectures and workshops to support photography students to present to their peers a proposal for a final display, a working document that they will continue to develop, test and revise over the course of the year. A schedule of tutorials, supervision, technical input and workshops, as appropriate are available to enable students to realise their plans in either the form of display spreads in a publication designed by the student (magazine feature, photography book, catalogue, brochure) or a mounted and framed display at an assessed exhibition at the end of the module.
The FA6007 Professional Practice 2: Photography module serves and sustains an award on the BA Photography course only, delivered in a seamless and integral relationship with the work of other core studio practice modules on Level 6. Students are expected to investigate and develop critical and aesthetic working relationships between and across the Level 6 modules.
The module aims to let students show they have acquired coherent and detailed knowledge of specific skills in photography display and are able to deploy critical thinking with accuracy in developing and obtaining a wider, non-specialist audience from outside the art school for their photography, as shown in both physical and virtual spaces.
The module also aims to provide students with work-related learning about social media platforms and websites to develop wider public and new audiences for their photography, with a view to creating and updating a sustainable legacy of photography career assets to aid employability.
What our students say
"This is an enjoyable and rewarding course which provides an exciting engagement with current photography practice. It allowed me to develop my own approach to the discipline, equipping me with a range of subject-specific and transferable skills. It also provided me with the experience and confidence to go on to my MA."
Elizabeth Vicary, photography graduate
Where this course can take you
The Photography BA (Top-up) course opens up a number of job roles in the photography and creative industries, enabling you to pursue a career in magazines or newspapers, editorial or freelance photography, archive work, photo libraries, education or local or national arts organisations.
Previous students have gone on to find work at a diverse range of companies and have taken up roles such as photographer, curator, photo journalist, web designer and videographer. Others have used the transferable skills they developed through this course to fulfil roles in local government, teaching and entrepreneurship.
Successful artists who have studied at the School include Paddy Jolley, Sam Taylor-Wood, Suky Best and Leticia Valverdes.
This degree is also excellent preparation for postgraduate study.
Important information about this course
We're committed to continuously improving our degree courses to ensure our students receive the best possible learning experience. Many of the courses in our School of Art, Architecture and Design are currently under review for 2023-24 entry. We encourage you to apply as outlined in the how to apply section of this page and if there are any changes to your course we will contact you. All universities review their courses regularly and this year we are strengthening our social sciences and professions courses to better reflect the needs of employers and ensure you're well-equipped for your future career.
Additional costs
Please note, in addition to the tuition fee there may be additional costs for things like equipment, materials, printing, textbooks, trips or professional body fees.
Additionally, there may be other activities that are not formally part of your course and not required to complete your course, but which you may find helpful (for example, optional field trips). The costs of these are additional to your tuition fee and the fees set out above and will be notified when the activity is being arranged.
How to apply
If you're a UK applicant wanting to study full-time starting in September, you must apply via UCAS unless otherwise specified. If you're an international applicant wanting to study full-time, you can choose to apply via UCAS or directly to the University.
If you're applying for part-time study, you should apply directly to the University. If you require a Student visa, please be aware that you will not be able to study as a part-time student at undergraduate level.
When to apply
The University and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) accepts applications for full-time courses starting in September from one year before the start of the course. Our UCAS institution code is L68.
If you will be applying direct to the University you are advised to apply as early as possible as we will only be able to consider your application if there are places available on the course.
To find out when teaching for this degree will begin, as well as welcome week and any induction activities, view our academic term dates.
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