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Photography in the Arts (Swansea College of Art)

Entry requirements


UCAS Tariff

120

Grades are important; however, our offers are not solely based on academic results. We are interested in creative people that demonstrate a strong commitment to their subject area and therefore we welcome applications from individuals from a wide range of backgrounds. To assess student suitability for their chosen course we normally arrange interviews for all applicants at which your skills, achievements and life experience will be considered as well as your qualifications and portfolio of work.

About this course


This course has alternative study modes. Contact the university to find out how the information below might vary.

Course option

3years

Full-time | 2024

Other options

6 years | Part-time | 2024

Subject

Photography

Over the past decade the photographic image has transformed the landscape of visual communication and culture. Our Photography in the Arts programme at Swansea College of Art, UWTSD believes in embracing these changes, and encourages you to explore and experiment with the medium in its broadest sense, with a focus upon self-expression and innovation. Our philosophical ethos is based on teaching you how images ‘function’ within the context of our predominantly visual world, understanding how meaning and narrative is created through lens-based media.

Photography is a universal language, and we believe in the power of photography to engage creatively with the urgent issues of our time in ways that resonant with us all. Our staff are committed to stimulating dialogue and debate, on both internationally and local levels, to develop a greater understanding of ourselves, of others, and of the relations between familiar and distant cultures.

As an artist working with lens-based media, you will discover the magic of photography, moving image and installation through hands-on expert-led workshops, lectures, and seminars. Through this process of discovery, you will learn the fundamentals of photographic art practice and apply these skills to a range of live-briefs and self-directed outcomes. Our course is engaged in both the materiality of photography, as well as its digital applications, and will encourage you to explore conceptual ideas that challenge expectations of image making within visual culture.

Alongside our expert, specialist lecturers and technicians, you will make connections between industry through our vibrant visiting lecturer programme, which provides opportunities for students to hear, see and meet a range of professionals working within the field of photography.
You will learn what is required to have a successful career within the visual arts, and you can expect to join our recent alumni in the fastest growing sector, the creative industries. Examples of graduate employment range from self-employed business owners, editorial and advertising photographers, artists, curators and gallery directors.

The photography department at Swansea College of Art has superb, state-of-the-art facilities and a very friendly atmosphere with small class sizes offering exceptional student to staff interaction. For more information, please get in touch or visit us on one of our upcoming open days. Open days are a great chance to look around our studies, meet our staff and ask any questions you may have.

Modules

Year One – Level 4 (Cert HE, Dip HE & BA)

• Contemporary Challenges: Making a Difference (20 credits; compulsory; Graduate Attributes Framework module)
• Fugitive Testimonies (20 credits; compulsory)
• Learning in the Digital Era (20 credits; compulsory; Graduate Attributes Framework module)
• Photographic Art Practice (20 credits; compulsory)
• Visual Studies 1 (10 credits; compulsory)
• Visual Studies 2 (10 credits; compulsory)
• Ways of Perceiving (10 credits; compulsory)
• Ways of Thinking (10 credits; compulsory).

Year Two – Level 5 (Dip HE & BA)

• Changemakers: Building your Personal Brand for Sustainable Employment (20 credits; compulsory; Graduate Attributes Framework module)
• Changemakers: Creativity and Value Creation (20 credits; compulsory; Graduate Attributes Framework module)
• Experimental Strategies (20 credits; compulsory)
• Personal Philosophies (20 credits; compulsory)
• Research in Context (10 credits; compulsory)
• Research in Practice (10 credits; compulsory)
• Visual Enquiry 1 (10 credits; compulsory)
• Visual Enquiry 2 (10 credits; compulsory).

Year Three – Level 6 (BA)

• Advanced Creative Enquiry (20 credits; compulsory)
• Independent Project (40 credits; compulsory; Graduate Attributes Framework module)
• Major Project (60 credits; compulsory).

Assessment methods

Assessment is carried out through coursework, both written and practical. There are no exams on this course. Students are formatively assessed throughout a module, summative assessment takes place at the end of a module. A variety of teaching and learning methods are used throughout the course which include: Lectures, seminars, group/individual tutorials, workshops and presentations. There are regular opportunities for one-to-one tutorials with staff for students to get feedback on their work.

Tuition fees

Select where you currently live to see what you'll pay:

Channel Islands
£9,000
per year
England
£9,000
per year
EU
£9,000
per year
International
£13,500
per year
Northern Ireland
£9,000
per year
Scotland
£9,000
per year
Wales
£9,000
per year

The Uni


Course location:

Dynevor, Swansea

Department:

Swansea College of Art

Read full university profile

What students say


We've crunched the numbers to see if overall student satisfaction here is high, medium or low compared to students studying this subject(s) at other universities.

76%
Photography

How do students rate their degree experience?

The stats below relate to the general subject area/s at this university, not this specific course. We show this where there isn’t enough data about the course, or where this is the most detailed info available to us.

Cinematics and photography

Teaching and learning

84%
Staff make the subject interesting
82%
Staff are good at explaining things
87%
Ideas and concepts are explored in-depth
89%
Opportunities to apply what I've learned

Assessment and feedback

Feedback on work has been timely
Feedback on work has been helpful
Staff are contactable when needed
Good advice available when making study choices

Resources and organisation

74%
Library resources
58%
IT resources
82%
Course specific equipment and facilities
55%
Course is well organised and has run smoothly

Student voice

Staff value students' opinions
Feel part of a community on my course

Who studies this subject and how do they get on?

98%
UK students
2%
International students
36%
Male students
64%
Female students
64%
2:1 or above
14%
First year drop out rate

Most popular A-Levels studied (and grade achieved)

B
C
C

After graduation


The stats in this section relate to the general subject area/s at this university – not this specific course. We show this where there isn't enough data about the course, or where this is the most detailed info available to us.

Cinematics and photography

What are graduates doing after six months?

This is what graduates told us they were doing (and earning), shortly after completing their course. We've crunched the numbers to show you if these immediate prospects are high, medium or low, compared to those studying this subject/s at other universities.

£16,000
med
Average annual salary
96%
med
Employed or in further education
47%
med
Employed in a role where degree was essential or beneficial

Top job areas of graduates

57%
Artistic, literary and media occupations
14%
Sales assistants and retail cashiers
8%
Design occupations

What about your long term prospects?

Looking further ahead, below is a rough guide for what graduates went on to earn.

Cinematics and photography

The graph shows median earnings of graduates who achieved a degree in this subject area one, three and five years after graduating from here.

£14k

£14k

£17k

£17k

£18k

£18k

Note: this data only looks at employees (and not those who are self-employed or also studying) and covers a broad sample of graduates and the various paths they've taken, which might not always be a direct result of their degree.

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This is what the university has told Ucas about the criteria they expect applicants to satisfy; some may be compulsory, others may be preferable.

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Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF):

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This information comes from the National Student Survey, an annual student survey of final-year students. You can use this to see how satisfied students studying this subject area at this university, are (not the individual course).

This is the percentage of final-year students at this university who were "definitely" or "mostly" satisfied with their course. We've analysed this figure against other universities so you can see whether this is high, medium or low.

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This information is from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), for undergraduate students only.

You can use this to get an idea of who you might share a lecture with and how they progressed in this subject, here. It's also worth comparing typical A-level subjects and grades students achieved with the current course entry requirements; similarities or differences here could indicate how flexible (or not) a university might be.

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Post-six month graduation stats:

This is from the Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education Survey, based on responses from graduates who studied the same subject area here.

It offers a snapshot of what grads went on to do six months later, what they were earning on average, and whether they felt their degree helped them obtain a 'graduate role'. We calculate a mean rating to indicate if this is high, medium or low compared to other universities.

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Graduate field commentary:

The Higher Education Careers Services Unit have provided some further context for all graduates in this subject area, including details that numbers alone might not show

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The Longitudinal Educational Outcomes dataset combines HRMC earnings data with student records from the Higher Education Statistics Agency.

While there are lots of factors at play when it comes to your future earnings, use this as a rough timeline of what graduates in this subject area were earning on average one, three and five years later. Can you see a steady increase in salary, or did grads need some experience under their belt before seeing a nice bump up in their pay packet?

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