Leicester College has participated in the Teaching Excellence Framework. These ratings were awarded in 2023, for four years.
Course summary
Explore and develop your photography skills with our two year, part-time course, through industry-led teaching and access to our excellent photograph facilities, you will open up opportunities in your current job or a new career pathway. With a variety of modules, you will find your niche and be inspired to further your skills. Delivered by highly qualified and industry-experienced staff, this course provides essential skills, knowledge, and understanding of photography to support your progress within the creative industries. This two-year evening course takes place at our St Margaret’s campus, where our excellent photography facilities contain darkrooms and professional studios and digital mac suites that will allow you to explore and develop your photographic practice and understanding. Delivery is split into four units per year. Learning takes place through lectures, workshops, and demonstrations. Our online portal Moodle (VLE) will provide you with an online environment that you can access remotely to support your learning. As a Higher National Certificate graduate, you may be eligible to formally progress on to year two of a related top-up honours degree. Graduates from this course who already possess an honours degree have progressed directly onto MA Photography programmes. Universities may require you to also hold GCSE English. Previous graduates from this course have been successful as press photographers, photographic assistants, freelance photographers across a broad range of fields such as portraiture, studio, wedding photography.
Modules
In year one, you will be introduced to both digital and analogue materials and processes. After a short period of basic skills, project work will require you to practice within the; editorial, studio, advertising, fashion and portraiture genres. You will also examine both the history of photography and contemporary practice to provide you with a critical understanding of the work of other practitioners. In Year 1 of the course you will cover the following subjects: 1) Darkroom techniques 2) Lighting for photography 3) Individual Project 4) Professional development Building upon the skills you’ve developed in your first year, in year two of the course you will further develop your own personal photographic style and identify the pathway you wish to develop further. This greater sense of independence is reflected through the Units which require you to negotiate photographic projects rather than follow those set by staff. Alongside this, the professional development unit will give you the business knowledge, understanding, and skills to start out in the photographic industries. Year 2 covers: 1) Contextual studies 2) Techniques and processes 3) Visual Narratives 4) Photographic practice The second year of the course will culminate in a public exhibition of your photographic work.
Assessment method
Short informal tasks and feedback are used to build your practical and academic skills. For each unit of the course there will be at least one end of year assessment task that will be graded at pass, merit or distinction. As a largely hands on course, the majority of final assessments involve the production of photographic imagery and supporting evidence in the form of a sketchbook or blog. In the second year of the programme you have to complete a project externally set by Pearson Edexcel. All assessment is moderated before grades are released. At the end of your course, a summary of your unit grades is taken and you will be awarded with a Pearson Edexcel Higher National Certificate at pass, merit or distinction level.
How to apply
To apply for this course you will be taken to the provider's website, where you can find out more information and make an application.
Points of entry
The following entry points are available for this course:
- Year 1
International applicants
Leicester College is not a Home Office Student Sponsor and does not accept applications from international students. We can only accept applications from students already resident in the UK. EU / EEA nationals resident in the UK must be able to demonstrate that they have gained either ‘Settled’ or ‘Pre-settled’ status under the EU Settlement Scheme. Other non-UK nationals (apart from Irish nationals) must demonstrate they have valid UK residency / leave to remain in the UK to be considered for admission. Right to study in the UK does not automatically confer Home fee status and you may be required to undertake a fee status assessment to confirm your eligibility for student funding.
Entry requirements
Qualification requirements
There are no qualification requirements for this course.
Standard entry to this course requires a recognised level 3 qualification in a related subject (i.e. two A2s at grade D, extended diploma PPP, or an Access to HE). You are expected to hold GCSE English and maths at grade 4/C or equivalent. We welcome mature applicants who do not match standard entry requirements that can demonstrate the ability to study this subject at university level and also demonstrate experience in photography or a related discipline. Applicants are required to bring to interview a portfolio demonstrating creative and technical ability. Overseas learners can send Qualifications (IELTS 5.5) work experience, and portfolio electronically or by post.
Please click the following link to find out more about qualification requirements for this course
https://leicestercollege.ac.uk/course/photography-hnc-2021-22-c6329-photography-and-video/
Additional entry requirements
Interview
English language requirements
IELTS 5.5
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
| England | £2000 | Year 1 |
| Northern Ireland | £2000 | Year 1 |
| Scotland | £2000 | Year 1 |
| Wales | £2000 | 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
As a minimum you will be required to start this course with your own digital SLR camera and will be expected to budget for additional film, printing and other day to day equipment requirements included memory cards. The second year of the course ends with a public exhibition. Costs associated with this exhibition will be dependent on your approach, subject matter, and preferred presentation techniques.
Provider information
Leicester College
Freemen's Park Campus
Aylestone Road
Leicester
LE2 7LW