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Photography BA (Hons)
Study level: Undergraduate
This course aims to support the development of independent, creative, critical and adaptable photographers with the professional skills to respond to an evolving industry.
Course features
Year of entry
Location
Coventry University (Coventry)
Study mode
Full-time
Sandwich
Duration
3 years full-time
4 years sandwich
Course code
W640
Start date
September 2027
November 2027
January 2028
March 2028
May 2028
July 2028
The information on this page is for 2026-27 entry and should be used as guidance for 2027-28 entry. Please keep checking back on this course page to see our latest updates.
Course overview
Are you passionate about photography and ready to develop your technical skills, creative ideas and critical eye? Explore your personal style and build a portfolio that shows your creative development and interests.
- Experiment with a wide range of photographic techniques, materials and equipment.
- Explore photography’s role in global communities and creative industries.
- Develop into a confident, critical thinker ready to shape the future of photography.
Rated Gold Overall
Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) 2023
5 QS Stars for Teaching and Facilities
QS Stars University Ratings
Top 5 Student City in England (Coventry)
QS Best Student Cities Index 2026Why you should study this course
- Develop technical expertise in both analogue and digital photography.
- Explore a wide range of genres, including editorial, commercial and fine art.
- Create a distinctive photographic style and explore photography’s role in global cultures and visual storytelling across diverse contexts.
- Access industry-standard studios, darkrooms and industry-standard equipment.4
- Build a professional portfolio through real-world projects and exhibition opportunities.2
About the School of Arts and Creative Industries
- Our learning and teaching mirrors the needs of the creative industries so you have the skills and attributes needed to become an industry specialist, leader and innovator.
- Our studio culture seeks to ensure you are socially responsible in our creative community and develop critical thinking in research and making processes.
- Our global initiatives aim to give you skills to become collaborative communicators and make you culturally competent.
- Our current excellent industry links typically enable us to host an exciting programme of guest speakers covering topics such as commercial and advertising photography, book publishing and community participatory practice (subject to availability).
- Past students have worked on projects such as exchange programmes with Australian students to develop exhibitions in globally recognised galleries.
5th
for Film Production and Photography
Guardian University Guide 2026
Why study Photography BA (Hons) at Coventry University?
DOT DOT DOT ... Graduate Festival 2026
The Coventry Degree Show is an annual festival to celebrate and showcase our graduating students’ work.
Explore the festival's eventsWhat you'll study
We regularly review our course content to keep it relevant and current for our students. Consequently, we may update modules to reflect the latest industry standards.
How you'll learn
Teaching and learning methods may include:
- lectures
- seminars
- tutorials
- presentations
- group projects
- workshops
- practical studio sessions
- practical workshop sessions.
Teaching contact hours
As a full-time undergraduate student, you will study modules totalling 120 credits each academic year. A typical 30-credit module requires 300 hours of study. Study hours are made up of teaching contact hours and guided and independent study.
Teaching hours
Teaching hours may vary, depending on where you are in your studies, but on average, you will have between 12 and 15 teaching and learning hours each week. You will also have the option to attend additional sessions, including time with a progress coach or to meet with staff for advice and feedback. As you progress through your studies, teaching hours may reduce.
Guided and independent study
Throughout your studies, you will be expected to spend time in guided and independent study to make up the required study hours per module. You will be digging deeper into topics, reviewing what you’ve learnt and completing assignments. This can be completed around your personal commitments. As you progress to the end of your studies, you’ll spend more time on independent learning.
Online learning
As an innovative university, we use different teaching methods, including online tools and emerging technologies. So, some of your teaching hours and assessments may be delivered online.
Assessment
This course is assessed using methods that vary by module. These approaches are intended to prepare you for the complex and evolving contexts of professional practice.
Assessment methods may include:
- artefacts
- practical coursework
- digital coursework
- individual work
- group work
- live presentations / poster presentations
- reports
- projects
- individual assignments.
The Coventry University Group assessment strategy ensures that our courses are fairly assessed and allows us to monitor student progression towards achieving the intended learning outcomes.
Entry requirements
Typical entry requirements:
Fees and funding
| Student | Full-time | Part-time |
|---|---|---|
| UK | 2027/28 fees TBC 2026/27 fees: £9,790 per year |
Not available |
| International | 2027/28 fees TBC 2026/27 fees: £20,800 per year |
Not available |
If you choose to study this course with a professional placement2 or study abroad year, you will need to pay a tuition fee3 to cover your academic support throughout your placement year. As an indication, students commencing their professional placement in the academic year 2028/29 will pay £1,575 if they are paying UK fees, or £1,900 if they are paying international fees. The University will charge the tuition fees stated above for those on a placement during Academic Year 2028/29. The University will review professional placement tuition fees each year. For UK (home) students, the University may increase fees for each subsequent year of study, but such that it will be no more than 5% above inflation.
For advice and guidance on tuition fees and student loans visit our Undergraduate Finance page and see The University’s Tuition Fee and Refund Terms and Conditions.
The University will charge the tuition fees that are stated in the above table for the first Academic Year of study. The University will review tuition fees each year. For UK (home) students, if Parliament permits an increase in tuition fees, the university may increase fees for each subsequent year of study in line with any such changes. Note that any increase is expected to be in line with inflation.
For international students, we may increase fees each year, but such increases will be no more than 5% above inflation. If you defer your course start date or have to extend your studies beyond the normal duration of the course (e.g. to repeat a year or resit examinations) the University reserves the right to charge you fees at a higher rate and/or in accordance with any legislative changes during the additional period of study.
We offer a range of International scholarships to students all over the world. For more information, visit our International Scholarships page.
Tuition fees cover the cost of your teaching, assessments, facilities and support services. There may be additional costs not covered by this fee such as accommodation and living costs, recommended reading books, stationery, printing and re-assessments should you need them. Find out what's included in your tuition costs.
The following are additional costs not included in the tuition fees:
- Any optional overseas field trips or visits: £400+ per trip.
- Any costs associated with securing, attending or completing a placement (whether in the UK or abroad).
*Irish student fees
The rights of Irish residents to study in the UK are preserved under the Common Travel Area arrangement. If you are an Irish student and meet the residency criteria, you can study in England, pay the same level of tuition fees as English students and utilise the Tuition Fee Loan.
How do you know if you need to pay UK or international tuition fees?
Facilities
Coventry University has invested in superb arts facilities with Ellen Terry, Delia Derbyshire and the Tank forming your primary learning locations4.
All within a minute's walk of each other in the city centre you will have access to purpose built studios and a well-stocked Media Loan Shop. Here you can borrow an extensive range of specialist, professional equipment, including 4K and HD video cameras, DSLR cameras, tripods, audio equipment and lighting. Kit is allocated on a first come first served basis via the booking system which you will get to know well.
The course supports the development of a range of techniques and approaches with access to digital and analogue facilities and workshops. Our darkroom and processing facilities offer the opportunity to explore and experiment with film, cyanotypes and anthotypes.
Take a virtual tour
Television Studio
Where applicable, you’ll have access to our on-campus TV studio The Tank, with its specialist TV studio equipment, including large cameras, mixing facilities and fibre-optic wiring throughout.
Photography Suite
The photography suite is a superb facility that includes virtual drum scanning, photography studios, black-and-white print darkrooms, free black-and-white film processing, and a digital print bureau.
Media Loan Shop
As a student, you’ll have access to Coventry University’s specialist Media Loan Shop. This well-stocked facility offers an extensive range of specialist, professional photography and film equipment.
Facilities are subject to availability. Access to some facilities (including some teaching and learning spaces) may vary from those advertised and/or may have reduced availability or restrictions where the university is following public authority guidance, decisions or orders.
Careers and opportunities
On successful completion, you will be equipped with the skills to:
- demonstrate technical skills relating to a wide range of analogue and digital photography, and associated media equipment, platforms and processes
- apply your photography skills creatively to a brief to a high standard of aptitude, demonstrating the appropriate breadth and depth of conceptual development
- apply creative solutions to a brief, using technical means and appropriate application of materials, processes and technologies to develop a coherent body of work that reflects the particular characteristics of your own creative perspective
- communicate themes and ideas about lens-based media clearly, analytically and comprehensively in visual, oral and written forms
- apply critically informed knowledge of professional practice in photography, and the wider visual arts and media related fields
- effectively organise and manage independent and collaborative projects and apply entrepreneurial skills in dealing with audiences, clients, consumers, finances, markets, sources and/or users.
Like all of our creative courses, Photography is very much practice-led and informed by research and critical thinking. Throughout your course, you will be encouraged to develop projects that enable you to determine which fields you wish to specialise in, while at the same time building a portfolio of work which will stand out from the crowd.
To celebrate your works of art, we produce a Degree Show exhibition every year. This is an important platform for graduates as professionals from across the industries of photography are invited to view the exhibition and receive copies of its accompanying catalogue.
Where our graduates work
Graduates from this course have gone on to work at photography companies such as:
- Grain Projects
- Multistory
- Photomonitor
- British Journal of Photography
- NHS Wales
- FORMAT Festival
- Wellbeck Publishing
- Cheshire Young Carers
- Big Sky Studios
The graduate destinations listed above illustrate potential career paths. You may need to gain additional qualifications or practical experience, pass professional examinations, complete training, cover associated costs and meet specific visa or immigration requirements to secure employment in these fields.
Further study
You can choose to continue your studies at Coventry University with the Photography MA. You may be entitled to an alumni discount on your fees if you decide to extend your time with us by progressing from undergraduate to postgraduate study.
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Disclaimers
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