Program Overview

Overview

On our BA (Hons) Photography degree you will develop a creative, professional identity and signature style by combining technique, theory, experimentation and ethical practice.

Why Choose Us?

• 100% of students rated the teaching on this course as good or very good (NSS 2024).
• We’re ranked 1st in the UK for Film Production and Photography for two consecutive years (Guardian League Table 2025 and 2024).
• You will have access to incredible industry standard facilities and equipment that will help you express your creativity.
• You will be taught by tutors with extensive industry experience and can help you to gain a foot hold in the profession. You will also have lectures, workshops and portfolio reviews with world-renowned, industry-leading photographers.
• Our course has produced numerous award-winning students, locally, nationally and internationally.

Where our students go

Our students have gone on to work with companies such as:

• Adidas
• Ben Sherman
• The Financial Times
• The Guardian
• House of Holland
• New Balance
• Nike
• Sony
• Universal Music
• Vogue

And in jobs such as:

• Freelance Photographer
• Creative Director
• Advertising Executive
• Filmmaker
• Picture Editor
• Photographer’s Agent

Entry Requirements

Essential requirements

• Standard offer: 112 UCAS Tariff points.
• Accelerate offer: 80 UCAS Tariff points.

Applicants will also need to submit a good portfolio.

A Level, BTEC and other level 3 requirements

• A Level / AS Level:
  • A Level: 112 UCAS Tariff points / BBC (or equivalent)
  • AS Level: Must be in a different subject to A Levels
  • A maximum of four subjects will be considered
• Pearson BTEC (Diploma / Extended Diploma/ Extended Certificate):
  • 112 UCAS Tariff points
  • Diploma accepted with one A Level or equivalent level 3 qualifications
  • Extended Certificate accepted with two A Levels or equivalent level 3 qualifications
• T Level:
  • Merit overall
  • All subjects accepted
• Access to HE Diploma:
  • Pass with 60 credits, 45 credits at level 3
  • Accepted subjects: Arts, Media and Publishing subjects preferred but other subjects also considered
• OCR Cambridge Technical qualifications:
  • 112 UCAS Tariff points
• NCFE CACHE Level 3 qualifications:
  • 112 UCAS Tariff points
• WJEC Level 3 qualifications:
  • 112 UCAS Tariff points
  • Considered with two A Levels or equivalent level 3 qualification(s)
• Irish Leaving Certificate (Highers):
  • Minimum of 112 UCAS Tariff points, achieved in five Higher level subjects
• Scottish Higher / Advanced Higher:
  • 112 UCAS Tariff points from three Advanced Highers (CCD) or two Advanced Highers (CD) plus two Highers (CC)
• Welsh Baccalaureate:
  • 112 UCAS Tariff points
  • Considered with three A Levels or equivalent level 3 qualifications
• UAL Level 3 Extended Diploma:
  • Merit overall
• Foundation Studies (Art and Design, and Art, Design and Media):
  • Distinction overall

International qualifications

• International Baccalaureate Diploma:
  • Obtain a minimum of 28 points overall
• EU / International students:
  • Please see your country page for further details on the equivalent qualifications we accept.
  • In addition to the academic entry requirements listed above, international and EU students will also require IELTS 6.0 overall with no less than 5.5 in each band.

Fees & How to Apply

UK students

• Annual and modular tuition fees shown are applicable to the first year of study.
• The University reserves the right to increase fees for subsequent years of study in line with increases in inflation (capped at 5%) or to reflect changes in Government funding policies or changes agreed by Parliament.
• Award: BA (Hons)
• Starting: Sep 2025
• Mode: Full Time
• Duration: 3 years
• Fees: £9,535 in 2025/26

International students

• Annual and modular tuition fees shown are applicable to the first year of study.
• The University reserves the right to increase fees for subsequent years of study in line with increases in inflation (capped at 5%) or to reflect changes in Government funding policies or changes agreed by Parliament.
• Award: BA (Hons)
• Starting: Sep 2025
• Mode: Full Time
• Duration: 3 years
• Fees: £17,690 in 2025/26

Course in Depth

First Year

• Introduction to Photography 20 credits
• Principles and Practice of Photography 40 credits
• Enterprise of Photography 20 credits
• Discourse 20 credits
• Narrative (Space and Place) 20 credits
• Narrative (Time and Sequence) 20 credits
• Narrative (Sound and Movement) 20 credits
• Narrative (Text and Image) 20 credits
• Narrative (People and Identity) 20 credits

Second Year

• Context of Photography 40 credits
• Identifying Direction 40 credits
• Live Project 20 credits
• Work Placement 20 credits
• Collaborative Practice 20 credits

Third Year

• Advancing Practice 40 credits
• Independent Enquiry 20 credits
• Major Project 60 credits

Employability

Enhancing employability skills

The BA (Hons) Photography course at Birmingham City University is designed to furnish you with both creative and employability skills, thoroughly preparing you for your future career.

Facilities & Staff

Our creative degrees are housed in the state of the art £62 million Parkside Building, part of our City Centre Campus.

Photography technicians

• Andy Pilsbury, Senior Technician
• Barnaby Kent, Senior Technician
• Aimee Sills, Technician

Our staff

• Joe Miles, Course Leader BA (Hons) Photography, Interim Course Director of Filmmaking
• Ravi Deepres, Professor of Moving Image and Photography
• Nick Priest, Lecturer in Photography
• Stuart Whipps, Senior Lecturer in Photography
• Dr Gary Bratchford, Associate Professor of Photography
• Jaskirt Boora, Lecturer in Photography