This course encourages an experimental, research-based approach to photography asking you to explore the boundaries of the medium and engage with current photographic discourse. As one of the four fine art subjects within the Art Cluster at Camberwell the course offers a distinct approach to photographic fine art practice. The course is ideas-led encouraging you to explore a range of possible approaches to how you may best explore and articulate your ideas.

The rigorous series of lectures, seminars and discussions enable you to explore a variety of ideas specific to photography and to art practice generally. In addition, we offer a lively series of lectures from national and international visiting artists, photographers, curators and magazine editors.

Technical teaching is delivered through regular taught workshops, including the full range of analogue and digital darkroom processes as well as video and studio photography run throughout the course.

Each year the course organises a trip, in 2008 this was to Berlin to visit the Bienalle exhibition. 

Camberwell students have successfully taken part in a number of external competitions with a current student winning the 2007 Association of Photographers Student Photographer of the Year. 

Students have also been awarded travel scholarships including the Arts Club award to carry out a research trip to Spain and the Far East.

Students have worked with musicians for the Soho Theatre, exhibited work in Kew Gardens and Portobello Film Festival and had work placements at NME, the Victoria & Albert Museum and ID Magazine.

Year 1

You will be exploring a range of ways through which photography generates content. You will develop an experimental, research-based working method and consider the relationship between ideas and photographic practice.

A series of key ideas lectures will introduce you to several important debates and theories that underpin contemporary art and design. You will be introduced to a range of strategies to help you develop a research methodology and reflective approach to your studies.

Year 2

You will be encouraged to take an increasingly outward-looking approach. Running through the year is a self-initiated 'live' project that encourages in-depth exploration of the mechanisms by which you will make yourself and your work visible. This runs alongside your developing practical work and the continuing study of the context within which you are working.

Electives - This programme is undertaken by all 2nd year BA students and offers a menu of complementary studies that allows you to broaden your enquiry both in practical terms and in relation to critical and professional contexts. There is the opportunity to strengthen your practice, deepen a particular seam of critical enquiry and expand technical skills in specific media or processes. For example: sound, animation, philosophy, curating, performance.

Year 3

You will be planning, developing and realising your individual, self-initiated programme of study, and carrying out sustained practical and contextual research. Through a choice of dissertation, work placement or live project you will explore in depth the context within which you choose to locate your practice. You will develop your ideas using an appropriate research-based methodology and work towards a completed body of work, which will prepare you for ongoing study and professional practice.

Graduating students will be active in establishing their own independent practice but also capable of working in a range of professional and commercial environments (e.g. freelance editorial work, photographic assisting and studio management). Graduates also pursue postgraduate study in related areas such as photography, fine art, art curation, and theoretical research. Recent graduates include a student who went on to study MA Lens Based Media at Goldsmiths College and subsequently became an Art Director for the large international photography agency Corbis. Other graduates include students who have been invited to participate in major photographic exhibitions such as the Fotografi I Fokus in Malmo, Sweden and a graduate who carried out a three month artist residency in Iceland.

. Portfolio of work

. A foundation course/ National Diploma/AVCE/ Advanced GNVQ or equivalent
. Pass in 1 GCE A Level
. Passes at GCSE level in 3 subjects (grade C or above)

. EU/International students must show proof of equivalent qualification and IELTS 6.0 in English on enrolment

. Applications are welcome from students who are returning to education after a break and have evidence of related experience/prior learning .

You need to apply through the UCAS online application system. You can complete your UCAS application from anywhere that has internet access.

All Camberwell College of Arts UCAS Course Codes can be found on the course 'At a Glance' tab or on the UCAS website.

Our University code is UAL.

Our College Code is U65.

There is no 'Campus Code' for Camberwell College of Arts.

For further information about UCAS, or their application procedure, please contact them directly.

T: +44 (0)870 1122211
E: enq@ucas.ac.uk

For any other information please contact Camberwell College of Arts.

T: 020 7514 6302
E: enquiries@camberwell.arts.ac.uk