This course is subject to validation. You can still apply for this course while it is being approved.
Goldsmiths, University of London has participated in the Teaching Excellence Framework. These ratings were awarded in 2023, for four years.
Course summary
Explore photography as a creative art form in our rapidly changing visual world. This programme helps you develop essential skills while learning both digital and analogue techniques, understanding visual culture, and building your creative voice.
- Master analogue and digital techniques: Learn both film-based and digital methods, including darkroom, editing, printing, and AI tools, supported by expert guidance and facilities.
- Build strong visual skills and learn to talk about images: Gain a deep understanding of photographic theory, history, and image analysis, with emphasis on how technical choices shape meaning.
- Explore beyond traditional photography: Discover the expanded field of photography practice by experimenting with moving image, digital manipulation, sculptural interventions, and alternative processes, while exploring archives and new technologies. Your work will be grounded in the history of the field to make explorations more meaningful and purposeful.
- Develop your individual creative style: Your personal vision is at the heart of this programme. You will progress from structured projects to independent work, supported by tutorials and critiques that nurture your unique style.
- Prepare for your creative career: Alongside technical skills, you will acquire transferrable professional skills and undertake a work placement for real-world experience.
- Understand photography’s social impact: You will be encouraged to combine practice with critical thinking to explore photography’s cultural and societal role.
- Join a diverse, creative community: Be part of an inclusive environment that supports individuality and creative growth. We welcome applications from students reflecting a diverse range of interests, experiences and capabilities.
Modules
Year 1 Practice Through practical modules, you will examine how power dynamics, agency, race, class, gender and location inform your image-making process. This will culminate in a five-week independent practice project where you will be able to apply these ideas to your own interests. Theory In your first year, theory modules aim to give you a foundational understanding of photographic and image-making histories, discourses and critical thinking. You will also complete a hybrid methodologies module aimed at empowering you to apply your theoretical and critical understandings to the making practice. Technical workshops Your learning will be supported by a series of technical workshops in: Camera Studio and lighting Alternative and traditional darkroom practices Digital image workflows and manipulation Book making Year 2 Practice You will continue to develop your own personal practice. In your first term, you will explore how photography creates alternative and fictional worlds out of our realities and how this can also impact our relationship to ourselves. You will then undertake more independent practice modules and make a substantial body of work to be presented as part of an interim exhibition in the summer term. Theory You will undertake a further theory module on the contemporary implications of technology on our relationship to images. You will also have the opportunity to select an option module from the wider range available in the school. Technical workshops As part of your studies, you will have the opportunity to complete further technical workshops in: Advanced zine and book making Curatorial practices Photography Sculpture and installation The moving photograph Other contemporary methodologies Year 3 Practice and Theory Your final year focuses on consolidating and developing your ability to plan, direct and manifest your own work and you will also complete a complementary advanced research methodologies module to help frame your development. This will culminate in your degree show, where you will present and curate your own work in a way that builds meaningful relationships with your audience. Throughout the year, you will be taught through a series of individual and group tutorials with tutors and visiting artists, presentations, critiques and workshops to aid the development of your work. You will also be asked to reflect on the development and realisation of your work through a reflexive essay. Work placement You will also carry out a work placement in the creative industries, to broaden your skillsets, and future employability. You will be guided in approaching the work placement with employability workshops on: CV writing Personal branding Portfolios Use of social media Producing speculative applications *Please note, all modules on this programme are subject to validation.
Assessment method
You'll be assessed by a variety of methods, depending on your module choices. These may include portfolios, final projects, coursework and essays.
How to apply
14Jan
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.
Application codes
- Course code:
- W640
- Institution code:
- G56
- Campus name:
- Main Site
- Campus code:
- -
Points of entry
The following entry points are available for this course:
- Year 1
Entry requirements
Qualification requirements
A level - CCC
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016) - DMM
Access to HE Diploma - D: 24 credits
Scottish Higher - CCCCD
Scottish Advanced Higher - DDD
International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme - 27 points
Leaving Certificate - Higher Level (Ireland) (first awarded in 2017) - H3, H3, H3, H3
Please click the following link to find out more about qualification requirements for this course
Additional entry requirements
Portfolio
You will be required to submit a portfolio of work for all types of entry to this programme.
English language requirements
| Test | Grade | Additional details |
|---|---|---|
| IELTS (Academic) | 6 | With a 6.0 in writing and no element lower than 5.5 |
English Language Requirements
Student Outcomes
Operated by the Office for Students
There is no data available for this course. For further information visit the Discover Uni website.
Fees and funding
Tuition fees
No fee information has been provided for this course
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
No additional fees or cost information has been supplied for this course, please contact the provider directly.
Provider information
Goldsmiths, University of London
New Cross
Lewisham
SE14 6NW