MA Photojournalism and Documentary Photography

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MA Photojournalism and Documentary Photography

University of the Arts London (UAL)

United Kingdom, London

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Home/United Kingdom/London /University of the Arts London (UAL)/MA Photojournalism and Documentary Photography

University of the Arts London (UAL)

United Kingdom , London

Key Facts

Program Level

Master by Course Work

Study Type

Full Time

Delivery

On Campus

Campuses

London College of Communication

Program Language

English

Start & Deadlines

Next Intake DeadlinesSeptember-2022

Apply to this program

Go to the official application for the university

Duration 1.3 year(s)

Tuition Fee

GBP 23,610 / year

Next Intake September-2022

MA Photojournalism and Documentary Photography

About

MA Photojournalism and Documentary Photography is a vibrant Masters course with an international reputation, which brings together research and practice for photojournalists and documentary photographers who want to take their practice to the next level.

Photojournalists have explored and recorded the human experience since the inception of the medium, recording significant moments in history, documenting unfolding news and creating enduring images that can change peoples understanding of the world.

The documentary approach is a slower, more reflective form of practice, which adds deep research to synthesise the complex global conditions you wish to address.

Whether you want to situate your work in a newspaper, art gallery, book or a public space, MA Photojournalism and Documentary Photography offers you the opportunity to develop your existing skills and expand your creative practice in order to do so.

With an emphasis on contemporary political and social issues, the course will engage you with the ethics of photographic practice as well as the aesthetics.

What can you expect?

The course aims to equip students with a thorough grounding in the discipline, through lectures, seminars, workshops, and crits.

In the first term, you will follow a rigorous programme of photographic assignments, leading to initiating and developing your own projects and areas of special interest as the course progresses.

All this takes place within the framework of the history and development of the medium, together with critical, ethical and theoretical contexts. You will be writing as well as photographing for every submission, and learning how to speak about your work in a professional context.

Work experience and opportunities

During the second term, you will have the opportunity to collaborate with external organisations, working to real-time briefs, which will help you understand different contexts and potential uses for your work.

Previous collaborative partners include human rights NGO Reprieve, environment litigators Plan B, and LCCs innovative platform the Refugee Journalism Project.

At the same time, you will be encouraged to find creative freedom by exploring and rethinking your practice, perhaps by experimenting with photographic processes to expand your vision. Your practice will become more research-focused.

Before your major project, you will benefit from hostile environments training, as well as an introduction to multimedia and bookmaking practices. We will help you shape a specific critical and theoretical context for your project, to help you think, write and speak with confidence and clarity about your work.

In the final term, you will be editing your major project and working towards the Postgraduate Shows, regularly attended by leading industry practitioners. Your final portfolios will be reviewed by renowned experts in the field of documentary photography: picture editors, curators, photographers and critics.

Requirements

Entry Requirements

The course team welcomes applicants from a broad range of backgrounds, from all over the world. MA Photojournalism and Documentary Photography attracts students who apply direct from an Honours degree course, or a professional or academic qualification recognised as equivalent to an Honours degree, or those with other, equivalent qualifications.

Graduates of all disciplines may apply, although most students have a background in Arts and Humanities. You must be socially aware, inquisitive, self-motivated and passionate about a career in photojournalism or documentary photography. Relevant professional experience or work experience in the industry is increasingly important.

Educational level may be demonstrated by:

Honours degree (named above);
Possession of equivalent qualifications;
Prior experiential learning, the outcome of which can be demonstrated to be equivalent to formal qualifications otherwise required;
Or a combination of formal qualifications and experiential learning which, taken together, can be demonstrated to be equivalent to formal qualifications otherwise required.

APEL (Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning)

Applicants who do not meet these course entry requirements may still be considered in exceptional cases. The course team will consider each application that demonstrates additional strengths and alternative evidence. This might, for example, be demonstrated by:

Related academic or work experience
The quality of the personal statement
A strong academic or other professional reference
OR a combination of these factors

Each application will be considered on its own merit but we cannot guarantee an offer in each case.

Language requirements

All classes are conducted in English. If English is not your first language, we strongly recommend you let us know your English language test score in your application. If you have booked a test or are awaiting your results, please indicate this in your application. When asked to upload a CV as part of your application, please include any information about your English test score.

IELTS 6.5 (or equivalent) is required, with a minimum of 5.5 in each of the four skills.
If your first language is not English, you can check you have achieved the correct IELTS level in English on the Language Requirements page.

Selection criteria

Offers will be made based on the following selection criteria, which applicants are expected to demonstrate:

Evidence of prior knowledge and/or experience of Photography that would indicate potential to successfully complete the programme of study
Social awareness, inquisitiveness and passion about a career in photojournalism or documentary photography
An ability to work on one or more projects over a sustained period of time and in an intimate and involved way (portfolio)
A journalistic and documentary awareness and an understanding of research and practice methodologies and a realistic idea of what makes a strong project (project ideas)

English Program Requirements

All students need to show proof of their English language ability to enrol at UAL. Most students from outside the UK need to submit an English language test as proof of their language ability.

If you need help to reach the required language level, UAL's Language Centre offers a range of English courses and a Presessional course for students with a conditional or unconditional offer. Current students at UAL, progressing to the next level of university study (e.g. from Foundation to BA) can take UAL's Progress Test to achieve the IELTS score required for the next level.

To find out if you are exempt from English language testing, please read exemptions from language testing at the bottom of this page.

English language tests

Your English language requirement is generally expressed as an IELTS score but UAL accepts several other English language tests in addition to IELTS.

Where we state 'IELTS Academic for UKVI', you must provide a certificate for this test. IELTS Academic (not for UKVI) cannot be used to support a student visa application for these levels of study. The University does not accept IELTS General or IELTS General for UKVI for any level of course.

Please note that you must achieve the required language scores - overall and all 4 skills (unless the test provider exempts you from sitting a skill on the basis of disability) - from a single sitting of a test examination. We cannot accept a combination of 'best' scores from multiple test results.

Please note that if you take a Cambridge IGCSE exam, you must provide 2 documents:

The Certificate
The Certifying Statement for CEFR. You will need to request this and pay the fee.

Minimum IELTS scores

Our IELTS requirements vary depending on the course and level of study. The requirement for each course is shown on the individual course pages.

Jump to minimum scores for:

Courses that require IELTS 5.0
Courses that require IELTS 5.5
Courses that require IELTS 6.0
Courses that require IELTS 6.5
Courses that require IELTS 7.0
Courses that require IELTS 7.5

Career

Career paths

The track record for this course is excellent. For many years, graduates have had considerable success at the UK student documentary photography prizes. Alumni of the course are working around the world for leading photographic agencies, freelancing for the world's leading editorial publications and exhibiting internationally.

Fee Information

Tuition Fee

GBP 23,610

How to Apply

All applications will be considered by the course team who will consider key elements when making a decision on your suitability to join the course:

Firstly they will look at your qualifications and transcript (or projected results).
Secondly, they will review your personal statement, portfolio and study/project proposal.
There is no requirement for an academic or professional reference.

Required information for postgraduate course applications

Before you apply, please take time to read the guidance below. You will be asked to provide the following items and upload documents when completing the online application form:

Personal details (including full name; date of birth; nationality; permanent address and English language level)
Current and/or previous education and qualification details
Employment history
CV
Personal statement

Please note: we will ask you for copies of certain documents (for example, English language qualification/certificate and copies of any previous UK study visas). Read our immigration and visa information to find out if you need a visa to study at UAL.

You can only apply to the same course once per year. Any duplicate applications will be withdrawn. Read the UAL international application advice for further information on how to apply.

Extra information required for applications to this course

Portfolio.
Video task.
Study / project proposal.

Start your application now

There are 2 ways international students can apply to a postgraduate course:

Through one of our official representatives in your country
By direct application

The application form can be saved as you fill it out, so you do not need to complete it all at once. You will also have the chance to review all the information and make any necessary amendments before you submit the application form.

Deferring your place

This course accepts requests from offer holders to defer their place for one academic year. Deferral requests are granted on a first-come, first-served basis until all deferral places are filled, or a deadline has been reached, whichever is sooner. Read our Admissions Policy for details, including how to request a deferral and by when.

External Student Transfer Policy

If you are currently studying at another institution and have successfully completed 60 credits in the equivalent units/modules on your current PG course and wish to continue your studies at London College of Communication, you can apply to transfer.

The Admissions Tutor will consider applications on a case by case basis, subject to places being available. You must apply directly to the course via the course webpage as early as possible.

Further information about the external student transfer policy can be found on the Office for Students Information page.

CV

Please provide a CV detailing your education, qualifications and any relevant work or voluntary experience. If English is not your first language it is important that you also include in your CV details of your most recent English language test score.

Personal statement advice

You’ll be asked to complete a personal statement describing why you want to study on MA Photography.

Your personal statement should describe what you specialised in during your undergraduate course , why you now want to study on MA Photography at LCC, and what you are hoping to do after the course.

The majority of our students have studied either BA Photography or other lens-based/fine-art subjects before applying to our course.

If you didn’t previously undertake a BA Photography course, please explain why you feel that you meet the academic criteria needed for further study in this subject area.

Project proposal advice (250 words maximum)

Your Project Proposal should be a feasible, researched outline of the intended project you plan to photograph during your time on the course.

This should include how you plan to develop your project, and also provide a sense of subject matter, visual style, conceptual approach and associated research, as well as your existing knowledge of contemporary fine art photography.