Photography - eLearning

This innovative online programme uses collaborative technology to make our MFA accessible for photographers working outside of Northern Ireland. The course brings together photographers from Europe, North America and Asia to develop new approaches to contemporary photographic practice. Online seminars and critiques are complemented by annual master classes on three continents.

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. These include, Ailbhe Greaney, Ken Grant, Jose Neves, and Clare Gallagher, as well as Martin Parr and Donovan Wylie.

The course is complemented by international guest lectures by leading photographers, historians, curators, and writers. Our close links with photographic galleries and photography festivals will help you build networks and professional practice.

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

Year one
Reviewing Practice
The module develops the students' awareness of the cultural and critical determinants that have informed their practice. The module will introduce a range of issues that relate to photographic production and the construction of meaning; e.g. postmodernism, authorship, multi-vocal practices, subjectivity and reflexive practice, globalisation, fictional narrative, are all useful starting points within which to frame and reframe practice. The module reviews some key photographic practices; Issues of critical review, authorship, objectivity, photographic histories, social and cultural production and reflexive practice and use them to provide a framework within which students can question and challenge their existing practice.

Photography and Culture: History and Theory
The module will provide students with an historical and thematic introduction to current issues at the intersection of critical theory and photographic practice. It offers knowledge of key theoretical tools designed to encourage an understanding and skills of evaluating established and emerging issues in visual representation necessary to support their photography and sustain a professional creative practice in an international environment.

Contemporary Contexts
This module supports the ongoing development of the students' independent practice taking particular account of where photographs are sited in the expanding contemporary practices that comprise the medium today. The module encourages students to consider the exhibition, publication and distributional contexts of their work at the point of production. A number of case studies and gallery visits tease out the potential for photographs to change given their cultural context.

Photographic Futures
This module will enable students to develop their engagement with current issues at the intersection of theories of contemporary digital culture and the practice of photography. It offers knowledge of key theoretical tools designed to encourage students to understand, engage with, evaluate and critique established and emerging influences on photography and visual representation: to participate, contribute to and influence the photographic practices of the future.

Year two
Master's Project
This 60 Credit module is designed to facilitate a range of professional and critical outcomes encouraging students to develop a contextualised, independent professional practice that understands the complexities of disseminating visual material accompanied by a professionally resolved written statement. It is designed to provide a clear and committed direction that will result in a final body of photographic work demonstrating a high resolution of ideas and practice from which an appropriate selection will be made for a professional on-line exhibition. The module will strengthen and promote the student's ability to carry out professional photographic practice accompanied by independent research and disseminate this in a mature, confident and self-directed manner.

Extended Masters Project
This 60 Credit module is designed to facilitate a range of professional and critical outcomes encouraging students to develop a contextualised, independent professional practice that understands the complexities of disseminating visual material accompanied by a comprehensive academic written contextualisation. It is designed to provide a clear and committed direction that will result in a final body of photographic work demonstrating a high resolution of ideas and practice from which an appropriate selection will be made for a professional exhibition or publication. The written contextualisation allows the student to find the most appropriate form of expression for the historical and theoretical issues in relation to his/her practice-based work. It is initiated by student proposal and structured around tutorials that guide the student through research, content and academic conventions, resulting in a 4-7000 word contextualisation, properly bound and word-processed. The module will strengthen and promote the student's ability to carry out professional photographic practice accompanied by independent research and complete a substantial academic text in a mature, confident and self-directed manner.

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.

English Language Requirements
If English is not your first language this course requires
a minimum English level of IELTS (academic) 6.0 with no band
score less than 5.5, or equivalent.

This course is open to international (non-EU) students.

For full entry requirements please see "Course Web Page" below.

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

Attendance

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.

Year of entry: 2020/21

Postgraduate Information Session 5 March 2020
Register at: ulster.ac.uk/pg-information-events

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.