We are closed for the Easter break and will re-open again on 23 April. You can still use our chat bot or if you have a course query you can email study@northampton.ac.uk.

What are you looking for?

Courses

Events

Staff

Great choice!

To ensure we guide you through the correct application process, we just need you to answer a few quick questions.

Already applied?
Log in to view updates.

Who’s applying?

This course offers two separate application routes, depending on whether the application is submitted by the student or an international agent.

Duration

Please select your desired length of study from the available options.

Placement Route

This course includes a placement option. Please indicate whether you’d like to apply with or without a placement.

Location

Please select where you would like to study.

Academic Year

All the available academic years are displayed below.

Starting

All the available start months for the selected academic year are listed below.

Summary

Please review the information below carefully before continuing.

If you need to make any changes, click the < Back button to return to the previous step.

1 2 3 4

Where are you from?

Are you an international student or an agent?

Agent

How would you prefer to study?

Which academic year would you like to start in?

When would you like to start?

How would you prefer to study?

Which academic year would you like to start in?

When would you like to start?

Apply Now
level: UG top_up: true international: true clearing: false full_time: true part_time: true start_month: September location: Waterside

Photography (Top-Up) BA (Hons)

  1. Home
  2. Courses by subject
  3. Photography (Top-Up) BA (Hons)

Key Facts

  • UCAS Code

    W641

  • Level

    UndergraduateUG BA (Hons)

  • Duration

    Full Time: 1 year
    Part Time: 2 years

  • Starting

    September

Updated 09/04/2025

Open Days

Updated 09/04/2025

Get in touch

For questions regarding study and admissions please contact us:

UK STUDENTS ENQUIRIES

study@northampton.ac.uk
0300 303 2772

INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS ENQUIRIES

international@northampton.ac.uk
44 (0)1604 892134

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.

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

  • Accredited 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.

 

Aerial view of the Creative Hub on Waterside campus

Image shows aerial view of the Creative Hub; a modern, curved building surrounded by greenery, paths, and people sitting or walking near a river on a partly cloudy day.

External view of the main entrance to the Learning Hub

Image shows the main entrance to the Learning Hub, which is a large, multi-storied building with many large windows, with ‘Learning Hub’ in large letters on the front. It is a sunny day, and several blurred people are walking outside.

Internal view of seating and book stacks inside the Learning Hub

Image shows a modern library interior with people reading at tables and seated on cushioned chairs in the Learning hub. Shelves filled with books are visible in the background under circular ceiling lights.

View of the lawn outside the Learning Hub

Image shows view of the lawn and courtyard outside the Learning Hub, featuring a bare tree, ornamental grasses, and an abstract sculpture. The building has several stories and features large windows.

View of the ground floor in the Learning Hub

Image shows the ground floor of the Learning Hub; it is a large, modern atrium with high ceilings, a large clock on the wall, turnstile gates, and an angular black staircase. A student carrying a backpack is walking through the space.

View of a seating area on the ground floor of the Learning Hub

Image shows a large, modern lobby with high ceilings, circular light fixtures, and an upper floor visible. People are sitting on yellow seats and moving around. Stairs and a black staircase are also present.

External view of the Creative Hub

Image shows external view of the Creative Hub, which is a large modern multi-story building with curved design, large windows, and white façade. In front of the building, people walk and sit on a landscaped plaza with trees and benches.

View of study area inside Creative Hub

Image shows a study area on the ground floor of the Creative Hub; it has bright and modern with large windows, light fixtures on the ceiling, colourful chairs, and students seated at tables.

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.

Course Content

  • 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.

    Modules:
    • PHO3006 Professional Futures (20 Credits)
    • PHO3007 Project Foundations: Research and Concept (40 Credits)
    • PHO4002 Final Major Project (60 Credits)

    All modules are compulsory.

  • 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

John Hunt, Senior Lecturer in Photography

Senior Lecturer in Photography
Faculty of Arts, Science and Technology

John Hunt
Eugenio Franchi, Associate Lecturer (Photography)

Associate Lecturer (Photography)
Faculty of Arts, Science and Technology

Eugenio Franchi
Richard Whitehead, Senior Lecturer in Photography

Senior Lecturer in Photography
Faculty of Arts, Science and Technology

Richard Whitehead

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.

Is this course for you?

Open Days

Share