MA Documentary Photography
Overview
Fees and funding
Entry Requirements
Course details
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MA Documentary Photography
Overview:
This degree is based (online) and at USW’s purpose-built campus, in the creative centre of Cardiff.
The University of South Wales is world-renowned for the study of Documentary Photography and our students and alumni are extremely well regarded within the photographic community: winning awards, exhibitions, and book publishing deals. With a focus on real-world engagement with social and political issues, this distinctive (online and on campus) MA offers an exploratory and lively engagement with the subject. It is characterised by an expansive understanding of photography, as well as its more traditional documentary forms, it encompasses networked imagery, data, archival material, audio, and moving image.
You will study online with the option of having a facilities access pathway, on campus at the University of South Wales. There will also be optional masterclasses delivered both on campus in Wales and internationally with our professional partners. Peer-to-peer learning and networking will form an important component of the course.
You will be taught by experts in the field of photography and engage with international visiting speakers and our cohort of scholars undertaking PhDs in photography as part of our European Centre for Documentary Research (ECDR).
The aim is to develop a strong, expansive and sustainable documentary practice that unites rigorous critical thinking with a body of work that you can confidently exhibit and publish. The MA will provide a strong foundation for developing a career as an independent documentary practitioner within the photographic industry.
This course places an emphasis on the philosophical and theoretical implications of photography, as we believe it is important to contextualise practice and enable clear communication to a variety of audiences.
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Entry Requirements
Qualifications and experience
Normally an Honours degree in a related subject is required. However, if you have solid professional industry experience rather than academic achievement, this may be acceptable for entry to study at this level through a process called Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning (APEL).
Portfolio requirements
Please provide evidence of a website or any other form of digital portfolio within your application. We are looking for an engagement with documentary photography or photojournalism with a particular focus on series of images rather than individual photographs. The portfolio should evidence your interests in documentary photography or photojournalism and demonstrate your desire to study Documentary Photography at Masters level at The University of South Wales.
English language requirements
The course welcomes international applicants and requires an English level of IELTS 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in each component or equivalent.
However, if you have previously studied through the medium of English, IELTS might not be required, but please visit the country specific page on our international website for exact details.
For students not at this level, a range of intensive English courses recognised by UKBA are available at the university. These must be completed prior to entry on the award.
WHAT YOU WILL STUDY
The MA in Documentary Photography has a long-sustained reputation for innovation and has established a highly distinctive approach towards its teaching, research and professional practice. The new programme will be the first course that offers an online programme alongside access to printing facilities, processing of film, scanning and access to our expert technicians.
The new two-year online programme, with optional on-campus and national and international masterclasses, will provide flexibility for students, depending on their requirements, ability to travel and proximity to the campus. The desire for remote learning is indicative of the way in which contemporary documentary photography students wish to study and engage with experts in the field. This philosophy supports the contemporary student and alleviates certain barriers around postgraduate study. The new programme will provide the highest education at a universally commensurate price point, beyond the boundaries of race, class, sexuality, gender or ability to travel.
The programme will reflect the shift in documentary practices with the incorporation of student engagement with networked media and post-digital cultures alongside, archival material, audio, and moving images. This will reflect the philosophy and interests of the teaching staff and support the production of portfolios that engage with complex narratives that utilise wide-ranging material and are disseminated utilising a broad range of online and material environments.
The new MA Documentary Photography course will continue to challenge students to explore definitions of Documentary Photography and to develop a strong, expansive, and sustainable documentary practice that unites a diverse range of imagery from multiple sources, alongside rigorous critical thinking and real-world engagement with social and political issues.
Study online. No need to relocate, take a career break or apply for a visa. Study alongside and network with other students from around the world. All assessments are taken and submitted online and assessed by our world-class academics.
Access to facilities optional course cost. This will be of benefit for ‘Home ‘students and will include access to the library facilities, printing facilities, processing of film, scanning and access to our expert technicians.
Biannual masterclasses. During the duration of the course, there will be optional opportunities at residential workshops with lecturers, fellow students and industry specialists, held either at Cardiff or other International locations. (subject to student numbers)
Modules
Reviewing Practice 20 credits. During this introductory module, students will explore distinct areas of documentary photography while reviewing and reflecting on their own and fellow students’ work in progress. The module will start with a series of online technical induction and equipment use tutorials. This will take place alongside a series of demonstrations and workshops by industry specialists working professionally within the field of documentary practices. In addition, there will be lectures and presentations that will address introductory themes of documentary practices.
Researching Practice 20 credits. This module seeks to explore, discuss, and debate ideas, issues and practices connected to the histories and theories of documentary practices and works alongside the Reviewing Practice Module. Students will also have a series of lectures by specialists introducing them to research methodologies. Completion of a literature review and development of a proposal for a major project.
Defining Practice 20 credits. During this second module students will start the process of defining their practice with a focus on collaborative practice and ethical community engagement. Understanding how to negotiate, propose, develop, contextualise, create and evaluate projects alongside the production of the beginnings of a body of work. Submission will be a development folder and a ‘work in progress’ portfolio.
Research Contexts 20 credits. An understanding of the history and theory of photography is pivotal to postgraduate studies as is the ability of students to contextualise their work. This module will facilitate that process by exposing the student to a broad range of material delivered by industry and academic experts from a diverse area of photographic and artistic environments. In addition, the module will encourage authority when evaluating and critically assessing others’ artifacts relevant to that practice and deepen the grasp of the intellectual concerns that propel their practice.
Positioning Practice 40 credits. During this module, students will continue with their major projects alongside learning the importance of positioning their practice. Students will be exposed to platforms utilized for the dissemination of projects and learn additional application skills with a focus on moving image and Web Doc production. In addition, students will consolidate their research through a presentation that will situate their work within the broad field of documentary practices.
Professional Contexts 20 credits. Students are required to develop an understanding of business practice pertinent to their own practice. A report of interviews and independent industry research will form the structure of the module focusing on networking and business practice, including interviews with and or case studies upon relevant practitioners, writers, or curators. In addition, students will present their findings.
Critical Text 20 credits. This module addresses the key issues and ideas raised by that practice. The final written text should articulate the student’s ideas with confidence and authority. The module requires students to identify a representative practice or practices (Case Studies) that connect with and inform their own core interests. Through identification and consideration of these practices, students will examine the central questions of site, audience, institution, and authorship.
The Realised Document 20 credits. A submission of specified material prepared by the student during the course that realises their projects. The module will concentrate on the realisation of an individual project/s for assessment at the end of the module and explore the potential outcome of practical work in relation to audience, site and distributional form.
Teaching
Students will be taught via a range of university-taught modules. During this period you will learn the professional skills required to become a professional practitioner.
Alongside the modules you will undertake workshops with industry experts in moving image, culminating in the production of a short film, Webdoc development and the production of a publication of your own work.
Assessment
Initially you will be assessed through the production of experimental work-in progress, with fully resolved work expected in later modules. Alongside your work you will be asked to develop a perspective through written texts, placing your work in its photographic and social context.
COURSE DETAILS
We regularly revalidate courses for quality assurance and enhancement
At USW, we regularly review our courses in response to changing patterns of employment and skills demand to ensure we offer learning designed to reflect today’s student needs and tomorrow’s employer demands.
If during a review process course content is significantly changed, we’ll write to inform you and talk you through the changes for the coming year. But whatever the outcome, we aim to equip our students with the skillset and the mindset to succeed whatever tomorrow may bring. Your future, future-proofed.
Additional Costs
As a student of USW, you’ll have access to lots of free resources to support your study and learning, such as textbooks, publications, online journals, laptops, and plenty of remote-access resources. Whilst in most cases these resources are more than sufficient in supporting you with completing your course, additional costs, both obligatory and optional, may be required or requested for the likes of travel, memberships, experience days, stationery, printing, or equipment.
CAREERS
USW’s documentary photography masters is particularly popular among those wishing to pursue a career in documentary production and research, photographic exhibition, publishing, teaching or journalism.
Recent graduates have regularly exhibited their work and several now teach in higher education. A number are also undertaking PhD study.
The documentary photography course has an eminent list of alumni now working within the photographic industry, including freelance photographers and those who have set up their own businesses.
Graduates can also progress to a PhD or research degree.
Our Careers and Employability Service
As a USW student, you will have access to advice from the Careers and Employability Service throughout your studies and after you graduate.
Fees
Full time
- 12 to 18 months
Complete your degree in the shortest possible time and study flexibly – when and where suits you!
£7,250
You’ll study 9 modules in total (approx. 37 hrs/week).
Part time option one
- 12 to 18 months
Study for a degree whilst fitting it around your work, care and other life commitments.
£4,250
You’ll study 6 modules per year (approx. 25 hrs/week).
Part time option two
- 12 to 18 months
Take time to study and spread the tuition fees over a longer period – at no extra cost.
£5,500
You’ll study 4–5 modules per year (approx. 19 hrs/week).
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