Photographic History and Practice MA/PG Dip/PG Cert

UKPASS code: W63271

Duration:  One year full-time, two years part-time

Location: Fletcher Building

Start date: September 2013

This course is for those from a variety of disciplines including conservation students, archivists, historians of science and from various fields of visual studies, for instance visual anthropology, photography or art history.

• You should have the equivalent of a good UK bachelor’s honours degree in a field appropriate to the area of study
• A reading knowledge of one European language other than English is recommended
• If you have other professional qualifications and industry experience we will consider your application on an individual basis. 
• We welcome equivalent international qualifications
• If English is not your first language, an IELTS score of 6.0 or equivalent when you start the course is essential. English Language tuition, delivered by our British Council-accredited Centre for English Language Learning, is available throughout the course if you need it. English Language preparation/pre-sessional courses are also available

The course is studied on a full-time and part-time weekly basis, delivered over three or six semesters through a combination of workshops, lectures, seminars and practical sessions. Assessments will be both written and oral. If you are following the MA route you will then proceed with thesis writing in the third or sixth semester.

De Montfort University has an international reputation in the field of photography and lens media in practice, research and teaching. The current course team includes Professor Elizabeth Edwards, Dr Kelley Wilder and Professor Stephen Brown. The course also draws on a wide range of international specialists, providing extended opportunities to study with a variety of practitioners.

We have one of the best photographic research libraries in the UK, including many of the major journals of the 19th and 20th centuries dealing with photographic matters. We have a full wet darkroom, scanning and digital photography resources and are situated close to the three largest collections of photographs in the UK, the British Library, Birmingham City Library and the National Media Museum.

A large proportion of our lecturers are active practitioners and specialists in their field, including for example, working as architects, choreographers, composers, interior designers, journalists, new product developers, public relations consultants.

This ensures that you will learn real world skills that are in touch with the commercial sector, the latest technologies and current thinking.

Our creative staff also work as authors, composers, performers, freelance designers, practising fine artists and photographers who exhibit or perform internationally.

Other lecturers are involved in world class research and consultancy which enhances the quality of our teaching. Current projects range from digital media and holography to textile materials, fine art sculpture and the built environment, film and Hollywood to Women's TV History.

Our expertise in innovation has led us to advise regional businesses on developing new products. We are currently leading an initiative in resource efficient design for the retail supply chain. We also conduct consultancy and training for a number of clients including George at Asda, Oxford Instruments and Halfords and our major expertise in knowledge transfer and exchange offers benefits to a range of industrial partners.

Other members of our staff have connections with media organisations such as Amanda Blue independent award winning television producer 'Prescott the Class System and Me', 'World's Oldest Mother', Supernanny, 'Big School lottery' 'Young Black Farmers'

We also have partnerships and collaborations with the city's creative and cultural centres. These include Phoenix Square, The Curve Theatre and Leicester Comedy Festival    

De Montfort University is highly rated by employers and offers excellent links with industry, the creative and cultural world, and the professions.

The significant recent profiling of photographic history has led to prominent developments across Europe and the USA. As such, the agenda and profile of photographic history is increasing at a remarkable pace and is acquiring a considerable following in many fields of study, requiring a substantial demand for qualified practitioners. Photographic history is a developing field of academic study, which by its nature seeks to interpret the creative and historical output and add to the theoretical and practical discourse currently found in history of art and history of science. The course will provide significant opportunities for hands-on research and further academic study.

It will extend and enhance your professional development, through an emphasis on both theoretical and practical skills aligned with archive curating and history writing. You will be exposed to a variety of disciplines, including museum studies, conservation, visual anthropology, history of art, history of science and photography, and the wider cultural and creative industries.

Home (UK) and EU students for 2012/13 entry*
Full-time: £4200
Part-time: £2100**

Overseas students for 2012/13 entry
Full-time: £11,700

*Please note that if you have already completed a Masters level degree or higher, you will be required to pay Equivalent or Lower Qualification (ELQ) fees as follows: Full-time £5000 and Part-time £2500 per year for two years.
**Per year for two years.

Continuation Fee
This fee is charged on a monthly basis to any student who exceeds their registration period. To give an example, if you enrol on a one year full-time programme starting in September, your registration period will end on 30th September the following year. If by that date you still have outstanding work to be completed, you will be charged a continuation fee of £150*** per month for the duration of the time that the work is still outstanding.
(***subject to change)

 Learn more about postgraduate funding and finance|

Access photographs and manuscripts in local, regional and national collections and use the DMU photo-history research library, including many important photographic journals from the Kodak Research Library.

Home and EU students

You can apply online for free with UKPASS|

International Students

You can apply online for free with UKPASS|. You will need to attach qualification transcripts, references and evidence of English language with your UKPASS application. If these documents are not attached to your original application, this will delay the process of your application.

You can also apply to De Montfort University directly, and free of charge, by using the International Application Form|

You should give full details of your qualifications and relevant work experience. A sample of your written work may also be required.

The following link will, allow you to add this course to your application list on the UKPASS Website. Apply to study Photographic History and Practice via UKPASS|

Dr Kelley Wilder
T: +44 (0)116 207 8865
E: kwilder@dmu.ac.uk|