Course summary
Arts University Plymouth is an arts university for the 21st century, preparing students who are uniquely placed to provide creative solutions to the complex global challenges of a changing world. Formerly known as Plymouth College of Art, we were granted full university title in Spring 2022. We are now the city of Plymouth’s first and only specialist arts university, allowing us to offer our students a dynamic and unique learning experience. Discover Distance Learning with a difference, and join a truly global community of creative learners. Starting in January each year, these degrees will kickstart your future in the creative industries, allowing you to study your first year online at home, in the studio or at an international host institution. From lighting and framing a dramatic fashion shot to visualising concepts for advertising campaigns, commercial photography has the power to influence and inspire. Our BA (Hons) Commercial Photography course will help you succeed in today’s dynamic and competitive photographic industry, providing you with the knowledge and skills to flourish, combining visual awareness and innovation with technical excellence, professional understanding and business competencies. This course will equip you with advanced technical skills in studio and location lighting, digital capture and post-production techniques. This is an integrated programme of study with industry-oriented assignments, hands-on workshops and expert tuition, using sophisticated camera and lighting equipment. You will also develop your industry knowledge and professional skills to enable you to find work in high-end commercial photographic practice. Our curriculum is geared towards employability and enterprise. We develop photographers who are technically proficient, visually sophisticated and professionally astute – who understand trends in the industry and how to pitch for business, and who graduate with a broad range of transferable skills that enable them to succeed in the creative industries. Working both individually and in interdisciplinary groups and with real-world mentors, you’ll gain vocational experience to be able flourish both academically and professionally. You will acquire a broad range of entrepreneurial abilities in marketing, self-promotion and business development, enabling you to develop a financially sustainable practice, fundamental to your success in the industry. With support from our teaching and technical team, as well as practitioners from industry, you’ll develop your confidence in responding to client briefs while demonstrating creative problem-solving and conceptualisation skills. In your second year, you’ll work with real industry clients to build a professional portfolio. You’ll also benefit from our affiliation with the prestigious Association of Photographers (AOP). Our curriculum includes a rich schedule of visiting lecturers and photographers, and we are regularly visited by talented photography alumni, including industry professionals such as Harry Borden, Suki Dhanda, Tom Oldham and Candice Farmer. Many alumni also provide work placement and assisting opportunities. You’ll also be encouraged to enter graduate showcases and awards; one of our recent graduates won Best in Show – first runner-up, at Free Range 2019.
Modules
Year One (Distance Learning) - Methods & Materials / Encountering Place / Exploring Subject / Platforms of Exchange Year Two Speculative Strategies / Global Challenges / Ideas and Audience / Emergent Practice Year Three Research and Development / Publication / Positioning Practice / Final Project
How to apply
This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.
Points of entry
The following entry points are available for this course:
- Year 1
International applicants
International students can access facilities available at our dedicated host institution, based in China. Access to specialist facilities can support your studies, however it is not essential to succeed on this course.
Entry requirements
Qualification requirements
UCAS Tariff - 104 - 120 points
Please click the following link to find out more about qualification requirements for this course
Additional entry requirements
Portfolio
If your application meets our entry requirements, we’ll invite you to submit your portfolio, so that we can review your work and find out more about your creative potential. You will have the opportunity to submit your portfolio digitally, or in person at one of our Applicant Experience Days. At an Applicant Experience Day, you'll also get the chance to discuss your portfolio with a member of our academic team.
Interview
Your application will tell us about your qualifications and previous experience, but studying the arts is about more than can be captured on forms. We need to find out about your creative potential, your abilities and idiosyncrasies, so we will invite you to talk about your work with a member of our HE academic team. You can tell us about your aspirations, and why you want to study at the university. It is also a good moment to find out what we can offer you. We encourage you to visit the university, so that you can see our facilities, meet our teaching and technical staff, and discuss any other queries you may have; however we appreciate this may not be possible, and are happy to talk to you via an online platform (such as Google Meet or similar).
English language requirements
Test | Grade | Additional details |
---|---|---|
IELTS (Academic) | 6 | IELTS (Level B2):overall score of 6.0 with minimum scores Listening: 5.5, Speaking: 5.5, Reading: 5.5, Writing: 5.5 |
Trinity ISE | Pass | Integrated Skills in English II (Level B2), minimum grades required: Reading: Pass Listening: Pass |
**Trinity College London** Integrated Skills in English II (Level B2), minimum grade required: Reading: Pass, Listening: Pass Certificate valid for two years **IELTS SELT Consortium** IELTS (Level B2), minimum grade required: IELTS overall score of 6.0 with a minimum score Listening: 5.5, Speaking: 5.5, Reading: 5.5, Writing: 5.5 Certificate valid for two years **LanguageCert** LanguageCert International ESOL SELT B2 (Listening, Reading, Writing, Speaking) minimum grade required: Overall High Pass with a minimum score Listening: 33/50, Reading: 33/50, Writing: 33/50, Speaking: 33/50 Certificate valid for two years **Pearson** PTE Academic (Level B2), minimum grade required: Listening: 50, Reading: 50, Writing: 50, Speaking: 50 Certificate valid for two years
Click here to find out the most up-to-date information on our English Language requirements
https://www.plymouthart.ac.uk/international-students/language-requirements/
Student Outcomes
There is no data available for this course. For further information visit the Discover Uni website.
Fees and funding
Tuition fees
Republic of Ireland | £9250 | Year 1 |
EU | £16500 | Year 1 |
Channel Islands | £9250 | Year 1 |
England | £9250 | Year 1 |
Northern Ireland | £9250 | Year 1 |
Scotland | £9250 | Year 1 |
Wales | £9250 | Year 1 |
International | £16500 | Year 1 |
Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website .
Additional fee information
Provider information
Arts University Plymouth
Tavistock Place
Plymouth
PL4 8AT
Clearing contact details
Register here to find out more about our coursesAdmissions
01752203402
Additional information
We still have places available on most of our BA (Hons) creative degrees for September 2024 entry.