Photography

At the Belfast School of Art, we strive to develop unique photographic voices at the cutting edge of a contemporary international context, while also mining the specifics of our unique geographical and cultural position.

We have been profiled by the British Journal of Photography as one of the most significant photography schools in Europe. The teaching team is comprised of contemporary practising photographers who exhibit and publish internationally at the highest level. These include Donovan Wylie, Ken Grant, Frederic Huska, Kevin Gaffney, Sandra Johnston, and Clare Gallagher, as well as Martin Parr and Ailbhe Greaney.

Students are often photographers who continue careers with a newly refined expansion of their personal and professional practices. Alongside photographers working in the commercial fields of editorial and design, graduates also publish, exhibit, and work as educators and developers of photographic culture.

The course is represented as a member of the Society for Photographic Education with a network of international partners in Europe and America. Opportunities for collaborations and exchanges have grown into formal partnerships that students may avail of during their studies.

Work placement / study abroad
The programme is complemented by a series of master classes and advanced skill workshops; an annual field trip to Paris and regular site visits to a variety of cultural institutions such as museums and galleries in Ireland, the UK and Europe.

For further course details please see "Course Web Page".

Modules:
Semester I
Reviewing Practice (40 credits)
Photography and Culture: (20 credits)

Semester II
Contemporary Contexts (40 credits)
Photographic Futures (20 credits)

Optional Exit Award - PGDip (120 credit points)

Semester III
Master's Project (Involves a major piece of practical photography work with accompanying contextualisation. Creative written and photographic resolution of a major body of work is emphasised here.) (60 credits).

Optional Exit Award - MA (180 credit points)

Semester IV
Master's Project (Involves a major piece of practical photography work with accompanying dissertation. Resolution of the Master's Project through publication via book and/or exhibition is emphasised here.) (60 credits).

Final Award MFA (240 credit points)

Standard entry conditions
We recognise a range of qualifications for admission to our courses. In addition to the specific entry conditions for this course you must also meet the University’s General Entrance Requirements.

Applicants must hold:
i) a second class honours degree or higher from a university of the United Kingdom or the Republic of Ireland, from the Council for National Academic Awards, the National Council for Educational Awards, the Higher Education Training Awards Council, or from an institution of another country which has been recognised as being of an equivalent standard; or

ii) an equivalent standard (normally 50%) in a Graduate Diploma, Graduate Certificate, Postgraduate Certificate or Postgraduate Diploma or an approved alternative qualification.

In exceptional circumstances, where an individual has substantial and significant experiential learning, a portfolio of written evidence demonstrating the meeting of graduate abilities (including subject-specific outcomes, as determined by the Course committee) may be considered as an alternative entrance route. Evidence used to demonstrate graduate qualities may not be used for exemption against modules within the programme.

In all cases applicants must provide a portfolio of practical work at interview or on application.

Your Application
Application is through the University's online application system (see "Application Weblink").

90

Full-time 4 Semesters - Belfast Campus or Online: September - January; January - June; September - January; January - June;

All the core teaching takes place on Thursdays and you should expect to be on campus from 10am - 7pm. During this time you will engage in one-to-one tutorials, a lecture programme delivered by staff and visiting guest speakers, group seminars, group critiques and technical workshops. The rest of the week is spent attending optional tutorials/workshops and engaging in independent study.

The primary assessment method is the evaluation of photographic work in progress. Students work over the duration of the course on a major body of work that is subjected to regular and rigorous critique by staff and internationally renowned visiting photographers. Other assessment methods are visual presentations, seminar presentations, essays and a final year dissertation. There is an interim exhibition which is assessed at the end of the first year, usually in a public gallery.

MA International Political Economy (W290) Full Time
EU fee per year - € 8525
nonEU fee per year - € 19900

MA International Political Economy (W291) Part Time
EU fee per year - € 5600
nonEU fee per year - € 9950

***Fees are subject to change

Tuition fee information is available on the UCD Fees website. Please note that UCD offers a number of graduate scholarships for full-time, self-funding international students, holding an offer of a place on a UCD graduate degree programme. For further information please see International Scholarships.

SPIRe operates a Graduate Scholarship programme. To access details, see SPIRe Graduate Scholarship Scheme.

Start Date: September 2024

Career options
Graduates are prepared for advanced careers in the field of photography. Graduates work as photographers in the fine art and commercial sector, as well as industry professionals. An MFA develops the ability to perform research related to the photographic arts, while also building communication skills and introducing students to new aesthetics and new technology. Such key skills enable graduates to work as photographic curators, editors and critics, within museums, galleries and in publishing. MFA graduates may also pursue a career in education.