MA Photography (Full Time)

Part of a vibrant, inspiring photography department with a strong research culture, this MA is taught by established practitioners, many of whom have internationally exhibited their work.

2013 Entry

  • One year Standard Entry

2012 Entry

  • One year Standard Entry

Entry level

2013

An Honours Degree at 2:2 or above in a relevant subject.

Applications are welcomed from those with extensive professional experience, but no formal qualifications.

A portfolio presentation may be required, providing an opportunity to demonstrate your commitment and self-motivation, and to discuss aspects of the course.

International students are required to show evidence of their English level as part of their entry requirements. See English entry requirements|.

2012

Available in 2013

Please note that this course is not running in 2012.

Modes of study

  • Full Time

Career opportunities

You will be equipped with knowledge to pursue a wide variety of careers.

Career paths include:

  • commercial or independent freelance photographer or film maker,
  • photographic or video artists,
  • an image editor,
  • archivist and researcher,
  • curator for the museum and gallery sector,
  • teaching,
  • photographers within editorial, fashion and advertising industries, as picture editors and retouch specialists, within publishing, image production and post-production industries.

You will also have developed the skills to enter management routes in such areas as art direction and art editing.  

Successful completion of the course will enable you to progress to further study including MPhil and PhD.

Want to know more?

Tel: +44 (0)23 8031 9653Email: fcis.registry@solent.ac.uk

International recruitment Tel: +44(0)23 8031 9129 Email: international@solent.ac.uk|

2013

Course overview

This dynamic masters programme will allow you to further explore the art of photography and visual communication, inspiring and supporting you to create innovative, highly original solutions to professional industry commissions.

Blending theory and practice, you will develop your personal technique through both research and studio based units, and we will support you to build on your own style, whilst underpinning your creativity with a strong awareness of industry techniques.

Upon graduation, be equipped with the knowledge to succeed as a freelance practitioner, or within commercial practice. 

The course extensively engages with national and international professional arts agencies, including the prestigous MAGNUM Photos London|, and numerous high profile photographers, artists and writers will regularly visit to lecture, conduct workshops and offer current, industry informed feedback on your work. 

Access to our impressive industry standard photography facilities will provide you with the specialist environment and equipment to experience working at a professional level.

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Course content

The four units taken during semester one and two will develop your key skills, and prepare you to complete a final major project. As you progress, you will be required to complete more independent and self-directed work.

Research Methods
As preparation for research this unit will require you to undertake a number of tasks related to your discipline. These include a précis of an article, a critical commentary of two  book reviews, your own book review, and a proposal for your dissertation/critical research paper with an annotated bibliography. Seminars will take place weekly in the first semester, with one-to-one supervision for the dissertation following thereafter.

Photography Practice and Context
This unit aims to explore the historic and modern uses and contexts of photographic practice; and introduce you to a programme of lectures and seminars based around defined and emerging areas of staff research that explore the use of photography in anthropology; architectural and design history; the archive; documentary practices in photojournalism, fashion and editorial publishing, landscape and literature; moving image and the relationship with cinema and film; professional practice.

Critical Research Paper
You will be required to undertake an individually researched seminar presentation supported by a critical research paper which will demonstrate an in-depth, comprehensive and detailed knowledge of your chosen area. 

Resolution and Evaluation
This unit provides you with the opportunity to develop and extend your practice from the outcomes of the Photography: Practice and Context

unit. You are expected to demonstrate the ability to work independently and clearly demonstrate your understanding of an emerging professional context defined through your practice whilst testing, refining and evaluating the most appropriate form of still and/or moving image and associated photographic media.

Final Major Project
The Masters Project is you will design, execute and present an individually demanding piece of work that deploys a systematic and in-depth understanding of the skills and debates relevant to their particular discipline of study. The template for the Project will be negotiated via a proposal that will be discussed with the supervisor to ensure that a researchable project exists.

Assessment

You will learn via technical instruction, personal tutorials, visiting industry practitioner’s tutorials, convenor group critiques, study trips, screenings and independent research time.

Assessments range from presentations of ideas and concepts, through to written essays, project work and exams.

Key career skills

Problem solving, initiative, personal responsibility, communication, originality.

Projects/work experience

You'll complete an ongoing research project, with supervisory tutorials from a range of highly experienced industry and arts practictioners and theorists. Photography students have recently worked with Southampton City Council, and Southampton City Art Gallery on commissioned 'live-briefs' and major public exhibitions of their photographs. You will have frequent opportunities to externally exhibit your work.

Solent's special features

  • Guest Speakers
    You’ll benefit from the expertise of our high profile guest speakers; industry professionals visit to share their experiences through presentations and lectures, and will assist you in developing your work via one-to-one tutorial and portfolio-viewing workshops. Recent visiting lecturers include Richard Billingham, Brian Dillon, Catherine Yass, Peter Fraser, Dan Holdsworth, Chrystel Lebas, Jeremy Millar, Sophy Rickett, Margret Salmon
  • A Focus on Professional Practice
    Professional practice is a significant and essential part of the course. Our established educational partnership with the internationally renowned agency Magnum Photos Ltd. means that you will enjoy access to a significant online resource and photographic library. The Faculty’s own gallery, Solent Showcase, is run by our students and exhibits student work.
    Industry events are held on campus. For example, Canon UK recently held a one-day event for students, professional photographers and retailers at the University, embedding our links with this major worldwide imaging brand.
  • Staff Expertise
    You will enjoy access to wealth of facilities and equipment, but your most valuable resource will be our teaching staff and their experience. This MA has not only been designed in conjunction with industry, but is taught by a team of practising photographers, artists and writers who continue to work in their field, as well as visiting speakers from the arts industries. Our highly qualified, research active tutors are committed to developing your creative futures, skills and talents. Staff specialisms include advertising, fashion and editorial photography, fine art photography and film and video, publishing and editing photographic and design journals, documentary practice, design, photographic history, critical writing and theory, and arts administration.

Special facilities

Faculty of the Creative Industries and Society offers a modern, industry standard environment in which you can work to excel.

Our impressive photography facilities will provide you with the specialist environment and equipment to experience working at a professional level. We have a number of studios, black and white and colour darkrooms and film processing, and a dedicated digital suite and a location and studio equipment loan store. The photographic location and studio equipment store holds comprehensive kits of medium, large and digital format cameras and location lighting for student use.  

You will also have access to a well resourced student photo area, stocked with the latest photography journals.

Our facilities are supported by a dedicated team of technicians, who will provide you with advice and technical assistance to support your studies.

Fees

Fees for the 2012/13 academic year are:

Full-time
UK and EU students: £6,500 per annum
Overseas students: £10,000 per annum

Part-time
UK and EU students: £3,250 pa
Overseas students: £5,000 pa

2012

Available in 2013

Course overview

This dynamic masters programme will allow you to further explore the art of photography and visual communication, inspiring and supporting you to create innovative, highly original solutions to professional industry commissions.

Blending theory and practice, you will develop your personal technique through both research and studio based units, and we will support you to build on your own style, whilst underpinning your creativity with a strong awareness of industry techniques.

Upon graduation, be equipped with the knowledge to succeed as a freelance practitioner, or within commercial practice. 

The course extensively engages with national and international professional arts agencies, including the prestigous MAGNUM Photos London|, and numerous high profile photographers, artists and writers will regularly visit to lecture, conduct workshops and offer current, industry informed feedback on your work. 

Access to our impressive industry standard photography facilities will provide you with the specialist environment and equipment to experience working at a professional level.

Course content

The four units taken during semester one and two will develop your key skills, and prepare you to complete a final major project. As you progress, you will be required to complete more independent and self-directed work.

Research Methods
As preparation for research this unit will require you to undertake a number of tasks related to your discipline. These include a précis of an article, a critical commentary of two  book reviews, your own book review, and a proposal for your dissertation/critical research paper with an annotated bibliography. Seminars will take place weekly in the first semester, with one-to-one supervision for the dissertation following thereafter.

Photography Practice and Context
This unit aims to explore the historic and modern uses and contexts of photographic practice; and introduce you to a programme of lectures and seminars based around defined and emerging areas of staff research that explore the use of photography in anthropology; architectural and design history; the archive; documentary practices in photojournalism, fashion and editorial publishing, landscape and literature; moving image and the relationship with cinema and film; professional practice.

Critical Research Paper
You will be required to undertake an individually researched seminar presentation supported by a critical research paper which will demonstrate an in-depth, comprehensive and detailed knowledge of your chosen area. 

Resolution and Evaluation
This unit provides you with the opportunity to develop and extend your practice from the outcomes of the Photography: Practice and Context

unit. You are expected to demonstrate the ability to work independently and clearly demonstrate your understanding of an emerging professional context defined through your practice whilst testing, refining and evaluating the most appropriate form of still and/or moving image and associated photographic media.

Final Major Project
The Masters Project is you will design, execute and present an individually demanding piece of work that deploys a systematic and in-depth understanding of the skills and debates relevant to their particular discipline of study. The template for the Project will be negotiated via a proposal that will be discussed with the supervisor to ensure that a researchable project exists.

Assessment

You will learn via technical instruction, personal tutorials, visiting industry practitioner’s tutorials, convenor group critiques, study trips, screenings and independent research time.

Assessments range from presentations of ideas and concepts, through to written essays, project work and exams.

Key career skills

Problem solving, initiative, personal responsibility, communication, originality.

Projects/work experience

You'll complete an ongoing research project, with supervisory tutorials from a range of highly experienced industry and arts practictioners and theorists. Photography students have recently worked with Southampton City Council, and Southampton City Art Gallery on commissioned 'live-briefs' and major public exhibitions of their photographs. You will have frequent opportunities to externally exhibit your work.

Fees

Fees for the 2012/13 academic year are:

Full-time
UK and EU students: £6,500 per annum
Overseas students: £10,000 per annum

Part-time
UK and EU students: £3,250 pa
Overseas students: £5,000 pa