John Hunt
Senior Lecturer in Photography
level:UG;top_up:true;international:true;foundation:false;clearing:false;full_time:true;part_time:true;start_month:September;location:Waterside
Photography (Top-Up) BA (Hons)
Key Facts
-
UCAS Code
W641
-
Duration
Full Time: 1 year
Part Time: 2 years
-
Full Time: £9,535
Part Time: £1,585 (per 20 credits) -
Full Time: £17,000
Updated 04/12/2025
Updated 04/12/2025
Get in touch
UK STUDENTS ENQUIRIES
study@northampton.ac.uk
0300 303 2772
INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS ENQUIRIES
Overview
Our Photography Top-Up programme takes a practical approach to exploring the photograph within a range of contemporary practices and contexts. This will extend to a critical understanding of the subject and allows the scope for you to develop your creativity and professionalism.
We encourage you to develop an independent approach to your learning, with a focus on personal research methods and extending your individual practice through experimentation and critical thought.
We will challenge you to consider traditional silver processes and digital technologies, evaluating photographic production and studying the still image in relation to both the moving image and newer interactive technologies.
AOP Accreditation
Our BA Top-Up Photography programme has been ‘Approved’ by the Association of Photographers (AOP) as one of the ‘most respected photographic courses in the UK’.
Highlights
- Approved by the Association of Photographers (AOP) as one of the ‘most respected photography courses in the UK’.
- You can receive FREE student membership of the AOP as part of your studies, enhancing your CV and helping you stand out from the crowd when you graduate and pursue a career in photography.
- Students have use of dedicated specialist facilities – view our Photo Studio 1, Photo Studio 2, and Dark Room Tours.
- We also organise external exhibitions of our students work and in addition, we regularly host Visiting Lecturers and Portfolio reviews.
- Find out more about the BA Photography course on YouTube, and view the work of UON Photography students and graduates on Instagram by visiting @uon_photography.
Students setting up a product ready to be photographed
A student setting up a light in the photography studio
A student is setting up a product to be shot in the photography studio
A camera being set up in a studio
A student setting up a light over a product in the photography studio
Three students working on a photography project in the studio
A visitor viewing student photography work at the Degree Show
Student photography work set up at the Degree Show
Entry Requirements
Applicants are expected to have studied a Photography or Art and Design related subject at:
- Foundation Degree level or equivalent, or
- as a HND
Applicants are requested to send in a digital portfolio of their own work in Art and Design, which will then be reviewed by the Photography team.
Receiving an offer may also be subject to qualifications and standard entry requirements.
International students may also submit their portfolio electronically.
For more more information on how to make an application, please visit our How to Apply page.
If you are an International student and would like information on making an application, please see our How to Apply page.
All International and EU students applying for a course with us must meet the following minimum English language requirements:
- IELTS 6.0 (or equivalent) with a minimum of 5.5 in all bands
for study at undergraduate level.
For information regarding English language requirements at the University, please see our IELTS page.
What You'll Learn
Your learning will be informed by historical and current references as well as cultural and social contexts so that you can understand the impact that photography can have and the change it can inspire, as well as developing your professional practice. We will also support you to engage in live projects, competitions and exhibitions so that you are prepared for the professional field of photography when you graduate.
Want to see some of our students’ work? Follow the University of Northampton’s BA Photography course on Instagram.
Compulsory Modules
The purpose of this module is for students to confidently define their post- graduation trajectoryIt focuses on the requirements to present a creative profile to support career development within a defined focus, developing further their preparation for employabilityPromotional materials and personal planning will be developed.
The purpose of this module is for students to begin to develop their final major project by producing an extended contextual and practice research proposal, to experiment with specialist practice techniques for this and to refine their use of their chosen tools within their practice.
The purpose of this module is to support students in the realisation of their unique visual voice through the production of a research-informed Final Major ProjectThis will be displayed for an identified audienceStudents will work collaboratively to produce their final group display.
Please note the modules shown here relate to the academic year 25/26. The modules relating to the academic year 26/27 will be available from June 2026.
Whatever your ambitions, we’re here to help you to achieve them. We’ll support you to identify the skills you’re learning during your Top-Up Photography Course, find your strengths and secure practical experience so that when it comes to applying for jobs or further study you’ll feel confident in standing out from the crowd. We’ve created the Northampton Employment Promise because we are so confident that if you focus on your studies and complete one of our awards you’ll be highly employable by the time you graduate. Putting you in a great position to secure employment or continue your studies.
To check out the full list of perks, visit our Student Perks page.
How will I be taught on this BA Photography Top-Up Course?
Much of this Photography course will be practical, culminating in an exhibition a professional portfolio and a contextual report. There will be practical workshops on a range of photographic media and studio practice. We also have visiting lectures from a range of industry professionals and artists to form part of your continuing professional development.
How will I be assessed?
Theory is assessed through a contextual report and presentations, while practical work is judged through portfolio presentations and exhibitions.
What are the course special features?
These include:
- Excellent traditional and digital specialist facilities
- Research active teaching staff
- Talks by visiting artists, photographers and art professionals
- Fine art and commercial approaches to photography
Are there are any study trips?
We organise annual international trips for groups of around 30 students across the arts subjects. These are optional but have proved to be valuable for students’ academic and practical experience.
There are usually one or two trips to Europe each year and at least one long haul trip further afield. Study trips to Europe cost approximately £400-450 while trips to America/Asia cost approximately £1000-1200.
Fees and Funding
2025/26 Tuition Fees
- UK Full Time: £9,535
- UK Part Time: £1,585 per 20 credit module
- International Full Time: £17,000
Fees quoted relate to study in the Academic Year 2025/26 only and may be subject to inflationary increases in future years. UON will adjust UK fees annually in line with Government Policy.
- Own camera (cameras are available to loan from the University – with potential added cost for film, paper, external hard drive and SD/CF cards).
- External hard drive
- Producing a physical portfolio – both the case and the prints.
- Printing photographs
For information on the scholarships available to you, please see our scholarships page.
For more information about possible funding options, please visit our Fees and Funding pages.
Fees quoted relate to study in the Academic Year 2024/25 only and may be subject to inflationary increases in future years.
- UK – Full Time: £9,250
- UK – Part Time: £1,540 per 20 credit module
- International – Full Time: £16,500
Staff
Eugenio Franchi
Associate Lecturer (Photography)
Richard Whitehead
Senior Lecturer in Photography
Careers and Employability
Our BA Photography degree is excellent preparation for a range of careers in fields such as the commercial and public sectors, marketing, public relations and specialised fields.
With the skills and knowledge developed on our photography undergraduate programme, our graduates have gone on to pursue a wide variety of different photography careers. Opportunities in the field of photography include, but are not limited to;
- Photographer (event/press/product/etc.)
- Advertising art director
- TV camera operator
- Graphic designer / web designer
- Multimedia specialist
- Video editor
- Museum/gallery curator
You could develop your practice as an independent artist and pursue collaborations, commissions, publication and exhibition opportunities. You would also be well positioned for master’s study.
Master’s Opportunities
Our master’s courses are a great way to enhance the skills you have already learnt. Benefit from our master’s courses to give yourself a CV that will catch the eye of employers.
Facilities
Facilities available to UON students include:
- A black and white darkroom catering for dish processing. Traditional photographic techniques are catered for with rooms for wet processing, and washing and drying film and prints.
- Two large studios (one day light, and the other with artificial lighting) provide professional standard facilities for a wide range of studio-based photography using film or digital cameras.
- A digital suite, which is a dedicated digital training room – a complete Mac suite of 22 workstations.
- Students have access to a range of film and flatbed scanners (including the Hasselblad Flextight Scanner), and fully colour managed computers which are linked to the digital print room.
- Students also have access to a specialist video editing suite, with industry standard software.
