Photography (with Foundation Year)

Study in a studio environment with professional-standard facilities and the focus on the real-world skills you need to succeed in your career.

Why study photography?
Images are everywhere. Studying photography enables you to understand the language of images and develop your 'visual voice' to communicate effectively and with confidence.

It helps you understand the contexts in which images exist and circulate, and locate opportunities to get your images published, exhibited and commissioned.

Becoming a photography professional opens doors to a wide range of careers within a global landscape of creative industries.

Why UWE Bristol?
BA(Hons) Photography is based in the city of Bristol, a vibrant arts and media community that will challenge and inspire you.

The course offers a vibrant, collaborative environment, modern facilities, supportive workshop instruction and expert input, all underpinned by theory and critique.

Study at Bower Ashton Studios, part of our City Campus, where exceptional facilities and resources include industry-standard digital media studios.

Explore traditional tools and the latest technology in our production and fabrication workshops. Develop your creativity and the high-level practical skills needed to become a successful photographer. Work across all areas of the discipline, from editorial and documentary to fashion, advertising and fine art.

We'll encourage you to transform your broad-based photographic practice into an individual visual style. On graduation, you'll have a unique and compelling body of work for the marketplace.

Work to briefs set and assessed by external individuals and organisations, including photographers, filmmakers, publishers, clothing labels, product designers, theatre groups, musicians and festivals. Build your CV with work experience, and access to job opportunities, throughout the course.

Our partnerships with Bristol Photography Festival and IC Visual Lab, two highly reputable Bristol-based photography organisations with national and international influence, will provide you with a wide range of work experience placements and live briefs to work on. You'll also have access to industry talks, events and opportunities to display your work at prestigious exhibitions and venues.

Our City Campus is a creative powerhouse. It spans across Bristol and is made up of Bower Ashton and renowned contemporary arts centres Spike Island, Arnolfini and Watershed.

Attend talks from creative professionals and visit photographers' studios, agencies and picture libraries. Showcase your work to talent scouts and potential employers at the final year Degree Show and graduate with an impressive portfolio of work.

Where can it take me?
Our graduates work in fields from editorial and fashion to movie stills and medical photography. Employers include the BBC, Sunday Times Magazine and the Tate.

Past students have assisted photographers such as Steve McCurry, Zed Nelson and Tim Walker, and have been published and exhibited in FT Weekend, Vogue Italia, Oh Comely, The Photographers Gallery, National Portrait Gallery and the Tate.

Graduates have also established important collectives and exhibiting networks such as The Lost Light Recordings, Loupe Magazine and Splash and Grab.

Some graduates go on to further study at Master's level, including our own postgraduate MA Photography course.

University is a time to try new things, meet new people and make new goals. With Clearing at UWE Bristol, you'll get the chance to take control of your future and choose an exciting path for yourself.

UWE Bristol offers over 100 professionally accredited courses, including Architecture, Accounting and Finance, Games Technology, Mathematics and Sport Rehabilitation. Whether you're studying an arts, business, healthcare or science degree, all undergraduate courses are designed with employability in mind. You can work a year in industry, study across the world, and get one-to-one careers advice on campus. It's no wonder an outstanding 89% of students find work or further study just 15 months after graduating (Graduate Outcomes Survey 2022/23, published 2025).

You'll also be studying in a top 10 most popular city in the UK (YouGov, 2026). With famous festivals, renowned galleries, lively nightclubs and independent restaurants right on your doorstep, you're guaranteed an incredible student experience in Bristol. With famous festivals, renowned galleries, lively nightclubs and independent restaurants right on your doorstep, you're guaranteed an incredible student experience in Bristol.

Your Future, Right Here. Study at UWE Bristol. Choose to do Clearing right.