“My advice, is to use all the equipment at uni as you will never be given such an amazing opportunity to practice again. ”
BA (Hons)Fashion Photography
Apply on UCAS
Starting in: 2025
Register your interest- 3 years
- 4 years with foundation year
UCAS code: FPH3
Institution code: S30
UCAS points: 48Flexible entry options available
Campus: Southampton City CentreView on Google Maps
Why study fashion photography with a foundation year
Bring your unique style and photographic vision to the world of editorial fashion to push the boundaries of fashion image-making.
- Top0in the UK for learning resources in design studies, out of 78 institutions (NSS 2024)
- 0%of fashion and textiles students satisfied with the teaching on their course (Guardian University Guide 2025)
- 0thin the UK for student experience in drama, dance and cinematics studies (out of 94 institutions) (The Times Good University Guide 2025)
- If you're not quite ready to undertake a full honours degree, Solent’s Design Foundation Year is perfectly suited to students who may not be from a fashion- or photography-related background, or whose qualifications do not meet the admissions requirements for BA (Hons) Fashion Photography.
- An innovative and dynamic course, combining the disciplines of fashion photography, fashion film and multi-media production, giving you the skills needed to become a confident image-creator within the fashion industry.
- Our course team maintain close links with industry which enables you to benefit from guest lectures, live briefs, and placement opportunities.
- Recent students have enjoyed work placements London Fashion Week, Fat Face, and Hungry Tiger Studios, as well as freelance assistant opportunities with leading photographers.
- Graduates have gone on to work for renowned fashion companies such as Bottega Veneta, Giorgio Armani, Mulberry, and Jimmy Choo, and secured full-time roles as photographers, studio managers, video editors, production managers and shoot producers.
- Facilities include 11 professional photography studios, a fully equipped infinity cove, and a range of make-up and hair design spaces.
- As a future stylist and image-maker, you will be encouraged to use vintage and second-hand clothing to produce innovative and creative photography shoots for your projects.
- You’ll be assigned a personal tutor who can assist you with pastoral support to help you make the most of your learning.
Course overview
To help get you up to speed, the one-year design foundation course provides all the creative, technical and study skills needed for entry onto BA (Hons) Fashion Photography here at Solent.
The foundation year begins with a five-week group project. This enables students to mix with like-minded peers and helps them to settle in quickly. This project also helps students to decide which area they might like to follow at a later stage.
On the creative and forward-thinking fashion photography degree, you will be supported by experienced tutors and technical instructors, dedicated to giving you the skills you need to become the fashion photographer you dream of being.
You will have the opportunity to collaborate with students from a range of other fashion courses, giving you invaluable networking experience. As part of your degree, you will hone your own personal creative style by undertaking industry placements, giving you essential hands-on experience.
Throughout your studies you will have access to a range of professional photography facilities to broaden your skills, including photography studios (including a specialist infinity cove), make-up studios, Mac suites, and digital reprographics rooms for high quality professional prints. All of which will help you to build a professional and extensive portfolio.
The course places a strong emphasis on equipping you with the skills and knowledge required by employers for a wide range of roles within the fashion industry. Many of our alumni have successful careers as freelance creatives, working internationally in a range of image-making roles.
Work from our final year students across our fashion-related degrees is showcased at Graduate Fashion Week (GFW). In 2023, final-year student, Kristian Braband was awarded the prestigious Terry Mansfield Fashion Publication Award. Read about Kristian's work and his reaction to winning.
Any questions?
Contact international admissions
Email: admissions.international@solent.ac.ukCall: +44 (0)23 8201 5066Course features
Foundation year available
If you're not quite ready for a full undergraduate degree, there's alternative entry through one of our foundation years
Specialist facilities
This course has access to specialist facilities
Further studies
After successfully completing your studies, there's an opportunity to continue your studies at Solent
Top-up option
If you have an appropriate Level 5 qualification, you can top it up to a degree in just a year
Study abroad
You have the opportunity to study abroad in one of our partner universities for a semester on this course
Who is this course for?
Our design foundation programme is ideal for students who aren’t quite ready to undertake a full undergraduate degree, either because they aren’t from a fashion-related background, or they don’t quite meet the entry requirements.
Solent’s Fashion Photography programme focuses on giving you a specialist skillset and thorough understanding of the industry, while allowing you to explore and develop your creative practice.
What does this course lead to?
Through the industry-focused skills and knowledge gained on this course, you could find yourself working in an exciting and varied range of creative roles, including fashion, editorial, advertising, production and post-production, digital imaging, video editing, art direction, and picture editing.
Graduate stories
Hear from Solent alumni about where their careers have taken them and how studying at Solent prepared them for their future.
Meet the team
The University cannot guarantee any particular members of staff will teach specific aspects of the course in the future, but will endeavour to ensure the teaching team maintains their balance of experience and qualifications.
Facilities
Access to professional-standard facilities, including a digital reprographics lab, our recently rebuilt colour and black-and-white darkrooms, finishing and film processing rooms, a modern multimedia lab featuring 24 iMacs with Adobe Creative Suite and Final Cut Pro, plus large professional photographic studios and associated make-up and styling rooms.
Course facilities include an extensive media loans programme, providing access to high-end equipment, such as Canon full frame DSLR and mirrorless cameras, medium format digital Phase One and Fuji GFX50S11/GFX100S cameras, along with an extensive range of lenses (including professional lenses and prime lenses). Students also have access to analogue film 35mm, medium format (645, 6x7 and 6x9) and large format 5x4 cameras, plus Profoto B1x, B10 and B2 lighting kits for location photography. The production store is also fully stocked with accessories – light meters, tripods, flash guns, remote-controlled boom-mounted flash systems and more.
International opportunities
Broaden your horizons by adding an international dimension to your CV – essential to achieving success in today’s fast-changing, global environment.
Studying, working or volunteering in another country could be the experience of a lifetime. Enhance your degree by developing important global skills such as knowledge of other countries, language skills, intercultural awareness, adaptability and confidence.
For more information, please email international.mobility@solent.ac.uk.
What you'll study
Core modules
Industry Skills
In a progressive and supportive manner, you will build your confidence to communicate your ideas in both a visual and written manner that is in keeping with industry practices.
Industry Awareness
This module helps you to appreciate and understand how decisions are made to plan effective industry specific scenarios.
Materials and Methods
This module introduces you to a range of technical skills appropriate to your future learning. You will learn, experiment and research other practitioners’ works to help you develop your own ideas.
Research and Ideas Development
This module places importance on both independent study and communication between students and is designed to establish strong and supportive peer networks.
Personal Development Planning
This module provides a programme of Personal Development Planning (PDP) tools. The three concepts of personal development, improving learning and performance, and forward planning to achieve goals are brought together in this module.
Degree-related Project
In other modules you have had the opportunity to develop research, design and communication skills. This module is designed to help you now apply these skills to your own project.
How you will learn and be assessed
You will learn by:
You may be assessed by a combination of:
- Creative design projects
- Visual reports
- Portfolios
- Essays
Solent’s curriculum framework builds on our unique, creative and applied approach to teaching. The transformation of students’ lives is at the heart of our mission as a university, and our curriculum – informed by the latest theory – reflects this shared educational vision.
Find out more
Study support
The student achievement team are on hand to help you succeed during your studies at Solent. They aim to contact you at key times during your time here with personalised information, advice and guidance, by email or phone.
Access Solent provides information, advice and guidance for disabled students.
All students can access Succeed@Solent, Solent's online guide to getting better grades. It offers extensive, practical information and advice on topics such as academic writing, research and presentations.
Why choose the industry?
The UK is the third largest apparel and footwear market worldwide, after China and the United States, with a market size of approximately £57.92 billion pounds. (Euromonitor International).
Through the industry-focused skills and knowledge gained on this course, you could find yourself working in the exciting areas of fashion, editorial or advertising in the creative areas of fashion photography, art direction, styling, and video production.
By gaining industry-focused skills and knowledge facilitated by this course, graduates may position themselves for employment opportunities within dynamic sectors such as fashion, editorial, or advertising. This encompasses various creative fields including fashion photography, art direction, styling, and video production.
There are also opportunities outside of fashion from retail and photojournalism to sport and live performance - businesses in a wide variety of industries depend on professional photographers to properly market their products. These positions can range from freelance contract work to full-time, in-house employment.
You could earn:
Stylist
Senior stylists: £23,000 and £30,000
Employed junior stylists can expect to earn in the region of £18,000 to £20,000. Senior stylists earn higher salaries of between £23,000 and £30,000. Being a freelancer is very common in this industry, and as a freelancer you'll be paid either a daily or hourly rate. An assistant stylist can earn anything from £50 to £150 per day, but if paid hourly, this is in the region of £7.70 to £8.20 per hour.
Photographer
Typical salary: £16,000 to £22,000.
Many entrants to the profession start as assistants, where salaries can be set at the national minimum wage. In full-time employment, early career salaries are typically between £16,000 and £22,000. Salaries can increase to anywhere from £25,000 to £65,000. The top end of the scale is typically for those who have a strong reputation and are highly sought-after, which takes years of experience.
The stated salaries are published on prospects.ac.uk.
Graduate stories
Hear from Solent alumni about where their careers have taken them and how studying at Solent prepared them for their future.
“My advice, is to use all the equipment at uni as you will never be given such an amazing opportunity to practice again. ”
Solent Futures
The Solent Careers team is committed to getting students into great careers.
While you are studying, the team can help you with finding work experience or placements, link you with a mentor, check your CV, or offer one-to-one guidance.
If you're in your final year, we also have graduate job opportunities just for Solent graduates.
6th
UK uni for sustained employment
Longitudinal Educational Outcomes, 2022
Further study
Thinking about studying further than an undergraduate degree? Alumni can get 20% off their postgraduate study.
MA Creative Direction for Fashion and Beauty
Take charge and lead a wealth of fashion and beauty brands to success with your innovative and creative vision on this practice-based master's degree.
MA Visual Communication
Do you have an eye for design? Would you like to help influence the future of visual communications? Our MA Visual Communication degree is ideal for creatives keen to refine their practice, working as part of an interdisciplinary group of students.
Tuition fees
The tuition fees for the 2025/26 academic year are:
- UK, EU (settled status) and Channel Island full-time fees: £9,250 per year
- International full-time fees: £15,050 for foundation level. Fees will increase for year 1.
- International full-time fees: £17,750 per year
For further information, please visit our tuition fees page.
Extra course costs
While most course costs are covered by your tuition fees, some essential resources and optional extras may need to be paid for separately. These additional costs are listed below. For advice on budgeting and managing your money, please contact student.funding@solent.ac.uk.
The 2025/26 other costs are not yet available. For guidance, the 2024/25 costs were:
Compulsory costs
- Foundation year
Portfolios, A4 ring binders, scale rulers, sketchbooks and basic drawing materials will be required: approximately £150.
Printing: £100 - Year one
Laptop (prices vary)
External hard drive: approx £50 - Year two
Printing: approx £60-£100 - Year three
Photographic materials (film paper), stationery, digital printing, mounting, final major project, study trips, memory sticks and printing: £300 - £600
Optional costs
- Year one
Study trips: approx £300 - Year two
Study trips: approx £300-£800 - Year three
Study trips: approx £800-£1,250
Bursaries, scholarships and financial support
Solent University offers a range of bursaries and scholarships that provide financial assistance or waive fees for tuition or accommodation. Each bursary or scholarship has specific eligibility criteria. Check out our bursaries and scholarships pages to find out more.
Cost of living support
At Solent, we understand that the cost of living crisis may be of some concern. To help, we've put together some detailed information to show what support is available and how to make your money go further.
Graduation costs
There is no charge to attend graduation, but you will be required to pay for the rental of your academic gown (approximately £45 per graduate, depending on your award). You may also wish to purchase official photography packages, which range in price from £15 to £200+. Graduation is not compulsory, so if you prefer to have your award sent to you, there is no cost. Extra guest tickets will go on sale after results publication and will be sold on a first-come-first-served basis. The cost per ticket is currently £15. Please note, we do not guarantee there will be any extra tickets available to purchase.
Student finance videos
Student finance Video transcript, with a description of visuals available.Student funding - the essentials Video transcript, with a description of visuals available.
Entry requirements
Please select an option below:
Key entry requirements
48 UCAS tariff points
- from A-levels, a BTEC Extended Diploma at PPP, BTEC Diploma at MP or T-level Pass (D or E) or equivalent.
- For further information about UK qualifications, please contact admissions.
Key entry requirements
As a general guide, we look for qualifications that are equivalent to the British high school A-levels.
If you are applying from outside the UK, find information about entry requirements, visas and agents for your country here.
For further information about EU qualifications, please see our course entry requirements document.
Key entry requirements
As a general guide, we look for qualifications that are equivalent to the British high school A-levels.
If you are applying from outside the UK, find information about entry requirements, visas and agents for your country here.
For further information about international qualifications, please see our course entry requirements document.
Note to all international students requiring a visa
All international applicants need to be aware that the English language requirements to attend Solent University, and the English language requirements to obtain a visa from the Home Office, may be different. This means that if you meet the Solent University language requirement to gain a place on the course, you may still have to meet additional requirements to be granted with a visa by the Home Office.
We strongly advise all applicants to visit the Home Office website which outlines all the requirements for a successful visa application.
48UCAS points
Any questions?
Contact international admissions
Email: admissions.international@solent.ac.ukCall: +44 (0)23 8201 5066How to apply
Full-time
Any student applying for the first year of a full-time/sandwich undergraduate course must apply through UCAS (University and Colleges Admissions Service). This includes mature, overseas and EU students.
Nearly all schools and colleges offer their students the facility of applying electronically through the UCAS website using 'Apply'; it may also be used by those applying independently in the UK and overseas. This facility and all course information can be found on the UCAS website: www.ucas.com.
Your application should reach UCAS by 31 January if you hope to enter a course the following autumn. Early application is advised for the most popular subject areas. Late applications may be made until the end of June. The UCAS Code for the University is S30, code name SOLNT.
Find out what happens after you apply
Contextual offers
Solent endeavours to offer learning opportunities to students from all backgrounds. When we receive and review an application, we take into consideration the context and personal circumstances of applicants when making a decision, which means our advertised entry tariff could be reduced.
Alternative entry options
Top-up route:
We welcome applications from students currently studying a Foundation Degree, DipHE, HNC, HND or modules of an undergraduate degree course at another university, who wish to enter directly into Years 2 or 3 of one of our undergraduate degree courses. Please contact our admissions team for more information: contact us
Language requirements
Applicants who do not have English as their first language will be required to demonstrate an approved level of proficiency in the use of the English language. The agreed minimum requirements for this course are:
-
IELTS 6.0 overall with a minimum of 5.5 in each individual component
-
or equivalent.
Qualifications are checked before enrolment, and international students must bring their original certificates or certified copies when coming to study at the University.
The University also offers a pre-sessional English programme for international students who wish to improve their level of English before starting a degree course.
Make your application
- 3 years
- 4 years with foundation year
