Photography

During the first year of the programme, you undertake three units of study: Unit 1A, Unit 1B and CHS. These units are each worth 40 credits, and are assessed through a combination of continuous and summative assessment methods.

You are assigned a personal tutor with whom to discuss your work in tutorials five times per academic year and assist your progress though Units 1A and 1B..

Although working primarily on your own practice, you will also be invited throughout the year to attend group critiques, seminars, lectures, workshops and tutorials with other members of the course team. You will produce work for studio critiques that take place in term one and two.

At the beginning of the Spring term, you will contribute to the Work-in-Progress Show. This is a chance to take risks, try new materials and explore new ideas. Your practice is not expected to be resolved at this stage however as this is in a public context, it is an opportunity to consider the role of the viewer. This enables you to test the efficacy of the visual forms you have been using. Throughout the first year, you will also take part in regular Critical and Historical studies events and work on a dissertation which will help you to further develop your practice.

During the second year of the programme you undertake three units of study: Unit 2A (40 credits), Unit 2B (60 Credits) and SoAH School Unit (20 Credits). These units are assessed through a combination of continuous and summative assessment methods.

In the second year, you select a personal tutor who appraises your work. You produce a self-initiated body of work, which is evaluated and discussed in group critiques and tutorials during the year.

In the third term the work you exhibit in the graduating show is part of the examination of your final unit 2B - the Independent Research Project. It consists of a major project undertaken in the second year of the programme. Your art practice should now demonstrate that you are able to make, develop and realise work at Masters level. Your work should now have a clear direction and resolution, demonstrating a level of conceptual and technical competence appropriate to your own aims and objectives. Your practice is expected to be self-initiated and thoroughly researched. You will be asked to articulate this process of producing work in the viva voce.

All studio-based MA students follow a weekly schedule of Critical & Historical Studies (CHS), a College-wide initiative that provides you with the intellectual framework to build a coherent relationship between theory and practice.

CHS delivers exciting, thought-provoking and inspiring lectures by experts within the programme and high-profile visiting lecturers. You’ll have the opportunity to explore the theoretical background and aspects of your chosen discipline through a tutored dissertation process, as well as receiving individual tutorial support from our team of expert tutors.