“Solent has helped by filling my CV with great experiences that have given me confidence and improved my work”
BA (Hons)Photography (Top-Up)
Apply on UCAS
Starting in: 2025
Register your interestUCAS code: PH14
Institution code: S30
Campus: Southampton City CentreView on Google Maps
Why study a photography top-up degree at Solent University
Develop your experience in photography to gain a full honours degree. Focus your skillset using studios, digital editing suites and traditional film processing ready for your professional career.
- 'Top-up' your existing photography skills and qualifications into a full honours degree.
- You will be taught by academics who are active photographic practitioners, writers, and researchers, and have published and exhibited widely in the UK and internationally.
- Industry links with agencies and establishments such as the Association of Photographers in London (The AOP), a space arts in Southampton and the APHE.
- Opportunity for real-world experience with student-led initiatives (Pentaprism Magazine) and paid work as a freelancer through Solent Creatives, our in-house creative agency.
- Free access to an extensive media loans programme. This includes high-end DSLR cameras, extensive range of lenses, 35mm cameras, medium format cameras, large format 5x4 cameras and lenses and a full stock of accessories: light meters, tripods, flash guns.
- Great guest speakers. Previous guest speakers and industry professionals have included Laura Pannack, Richard Billingham, Thom Atkinson, Peter Fraser, Oliver Whitehead, John Spinks, Steffi Klenz, Chloe Dewe Mathews, Alexandra Lethbridge, Sam Laughlin, Felicity Hammond and many others.
Course overview
If you’re an experienced photographer, this one year degree will give you the opportunity to ‘top-up’ your existing skills and qualifications into a full honours degree, spending the year producing work for your portfolio.
Throughout the course you will be supported to develop your creative, imaginative and critical abilities – skills that are essential in a creative career. You’ll also explore a range of photographic subjects and will embed photographic skills through dynamic projects.
Solent’s experienced teaching team will guide you in creating a rich and varied professional portfolio, and will ensure that you have the creative freedom to make a portfolio that best represents your own unique style, while at the same time demonstrating that you are a competent, adaptable and employable practitioner.
Regular course lectures are supported by a programme of industry guest speakers, which in the past have included appearances from Richard Billingham, Catherine Yass, Charlotte Cotton, Ori Gersht, Brian Dillon, Peter Fraser, Dan Holdsworth, Chrystel Lebas, Jeremy Millar, Sophy Rickett, Margaret Salmon and Tom Hunter.
Your studies will take place in the multi-million pound Media Academy – featuring state-of-the-art teaching and photography facilities including digital and analogue studio spaces. You will also learn in the Photography Base Room – a dedicated, flexible teaching space.
Think a career as a photographer might be for you? With first-class facilities and a unique emphasis on freelance work, Solent University’s photography programme is a great first step towards your dream career.
Any questions?
Contact international admissions
Email: admissions.international@solent.ac.ukCall: +44 (0)23 8201 5066Student work
Our creative degrees allow our students to develop a critical eye for design with a knowledge of different design approaches and problem solving techniques. Take a look at some of the great work they produce.
Course features
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
Who is this course for?
This intensive one-year top-up programme is ideally suited to students who are qualified at a HND level and would like to upgrade to a full undergraduate honours degree.
Applicants should aspire for careers in editorial, fashion, promotional, freelance or fine art photography.
What does this course lead to?
Many graduates have gone on to work in commercial, editorial, fashion, portrait, documentary, photojournalism, landscape and fine art photography. Graduates also enter related fields, including post-production, museum and galleries, book and journal publication, picture editing, education (FE and HE) and have also gone on to postgraduate study.
Graduate stories
Hear from Solent alumni about where their careers have taken them and how studying at Solent prepared them for their future.
Read more storiesMeet the team
The course team offers a blend of skills, knowledge and expertise; they have a rich breadth and depth of experience and backgrounds. As such, they are able to support students and their development.
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
Course facilities include an extensive media loans programme, providing access to high-end DSLR cameras, an extensive range of lenses (including many ‘L’ series and Prime lenses), 35mm cameras, medium format cameras (6x5, 6x7 and 6x9), large format 5x4 cameras and lenses, and a full stock of accessories – light meters, tripods, flash guns, remote-controlled boom-mounted flash systems and more.
You’ll also have access to our digital reprographics lab, featuring commercial-standard and large-format printers, flatbed scanners, three Hasselblad drum scanners scanning up to 5x4 size and a colour-calibrated ProMac-based reprographic suite. Our recently rebuilt colour and black and white darkrooms are of the highest industry standard and students can also freely use our in-house colour film processing machine. Additionally, we offer finishing and film processing rooms, a modern multimedia lab featuring 24 iMacs with Adobe Creative Cloud and Final Cut Pro, plus large professional photographic studios and associated make-up and styling rooms.
What you'll study
Core modules
Contemporary Photographic Practice
This module encourages you to confirm your individual positions as practitioners working within the diverse field of contemporary photographic practice. Emphasis on independent and critical thinking, decision making and awareness of emerging professional networks will be integral to the successful completion of a portfolio of industry standard exhibition prints and a 2000 word bespoke designed, printed and self-published photographic research journal.
Contemporary Photographic Journal
This module runs in parallel with Contemporary Photographic Practice. You will collate your research and development whilst confirming your individual positions as practitioners working within the diverse field of contemporary photographic practice.
Image Text Analysis 1
This module is a student-centred investigation into research methodologies in the fields of photographic theory and visual studies and into the application of theories to creative visual production and critical writing.
Image Text Analysis 2
This module develops on from Image Text Analysis I through further consideration of the practice of research and the relationship between theory and practice.
Final Major Project
Through this module you will be required to critically engage with your subject, articulating your ideas through a major body of work that will be presented and celebrated in a public Degree Exhibition in Southampton.
How you will learn and be assessed
You will learn by:
You may be assessed by a combination of:
- Creative design projects
- Coursework
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?
Photography is everywhere. It is a primary means of visual communication and there are a number of photographic, and related, roles within the creative industries. Students will develop their creative, critical, research and technical abilities required for a creative career.
We will prepare you for your future
Suitable roles for graduates include
- Freelance photographer
- Fashion photographer
- Digital photographic retoucher
- Specialist photographer for commercial organisations
We will help you start your career
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.
Find out more
Support at Solent
All students at Solent University have access to a range of specialist support services. Whether you are having financial difficulty, need additional help with academic skills or want advice on setting up your own business you'll find that help is always on hand.
Most of our specialist support services are based around the Student Hub, a central space where you can access all the information and support you may need during your time at University. The Student Hub is the first point of contact if you have any queries relating to your course, including questions about your timetable, options, and assessments and extenuating circumstances.
We work in partnership with the University to build a sense of pride and confidence in your Union, University and student experience.
Find out more
Further study
Thinking about studying further than an undergraduate degree? Alumni can get 20% off their postgraduate study.
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: £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:
Compulsory costs
Students will be required to pay for the materials they use on the development of their projects. In-lesson course materials are provided. All darkroom processing chemicals, equipment and technical support is provided.
Optional costs
International study trip – cost based on current travel and accommodation prices.
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
Relevant HND/foundation degree pass with Merit Overall (55 per cent)
- or 240 CATS points from a relevant three-year degree
- UK applicants are required to attend a portfolio viewing
- 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.
Applicants from outside the UK will be required to submit an electronic portfolio for consideration.
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.
Applicants from outside the UK will be required to submit an electronic portfolio for consideration.
If you are applying from outside the UK, find information about entry requirements, visas and agents for your country here.
For further information about UK, EU and 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.
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.
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 minimum 6.0 overall with a minimum of 5.5 in each individual component
- TOEFL IBT minimum 80 with a minimum of 20 in each individual component
- Duolingo English Language Test - 115 overall with minimum of 95 in each 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.
Pre-Sessional English programme
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
- 1 year top-up
