The University of Westminster has announced the launch of three new Photography courses in a major shake-up of its portfolio in the subject area. The move is in response to the fast-moving industry and the need of making emerging technologies, such as AI, CGI and 3D printing, part of the curriculum.
The new courses, Fashion Photography BA Honours, Expanded Photography MA and a new Photography BA Honours, are now recruiting for a September 2024 start.
The newly launched Expanded Photography MA embraces photography as an expanded field, encompassing specialisms such as virtual photography, photobooks, documentary, art, fashion, editorial, photojournalism and writing photography. It offers a combination of photography and image literacy skills, with students being introduced to a range of emerging technologies such as 3D Scanning, AI and CGI.
Students will learn how to produce new forms of independent practice and be inspired to work creatively, ethically and sustainably with expanded photography within the rapidly changing visual image culture and global environment.
The Master’s puts professional skills at the core of student’s education and gives them the opportunity to develop an independent project, produce a final exhibition and create a professional standard project portfolio or dissertation, equipping students for opportunities in photographic, cultural and creative industries.
The newly launched Fashion Photography BA Honours has been designed to meet the industry’s demand for well-trained and agile graduates. The course provides both deep disciplinary knowledge and a broad range of photographic skills across various forms of analogue, digital and emerging media. Combining the success and legacy of photography as a discipline at Westminster with fashion practices, the course equips students with the confidence, flexibility and skills to develop careers within this competitive industry.
During the course, students will explore photography and digital imaging technologies, fashion photographic practices, critical thinking and partnerships with industry and employers. They will also gain practical experience through regular contact and guest talks with industry professionals and field trips to photography and fashion related spaces. Students will also have the opportunity to take an optional year-long paid internship or placement between their second and third year, enabling them to develop their professional skills and gain industry exposure before graduation. These career enhancement opportunities will allow students to flourish well beyond graduation, in fashion, commercial, digital and virtual environments.
Westminster’s School of Arts has also launched a new Photography BA Honours, developing the University’s long-established course that has gained an international reputation for academic and practical teaching. The course builds upon the success and legacy of Photography as a discipline at Westminster, whilst implementing an updated and innovative curriculum, which explores and engages with emerging digital technologies and commercial practices.
Students will explore photography and digital imaging technologies across a wide range of specialisms, critical thinking and partnerships with industry and employers. The course promotes experimentation and invites students to shape their own learning, allowing them to develop a strong individual creative voice and vision, underpinned by critical and contextual understanding, alongside professional level photographic skills, to produce work that is distinctive and innovative.
The University has strong links within the photographic and creative sector in London and beyond, with the majority of Westminster’s teaching staff being active practitioners across the different sectors. The University also has close relationships with alumni from similar courses and use these links to organise guest talks, work placements and job opportunities for students.
Industry partners range from The World Photography Organisation, The Photographers' Gallery, and the Victoria and Albert Museum to well-established practitioners like Nadav Kander, Sarah Pickering, Broomberg & Chanarin and many more.
Each new course aims to give aspiring photographers the opportunity to try all forms of the discipline, giving them real life experiences to set them up for their future careers. With the opportunities available within these new courses, students will be prepared to take on roles such as photojournalist, art director, studio manager, magazine editor, fashion photographer and museum and gallery curator - to name just a few.
The Expanded Photography MA is part of a suite of three new, future-focused MA Art courses which include the Art and Emerging Technologies MA and the Global Contemporary Art MA. All three courses engage critically with art informed by new technological approaches within global networks. Students tailor their learning through a set of shared optional modules that address contemporary challenges, advanced digital approaches, and specialised professional contexts.
Dr Paula Gortázar, Senior Lecturer and Course Leader of the Photography BA Honours course, said: “We are very excited to announce the launch of our new courses in September. Through extensive consultations with employers and industry experts, we've gathered valuable insights to craft a curriculum that aligns with industry needs and ensures that our graduates possess the skills needed to thrive in the dynamic creative landscape.
“Our newly expanded photographic facilities are equipped to enhance the delivery of this innovative curriculum. The new space features a spacious digital studio with state-of-the-art postproduction and digital printing equipment, as well as a revamped Emerging Media Space for our students to develop their computational imaging skills. These enhancements position our department at the forefront of teaching innovation in the field. We look very much forward to welcoming our new cohorts to Westminster.”
Applications are now open for the 2024/2025 academic year.
Find out more about Art, Design and Visual Culture courses at the University of Westminster.
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