Photography BA Honours

Why choose Photography BA Honours at Middlesex?

Our team has impressive professional expertise in areas including fashion, commercial, documentary, art practice and new digital imaging technologies.

100% Overall Student Satisfaction, NSS 2024

What you will gain

Many Middlesex photography graduates have received industry recognition for their work.

Graduates have gone on to work with Burberry, Vivienne Westwood, Dazed, Arena Homme, FT Weekend, Telegraph Magazine, The Observer, Puma, Disney, Diesel, Gymshark, Wallpaper, British Vogue and many others.

Every year, our students produce outstanding, industry-standard work. Why not join them?

Our academic and technical staff have a wealth of experience delivering professional, creative and technical education that prepares our students for success in global careers.

What you will learn

All of our staff are specialists in the field who will help you develop and refine your creative voice.

You'll be offered resources and opportunities to develop your practice through set assignments, self-initiated projects and exposure to a range of different industry and academic contexts.

Our photographic facilities are among the best in the country and you'll have access to cutting-edge image-making and printing technologies. You'll be able to:

• Use our high-tech facilities including digital media studios, cameras, lighting equipment, darkrooms and an extensive library
• Get real-world experience through a professional practice module and work placement in your third year
• Benefit from a course with strong industry links
• Enjoy field trips to exhibitions, galleries and international photo festivals and fairs
• Attend exciting events including artist talks and symposiums
• Produce your own exhibitions, books and catalogues
• Use our library and IT facilities, including access to magazine collections, when it suits you. They're open 24/7.

Degree show

The photography work that our students create is of an exceptional standard. Each year, our final year students, some of whom are award winners, exhibit their work at our Hendon Show.

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Careers

How can a photography degree support your career?

This degree will prepare you for a successful career in creative industries. Our students go on to fill a range of roles in the photographic industry and beyond.

We have alumni working as freelance commercial photographers, editorial photographers, and photographers working with still life and e-commerce. We also have former students with successful art practices who exhibit internationally and gain public funding and commissions to support their art practice.

Some of our alumni have gone on to curate exhibitions, work in publicly funded and commercial galleries or have secured positions as photo editors at national and international publications. Many of our students choose to assist professional photographers after university before going on to establish their own commercial practice or manage commercial studio spaces.

Many of our students take up post-graduate study after their BA degree – undertaking MA or MFA degrees and PhDs. Some of our alumni are now pursuing academic careers as either technicians or lecturers on photography courses at Middlesex or elsewhere.

Transferable skills

Many of the skills you learn throughout the BA Photography degree are transferable to other industries and help students achieve employment in many fields. Employers across the board look for skills in critical thinking, problem-solving, interpersonal relations, time and finance management, all of which are embedded into our BA Photography degree.

Meeting employer demand

• There are agencies and studios that employ photographers but most photographic practitioners are self-employed or work in small groups.
• Photographers compete for work from a wide range of clients from Fashion magazines to picture agencies. Clients are looking for a personal vision. We encourage students to develop a strong personal language, together with a highly professional and responsible approach.
• To meet this demand, students are encouraged to develop a strong technical understanding. Workshops and a range of projects in level one emphasize different technical outcomes. This forms a strong foundation so that students begin to develop an individual approach. Further projects encouraging a creative approach and acquisition of further technical skills take place at level five.

Student success

• Royal Photographic Society Hood Medal
• Sony World Photography Student Focus Award solo winner
• Several winners of the D&AD Yellow Pencil over a period of several years
• Joint first prize-winner in the Onward Compe award
• Magenta Foundation prize winner
• Taylor Wessing Photographic Portrait Prize – Students and staff exhibited 15 times since 2007
• Taylor Wessing Photographic Portrait Prize – John Kobal Award
• Paris Photo Carte Blanche award
• Daniel Blau award x3
• Palm Photo Prize x3
• Magnum 30 under 30
• Mack First Book Award (4 nominations and 1 shortlisted)
• Royal Photographic Society Under 30’s gold award
• Free Range Award – best university x 2
• Free Range Award – best individual x3
• FOAM Paul Huf Award
• Magenta Foundation prize winner
• Grand Prix Images Vevey Award (shortlisted)
• FOAM Paul Huff award (nominations x2)
• Paris Photo Jeunes Talents award.

Clients and companies that recent graduates have work for include FT Weekend Magazine; The Guardian; Wallpaper Magazine; AirBnB; Vivienne Westwood; Channel 4; Disney and the V&A Museum. Alumni have also had their works exhibited in major national and international exhibitions including Paris Photo, The Taylor Wessing Photographic Portrait Prize at the National Portrait Gallery and Jerwood Gallery.

MDXworks

Our Careers and Employability Service, MDXworks will launch you into the world of work from the beginning of your course, with placements, projects and networking opportunities through our 1000+ links with industry and big-name employers in London and globally.

Global network

You’ll study with students from 122 countries who’ll hopefully become part of your global network. And after you graduate, we'll still support you through our alumni network to help you progress in your chosen career.