Photography and Digital Design, BA (Honours) - Level 6 (Lancaster University)
UCAS Code(s):
WW6F
Qualification Obtained:
BA (Hons) in Photography and Digital Design
About this Course:
This level 6 top up has been specifically developed to follow on from the FdA in Photography and Digital Design. Throughout the developmental process the team have focussed on the difference in experience between a FdA Photography and Digital Design graduate and a student completing level 5 on a traditional honours degree. In addition the top-up has been developed to accommodate the likely needs of FdA graduates from other institutions.
Students will refine and synthesise their practice in order to make a coherent contribution to their area of professional practice. Students will work independently, confidently and flexibly to plan for and generate outcomes appropriate to their context, identity and audience. At level six the student critically evaluates and selects the most appropriate applications of their specialism to inform and synthesise their negotiated professional practice.
Students will apply and further develop their understanding of technical methods and processes as appropriate to the contexts of their professional practice. Students will be able to justify and communicate their choice of methods and confidently demonstrate appropriate problem solving skills through the solutions presented in the work.
Students will continue to define, refine and develop their practice in semester one, synthesising the use of skills, knowledge understanding, concepts and the specialist application of media in semester two.
Entry Requirements:
What are we looking for?
Candidates must have a Foundation Degree in Photography and Digital Design or a Foundation Degree in an appropriate discipline validated by Lancaster University. External applicants are encouraged to contact us for more information.
In addition to the agreed formal qualifications the programme will require a successful interview and portfolio review, followed by a suitable bridging module for all candidates.
Is this the right course for me?
Candidates must have a passion for Photography and/or Graphic Design. The course is vocational and has been developed specifically for those wishing to work within the creative industries.
What Skills, qualities and experience do I need?
Applicants must have a Foundation Degree validated by Lancaster University in an appropriate discipline with an average grade of 50% across all level 5 Modules.
The Selection Process
All eligible applicants will receive an interview, from which a decision will be made about their suitability for the course.
Assessment Methods:
As described in the individual modules assessment methods will:
- Reflect and support the programme/module aim and learning outcomes
- Support the learning and teaching strategy
- Provide feedback for the student and programme
- Contribute to the grading of course work, module and final award
- Assist in formulating a student profile for personal development planning
There is a School wide system of assessment and a generic set of criteria that is applied to the assessment of course work which is in turn related to the skills covered and the learning outcomes of the brief. Assessable items are indicated clearly to students for each module and these vary according to the nature and demands of the subject, method and delivery, and the individual student's approach to the brief. For more detail see the indicative content of the modules and the assessed items in each case. As stipulated in the module outlines practical project work will require the presentation of studio and workshop generated material with evidence of research, preparation and planning, concepts and visualizations. Business and Professional Practice and Critical Studies modules will require assessable items including written work such as evaluations, reflective writing, essays and a dissertation.
The number of assignments and or projects per module will vary according to the module design and the learning outcomes for that module.
For studio based modules teaching and learning is centred on project learning, which is the most effective vehicle by which the student can demonstrate their aptitude and show their ability to put skills into practice.
Projects will be designed to ensure that all relevant stages, disciplines and contexts of the process are addressed, bringing together, around a theme or specific issue, elements of study relevant to the course level, enhancing a student centred learning approach and promoting a continuous learning process.
This approach allows students the opportunity to apply their learning in a holistic fashion, and encourages independent learning and good time management.
The portfolio of work for assessment should include assignments that demonstrate the students’ engagement with the indicative content clearly listed in each module descriptor and on the assignment briefs that the students will receive. Through engagement with the content of the module students’ work will demonstrate the learning outcomes.
The portfolio presented for assessment will vary according to the module and the level of study but in each case will demonstrate the learning outcomes for the module. The work in the portfolio will link to the learning outcomes and assessment criteria expressed on the module assignment brief(s). The work and sketchbooks/logbooks/ ideas sheets should demonstrate a range of the curriculum content of the module in order to satisfy the learning outcomes.
The assignment briefs will stipulate what should be produced and, on the assignment brief, and during briefings, students will be made aware of how what they are producing addresses the learning outcomes for the module.
Learning outcomes may be 'visited' on more than one occasion during a module and therefore portfolios where work is missing may or may not demonstrate all of the learning outcomes.
In cases where students do not demonstrate all of the learning outcomes work will need to be submitted/ resubmitted in order for the student to pass the module.
Portfolios for assessment will normally include the following:
Progression:
The course has been specifically developed in collaboration with employers and practitioners in Photography and Digital Design to prepare graduates for the Industry. Graduates will be prepared to take a range of positions within the Creative Industries depending on their chosen specialism.
Special Features:
The research for and development of this programme was informed extensively by the work of SkillSet, the Sector Skills Council for the Audio-Visual Industries. Skillset carried out wide-ranging research into the needs of the industry and the executive summary of their “Photo Imaging Skills Strategy”. The main trends identified by Skillset were:
- There is an urgent need to raise the level of digital imaging skills and awareness
- Many individuals have gaps in their general transferable life, work and business skills
- Experience is often valued more than vocational qualifications
- There is a perceived oversupply of new entrant Photographers
- There is low awareness of the wide range of career opportunities the sector offers
- There is urgent need to raise the profile and credibility of the industry as a whole
- Training solutions need to be more flexible, modular and easily accessible
The latest Skillset survey of the Audio Visual Industry in the North West (October 2008) identified a mis-match in the demand for skills provision and skills problems within the sector:
- The majority of HEIs respond fundamentally to the demand of applicants, rather to the demands of current employers
- Graduates are often not prepared for the workplace, particularly in terms of using initiative, team working, flexibility, and generally working in a commercial environment (deadlines, presentational skills, timekeeping) etc.
The level six top-up to the Foundation Degree in Photography and Digital Design has been developed through research carried out with a number of organisations and individuals, including:
- British Aerospace Systems, Warton
- Lancashire Police Scenes of Crime Unit, Preston
- Blackpool Victoria Hospital Medical Photography Unit
- Colony Gift Corporation Photography Unit, Ulverston
- Venture Portraits
- Katie Niker, Burnham-Niker Agency, London
- Chris Astbury Photography, Poulton-le-Fylde
- Emma Taylor, Vue-Us Photographer’s Agents, London
- Normal Fryman Photography, Manchester
- Bournemouth Institute of the Arts
Practitioner input into the design of the curriculum is a vital part of the course philosophy and informs its structure and the modules within the programme. The level six top-up builds on students experience during the Foundation Degree and continues to provide a work-based focus to their learning. Critical studies plays a pivotal role within the top-up, However it is integrated more explicitly into practical elements of the course to ensure that it informs the students’ own practice. The course runs both full time and part time pathways to attract non-traditional learners, which includes those currently in employment. Employers are encouraged to engage with the course, with work based learning opportunities and sample briefs, and there is the opportunity for students to enrol onto individual modules to meet their employers training needs.
Part time modes of study offer opportunities to those students who are unable to attend in full time mode, but who, given time and flexibility could successfully complete. It also offers students who start as full timers, but who find pressures of full time study to demanding, the chance to convert to part time study, either temporarily or for the remainder of their programme. Similarly, a part time student may wish to engage in full time study at some point in the programme.
Teaching Methods:
Teaching and learning is centred on project learning, in which students will be set ‘projects’ consisting of several tasks designed to engage them in practical activity through which they will acquire the knowledge, skills and competencies relevant to the module learning outcomes. Extensive engagement in practical activities through ‘projects’ is the most effective vehicle to mirror professional practice.
Projects will be designed to ensure that all relevant stages, disciplines and contexts of the design process are addressed, bringing together, around a theme or specific issue, elements of study relevant to the course stage, or level, enhancing a student centred learning approach and promoting a continuous learning process.
This approach will give students the opportunity to apply their learning in a holistic fashion, and will encourage independent learning, problem solving and good time management.
At level six students should be working with increasing and relatively high levels of autonomy. Supervision and tutorial contact is mainly on a one to one basis with group 'crits' and peer feedback taking an increasing role in formative feedback. Lecture input will be from industry professionals who may offer students portfolio reviews.
An appropriate mix of the following teaching and learning methodologies will be utilised within individual modules in order to foster the attitudes appropriate at each level of study and to allow opportunities for you to demonstrate achievement of the level and module learning outcomes:
- Project learning and assessment
- Group critiques involving peers and tutors
- Live briefs
- Formal presentations
- Lectures
- Written Assignments
- Extended projects
- Practical Workshops
- Self-Directed Study
- Individual and group tutorials
- Use of the VLE (Virtual Learning Environment)
It is recognised that the student will be more actively involved in the learning experience if they have cognisance of the following aspects of the programme, many of which will be gained on induction and reinforced through the VLE where the following are constantly available to students:
- Aims
- Learning Outcomes
- Integrated and thematic approach to the projects
- Assessment criteria
- Personal development planning
- Additional stimulation and motivation are achieved throughout by: -
- Student recognition of vocational/professional relevance.
- Application of learning
- Arranged visits and visiting speakers.
Skills Developed:
The aim of this course is to facilitate the acquisition of knowledge, understanding, personal attributes and application of essential skills which will equip learners for a career in the field of Photography and Digital Design.
- Students will be expected to articulate their knowledge and understanding, attributes and skills in effective ways in the contexts of creative practice, employment, further study, research and self-fulfilment.
- Students will be expected to apply, consolidate and extend their learning in a variety of contextual frameworks and situations, both within and beyond the field of art and design.
- Students will appreciate the importance of continuing professional development.
- In terms of Subject Specific knowledge and understanding students will demonstrate the ability to:
- Generate ideas, concepts, proposals, solutions or arguments independently and/or collaboratively in response to set briefs and/or as self initiated study.
- Employ both convergent and divergent thinking in the processes of observation, investigation, speculative enquiry, visualisation and/or making.
- Select, test and make appropriate use of materials, processes and environments.
- Develop ideas through to outcomes, for example images artifacts, environments, systems and processes, or texts.
- Manage and make appropriate use of the interaction between intention, process, outcome, context, and the methods of dissemination.
- Be resourceful and entrepreneurial.
Students will be expected to develop skills in communication and expression through visual means, be able to use visual languages to investigate, analyse, interpret, develop and articulate ideas and information. Students will be expected to:
- Articulate critical, contextual, historical and ethical dimensions of Photography and Digital Design within art and design.
- Consider the Practitioners relationship with audience, clients, marketplace, users, consumers and collaboration.
- Consider implications and potential for Photography and Digital Design presented by the key developments in current and emerging media and technologies, and in interdisciplinary approaches to contemporary practice within art and design.
The generic knowledge and understanding, attributes and skills that students will develop are integrated into the subject curriculum but are neither specific nor unique to art and design. As such they have applications to a wide range of contexts.
Self management - students will be expected to develop the ability to:
- Study independently, set goals, manage workloads and meet deadlines.
- Anticipate and accommodate change, and work within contexts of ambiguity, uncertainty and unfamiliarity.
Critical engagement - students will demonstrate the ability to:
- Analyse information and experiences, formulate independent judgments and articulate reasoned arguments through reflection, review and evaluation.
- Source and research relevant material, assimilating and articulating relevant findings.
- Formulate reasoned responses to the critical judgments of others.
- Identify personal strengths and needs, and reflect on your own personal development.
Group/team working and social skills- students will demonstrate the ability to interact effectively with others, for example through collaboration, collective endeavour and negotiation.
Skills in communication and presentation - Students will demonstrate the ability to:
- Articulate ideas and information clearly in visual, oral and written forms.
- Present ideas and work to audiences in a range of situations related to illustration.
- Use the views of others in the development or enhancement of your work.
Information skills - in developing methods of enquiry: students will demonstrate the ability to:
- Source, navigate, select, retrieve, evaluate, manipulate and manage information from a variety of sources.
- Select and appropriately use communication and information technologies.
Personal qualities-students will demonstrate an enthusiasm for enquiry into their discipline and will provide evidence of self-motivation.
Similar Courses:
Blackpool & The Fylde College also offers Degree Programmes in:
Photography, Graphic Design, Wildlife Photography, Illustration and Fine Art.
Funding Information
Repayable and non-repayable grants and loans may be available for higher education students. Our welfare advisors are always on hand to offer impartial advice and support via email or phone 01253 504 298, more information is available on our funding and welfare pages
Where courses are run over more than one year, the tuition fee shown is for one year only. Fees for subsequent years are subject to review.
How to Apply
Once you’ve decided to apply for a course, you’ll need to work out whether you satisfy our entry requirements (or will have done by the time your course starts). Providing you meet the criteria, you can then apply for your course. Full-time applications go through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS), although foundation degree graduates progressing to a relevant top-up programme can (subject to certain criteria) apply to the College direct.
More information about entry requirements and the application process is available within our Higher Education section
Course Instances:
| Course Code | Start Date** | Duration | Tuition Fees | Location | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DP1HE08 09/10 | 14th Sep | 1 Year | £3000 | University Centre | Full Time |
** For some courses offered by the college it is be possible to enrol after the start date has passed, while courses with open enrolment can be started at any point during the year, for more information please contact Course Enquiries on the number above.
Disclaimer
Blackpool and The Fylde College makes every possible effort to ensure that the information published on this web site is accurate and up-to-date, but we accept no legal liability for errors or omissions, and reserve the right to make changes without notice. Read our full disclaimer here
