| Program start date | Application deadline |
| 2025-09-01 | - |
Program Overview
MA/MFA Digital Photography
Course Overview
The MA/MFA Digital Photography course is designed for existing photographers and image makers who wish to diversify their practice or move into a different area of photography. The course explores contemporary and commercial photography, developing both practical and academic skills to enhance existing practices across print, screen, and experiential mediums.
Why Study This Master's?
- Benefit from the university's strong links to industry and the reputation of the BA (Hons) photography course
- Take a contemporary look at the relationship between photography and technology and the future of the digital image
- Innovate your existing practice with the application of emerging technologies
- Develop and enhance your skills within a series of diverse projects
- Build an impressive body of work that showcases the breadth of your abilities
Course Specifics and Admissions
Course Structure
The course structure is based around briefs designed with industry participation that build into a final body of work that utilizes the university's facilities as well as the industry experience of the teaching staff. The relationship between photography and technology is explored to create both distinction and innovation in project work.
Career Pathways
- Freelance photographer or digital assistant
- New destinations based on emerging technologies such as prompt engineer, data manager, and image refiner
- Manager within content creation and digital imaging
- Digital retouching in editorial, fashion, wellness, and advertising sectors
- Photography agency roles within technical workflow and retouching
- Content creation within automotive and games industries
- Manager within photographic libraries and/or archives
- Art direction and production within the creative industries
- Brand management within online and print industries
- Further study to MPhil and PhD level
- Independent research and consultation within imaging and broader digital industries
Entry Requirements
- Home: A lower second-class honors (a 2:2, or equivalent non-UK qualifications) or higher in a relevant subject, or an equivalent professional qualification in a related subject.
- International: If you have international qualifications, please view our entry requirements per country. In order to be eligible for this course, you will need to be a competent speaker and writer of English. If you require a Student Visa, you need to provide us with an IELTS or equivalent English language qualification, which demonstrates a minimum of 6.0 (with a minimum of 5.5 in each sub-test) or CEFR Level B2 in each component.
Selection Criteria
We welcome suitably-qualified applicants who are able to demonstrate a good level of skills in areas associated with this subject. To get a holistic view of your ability and aptitude to succeed on the course, we will also consider your enthusiasm and interest in the subject area, how you manage the creative process, previous study, and your professional skill-set.
How to Apply
Applications are welcome from a wide range of backgrounds and experience, including from students who may not necessarily possess formal academic qualifications. It is essential that applicants can demonstrate an aptitude for learning and continued professional development through a research-led approach.
Interview and Portfolio
For MA/MFA Digital Photography, please show a selection of your best images showing your range and experiences. Aim for between 19 to 21 images to show a varied and coherent selection.
Personal Statement
We want to know why you chose the UK as your study destination, what attracted you to Ravensbourne and the course, and how it relates to or fits in with your plans for the future. We love to hear people's motivations and aspirations, so please make your personal statement, 'personal'.
Using a minimum of 500 words, please use your personal statement to explain:
- Why you chose the UK as your study destination (if you are an international student)
- What attracted you to Ravensbourne University London and the specific course you are applying for
- Your experiences and interests
- What you hope to gain from the course
- What you hope to do after graduating
- Any relevant work experience
Industry Connections
You can't learn in a vacuum, which is why industry connection is ingrained into everything we do. Ravensbourne University London will equip you for success in the creative and digital industries. Our tutors are respected academics and practitioners with substantial experience and industry links, while our suite of postgraduate courses has been designed with industry, for industry.
Facilities
- EventsHub: A flexible space designed to house various industry-facing lectures, presentations, events, launches, promotions, showcases, exhibitions, and short courses for Ravensbourne, the local community, and across the Design District.
- The Workshop: Ravensbourne's prototyping facilities are designed to enable and support experimentation and exploration of materials and making through hi-tech, lo-tech, and no-tech facilities.
- CreativeLab: Ravensbourne's own in-house design and media production studio. Working across creative commercial projects, not-for-profit third-sector briefs, and internal design and content requirements, CreativeLab combines professional design expertise with employment opportunities on projects for our students and graduates.
International Students
We very much welcome applicants from outside the UK. For information on study routes, visa requirements, studying in England, language, and entry requirements, application requirements, and access to international agents, please visit our international student section.
Fees
- UK: £9,750 (MA) / £13,000 (MFA)
- INT: £18,000 (MA) / £24,000 (MFA)
Duration
- FT 1 year
Mode
- Full-time
Starts
- Sept 2025
Ideal For
Existing photographers and image makers wishing to diversify an existing practice or to move into a different area of photography.
Program Outline
Program Length:
1 year (full-time)
Mode:
Full-time
Focus:
- Exploring contemporary and commercial photography.
- Developing practical and academic skills to enhance existing practice across print, screen, and experiential mediums.
- Choosing between Master of Fine Art (MFA) and Master (MA) options based on individual goals.
Key Aspects:
- Combining traditional lens-based practices with contemporary technologies like computational photography, artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, and augmented reality (AR).
- Engaging with diverse projects to refine diverse skills and create a portfolio demonstrating a broad range of abilities.
- Developing a more independent study approach and gaining a comprehensive understanding of the industry and its career pathways.
Outline:
Structure:
- Based on industry-designed briefs that build towards a final body of work utilizing the university's facilities and staff expertise.
- Relationship between photography and technology explored to create distinctiveness and innovation in project work.
Teaching:
Methods:
- Emphasis on creative exploration and independent study.
- Individualized support provided by experienced and respected academics and practitioners with substantial industry experience.
Careers:
Pathways:
- Freelance photographer or digital assistant.
- Emerging technology roles like prompt engineer, data manager, and image refiner.
- Content creation and digital imaging management.
- Digital retouching in various sectors.
- Photography agency roles within technical workflow and retouching.
- Content creation in automotive and games industries.
- Management within photographic libraries and archives.
- Art direction and production in the creative industries.
- Brand management in online and print industries.
- Independent research and consultation in imaging and broader digital industries.
Outcomes:
- Course prepares graduates for diverse roles across the creative and digital industries.
- Equips graduates with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to succeed in their chosen fields.
Other:
Admissions:
- Applicants with a lower second-class honours degree (or equivalent) in a relevant subject or equivalent professional qualifications considered.
- Selection based on skills, enthusiasm, and interest in the subject, experience, and prior study.
- Applications welcome from diverse backgrounds and experiences.
Portfolio:
- Portfolio of 19-21 images demonstrating range and experience.
Personal Statement:
Entry Requirements:
Home Students:
- A lower second-class honours (a 2:2, or equivalent non-UK qualifications) or higher in a relevant subject.
- OR An equivalent professional qualification in a related subject.
- IELTS 6.0
Selection Criteria:
- Demonstrated skills and aptitude associated with the subject area.
- Enthusiasm and interest in the subject.
- Ability to manage the creative process.
- Previous study and professional skill-set.
- Applications from diverse backgrounds and experiences are welcomed, including those without formal academic qualifications.
- Applicants must demonstrate an aptitude for learning and continued professional development through a research-led approach.
Language Proficiency Requirements:
- International students must meet the minimum English language requirements of IELTS 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in each sub-test or CEFR Level B2 in each component.
