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Photography and Video BA (Hons)

This is a highly creative and dynamic programme of study which will equip you with skills to operate with academic and professional excellence across a broad range of creative industries.

Overview

Sally Hossack our Lecturer in Photography and Video BA (Hons) discusses why you should study Photography and Video at DMU.

Photography is the dominant visual medium of our day. It therefore opens doors to a wide range of exciting and important career paths, from advertising and design to fashion and publishing. 

On this course you’ll study modules in photography, moving image, contextual studies and digital media. And, along with visits to exhibitions and the chance to attend study trips in the UK and overseas, you’ll further develop your knowledge and passion for your subject.

In year two we embed work experience into the course by giving you a live external client brief. You’ll then begin to develop a specialist area of study through creative practice-based projects, and develop your technical skills in a series of craft workshops, all supported by academic research.

We offer opportunities to meet guest lecturers from the creative industries and arts which bring commercial and artistic practice to life and into sharp focus.

In the third year we ask you to create your own portfolio of work to showcase your unique creative vision and talent. And, throughout the course, we’ll help you to develop your professional skills base and take the initiative to get involved in external exhibitions.

Key features

  • Develop your creative, technical and academic skills to produce exciting, thought-provoking and dynamic work.
  • Learn from experts – including high-profile academics such as Professor Lala Meredith-Vula – with extensive professional experience in both photographic and moving image practices.
  • Boost your portfolio, and your confidence, through working on live briefs for external clients and via work experience opportunities at businesses such as the National Space Centre, Fostering and Adoption Agency, Dance 4 and Soft Touch Arts.
  • Study a range of topics including constructing the moving image, photography and camera vision, and concepts of digital media.
  • Our graduates have forged successful careers in journalism, freelancing and curation, and work for big names such as Sky, Paul Smith and Vogue.
  • Join international trips through DMU Global, our international experience programme, and visit cities such as Paris and New York.
  • The award-winning Vijay Patel Building provides both the space and the facilities to foster creative thinking, where ideas can develop and flourish for all of our art and design students.
  • We provide core workshop materials at no cost, and give cash awards – £150, £200 and £300 in years one, two and three respectively – to support personal materials/printing costs*.

See our student work


More courses like this:

Fine Art BA (Hons)

Design Crafts BA (Hons)

Art and Design (Foundation Studies) BTEC Diploma

  • UK
  • EU/International

Institution code: D26

UCAS course code: W640

Duration: Three years full-time, four years full-time with a placement. Six years part-time.

Fees and funding: 

2024/25 tuition fees for UK students: £9,250

Find out more about tuition fees and available funding.

Additional costs: Here at DMU we provide excellent learning resources, including the Kimberlin Library and specialist workshops and studios. However, you should be aware that sometimes you may incur additional costs for this programme.

Contact us: For more information, call us on +44 (0)116 2 50 60 70.

Duration: Three years full-time, four years with placement.

Fees and funding: 

2024/25 tuition fees for international students: £15,750

Additional costs: Here at DMU we provide excellent learning resources, including the Kimberlin Library and specialist workshops and studios. However, you should be aware that sometimes you may incur additional costs for this programme.

Contact us: For more information, call us on +44 (0)116 2 50 60 70.

Entry criteria

Typical entry requirements 

We welcome applicants from a range of backgrounds.

  • Art and Design Foundation or
  • 112 points from at least 2 A ‘levels 
  •  BTEC Extended Diploma DMM
  • International Baccalaureate: 26+ Points 

Plus five GCSEs grades 9-4 including English Language or Literature at grade 4 or above.

  • Pass Access with 30 Level 3 credits at Merit and GCSE English (Language or Literature) at grade 4 or above

We will normally require students to have had a break from full time education before undertaking the Access course.

  • We also accept the BTEC First Diploma plus two GCSEs including English Language or Literature at grade 4 or above

English language requirements

If English is not your first language an IELTS score of 6.0 overall with 5.5 in each band (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 both before and throughout the course if you need it.

Interview and portfolio

Applicants with relevant qualifications will be invited to submit a portfolio of work. Please see our portfolio advice page for full details.

Non-standard applicants may be invited to attend an interview via MS Teams with a portfolio.

Structure and assessment

 

Course modules

Teaching and assessments

 

First year

  • Constructing the Moving Image
  • Photography and Camera Vision
  • Concepts of Digital Media
  • Lens-Based Studies

Second year

  • Still and Moving Image: Research and Practice
  • Professional Studies
  • Lens-Based Choice

Third year

  • Experimental and Analytical Production with a Major Project
  • Creative Professional Practice
  • Critical Research

Structure

Throughout the course you are supported by an experienced and friendly staff team. Feedback on progress is given in tutorials and peer presentations. Assessment is by coursework, projects and presentations. 

Our staff are all practising photographers, researchers and video practitioners, with a wealth of experience in the industry. Guest lecturers from a variety of lens-based backgrounds give you an insight into the realities of commercial and artistic professional practice.

Contact hours

You will be taught through a combination of lectures, tutorials, seminars, group work and self-directed study. Assessment is through coursework (presentations, essays and reports) Your precise timetable will depend on the optional modules you choose to take, however, in your first year you will normally attend around 14 hours of timetabled taught sessions (lectures and tutorials) each week, and we expect you to undertake at least 25 further hours of independent study to complete project work and research.

 

Facilities and features

Art and Design facilities

The award-winning Vijay Patel Building brings all of our art and design courses together providing inspiring, flexible spaces, studios and facilities which invite creativity and innovation.

The creative industries require imaginative graduates who can develop new ideas and products. Students use our state-of-the-art digital video editing suites, video and stills studios, digital imaging labs, HD digital recording facilities and large format. These digital facilities are complemented by a traditional black and white darkroom.

The open and transparent spaces in the building encourage collaboration between disciplines, and there is also an AV loans centre with an extensive range of professional stills and video equipment to use free of charge. Take a look at our stunning showcase of the building at dmu.ac.uk/aad.

More flexible ways to learn

We offer an equitable and inclusive approach to learning and teaching for all our students. Known as the Universal Design for Learning (UDL), our teaching approach has been recognised as sector leading. UDL means we offer a wide variety of support, facilities and technology to all students, including those with disabilities and specific learning differences.

Just one of the ways we do this is by using ‘DMU Replay’ – a technology providing all students with anytime access to audio and/or visual material of lectures. This means students can revise taught material in a way that suits them best, whether it's replaying a recording of a class or adapting written material shared in class using specialist software.

Campus Centre

The home of  De Montfort Students' Union, (DSU) our Campus Centre offers a welcoming and lively hub for student life. Conveniently located at the heart of campus, it includes a convenience store, a Subway and a Starbucks. Here you can find the DSU-owned charitable accommodation service Sulets and DSU’s shop, SUpplies, selling art supplies, stationery and clothing, and printing and binding services. The building is also home to the DSU officer team. 

Opportunities and careers

Find the people who will open doors for you

DMU's award-winning careers service provides guaranteed work experience opportunities DMU Careers Team
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Placements

This course gives you the option to enhance and build your professional skills to progress within your chosen career, through a placement. Our dedicated team offers a range of careers resources and opportunities so you can start planning your future.

We have excellent industry links, ensuring you work on relevant projects and clients’ briefs to grow your experience and build your external reputation before you graduate. This invaluable experience can enrich student capabilities as well as their projects for their final year.

There are also opportunities to exhibit your work – graduate Peter Tatsis was selected by international professionals to exhibit at the highly regarded photography festival FORMAT. 

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DMU Global

This is our innovative international experience programme which aims to enrich your studies and expand your cultural horizons – helping you to become a global graduate, equipped to meet the needs of employers across the world.

Through DMU Global you can take advantage of a wide range of opportunities including on-campus and UK activities, overseas study, internships, faculty-led field trips and volunteering, as well as Erasmus+ and international exchanges.

Students on this course have recently undertaken DMU Global trips to Paris and New York. In years two and three, students have had the opportunity to pitch to win an international work opportunity photographing a DMU Global project, the latest one being DMU’s Square Mile India project in Ahmedabad.

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Graduate careers

The course is designed to develop the skills that you will need to compete in a professional creative market. Our graduates go on to work in a variety of careers including independent production, teaching, curatorial work, multimedia industries, publishing, advertising, journalism, picture research, and arts practice and administration.

Recent employers include Paul Smith, Nike, Universal Pictures, Sky, Trigger Global, Lacoste, John Lewis Partnership, the BBC, Mail Online, Apple, Rolling Stone, The Independenti-D Magazine, and Vogue.

Graduate Harry Cottam secured an internship role for prominent advertising and fashion photographer Paul Aresu in New York. Harry believes that DMU’s international outlook fit perfectly with his own desire to explore the world. He said: “De Montfort’s constant campaigning to go global linked very much with my drive to work and not let location restrict me. Working in Germany, New York, London and all over the UK has helped me in my career.”

Take your next steps

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