Photography with Foundation

Our degree courses with Foundation year offer the opportunity to prepare you for advanced study before you progress on to a full honours degree at the University of Westminster. Whether you do not feel ready for degree-level study, don’t have the right qualifications, want to change your subject specialism or return to study after an absence from education, we aim to encourage a broad range of students to undertake our Foundation year in order to progress on to their full honours degree with us.

Our foundation year in Art and Design is designed to provide you with an introduction to our range of subject areas, and to prepare you for the discipline of your choice. It will give you the opportunity to explore new ideas, opening up new perspectives on the key debates within the field. It begins in the first semester with the development of fundamental Art and Design skills, as well as practical exploration across all of the disciplines in our Art and Design foundation programme. In the second semester you are encouraged to specialise in your own discipline and are supported by our experienced staff team as you prepare your work for an end of foundation year public exhibition. You will also benefit from workshops in our high-end facilities, and from working with leading academics who will encourage you to become a confident and creative thinker. Your practical development is accompanied by modules in both semesters on foundational academic skills – skills that will be essential as you progress to your chosen full degree.

On successful completion of the Foundation year, you'll be able to move on to study for the Photography BA Honours degree over a further three years of study.

Our Photography BA is a long-established course with an excellent international reputation for academic and practical teaching. The course builds upon the success and legacy of photography as a discipline at Westminster, whilst implementing an updated and innovative curriculum, which explores and productively engages with emerging digital technologies and commercial practices.

You’ll explore photography and digital imaging technologies across a wide range of specialisms, critical thinking and partnerships with industry and employers. Upon graduation, as a contemporary image maker, you’ll be equipped with a very attractive profile to compete in a fast-growing creative industry.

The course promotes experimentation and invites you to shape your own learning. This will allow you to develop a strong individual creative voice and vision, underpinned by critical and contextual understanding, alongside professional level photographic skills, to produce work that is distinctive and innovative.

We provide career enhancement opportunities that will allow you to flourish well beyond graduation, whether that is in the art world, in photographic creative industries, in fashion, digital and virtual environments, or in a commercial setting. You’ll gain practical experience through regular contact with industry professionals, guest talks by industry experts, participation in mentorship programs, and field trips to photography-related spaces. You’ll also have the opportunity to take an optional year-long paid internship or placement between years 2 and 3 of this course. This experience will enable you to develop your professional skills and gain industry exposure well before you graduate.

Westminster is a global university in London with a supportive and welcoming community of over 19,000 students from over 160 countries. With over 190 career‑focused courses taught using industry‑standard facilities, Westminster helps you feel ready for the world of work. Build your confidence and develop skills in specialist workshops, labs, galleries, studios and other collaborative spaces, including Zone29, a new building dedicated to career and enterprise success.

Zone29 is your gateway to practical support, designed for networking, collaboration, and innovation. Whether you want to ace your job hunt, gain new experiences, or turn your idea into a thriving business, Zone29 will help you step into your future with confidence. This is where you can explore work opportunities, find out more about studying, volunteering or working abroad, and so much more. You can attend advice sessions, build your digital capabilities or tackle live projects with industry partners. Whatever your ambitions, Westminster helps you build the skills you need to get ahead.