Photography

With its outstanding reputation for nurturing new talent, this course will help you become a highly creative, technically experienced professional. You’ll develop imaginative approaches to image-making which will set you apart within the creative, media and arts industries. You will be encouraged to challenge conventions, break moulds and create your own distinctive identity as a well-informed and highly creative thinker and image-maker.

The School of Arts has a long-standing reputation for excellence in the field of photography. Our state of the art facilities is the envy of many experienced professional photographers. We offer a free equipment loan centre for students, full of high-spec analogue and digital equipment.

We were one of the first UK institutions to launch a photography degree and boast over half a century of heritage in photographic education. You’ll draw on that proud tradition while working at the cutting edge of technology. You’ll learn from experienced professionals and tutors of the highest calibre, using an extensive, darkroom and digital facilities. Live briefs set by external clients, gallery visits, overseas study trips, exhibitions, festivals and competitions will bring an exciting dimension to your studies.  

Studying Photography at Derby

This course will take you on a creative journey exploring what photography has been, what it is now and what it can be in the very widest sense.

The programme will support, encourage and challenge you to expand upon the conventions of photography and develop the confidence, ambitions, skills and abilities to produce work and forge your own identity as a maker and thinker of images for the future.

The programme blends creative and experimental approaches to photographic image-making across the widest range of media with high-level skills in research, critical thinking, communication, methods of presentation, exhibition and dissemination, and skills in digital technologies that will prove essential in life beyond your degree. There are no boundaries to what photography can be. You will be encouraged to explore and exceed the limits of photography throughout the creative journey of your degree.

We will foster your passion, support your aims and guide your ambitions to equip you with the skills, knowledge, awareness and experiences required to become a sought-after professional, enabling you to forge a bright future in the creative sector and beyond.