Photography BA (Hons)

If you’re looking to build real, hands-on photography skills and prepare for a professional creative career, the BA (Hons) Photography at the University of East London (UEL) is an excellent choice. Here’s how experiential learning is built into every stage of the programme:

From your very first year, you’ll dive straight into practical work—both in the studio and on location—using analogue (film and darkroom) as well as digital photography equipment. UEL gives you access to some incredible facilities, including one of London’s largest darkrooms and fully equipped studios with professional lighting rigs and green-screen setups.

Throughout your studies, you’ll learn to blend technical image-making with creative research and industry insight through the university’s unique “Professional Life / Mental Wealth” modules. These help you develop a strong professional identity and understand the wider creative industries you’ll be entering.

You’ll also be encouraged to collaborate across creative disciplines—working with students from areas like printmaking, digital fabrication, or even AR/VR—benefiting from UEL’s vibrant and interconnected Visual Arts community.

Here are some of the key experiential learning opportunities you’ll enjoy in this degree:

• State-of-the-art facilities: Access to professional darkrooms, digital photography studios, lighting rigs, large-format cameras, and both studio and location equipment.

• Creative technology integration: Opportunities to explore AR/VR, animation, and new media as part of your photographic practice.

• Collaborative learning: Interdisciplinary workshops and projects with students from other creative fields, encouraging teamwork and fresh perspectives.

• Independent final-year project: You’ll conceptualize, produce, and present your own major photographic project—either through exhibition or professional portfolio—readying you for work or postgraduate study.

• Research into Practice modules: These help you connect your creative work with theoretical and global contexts, ensuring your practice is both informed and original.

• Portfolio development: You’ll build a professional portfolio—digital or physical—throughout the course, showcasing your skills, process, and creative evolution.

Overall, the UEL Photography programme is all about learning by doing—immersing yourself in professional practice while developing the technical, creative, and critical skills that make you stand out as a photographer.

Progression & Future Opportunities – BA (Hons) Photography at the University of East London (UEL)

Choosing the BA (Hons) Photography at UEL is a powerful step toward a creative and rewarding future. This degree doesn’t just teach you how to take great photos—it helps you turn your artistic vision into a real career. Whether you see yourself behind the camera, leading a creative team, or curating visual stories, UEL gives you the tools, experience, and industry connections to make it happen.

Progression & Future Opportunities

• Career support and services
UEL’s Career Zone is there to help you every step of the way. You’ll have access to a dedicated jobs board for internships and graduate roles, one-to-one career coaching, and mentoring from industry professionals. Regular networking events and employer partnerships also make it easier to connect with creative organisations while you study.

• Employment success and graduate outcomes
Around 85% of UEL’s creative arts and design graduates, including those in Photography, are in work or further study within 15 months of graduating. Typical earnings after this period range from £25,000 to £30,000, reflecting the strength of UEL’s creative reputation and employability focus.

• Strong industry connections
Throughout the course, you’ll meet and learn from leading professionals in the field. Guest speakers have included Emma Bowkett (Director of Photography at FT Weekend Magazine), Mike Trow (former Picture Editor at British Vogue), Aron Mörel (Morel Books), and partners such as Metro Imaging and the Association of Photographers. These experiences give you insight into real industry practices and build valuable professional contacts.

• Teaching excellence and professional credibility
UEL is known for the quality of its teaching—awarded University of the Year for Teaching Quality 2025—and its courses are designed in collaboration with employers to reflect what the industry actually needs. That means you’ll graduate with the creative confidence and professional skills employers are looking for.

• Graduation outcomes and practical experience
By the end of the degree, you’ll have developed a professional-level portfolio, exhibited your work publicly, completed an independent major project, and gained real experience managing creative briefs. Alongside this, you’ll receive dedicated career-strategy training to help you transition smoothly into employment, self-employment, or postgraduate study.

Typical Career Paths

Graduates from UEL’s Photography programme move into a wide range of exciting roles, such as:

• Freelance or studio photographer (portrait, editorial, or commercial)

• Visual content creator or imaging specialist for brands and agencies

• Creative director or assistant within media or advertising firms

• Curator or exhibition coordinator within galleries and arts institutions

Further Academic Progression

If you’d like to continue your studies, UEL offers several postgraduate pathways that build on your creative foundation. Popular options include:

• MA Filmmaking

• MA Media and Communication Industries

• MA Data Journalism

• MA Directing for Stage and Screen

Each of these degrees allows you to expand your creative skillset and open up new professional directions in the wider media and arts industries.