Foundation Degree Photography

Course Information

The Foundation Degree in Photography at Coleg y Cymoedd, Nantgarw Campus is a full-time, two-year course, awarded by the University of South Wales.

Students are encouraged to complete a final year at the Atrium, University of South Wales to achieve a full honours degree BA (Hons) Top-up. Students who wish to study at Nantgarw will have access to the University facilities (including the library and student union) and they will be able to attend guest speaker talks, allowing an overall integrated experience.

Overview

This course will give students a wide range of creative and technical photographic skills through stimulating assignments. This includes digital photography, extensive studio and location work (including field trips) as well as traditional silver-based film photography.

Regular visits are made to museums and galleries to inspire students and to ensure they are examining the way in which various contemporary and historical artists and photographers work. This is a creative and practical photography degree which is underpinned by visual culture, contextual elements and the history of photography.

This course has produced award winning students and is designed to ensure that students gain the right skills, experience and confidence to apply for relevant jobs within the creative industries and/or understand how to apply these skills to their own business on completion of the course. The Foundation Degree in Photography aims to provide students with a high-quality learning experience. This includes subject specialist lecturers with industry links and experience that is relevant to creative industries for contemporary practice.

What will I study?

The first year introduces the underpinning skills in use of the camera (both digital and film), darkroom, studio, moving image, specialist Adobe software, contemporary and historical contextualisation and perception of practice. Students will develop their creativity and technical skills through both digital and film photography.

As the course progresses students will be expected to demonstrate a broad curiosity towards wider related practices within the photographic and filmic world. Students will be encouraged to think critically and consider photography and its impact on social, cultural, historical and contemporary practice.

Year 1

Photography and the Real
Photography and Illusion
Study Skills
Photography as Narrative
Critical Practices: Histories
Creative Industries Practical Project

Year 2

Critical Practices: Paradigms
Short Creative Industries Work Placement
Career Development
Consolidated Photographic Practice

Progression

On completion of the Foundation Degree in Photography students are encouraged to progress onto the BA (Hons) Top-up at the University of South Wales. Support with your application to University will be given and a £500 bursary is currently available to those students who wish to study at Level 6.

At the end of the Foundation Degree students should be able to:

Gain an understanding of photography as an art form and/or as a career pathway
Learn how to use the camera to its full potential i.e. manual settings and equipment needed for specific purposes
Understand image editing and post-production techniques
Gain knowledge of photography from a historical and contemporary point of view
Develop opportunities to achieve a career in photography
Make photographic industry links whilst undertaking live briefs and work placement projects

Students on the Foundation Degree in Photography have had the opportunity to work with a range of partners and industry professionals on live briefs and work placements including:

Entry Requirements

Students will require 48 UCAS points, this is the equivalent of 2 A Levels (at Grade D or above) or a relevant BTEC Level 3 qualification with a Merit/Pass, a Level 3 Diploma or a Pass/Pass/Pass, Level 3 Extended Diploma or relevant industry experience for mature learners.

Applicants with substantial relevant experience in employment who are over 21 years may be accepted; this will be subject to interview.

Entry to the third year BA (Hons) Top-up, delivered at University of South Wales will be on successful completion of the Foundation Degree.

How do I apply?

Apply direct

Apply now

UCAS applications

Course code: W640
Institution code: W01
Campus name: Coleg y Cymoedd (Nantgarw)
Campus code: M

Fees and Funding

Course Fees and Funding

Course Fees for the Foundation Degree in Photography are £7500 for full time applicants.

There are grants that may be available. Eligible full-time student can claim a minimum grant of £1,000 they will not have to pay back, regardless of their household income, and means-tested grants of up to £8,100 will be available to those who need them most.

Students who wish to study at Higher Education level can contact Student Finance Wales for financial help with course fees, provided that they are living in Wales

For more information visit Welsh Government’s Student Money.

Equipment and Studio Fee

It is important that students have their own Digital SLR with interchangeable lenses and a working home computer or laptop with camera and sound to start the course as well as other basic equipment i.e. stationary, books etc.

Other cost considerations associated with the course might be: memory cards, tripods, USB/Harddrive storage, files/sketchbooks and frames. Some of these materials can be purchased in our Art Shop at a student-discounted rate. As part of the requirements for different Modules you will also be required to pay for your own photographic prints (print services are available).

Equipment loan options are provided for Canon, Nikon, Sony (digital) and Pentax (film) cameras and other specialist equipment is available such as external microphones etc.

Studio fees are payable of £100 per year. These fees are to be paid at main reception during your Induction week where a receipt will be given to you as confirmation of payment. You must keep this receipt as proof of payment to collect your materials. e given to you as confirmation of payment. You must keep this receipt as proof of payment to collect your materials. Below is an example of the materials supplied as part of the studio fees. The other part of the fee is used for servicing, maintenance, trips and part of the guest speaker programme.

A3 portfolio and A3 sleeves
2 x Ilford HP5+ film
Masking tape
Repositionable spray mount
Swann and Morton handle and blades
Metal ruler
A3 cutting mat

Staff Information

Jessica Emanuel – Course Leader FD Photography

01443 663 310
Block C, NC202, Nantgarw Campus

jessica.emanuel@cymoedd.ac.uk

Leo James – Module Leader FD Photography

01443 663 012
Block C, NC202, Nantgarw Campus

leo.james@cymoedd.ac.uk

Gary Luckwell – Tutor / Technical Demonstrator

01443 663 303
Block C, NC202, Nantgarw Campus

gary.luckwell@cymoedd.ac.uk

Sarah Butterworth – Module Leader FD Photography

01443 663 012
Block C, NC202, Nantgarw Campus

sarah.butterworth@cymoedd.ac.uk

Facilities

Large Photographic Studio with Broncolor lighting
Large Darkroom
Apple Mac Suite (Adobe Creative Cloud)
PC Suite (Adobe Creative Cloud)
Access to specialist industry standard equipment i.e. cameras, lenses, lighting etc
Brand new Apple Macs with the latest OS
Large format specialist Canon printers and EIZO calibration monitor

What our students say

Booker T Skelding

“I am inspired by Jess’s commitment and relentless dedication she applies to her teaching role, she makes it her life and puts her heart and soul into developing her students and her department into a success. I have 19 years experience of being supervised as a Police Officer and 11 years experience of being a network analyst for British Gas. However, during that time, I’ve not met a Supervisor, Sergeant, Inspector or Team Leader that has developed me or other peers like Jess has. She is an absolute credit to Coleg Y Cymoedd/University of South Wales, and her passion for sharing her expertise and knowledge in Photography and the Industry is second to none.”

Tracey Dobbs

After learning that she’d secured three professional awards for work from her college portfolio, Tracey, said: “It was absolutely amazing to find out I’d won not just one, but three awards. I’m not the most confident person so getting this recognition has been a huge confidence boost for me. As a photographer, the awards have helped to build my credibility professionally and enabled me to get my name out there. My course tutors, Jessica Emanuel and Ian Burgum have been brilliant, encouraging me to enter the awards, and supporting me throughout the whole process.”