Everything you need to know...
International/EU: £15,860 per year (£1,200 for placement year)
Come to an open day
Find out more at our undergraduate open days. Book now for your place.
Course summary
- Prepare for the degree with an extra foundation year at the start.
- Acquire digital and traditional photographic analogue skills, digital capture and production and image management and manipulation, using industry standard equipment.
- Develop core practical skills through creative professional practice and a critical engagement with image making.
- Refine your ability to solve problems, manage complex projects, and communicate your ideas effectively.
Engage with a distinctive, independent approach to a wide range of photographic contexts with this professional and practice-based degree. You are encouraged to take risks in a highly creative environment, developing your understanding and knowledge of the medium to enable you to fulfil your potential in the constantly-evolving discipline of photography.
Student view
Tutors and students provide an overview of the course and what it's like to study in Sheffield.
Student success story
"After being out of education for a few years, the foundation year provided the building blocks for me to move onto the BA course. The new skills I gained eased me back into learning and team work, and provided me with the knowledge needed for my photography degree.”
Dave Dransfield, BA Photography with Foundation Year
View our students' work
Find out more about the Media Arts and Communications department and view the work of some of our students.
How you learn
All our courses are designed around a set of key principles based on engaging you with the world, collaborating with others, challenging you to think in new ways, and providing you with a supportive environment in which you can thrive.
The course is suitable if you don't meet the entry requirements for our BA (Hons) Photography course, or you want extra preparation before starting degree-level study. You share the first year with other media arts and communication foundation year students, then move on to the degree.
You learn through a creative, practice-based approach to self-directed production which emulates the independent nature of professional practice within photography. This is underpinned through an exploration of historical and contemporary approaches and relevant theoretical issues in order to help situate your work in a critical context.
You learn through
- specialist workshops
- technical surgeries
- large group lectures
- smaller group seminars
- group critiques and review sessions
- individual tutorials
In the foundation year, you'll study wide-ranging media arts and communication topics, while also focussing on your particular subject area and completing assignments in that field. You'll grow as a creative, and begin developing a professional portfolio. You'll also become familiar with Hallam's exceptional facilities and staff, so you're fully prepared for undergraduate study.
Course leaders and tutors
Peter Spence
Senior Lecturer in Film and TVCurrently teaching a number of film theory modules on the BA (Honours) Film and Media Production course, Peter is also an award-winning film-maker whose work has scr … Read more
Applied learning
Work placements
The course has established professional working relationships with a number of photographic professional partners including the Photographers' Gallery, the National Media Museum, Site Gallery, Millennium Galleries, The Hepworth Wakefield, Village Bookshop and Gallery, and Impressions Gallery.
Field trips
Throughout the programme you will have the opportunity to attend national and international photography and art events which will broaden your understanding of the wider photographic industry, its stakeholders and key requirements (additional costs may apply).
Networking opportunities
A number of industry days and events (Grad Talk, Pathways) are held on campus where you can network with and attend talks and workshops run by creative media industry professionals and organisations. You will also have access to guidance from our professional careers and employment service, CV preparation and interview practice, an annual programme of employer recruitment fairs, and an online graduate vacancy service.
Future careers
This course prepares you for a career in
- documentary
- fine art
- fashion and advertising
- editorial
- press and photojournalism
- general and social portraiture
- scientific and medical
- stills for film and video productions
- post-production (picture editing, processing, printing and finishing)
- picture research and publishing
- curatorial and gallery contexts
Graduates of BA (Honours) Photography have gone on to work for
- S1 Artspace
- Webber Agency
- Gill Turner Photo Agency
- The Lowry
- Wex Photo Video
- Apple
- Salt-Street Productions
- American Golf
- Pinkbike
- Alpkit
- JD Official
- Size Official
- Boohoo
- Flannels
- THG Studios
- NHS England
- Mission Foodservice
- My-Furniture.com
- Frasers Group
Where will I study?
You study at City Campus through a structured mix of lectures, seminars and practical sessions as well as access to digital and online resources to support your learning.
City Campus
City Campus is located in the heart of Sheffield, within minutes of the train and bus stations.
City Campus map | City Campus tour | Keeping safe on Campus
Adsetts library
Adsetts Library is located on our City Campus. It's open 24 hours a day, every day.
Learn moreEquipment and facilities
On this course you work with
- two industry-standard photography studios
- portable lighting equipment
- a dedicated digital darkroom including scanning, processing and printing facilities
- colour and black and white analogue darkrooms with enlargers from 35mm to 5x4
- black and white print darkroom with both wet and machine process facilities
- an extensive lending store where you can borrow industry standard equipment such as cameras, lenses and tripods
Learn more about your department
Media, Arts and Communications Facilities Tour
Take a look around the media, arts and communication facilities at Sheffield Hallam University with lecturer Saskia Wilson.
Entry requirements
All students
UCAS points
- 80
With at least 32 points from one A level or equivalent BTEC National qualifications (to include a relevant subject such as Media, Film, English, Photography, History of Art, Theatre Studies, History). For example:
- CDD at A Level.
- MMP in BTEC Extended Diploma.
- A combination of qualifications which must include an A level grade C or BTEC grade M.
GCSE
- English Language or Literature at grade C or 4 or equivalents*
- Maths at grade C or 4 or equivalents*
You can find information on making sense of UCAS tariff points here and use the UCAS tariff calculator to work out your points.
• An Access to HE Diploma with at least 45 credits at level 3 and 15 credits at level 2. At least 15 level 3 credits must be at merit grade or above from a QAA-recognised Access to HE course, or an equivalent Access to HE certificate.
We may also accept you, if you have limited qualifications but can show evidence of ability and a genuine commitment to studying Media Arts and Communication.
We treat the foundation year as part of the Media Arts and Communication degree programme. Offers made to students will be for four years of study (or five years of study including a placement). This is made up of the foundation year plus one of our Media Arts and Communication degrees.
Some applicants may be invited to attend an informal interview with the course leader to ensure that the programme is suitable for themselves and their aspirations.
If English is not your first language, you must have an IELTS score of 6.5 with a minimum of 5.5 in all skills, or equivalent. If your English language skill is currently below IELTS 6.5 we recommend you consider a Sheffield Hallam University Pre-sessional English course which will enable you to achieve an equivalent English score.
Please note the University will only admit students who are aged 18 or over at the point of enrolment.
Additional information for EU/International students
If you are an International or non-UK European student, you can find out more about the country specific qualifications we accept on our international qualifications page.
For details of English language entry requirements (IELTS), please see the information for 'All students'.
Modules
Module and assessment information for future years is displayed as currently validated and may be liable to change. When selecting electives, your choices will be subject to the core requirements of the course. As a result, selections may be limited to a choice between one of two or more specified electives in some instances.
You will be able to complete a placement year as part of this course. See the modules table below for further information.
Year 1
| Module | Credits | Assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Module: Creative Synergies In Media Production | Credits: 40 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
| Module: Media In Context | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
| Module: Media Project | Credits: 40 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
| Module: Preparing For Independent Practice And Study | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
Year 2
| Module | Credits | Assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Module: Photography: Analogue Practices | Credits: 40 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
| Module: Photography: Digital Techniques And Skills | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
| Module: Photography: History - Practices And Debates | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
| Module: Photography: Introduction To Critical Analysis | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
| Module: Photography: Professional Development (Production And Output) | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
Year 3
| Module | Credits | Assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Module: Photography: Advanced Techniques And Skills | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
| Module: Photography: Concepts And Questions | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
| Module: Photography: Contemporary Photographic Practice | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
| Module: Photography: Professional Application - External Exhibition | Credits: 40 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
| Module: Photography: Research And Reflection | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
Year 4
| Module | Credits |
|---|---|
| Module: Placement Year | Credits: - |
Final year
| Module | Credits | Assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Module: Photography: Critical Research Project | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
| Module: Photography: Independent Practice | Credits: 60 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
| Module: Photography: Independent Practice Preparation | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
| Module: Photography: Professional Practice | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
Fees and funding
Home students
Our tuition fee for UK students starting full-time undergraduate study in 2023/24 is £9,250 per year. These fees are regulated by the UK government and are therefore subject to changes in government policy. During your placement year you will pay a reduced fee of £1,200.
† If you are studying an undergraduate course, postgraduate pre-registration course or postgraduate research course over more than one academic year then your tuition fees may increase in subsequent years in line with Government regulations or UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) published fees. More information can be found in our terms and conditions under student fees regulations.
International students
Our tuition fee for International/EU students starting full-time study in 2023/24 is £15,860 per year. During your placement year you will pay a reduced fee of £1,200.
Financial support for home/EU students
How tuition fees work, student loans and other financial support available.
Additional course costs
This link allows you to view estimated costs associated with the main activities on specific courses. These are estimates and, as such, are only an indication of additional course costs. Actual costs can vary greatly depending on the choices you make during your course.
Additional costs for Digital media courses (PDF, 225.8KB)Legal information
Any offer of a place to study is subject to your acceptance of the University’s Terms and Conditions and Student Regulations.
