Expanded Photography MA
London, United Kingdom
DURATION
1 Years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
01 Jul 2025
EARLIEST START DATE
Sep 2025
TUITION FEES
GBP 15,000 / per year *
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* international | UK: £11,500
Open Days at University of Westminster
Undergraduate Open Day 23 November 2024/ Postgraduate Online Open Day 26 February 2025
Introduction
The Expanded Photography MA embraces photography as an expanded field, encompassing specialisms such as virtual photography, photobooks, documentary, art, fashion, editorial, photojournalism, and writing photography.
This course will motivate you to learn skills, develop knowledge, and expand your expertise in the thinking and practice of photography. You’ll be empowered to produce new forms of independent practice and be inspired to work creatively, ethically, and sustainably with expanded photography within the rapidly changing visual image culture and global environment.
The course offers a combination of photography and image literacy skills, and you’ll be introduced to a range of emerging technologies such as 3D Scanning, AI, and CGI. You’ll gain professional visual skills and knowledge of expansive practices appropriate to diverse contemporary creative fields of photographic image cultures and industries.
The Expanded Photography MA puts professional skills at the core of your education. As well as developing an independent project with a final exhibition and a professional standard project portfolio or dissertation, your journey will include responding to live briefs, taking part in workshops, and building confidence in research and writing.
You’ll study the Professional Practice module throughout your course, which aims to support your progression beyond graduation. The module provides mentorship sessions, career seminars, and practical workshops in grants and commissions, alongside other opportunities.
Top Reasons to Study with Us
- Develop your creative production skills – Work across a range of photographic and lens-based media to establish a critically engaged and self-reflective creative practice
- Learn from high-profile experts with international recognition in the field of photography
- Photographic pioneers – Photographic education at the University of Westminster has a unique history. Classes in photography were taught at the Polytechnic Institution, the forerunner of our University, from 1852, and the School of Photography was established in 1883
- Cutting-edge facilities – Our large photography and emerging media facilities provide you with everything you need to explore different photographic mediums
- Fantastic location – You'll enjoy all the benefits of studying at our Harrow Campus – just a 20-minute tube ride from central London, a global hub for the media and cultural industries
Why Study This Course?
Fantastic Location
With central London only a 20-minute tube ride away, you’ll enjoy the benefits of studying in a major capital for creative industries.
Expand your Photography Skills
Develop your practice through a range of analogue and emerging technologies such as 3D scanning, AI, and computer-generated imaging.
Cutting-edge Facilities
You'll have access to a suite of studios, dark rooms, print and finishing facilities, and an extensive range of high-end digital imaging equipment.
Scholarships and Funding
The University is dedicated to supporting ambitious and outstanding students and we offer a variety of scholarships to eligible postgraduate students.
There is a range of funding available that may help you fund your studies, including Student Finance England (SFE).
Admissions
Curriculum
This course is part of a suite of MA art courses which include the Art and Emerging Technologies MA and the Global Contemporary Art MA. You’ll tailor your learning through a set of shared optional modules that address contemporary challenges, advanced digital approaches, and specialised professional contexts. You’ll also undertake the Professional Practice module and the Master's Project alongside students from the other MA art courses, thus benefiting from collaborative opportunities and cross-disciplinary learning.
Option modules are delivered by other colleagues from CREAM (Centre for Research and Education in Arts and Media).
The following subjects are indicative of what you’ll study in this course.
Core Modules
- Contemporary Photography Contexts
- Photography Practice and Innovation
- MA Arts – Master’s Project
- MA Arts - Professional Practice in The Creative Industries
Optional Modules
- Curatorial and Social Practices
- Future Archives
- Global Arts and Sustainable Futures
- Image Futures
- Interactive Art and Storytelling
- Virtual Photography
Program Tuition Fee
Career Opportunities
This course will equip you for opportunities in the photographic, cultural, and creative industries. It offers an innovative and flexible photography curriculum that focuses on preparing you to become an independent thinker, with an adaptable and flexible skillset.
Many of our graduates from similar courses go on to work as photographers and photographic artists, but equally, they pursue a range of careers within the broader photographic, tech, and creative sectors, as designers, creative producers, magazine editors, museum and gallery curators, picture editors and researchers, teachers, and writers. Students have also gone on to study at PhD level and set up their businesses.
Industry Knowledge
You’ll be taught by a teaching team with a wide range of experience both in industry and academia, as well as working closely with art and photography professionals, role models, and mentors.
Professional Development
A year-long Professional Practice module puts professional development at the core of your journey. You'll be supported by mentors, industry experts, and your tutors to develop a personal career plan according to your own interests and professional goals.
Employers around the World
The University’s Careers and Employability Service has built up a network of over 3,000 employers around the world, helping all our students explore and connect with exciting opportunities and careers.
Industry Links
The Expanded Photography MA has a strong emphasis on employability. We aim to equip you with the necessary skills and knowledge to excel in the creative industries, fostering highly motivated and proficient individuals with a deep understanding of their field. We have developed extensive relationships with industry professionals, including picture editors, gallery directors and commercial agents, and sought consultations with a variety of experts from the technology industries, to consider career paths available to our students, and maintain external perspectives on the course.
Graduate Employers
Graduates complete the course with a personal portfolio of photographic-based work and future-facing transferable and professional skills.
Graduates from similar courses have gone on to work for the following employers:
- Aperture
- GUP Magazine
- Kings College London
- The Guardian
- The Photographers’ Gallery
- Savannah College of Art and Design, Atlanta
- Shanghai Center of Photography
- University of the Arts, London
- Victoria and Albert Museum
Westminster Employability Award
Employers value graduates who have invested in their personal and professional development – and our Westminster Employability Award gives you the chance to formally document and demonstrate these activities and achievements.
The award is flexible and can be completed in your own time, allowing you to choose from a set of extracurricular activities.
Activities might include gaining experience through a part-time job or placement, signing up for a University-run scheme – such as mentoring or teaching in a school – or completing online exercises.
Program Leaders
Program delivery
Course Location
The vibrant home of our creative, media and digital courses, the Harrow Campus offers one of the richest portfolios of creative industry research and learning in Europe. The recent redevelopment of the campus has seen the creation of fluid, informal learning spaces, dedicated project and gallery spaces and a revamped library.