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Undergraduate

Photojournalism and Documentary Photography BA (Hons)

University of Gloucestershire

What is Photojournalism and Documentary Photography BA (Hons)?

Feel the excitement of professional photography on our Photojournalism and Documentary Photography degree. You won’t just be sitting in lectures – all the modules have been designed to get you out taking photographs as often as possible. You’ll learn the key skills required to be a working photographer, be regularly published worldwide and how to make a living and a career from photography.

Our course picture agency, Pathos Images, will help you to distribute your images to national and international newspapers and magazines through our exclusive access to major publishers.

You’ll be taught by experienced lecturers who are all professional working photographers. You’ll develop your passion to be become a modern photojournalist and documentary photographer through regular feedback and one-to-one tuition, and develop stories on local, national and global issues. You’ll produce a striking portfolio, along with a published book, a documentary short film with sound, and you’ll take part in regular exhibitions to showcase your talent and develop your skills.

Working with industry partners, you’ll have the chance engage in industry-based modules and live briefs. The course is designed to empower you to become a highly employable force in the world of photography. You’ll embark on a transformative journey that will enable you to make a meaningful difference to people’s lives through your visual storytelling.

Our Film Production & Photography courses are ranked in the top 20 in the UK for student satisfaction and career prospects by the Guardian University Guide 2022.

This hands-on, professional degree emphasises practical learning, pushing you beyond the classroom with frequent, relevant photographic assignments to enhance your skills.

The innovative approach to teaching means that you’ll spend more time taking photographs supported by extensive opportunities for personal feedback and development in every practical module.

You’ll be challenged to develop your passion whether that be in news, documentary, sport, street, landscape, or any photographic practice you can imagine. We want you to become the photographer you want to be, not who anyone thinks you should be.

At our vibrant campuses, you’ll join with students from all of the various creative arts to create a tight-knit community that thrives on shared passion for creation. Collaborate and embark on impactful projects that will launch your photographic career.

This course is available to study with an integrated foundation year – an extra, introductory year at the beginning of the full degree. If you don’t meet the stated entry requirements or you’re returning to education, it could be a great option that enables you to study this course.

As well as an introduction to your subject, it will help you to develop valuable study skills, and communication, teamwork and problem-solving techniques, giving you the confidence and skills set you need to progress.

If you’re applying to study as an international student, an integrated foundation year can also support you to improve your English language skills alongside your studies.

To apply for this course with an integrated foundation year, select the ‘With foundation year’ study type from the options at the top of this page before clicking ‘Apply’.

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Entry requirements

    • 96 – 120 UCAS tariff points, CCC – BBB at A levels, MMM – DDM at BTEC, or a Merit in your T-Level.

      Entry to this course is by interview. Check out our Interview Guide to learn what to expect and help you prepare.

    • We welcome applicants with a pass in a relevant Foundation or Extended Diploma (Level 3 or 4).

    • English Language or Literature and Maths Grade 4/C in GCSE (or equivalent) are normally required.

    • This course is available with an additional integrated foundation year. This four year option has lower entry requirements – see below – than the other study type/s available.

      Typical offers
      48 UCAS tariff points, DD at A levels, PPP at BTEC or a Pass in your T Level.

      GCSEs
      Grade C/4 in English Language/Literature and Mathematics, or equivalent (e.g. Level 2 Functional Skills).

      To apply for the integrated foundation year degree, select the ‘With foundation year’ option from the study types listed at the top of this page before clicking ‘Apply’.

      See course overview for more information about the interated foundation year option.

    • We welcome applications from mature students (aged 21 and over) and do not necessarily require the same academic qualifications as school leaving applicants, although some entry requirements may still apply for Professionally Accredited Courses. We accept Access to Higher Education Diplomas and make offers on an individual basis.

Course modules

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Fees and costs

See the further details of fees and potential extra costs when studying a course at the University of Gloucestershire.
Start date Location UCAS code Fee (UK)
Fee per year
Fee (international)
Fee per year
Sep 2024 Hardwick, Cheltenham WP65 £9,250 £16,600
Sep 2025 Hardwick, Cheltenham WP65 TBC TBC

Ready to apply?

UoG Career promise

At UoG we create a climate for bravery and growth. We instil confidence in all our students, so you can graduate career-ready and meet your ambitions.

96% of our graduates are in work or further study*, but if you’re not in a job 6 months after graduating we’ll guarantee you 6 months of free support, followed by the offer of a paid internship to kickstart your career – plus we’ll commit to lifetime career coaching. Eligibility conditions apply**

Discover our promises

Careers

Through the course, you will have the opportunity to undertake a work placement, with recent destinations including Magnum Photos New York, The Michael Hoppen Gallery, the Daily Mail, South West News Service and The Sunday Times.

You’ll benefit from our strong links with media professionals – our course network has links with organisations such as PA Media, The British Press Photographers’ Association, the Association of Photographers and the Martin Parr Foundation and offers you the chance to undertake annual trips to Paris Photo, Tokyo and Berlin.

Graduates from our course move into a range of roles, both employed and freelance including for Getty Images, The Press Association, Mercury Press, South West News Service, the Tate, The Walt Disney Company, Saatchi and Saatchi, and Sony.

Other roles include forensic medical photography for the NHS, teaching, and exhibition roles at the Imperial War Museum North.

One of the UK's leading professionally-focused Photojournalism and Documentary Photography degrees

Our external examiner for this course reported: ‘The strengths in developing convincing narratives continues to be a feature of this course. The course team are making strategic partnerships with industry and respected professionals. Impressive. The course could well be a flag bearer for the University’.

Engage with professional photojournalists and major documentary photographers

Through our extensive connections, you’ll have opportunities have your work recognised by photographers such as Tom Stoddart, Laura el Tantawy and others. You can also exhibit your work in London at our major end of year exhibition, Free Range, where you can expect major industry employers to see your photography.

Global publication opportunities

You’ll be given the opportunity to submit your photography to our own Picture Agency, Pathos Images. These photos are sent to all of the world’s newspapers and magazines ready for publication on your behalf, giving you the opportunity to become a globally published photographer from your very first day on the course.

The British Press Photographers Association

You’ll have the chance on the course to become an associate member of The British Press Photographers Association, and gain a mentorship from a working press photographer who are working on some of the biggest news stories worldwide.

Trips and experiences

You’ll be able to travel internationally with the course on field trips. Previous destinations have included trips to – Paris, Berlin, New York, Tokyo and Perpignan.

In your third year, you’ll have the opportunity to travel internationally to undertake your major photography project. During this trip, you’ll be provided with support and feedback from lecturers.

Placements

You’ll have the opportunity within the second year and third year to carry out work placements not only in Photojournalism and Documentary photography, but in other areas of the creative industries, in the UK or abroad.

We’ll help you find great placement(s) through our excellent contacts and growing reputation in the industry.

Previous placements include Magnum New York, GOST Books, The Guardian, Getty Images, Reuters Images, The ITN Archive and The Michael Hoppen Gallery.

"I’m a news photographer at The Press Association, the National News Agency for the UK and Ireland. I cover everything from royals and politics to sports."

“The Photojournalism and Documentary Photography degree has been my foundation to my career with the lecturers and course alike helping me get a foot in the door to kick start my career. The professional practice module helps build industry connections and put what we learned into practice, mine being a couple of weeks at a regional news agency which ended in a full time job in my third year of University.

The output of our work is always of focus with each module, we worked as a tight knit group to produce a newspaper zine of our works and exhibited on and off, in the Gardens Gallery in Cheltenham. Culminating in a final major project which took myself and another course member to the refugee camp in Calais ‘The Jungle’, supported the whole time by the lecturers.”

Aaron Chown, Photojournalism and Documentary Photography student

"My favourite thing about the course is the creative freedom we have"

“Home Away From Home is a series of portraits of students and their doorsteps. The project signifies the house that students have created while studying away from home and the relationships they have built. My inspiration for portraiture is Jenny Lewis.

My favourite thing about the course is the creative freedom we have and the encouragement to produce to the best of our ability, and we are treated as professional photographers.”

See more of Katie’s work on her Instagram account: @ktweaverphotos

Katie Weaver, Photojournalism and Documentary Photography student

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