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Undergraduate

BA (Hons) Fine Art: Photography

Abstract photographic print with different textures and shades of blue by Alex Burgess - BA Fine Art Photography.
Alex Burgess., Alex Burgess.
BA (Hons) Fine Art: Photography, Camberwell College of Arts, UAL
College
Camberwell College of Arts
UCAS code
W642
Start date
September 2025
Course length
3 years

BA Fine Art Photography at Camberwell College of Arts offers an open and experimental approach to fine art photographic practice.

Course summary

Apply to start in September 2025 

This course has places available. Read our Guide to applying for a course starting this September through UCAS Extra. For a full list of UAL courses open for 2025/26 entry, visit the Courses with places available page.

Course overview

Learn about the theory and practice of photography on this studio-based course. Discover photography’s diverse forms within a broad Fine Art arena and a dynamic studio and workshop environment.  

Practical photographic workshops will help you develop technical skills. You’ll explore analogue, digital, as well as alternative and sustainable processes, optical constructions, moving image and sound. We encourage you to expand your artwork into other media, such as printmaking, bookmaking, video, film, sculpture, painting, performance, coding, AI and more.  

Explore photography as a social and political tool which you can use to respond to the world around you and uncover meaning. You'll learn to situate your artwork as an individual, in collaboration and in professional contexts. We encourage you to find your voice and experiment with different modes and techniques, from capturing personal memories to documenting global histories. 

By the end of your degree, you’ll understand how to work in professional contexts and present your work professionally. You’ll have developed your own portfolio of work which demonstrates your individual interests, visual range, and strong storytelling skills to potential employers.

What to expect 

  • The ability to experiment: Explore the creative possibilities and limits of photography through introductory and advanced workshops and practical work. 
  • Tutorial support: Develop your practice with the regular support of experienced and dynamic tutors who are practicing artists, photographers, curators, and writers.   
  • Build towards a self-led practice: identify areas of interest and appropriate and effective making skills.  
  • Employability and enterprise skills: Develop the necessary skills, resilience and creative attributes to work in a wide range of professional settings. Test out and refine exhibition techniques and learn how to present to diverse audiences. 
  • Historical and theoretical knowledge: Learn about the global history of photography and emerging theories in photography and related fine art practice. 
  • Collaboration and co-working: Attend lectures and collaborate on projects with students from Camberwell’s other fine art degrees including Computational Arts, Drawing, Painting and Sculpture. 
  • Professional practice visits: Such as visits to artist studios, museums, galleries, research collections, professional printers and framers. 
  • Access to facilities: Use Camberwell’s large range of facilities including printmaking, photography and film studios and ceramics, wood and metal workshops. View the Camberwell facilities

 Industry experience and opportunities 

You’ll have the opportunity to exhibit your work to an external audience. You can take part in a wide range of seminars and workshops hosted by a variety of professionals and external arts organisations.   

You’ll be able to take part in the College’s international exchange scheme to study abroad.  

You’ll be able to extend your degree to a 4-year qualification, with the option to take a sandwich year and complete the Diploma in Professional Studies, Diploma in Creative Computing or Diploma in Apple Development.  

Final year students have the option to undertake a work placement or develop a practical live project as an alternative to the written dissertation. 

Mode of study  

BA Fine Art: Photography is offered in full-time mode. It is divided into 3 stages over 3 academic years. Each stage consists of 30 teaching weeks. You will be expected to commit an average of 40 hours per week to your course, including teaching hours and independent study

Contact us

Register your interest to receive information and updates about studying at UAL.

Contact us to make an enquiry.

Course units

Year 1

Unit 1: Introduction to Fine Art: Photography

We’ll introduce you to your discipline and to the studios, technical workshops and library resources that support it. We‘ll orientate you within your course, the College and the University and the local neighbourhood of Camberwell.

Unit 2: Establishing practice

Establish your practice through experimentation with materials, processes, and techniques. You’ll learn to recognise how materials, processes and techniques can generate meaning. You’ll also test how audiences receive your work through open studio events.

Unit 3: Situating practice

Challenge yourself to develop your ongoing self-directed practice by reflecting on the work of other artists. You’ll begin to situate your practice in relation to social and environmental questions and present some of your work in an end-of-unit exhibition.

Unit 4: Initiating dialogue

Consider artistic practice as a conversation. You’ll review and discuss your work with your peers, alongside developing the professional and social skills to communicate your practice confidently.

Year 2

Unit 5: Collaborative and collective practices

We’ll introduce you to the different ways in which collaborative practice can enhance your creative strengths by working towards a shared goal. Develop the ability to collaborate with others, create networks and contribute to communities of practice. This will involve teamwork, engaging in dialogue with others and developing leadership skills.

Unit 6: Critical practice

Consider doing art as a way of thinking critically – a meaningful combination of making, looking and questioning. You'll start to see the relationship between history, philosophy, politics, and art. We’ll challenge you to take responsibility for an ethical and sustainable personal practice.

Unit 7: Show and tell

Make work for an exhibition and learn to speak about it confidently. You’ll evaluate diverse approaches to exhibition making and different forms of artist’s statements. You’ll present your work in 2 exhibitions and produce a written press release and video statement.

Unit 8: Framing and formats

Organise and articulate your thoughts around your practice with a focus on critical contexts, audience engagement and/or the professional art industry. You’ll produce and present a publication as either an illustrated text, recorded presentation or edited video that collates and communicates key aspects of your research and practice with clarity and depth.

Year 3

Unit 9: Professional futures

This unit aims to address the 3Es: employability, enterprise and entrepreneurship. You'll reflect on your learning and skills across the entirety of your study. You’ll have an opportunity to showcase your outcomes and intentions. You'll consider your next steps as you enter industry or continue with your education.

Unit 10: Practice and articulation

Engage in focused research to deepen your knowledge by undertaking 1 of 3 options: A work placement within the art industry, a live project that engages an audience, or an essay addressing critical theory. In each case you’ll demonstrate your ability to sustain an argument and assemble evidence using video, audio visual presentation or illustrated text. You’ll also develop a new artwork and a proposal for a public exhibition.

Unit 11: Practice and presentation

Make the most of 2 opportunities to exhibit your work to a wide external audience. You'll take sustainable and ethical responsibility for your practice and the presentation of new works to public audiences.

Optional Diploma between Years 2 and 3

Between Years 2 and 3 of the course, you’ll also have the opportunity to undertake one of the following additional UAL qualifications:

Diploma in Professional Studies (DPS)

This optional diploma can be taken between years 2 and 3. With support from your tutors, you’ll undertake an industry placement for a minimum of 100 days/20 weeks. As well as developing industry skills, you’ll gain an additional qualification upon successful completion.

Diploma in Creative Computing

Between years 2 and 3, you can undertake the year-long Diploma in Creative Computing. This will develop your skills in creative computing alongside your degree. After successfully completing the diploma and your undergraduate course, you’ll graduate with an enhanced degree: BA (Hons) Fine Art: Photography (with Creative Computing).

Diploma in Apple Development

This optional diploma can be taken between years’ 2 and 3. You’ll have the opportunity to become an accredited Apple developer, undertaking a learning programme designed by Apple for UAL. After successfully completing the diploma and your undergraduate degree, you’ll graduate with an enhanced degree: BA (Hons) Fine Art: Photography (with Apple Development).

Learning and teaching methods

  • Darkroom workshops
  • Events, screenings and visits
  • Group and individual critiques, tutorials and formal reviews
  • Individual practice
  • Key ideas lecture programme
  • Learning skills in practical and technical workshops
  • Lectures and visiting speakers
  • Staff and student led seminars and discussions

Assessment methods

  • Critical professional practice presentations
  • Exhibition of work
  • Off-site project
  • Peer evaluation
  • Portfolio
  • Presentations
  • Research journal
  • Self-evaluation
  • Technical skills
  • Video essays
  • Written work

BA Fine Art: Photography - Course introduction

Student work

  • Camberwell-Oliver-Newman-BA-Photography-2017.jpg
    Oliver Newman - BA Photography
  • camberwell-BA-Photography-Szilvia-Bolla.jpeg
    Szilvia Bolla - BA Photography
  • camberwell-BA-Photography-Sofia-Ginevra-Gianni-1860.jpg
    Sofia Ginevra-Gianni - BA Photography
  • camberwell-BA-Photography-Lee-Mann-1000.jpg
    Lee Mann - BA Photography
  • camberwell-BA-Photography-Lea-Collet.jpg
    Lea Collet - BA Photography
  • camberwell-BA-Photography-katie-Pankowski-1000.jpg
    Katie Pankowski - BA Photography
  • camberwell-BA-Photography-Izaak-Brandt-1000.jpg
    Izaak Brandt - BA Photography
  • camberwell-BA-Photography-Hannah-Jetschmann.jpg
    Hannah Jetschmann - BA Photography
  • camberwell-BA-Photography-Giacomo-Raffaelli-1000.jpg
    Giacomo Raffaelli - BA Photography

Film

Show 2022: Jakkaphat Bunmachertchai

Staff

Fees and funding

Home fee

£9,535 per year

This fee is correct for entry in Autumn 2025 and may increase for entry in Autumn 2026.

Tuition fees may increase in future years for new and continuing students.

Home fees are currently charged to UK nationals and UK residents who meet the rules. However, the rules are complex. Find out more about our tuition fees and determining your fee status.

International fee

£29,990 per year

This fee is correct for entry in autumn 2025 and is subject to change for entry in autumn 2026.

Tuition fees for international students may increase by up to 5% in each future year of your course.

Students from countries outside of the UK will generally be charged international fees. The rules are complex so read more about tuition fees and determining your fee status.

Additional costs

Additional costs 

You may need to cover additional costs which are not included in your tuition fees, such as materials and equipment specific to your course. Typical approximate costs for this course include:

  • Optional field trips: £5-£30 each
  • Printing costs: £30-£80 per year
  • Final project costs: £30-£300
  • Additional tools, materials and software: £50-£100 per year

For a list of general digital equipment you may need (and how you can borrow equipment), visit our Study costs page.

Accommodation

Find out about accommodation options and how much they will cost, and other living expenses you'll need to consider.

Scholarships, bursaries and awards

Find out more about bursaries, loans and scholarships.

If you’re based in the UK and plan to visit UAL for an Open Event, check if you’re eligible for our UAL Travel Bursary. This covers the costs of mainland train or airline travel to visit UAL.

How to pay

Find out how you can pay your tuition fees.

Scholarship search

Entry requirements

These are the standard entry requirements for this course.

One of the following accepted full Level 3 qualifications:

  • Distinction at Foundation Diploma in Art and Design
  • 112 UCAS tariff points from 2 or more A Levels
  • Distinction, Merit, Merit at BTEC Extended Diploma
  • Merit at UAL Extended Diploma
  • Access Diploma or 112 tariff new UCAS points from the Access to HE Diploma
  • 112 new UCAS tariff points from a combination of the above qualifications or an equivalent full Level 3 qualification

Or equivalent EU/International qualifications, such as International Baccalaureate Diploma at 24 points minimum

And 3 GCSE passes at grade 4 or above (grade A*-C).

APEL - Accreditation of Prior (Experiential) Learning

Applicants who do not meet these course entry requirements may still be considered in exceptional cases. The course team will consider each application that demonstrates additional strengths and alternative evidence. This might, for example, be demonstrated by:

  • Related academic or work experience
  • The quality of the personal statement
  • A strong academic or other professional reference
  • A combination of these factors

Each application will be considered on its own merit but we cannot guarantee an offer in each case.

English language requirements

All classes are taught in English. If English isn't your first language you must provide evidence at enrolment of the following:

Selection criteria

We look for:

  • An ability to explore, articulate and develop ideas
  • An ability to research information and visual material to support your ideas
  • Your portfolio to demonstrate a range of appropriate skills and technical abilities
  • An ability to communicate your ideas visually, verbally and in writing
  • An ability to self-direct and evaluate your own work

Information for disabled applicants

UAL is committed to achieving inclusion and equality for disabled students. This includes students who have:

     
  • Dyslexia or another Specific Learning Difference
  • A sensory impairment
  • A physical impairment
  • A long-term health or mental health condition
  • Autism
  • Another long-term condition which has an impact on your day-to-day life

Our Disability Service arranges adjustments and support for disabled applicants and students.

Read our Disability and dyslexia: applying for a course and joining UAL information.

Apply now

Places available 2025/26 

This course has places available for 2025/26 entry. Applications for 2026/27 entry will open in Autumn 2025.

Apply to UAL

Home students can apply to this course through UCAS with the following codes:

University code:

U65

UCAS code:

W642

Start your application

Apply now

Places available 2025/26 

This course has places available for 2025/26 entry. Applications for 2026/27 entry will open in Autumn 2025.

Apply to UAL

International students can apply to this course through UCAS with the following codes:

University code:

U65

UCAS code:

W642

Start your application
or

Apply with a UAL Representative

Based across the world, our local UAL representatives can support you with your application from your home country. Check to see if there is a representative available in your country currently.

Find your representative

How to apply

Follow this step-by-step guide to apply for this course

Step 1: Initial application

You will need to submit an initial application including your personal statement.

Personal statement advice

Your personal statement should be maximum 4,000 characters and cover the following:

  • Why have you chosen this course? What excites you about the subject?
  • How does your previous or current study relate to the course?
  • Have you got any work experience that might help you?
  • Have any life experiences influenced your decision to apply for this course?
  • What skills do you have that make you perfect for this course?
  • What plans and ambitions do you have for your future career?

Visit the UCAS advice page and our personal statement advice page for more support.

Step 2: Digital portfolio

We will review your initial application. If you have met the standard entry requirements, we will ask you to submit a digital portfolio.

You’ll need to submit this via PebblePad, our online portfolio tool.

Digital portfolio advice

Your portfolio should consist of recent work that reflects your creative strengths.

It should:

  • be a maximum of 30 pages
  • include a wide range of artwork to showcase your diverse skillset and ability to experiment with different techniques and mediums. This could include photographic or multimedia work.
  • demonstrate your ability to develop and explore ideas
  • include work in progress as well as final outcomes to demonstrate your creative and developmental processes.

For more support, see our Portfolio advice and PebblePad advice.

Step 3: Interview

You may be invited to an interview following our review of your application. All interviews are held online and last 15 to 20 minutes.

For top tips, see our Interview advice.

You also need to know

Communicating with you

Once you have submitted your initial application, we will email you with your login details for our Applicant portal.

Requests for supplementary documents like qualifications and English language tests will be made through the applicant portal. You can also use it to ask questions regarding your application. Visit our After you apply page for more information.

Visas and immigration history check

All non-UK nationals must complete an immigration history check. Your application may be considered by our course teams before this check takes place. If your course requires a portfolio and/or video task, we may request these before we identify any issues arising from your immigration history check. Sometimes your history may mean that we are not able to continue considering your application. Visit our Immigration and visas advice page for more information.

External student transfer policy

UAL accepts transfers from other institutions on a case-by-case basis. Read our Student transfer policy for more information.

Alternative offers

If your application is really strong, but we believe your strengths and skillset are better suited to a different course, we may make you an alternative offer. This means you will be offered a place on a different course or at a different UAL College.

Deferring your place

You must apply in the year that you intend to start your course. If you are made an offer and your circumstances change, you can submit a deferral request to defer your place by 1 academic year. You must have met your conditions by 31 August 2025. If you need an English language test in order to meet the entry requirements, the test must be valid on the deferred start date of your course. If not, you will need to reapply. Requests are granted on a first-come, first-served basis.

Contextual Admissions

This course is part of the Contextual Admissions scheme.

This scheme helps us better understand your personal circumstances so that we can assess your application fairly and in context. This ensures that your individual merit and creative potential can shine through, no matter what opportunities and experiences you have received.

Careers

Our BA Fine Art Photography graduates have exhibited their work in major UK competitions and exhibitions, including The Photographer’s Gallery’s Fresh Faced and Wild Eyed exhibition of most promising graduates, Saatchi New Sensations, Sony Professional Photography Awards and The Sovereign Asian Art Prize.

Others have gone on to work for major galleries and publishers, whilst many former students progress to postgraduate study.

Alumni

  • Pedro Alfacinha - Photography publishing, Steidl and Mack Books
  • Lea Collet - Artist
  • Jon Maguire - Freelance documentary filmmaker
  • Robert Zhao Renhui - Artist
  • Katherine Reynolds - Curator

Find out how careers and employability helps our students and graduates start their careers.