BA (Hons) Photography, Video and Digital Imaging with Integrated Foundation Year

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A photographer taking a person's photo in the photography studio

Start date/study mode:

UCAS codeW655

Duration4 years

Fee (UK)£9,535

LocationOn campus

Course summary

BA (Hons) Photography, Video and Digital Imaging provides you with the wide-ranging skills needed for success in today’s photographic industries and beyond. You’ll learn how to make high quality digital and traditional images in our professional photography studios, digital production suites and photographic darkrooms. Learn how to tell compelling stories about the things that matter to you with guidance from our expert team of practising photographers. Develop your own distinct visual language and acquire the skills and contacts to get your work out into the world.

Our students have gone on to work in a whole range of areas such as medical, music, sports and events photography, working as studio and gallery assistants, curating, running commercial photography businesses, teaching, community and social work, and publishing.

Integrated Foundation Year

This course is also available with an Integrated Foundation Year. The Integrated Foundation Year is an extra year before starting your three-year undergraduate degree, designed to build your study skills and subject knowledge so you feel ready to succeed.

If you've narrowly missed the entry requirements for the standard three-year route, or have relevant work experience and want to broaden your subject knowledge and study skills before starting your degree, completing an Integrated Foundation Year could be for you. Please note, this route isn't available to international students.

Since graduating, my career has been incredibly fulfilling. My acquired skill set and passion for digital imaging and photography led me to work with the police as a digital imaging editor. It’s a fantastic professional career which is both challenging and rewarding."
Josh Gawthorpe
Read Josh Gawthorpe's story

What you'll study

Many of our courses include a range of modules you can choose from. Some of these options may only be available if you’ve already studied specific required modules. If you’re not sure what you need before picking a module, your course leader can help.

Undergraduate module credits should total 120 credits per academic year. If optional modules are available alongside core modules on your course, you should choose an amount that totals 120 credits.

How you'll learn

This course is structured so that you'll explore different approaches and styles of photography and moving image to build your skills, your creative approaches, and understanding of the practice as you develop your own aesthetic and intellectual position as an image maker.

You'll have opportunities to experiment and challenge yourself, present your ideas to your peers, and test your work in the real world.

Entry requirements

Our typical offer is 96-112 UCAS Tariff points, from a combination of acceptable Level 3 qualifications which may include: A Levels, T Levels, BTEC Diplomas/Extended Diplomas, Scottish and Irish Highers, Access to HE Diplomas, or the International Baccalaureate.

We accept a maximum of 6 points from Level 3 Key Skills qualifications.

You also need three passes at GCSE grade C or above, which must include mathematics and English language, or a minimum of Level 2 Key Skills in Communication and Application of Number. If you've studied for a GCSE which has a numerical grade, you'll need to achieve a grade 4 or above.

Find out how many points your qualifications are worth using the UCAS Tariff calculator(opens in new tab).

Our admissions policy uses a range of flexible options to support you to study with us. This may include a reduced offer of up to 16 UCAS Tariff points, (or equivalent). Find out if you're eligible for a tariff point reduction.

If English isn't your first language, please see our English language requirements.

If you're studying an HND or Foundation Degree, you may be able to enter the final year of our degree course. For more information, please contact admissions@sunderland.ac.uk.

Portfolio requirements

We'd like to see evidence of your creative potential. You'll be expected to prepare a portfolio of your creative work which shows what you have done so far and what interests you. We're not looking for perfection as we appreciate you're still developing work.

Your portfolio should be a PowerPoint presentation, ZIP file or links to websites or videos. Here are some of our top tips:

Remember it's about quality not quantity – aim for between 10-20 pieces of your work.
Display a range of styles and techniques.
Show us work completed in or outside of your studies.
Include ideas that didn't work.
Demonstrate your research, for example, design sheets or sketchbooks/scrapbooks of things that inspire you.
Include photographs of 3D or large 2D work.
We also like to see uncompleted or work in progress.

Learn more about portfolio requirements and how to submit yours on our Applicant interviews page.

Integrated Foundation Year

Entry requirements are provided for guidance only and we may offer you an entrance interview which will help us determine your eligibility for your chosen degree.

Eligible entry qualifications:

Normally a minimum of three Level 2 qualifications (NVQ, GCSE, or equivalent), including maths and English language at grade C or above** and a minimum of 40 UCAS Tariff points from Level 3 qualifications (e.g. A or AS Levels, T Levels, BTEC certificates/diplomas, access courses, or equivalent) OR
Demonstrable evidence of appropriate knowledge and skills acquired from at least three years of post-school work experience.

Fees and finance support

UK£9,535

Undergraduate fees are set according to rules from Government in line with forecast inflation. The fee for your first year of study for 2026/27 will be £9,535. You'll pay tuition fees for every year of study. Fees may increase every year based on the Retail Price Index.

Check your fee status(opens in new tab).

See all course tuition fees.

If you're a full-time UK/Irish/EU settled/EU pre-settled student on the Integrated Foundation Year route, you may be eligible to receive financial support to cover your fees for the full four years. UK and EU settled students may also be eligible to receive a maintenance loan.

Apply now

Start date/study mode:

UK students

Full-time September 2026
Apply now

Disclaimer

We want to make sure you have clear and accurate information about our courses. Our website always shows the latest updates. If you’ve applied and been offered a place, we’ll contact you in writing if anything important changes.

View our programme specifications(opens in new tab) for further information about what the course covers, learning outcomes and the skills you'll gain when you graduate.

BA (Hons) Photography, Video and Digital Imaging with Integrated Foundation Year

Key course information

Course summary

Integrated Foundation Year

Since graduating, my career has been incredibly fulfilling. My acquired skill set and passion for digital imaging and photography led me to work with the police as a digital imaging editor. It’s a fantastic professional career which is both challenging and rewarding."

What you'll study

How you'll learn

Entry requirements

Portfolio requirements

Integrated Foundation Year

Fees and finance support

Apply now

UK students

Disclaimer