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UCP BA (Hons) Digital Arts (Photography)

BA (Hons) Digital Arts (Photography)

DARP
P56
72
The Open University

course overview

This photography course has an industry focus, exploring the contemporary aspects of digital photographic practices, providing a route into the digital and creative industries.

In a digital environment taking images alone is no longer enough – this course will teach you how to make great images, but also how to use and apply these effectively within a digital world.

The course is aimed at students who want to build an integrated approach to their practice. We will provide you with the skills and support to launch your career as a creative practitioner in one of the many occupations available in the creative and digital industries.

On the course you will be create a range of photographic projects using1 industry standard equipment and software and explore digital and traditional1 ways of publishing your work. You will also be introduced to basic principles of1 graphic design and integrated practice. You will learn about the central debates1 and discourses that inform contemporary digital art and photography and1 understand the industry in which you will work. You will learn to critically1 appraise your own work and the work of others, in a constructive and productive1 way.

You will have the opportunity to do a 120 hour / three-week work placement with a design agency, media organisation or work on an industry commission.

You will learn to work creatively, and problem solve in a group in ‘live’ projects and real-world briefs. Your undergraduate major project will enable you to showcase your talents and exhibit your work to the public and sector professionals.

Throughout the course you will be supported in developing your professional profile and your entrepreneurial skills to ensure a smooth transition to professional employment.

All students completing the course will have a portfolio of digital work in the form of a website show to prospective employers and you will have multiple opportunities on the course to develop your network of professional contacts.

The courses at University Centre Peterborough are studied in smaller class sizes compared with other universities, a typical class size is under 30 students.

This qualification is awarded by The Open University and delivered by University Centre Peterborough.

Download Course Specification

View our current students' work here 

5 GCSE grades C/4 or above, including English, Maths and 88 UCAS points, which should be from a related subject in one of the following:

  • A Levels
  • BTEC Level 3 National Diploma
  • IB Diploma
  • Access to HE
  • Related work experience
  • Overseas qualifications are judged to be equivalent to the above

Students who do not qualify by any o these qualifications may be offered an interview to discuss equivelant qualifications and previous experience.
We accept A Level General Studies and AS levels when combined with other full qualifications.
If English is not your first language, you will require an IELTS score of 6.0 or above or an equivalent English Language qualification.

A portfolio and interview may be required before an offer can be made.

Mature students or students who do not have the above qualifications can contact our admissions team on 01733 214466 or admissions@ucp.ac.uk to discuss equivalent qualifications or relevant work experience.

EU STUDENTS AND OVERSEAS QUALIFICATIONS

We can accept a wide range of overseas qualifications and use UK NARIC to compare qualifications. For advice about overseas qualification conversion call the Admissions Office on 01733 214466 or email admissions@ucp.ac.uk.

UCAS TARIFF

To find out more about UCAS tariff points and how they work, visit ucas.com/tariff-calculator.

We accept a wide range of qualifications such as A-levels (you must have grades for at least two A-levels), BTEC, Cambridge Technicals, International Baccalaureate (IB), NVQ Level 3, Access to Higher Education and Scottish Advanced Highers.

The tariff points for qualifications can be added and combined together (e.g. A-levels plus BTECs).

The UCAS points for A-level General Studies, AS-levels and the EQP (Extended Project Qualification) are accepted when combined with other full qualifications.

ACCREDITATION OF PRIOR CERTIFICATED LEARNING (APCL) FOR ENTRY

APCL relates to learning completed through an earlier course of study. If you have previously completed a course which is relevant to your proposed course you should make this clear when you apply. For this to be eligible for consideration you must be able to provide certification, which shows your success in a final assessment for that course. Learning must be completed in the last five years or further evidence of updating will be required. Simple participation in a course or an attendance certificate is not sufficient.

EXEMPTIONS BASED ON ACCREDITATION OF PRIOR LEARNING (APL)

We offer students flexibility in their studies, by recognising learning they may have completed elsewhere before they apply. The Accreditation of Prior Learning process ensures that we can take this into account when determining the modules you must study. It is important that you identify any relevant prior learning when you apply. If your previous study specifically relates to modules on the course you wish to undertake we may approve a reduced programme of study, thus shortening the time it takes to obtain your award. Where this relates to learning completed through an earlier course of study, this is called Prior Certificated Learning, and where learning has been achieved through relevant work or experience, this is referred to as Prior Experiential Learning. Claims must be approved before you commence a course.

EXEMPTIONS BASED ON ACCREDITATION OF PRIOR EXPERIENTIAL CERTIFICATED LEARNING (APEL)

It is important to understand that the APEL process does not award academic credit for experience alone, but for learning which can be shown to have been achieved through that experience. Students are required to prepare an individual case for the credit arising from their learning experiences. This normally means that a student receives support in the preparation of a portfolio, which evidences their claimed exemptions for entry. This portfolio of evidence is then submitted for assessment and the possible award of academic credit. Alternative methods of assessment of evidence may be available but needs to be discussed with the Admissions team or Course Leader.

You must take modules worth 120 credits at each level of the course. Each module is worth a specified number of credits.

Year one for full-time students (Level 4)

  • Digital Asset Development (30 credits)
  • Image in Context (30 credits)
  • Critical Theory in Art and Media (15 credits)
  • Approaches to Practice (30 credits)
  • Introduction to the Creative Industries (15 credits)

Year two for full-time students (Level 5)

  • Expanding the Frame (30 credits)
  • Critical Practices in Art and Media (15 credits)
  • Collaborative and Collative Practice (15 credits)
  • Integrated Advertising (30 credits)
  • Professional Practice and Development (30 credits) – with 120 hour work placement

Final year for full-time students (Level 6)

  • Undergraduate Major Project (60 credits)
  • Developing Ethical and Professional Skills (15 credits)

PLUS CHOOSE 45 CREDITS OF OPTIONAL MODULES:

  • Digital Visual Effects and Post Production (30 credits)
  • Enhanced Integrated Practice (30 credits)
  • Commercial Photography (15 credits)
  • Professional Futures (15 credits)

A Student Handbook will be provided during enrolment and available on the student VLE.

If it is unviable to run an optional module due to student demand, an alternative module will be offered.

A typical 15 credit module is 150 hours which includes 36 hours of tutor led delivery and 114 hours of recommended independent study.  A typical 30 credit module is 300 hours which includes 72 hours of tutor led delivery and 228 hours of recommended independent study.  A full-time student should expect to undertake 30 additional hours per week during term-time.

  • For details of classification of awards please refer to page 19 of OU Regulations for Validated Awards.
  • For details of progression and module scenarios please refer to section 17 of OU Regulations for Validated Awards.
  • For details of compensation scenarios please refer to section 17.4 of OU Regulations for Validated Awards.
  • For details of assessment offences please refer to section 23 of OU Regulations for Validated Awards.
  • For details of how we will inform you of changes to modules please refer to page 2 of the terms and conditions.

When studying this course at University Centre Peterborough, we will timetable your lectures as two full days a week over two semesters per year (part-time will be one to two full days a week over two semesters per year).

We are able to offer this convenient timetabling to our students as we are a smaller institution so we can timetable our staff and resources more efficiently.

Over the duration of your course, teaching will be delivered by the following methods:

Year one for full-time students (Level 4)

  • 25%     Lectures
  • 75%     Workshops

Year two for full-time students (Level 5)

  • 25%     Lectures
  • 75%     Workshops

Final year for full-time students (Level 6)

  • 25%     Lectures
  • 75%     Workshops

There are two semesters per year and each semester is up to 15 weeks which includes up to 12 teaching weeks and 3 assessment weeks.

If studying full-time you will be in classes, seminars and tutorials for approximately 15 hours per week and will spend the rest of your time in independent study and extra-curricular activities including work placement if not embedded in your course. We recommend that full-time students allow an additional 30 hours per week for additional study.

The campus is open Monday to Friday throughout the year and you will also have 24/7 access to a virtual learning environment (VLE) with e-books, journals and abstracts plus teaching resources and interactive tools.

Timetables are available at least 6 weeks before registration and you can refer to the academic calendar for examination weeks and resit periods.

The days of the week you study may change each year and in some circumstances one of the full days might have to be split into two half days, but we aim to keep these as full days where possible.

Throughout the duration of your course you will be assessed by the following methods:

Year one for full-time students (Level 4)

  • 100%     Coursework

Year two for full-time students (Level 5)

  • 75%     Coursework
  • 25%     Placement

Final year for full-time students (Level 6)

  • 50%     Coursework
  • 50%     Major Project

We will provide, by the beginning of the first week of each semester, a current module guide with all the information you need for each module, including details of assessment tasks, the deadlines for these tasks, the required format and any relevant guidance.

Formative assessment opportunities are written into all module plans to provide students with on-going feedback.  End of semester assessments will have formative opportunities in weeks 9 or 10 of the semester.  In addition revision sessions will be held in week 12.

Your final degree classification is calculated as an average of your highest 60 credits at Level 5 and all credits at Level 6.

  • 70%+         First
  • 60-69%     2:1
  • 50-59%     2:2
  • 40-49%     Third

Visit our published documents and policies page for The Open University regulations.

In your second year as part of the Professional Practice and Development module, you will undertake a 120 hour (three week) work placement with a design agency or media organisation and/or work on an industry commission.

As the course is timetabled as full days during the week when studied full-time, this also gives you the flexibility to find a work placement, internship or volunteering opportunity which will improve your employability after you graduate. This may also provide time for you to undertake private and freelance work alongside your studies. All students are encouraged to identify work experience in addition to their work placement to aid their career development.

Luke La Starza

Just some of the future careers for graduates after completing the course include:

  • Games Designer
  • App Designer
  • Website Designer
  • Graphic Designer
  • Illustrator
  • Photographer
  • Animator
  • Creative Director

Peterborough

Full-time: 3 years (2 full days a week over two semesters per year)

The tuition fees for full-time undergraduate students will be £8000 per year, which is lower compared with many other universities.

Fees for part-time study are pro-rata depending on the number of credits you are studying (i.e. 90 credits per year will be 75% of the tuition fee).

There may be additional costs for this course which are not covered by the tuition fee.

In this prospectus we will give you clear and accurate information so you can make the best choice for a successful future

Download Prospectus
See What our Students Have to say
University Centre Peterborough Case Studies
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"The opportunity of more one to one time, the contextual and technical help and frequent feedback meant I was always improving. Studying my degree didn’t just give me the foundation skills I wanted to learn, but they gave me the confidence I needed to progress into things I never even dreamed of!"

Emily Colhoun, Former Student

University Centre Peterborough currently has 700+ students on over 30 different degree level programmes.

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