BA (Hons) Fashion Photography
Course Overview
If you have a passion for fashion and would love to work as a photographer in this vibrant industry, this is the course for you. Our friendly and expert tutors will guide you as you learn the skills to produce professional fashion images, ready to capture action on the catwalk, commercial studio fashion, and editorial for fashion and lifestyle magazines. We’ll also support you in becoming skilled in video and vlogging, which is essential for this fast-moving industry. We offer insights into how the industry works, helping you to build and nurture professional contacts. In addition to developing the core skills to become a fashion photographer, you’ll learn about the history of fashion and trends.By completing this innovative course, you’ll already be ahead of the competition. Today’s photographers need to be multi-skilled, and that’s what you’ll be when you graduate. You’ll be industry-ready and well prepared to work in a wide range of photographic and media-related fields, for instance, magazines, e-commerce photography studios or websites. You might also choose to work in PR, social media marketing or blogging.
Studying alongside fashion students, you’ll develop key multimedia skills, including digital and social media, filming and editing video. You’ll work in our high-spec department equipped with industry-standard technology and the latest software, as well as in professional-standard photography studios with the latest camera and video equipment.
You’ll work alongside tutors with expertise in the online, magazine, photography and fashion industries. You’ll also complete fully-assessed work placements: our final-year career development module prepares you for the transition from graduation to full-time work. This exciting programme of study will be the perfect platform for your career in fashion.
Visit https://www.instagram.com/photoboltonuni/ to see examples of work from our students and graduates.
Highlights
- We’ll cultivate your critical and analytical understanding of fashion photography practice. Combining practical studies, theory and current practice, we’ll help you develop critical and creative approaches to the limits and possibilities of fashion photography today.
- Our team will support you as you develop industry-standard technical skills to complement your understanding of fashion imaging. We’ll encourage you to keep a keen interest in current developments in the industry so you can take advantage of new techniques, technologies and opportunities.
- You’ll have the chance to work on producing an annual magazine and undertake our organised UK and overseas trips (additional costs may apply).
- We’ll introduce you to established techniques of independent and academic enquiry so that you can learn to make informed judgements about practice and theory.
- We’ll help you realise your ambition to independently produce fashion-related content in a wide range of formats and styles, for the full range of media, to industry standards.
- We’ll support you in learning vital audio/video production skills for the industry, including social media (blogging and vlogging).
- The Guardian University Guide 2022 ranks our Film Production and Photography courses as fourth in the UK for student-to-staff ratio, so you can be assured that we offer you excellent access to individual tutor support and small group teaching.
Key Features
- We’ll guide you to develop a professional approach to working practices and build your understanding of industry expectations as you progress towards generating self-initiated projects.
- You’ll have opportunities to engage with industry professionals, both in the classroom and during industry-based briefs and visits.
- Our team will support you as you learn valuable and highly regarded transferable skills that will help you to build your professional and postgraduate future.
- We’ll encourage speculation, research, critical judgment and fluency in subject debate as a means to inform your creative practice in fashion photography.
- During your studies, we’ll encourage and guide your sense of social consciousness and ethical self-responsibility so you can develop and exhibit positive ethical codes as a fashion photographer.
- You’ll also be expected to complete a fully assessed work placement. Our final year career development module is designed to prepare you for the transition from graduation to full-time work.
- By choosing to study with us, you'll have the chance to enjoy Bolton's many shops, bars, restaurants and leisure facilities. Manchester, one of the UK's most multicultural and lively cities, is less than 20 minutes away by train. Not forgetting, the North West of England is renowned for its beautiful countryside, coastline and heritage. This makes Bolton an ideal base from which to explore some of the best cultural and outdoor activities the UK offers.
Entry Requirements
- 96 UCAS points. We accept a full range of qualifications that carry UCAS points, including A-levels, BTECs and T-levels. Please see our guide to the UCAS Tariff for examples of how to achieve these points. For most courses, we are also able to consider non-tariffable qualifications.
- Any subjects are acceptable at Level 3. Relevant creative and art and design-related subjects are preferred.
- You should also have five GCSEs at grade C or above or grade 4 to 9 (or equivalent), including English and Mathematics.
- You’ll be required to attend an interview and provide a portfolio of recent photographic or image-related (or video) work. A basic working knowledge of photography through either creative application, digital or traditional process (or combinations of the three) is expected and assessed at interview.
- The quality of the portfolio/interview is the primary basis on which applicants are selected; therefore, special consideration will be given to applicants without the above qualifications who have a strong portfolio.
- If English isn’t your first language, you’ll also need IELTS 6.0 with no less than 5.5 in any band (or equivalent). We also accept a range of other English language qualifications – please visit our English Language Requirements web page for more details.
- If you don't meet the entry requirements for this course, please consider our BA (Hons) Photography with foundation year course.
Where changes are made to material information contained in this course description or a decision is taken to suspend a course between the offer of admissions and enrolment, we will inform applicants at the earliest possible opportunity and will outline the various options available to the applicant.
Career Opportunities
Photographs are viewed by everyone and are a part of our everyday culture. From advertising products, illustrating stories in magazines and books to appearing on apps and websites, it is an ideal medium to communicate beyond barriers.
A photography career offers opportunities to work independently or as a staff photographer for an employer. Our BA (Hons) Fashion Photography degree helps you to develop valuable transferable skills, such as team working, problem-solving, managing large and complex projects to deadline, the discipline of working to briefs and set deadlines, the ability to exploit creative and challenging visual ideas, a comprehensive understanding of digital imaging issues, and the ability to solve and put forward your ideas to address creative problems. These skills can also lead to other professional opportunities such as employment in sales, marketing and customer care, management and other roles.
Fees & Funding
Home/EU Fees
No fee information is currently available, please contact the University of Bolton’s Academic Fees team by emailing AcademicFees@bolton.ac.uk for more information.
International Fees
No fee information is currently available, please contact the University of Bolton’s Academic Fees team by emailing AcademicFees@bolton.ac.uk for more information.
Bursaries
Important note regarding tuition fees for the 2025-26 academic year: EU nationals who meet residency requirements (have settled or pre-settled status) may be eligible for 'Home' fee status. If you do not meet these residency requirements, overseas fees will apply. Irish citizens living in the UK or Ireland will be eligible for 'Home' fee status under the Common Travel Area arrangement. Please read the student finance for EU students web page on www.gov.uk for information.
The fees for a student's course of study will be set for the normal duration of that course subject only to inflationary increases – measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI) recorded in March each year to take effect for subsequent start dates.
How to apply
Home Applicants
If you wish to apply to multiple institutions or courses for September, then apply through UCAS
You can apply for up to 5 courses through UCAS (at the same or different institutions) for a fee of £27. Alternatively, if you only wish to apply for a single course at a single institution then a reduced applicant's fee of £22.50 is applicable.
The online application form and guidance notes are available on the UCAS website.
You will need the following information to complete your UCAS application form:
Institution Code Name: BOLTN
Institution Code Number: B44
Tel: 0870 1122211
Web: www.ucas.com
International Applicants
The University welcomes applications from international students from all over the world. We try to make the application process as simple and as fast as possible for our international applicants.
This course is not currently accepting international online applications.
Please contact Admissions by telephone on 01204 903903 or email enquiries@bolton.ac.uk
Admissions
University of Bolton
Deane Road
Bolton, BL3 5AB
United Kingdom
Tel: 01204 903903
Email: enquiries@bolton.ac.uk
Partner Organisation Applicants
Please contact Admissions by telephone on 01204 903903 or email enquiries@bolton.ac.uk
Admissions
University of Bolton
Deane Road
Bolton, BL3 5AB
United Kingdom
Tel: 01204 903903
Email: enquiries@bolton.ac.uk
Teaching & Assessment
Learning and teaching methods are varied, and we use a blended style, meaning you'll attend face-to-face sessions and take part in online learning. You can expect lectures, seminars, tutorials and critiques, self-directed learning, e-learning and workshop sessions. You'll also have opportunities to engage with employer facing and work-related activities.
You'll gain practical skills through technical introduction and support, workshop sessions, demonstrations and activity-based assignments. Live briefs and personal projects will promote active learning. Your learning will also be enhanced by research in libraries, art galleries, museums and other educational visits (where relevant).
You'll benefit from opportunities to attend guest lecture events. These feed directly into our teaching and offer relevant and up-to-date photographic industry information. Group critiques and tutorials will allow you to discuss and consider your work in progress, either in individual tutorials, interim reviews, or small groups. Our lecture programmes, visiting speakers and access to the latest research all feed into your learning experience.
There are no formal examinations, and continuous assessment is used. We may ask for various types of assessment evidence, for example, portfolios, practical projects, presentations and written pieces.
Assessment is carried out at key points during the modules. We'll use formative assessment methods to help you learn and develop your knowledge and skills. You'll also undertake summative assessment on which you'll be graded.
Formative assessment (face-to-face and online) will be offered during each module. You'll also receive written feedback, and feed-forward will be provided following summative assessment. Assessment tasks are linked to the learning outcomes of each module and are normally completed by the end of each module.
Modules
The modules listed below may be a mixture of compulsory and optional. You may not have the opportunity to study all the modules shown as part of the course.
- Digital Imaging
- Editorial Photography
- Fashionista
- Shoot Studio
- Fashion Contexts 1
- Street and Studio
- Fashion Films
- Trending
- Fashion Contexts 2
- Concepts and Practice
- Employment, Enterprise, Entrepreneurship
- Consolidation and Display
Assessment methods
| Level | Assessment method |
|---|---|
| Level 1 | Coursework 80% Practical exams 20% |
| Level 2 | Coursework 90% Practical exams 10% |
| Level 3 | Coursework 47% Practical exams 53% |
Learning Activities
| Level | Activity |
|---|---|
| Level 1 | Guided independent study 66% Scheduled learning and teaching activities 34% |
| Level 2 | Guided independent study 68% Scheduled learning and teaching activities 32% |
| Level 3 | Guided independent study 76% Placement/study abroad 5% Scheduled learning and teaching activities 19% |
The university will use all reasonable endeavours to deliver your course as described in its published material and the programme specification for the academic year in which you begin your course. The university considers changes to courses very carefully and the university will minimise any changes. Please be aware that our courses are subject to review on an ongoing basis and changes may be necessary due to legitimate staffing, financial, regulatory and academic reasons. The content of course modules and mode of associated assessments may be updated on an annual basis. This is to ensure that all modules are up-to-date and responsive to employment and sector needs. The published course material and the programme specification contain indicative ‘optional modules’ that may be subject to change due to circumstances outside of our control. For this reason, we cannot guarantee to run any specific optional module.
