Overview

Our students have a passion for social issues storytelling in all its forms. We closely mentor you to work on topics that you are passionate about; to produce powerful and visually distinctive photography. Our assignments immerse you in the worlds of fine print and photobooks, exhibition production, digital storytelling for web, documentary filmmaking and much more.

Our students and alumni are celebrated within the photographic industry: working as photojournalists for the world’s most prestigious news agencies including Associated Press, magazines like The New York Times, National Geographic and Time Magazine; winning awards, exhibitions, and publishing photobooks. Recently, Lua Ribera gained a Magnum agency nomination (the only course in Europe to achieve this), Tobias Zielony represented Germany at the Venice Biennale and in the Deutsche Boerse award, Jack Latham won the Bar Tur Photobook award, Sam Laughlin was a winner in the Jerwood/Photoworks Award and Leo Maguire won a Grierson Trust award for documentary film.

The Documentary Photography (Hons) programme from University of South Wales is part of a pathway in documentary at USW including MA Documentary Photography and The European Centre for Documentary Photography for PhD and post doc.

USW has a history of 100 years of photography, and nearly 50 years of teaching Documentary Photography. We have been collecting photography books since 1973 and have one of the largest specialist library collections in documentary/ photojournalism in Europe at your disposal as well as a extensive, specialist department with full digital and analogue faculties.

Career

Graduates from the Documentary Photography course work in diverse areas, as commissioned photojournalists, working regularly for many of the world’s leading magazines, or as photographic artists, publishing and exhibiting at international galleries such as Tate Modern and participating in events including the Venice Biennale. They also work as picture editors and researchers, working for magazines like GQ and institutions such as the National Portrait Gallery. Graduates can also progress to a PhD or research degree.

Programme Structure

Courses include:

What is Documentary?

Photographer as Observer

The Narrative

Digital Storytelling

Documentary Themes

Documentary Contexts

Framing documentary (exhibition production)

Key information

Duration

Full-time
- 36 months

Start dates & application deadlines

Starting 2027-09-22 00:00:00
- Apply before 2027-01-15 00:00:00

Language

English

TOEFL^® IBT

72

Schedule TOEFL®

PTE Academic

64

Schedule a PTE test!

IELTS

6

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4.9/5 student rating

Credits

360 alternative credits

Delivered

On Campus

Campus Location

Cardiff, United Kingdom

Disciplines

Film Studies Liberal Arts Photography View 103 other Bachelors in Photography in United Kingdom

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Academic requirements

We are not aware of any specific GRE, GMAT or GPA grading score requirements for this programme.

English requirements

TOEFL^® IBT

72

Schedule TOEFL®

PTE Academic

64

Schedule a PTE test!

IELTS

6

Prepare for Your English Test

Cathoven AI IELTS Preparation

Learn your IELTS Score

AI-powered IELTS feedback. Clear, actionable, and tailored to boost your writing & speaking score. No credit card or upfront payment required.

Trusted by 300k learners
98 accuracy using real exam data
4.9/5 student rating

Other requirements

General requirements

Typical A-Level Offer

BCC - CDD to include a relevant art and design subject (this is equivalent to 104-80 UCAS tariff points).

Typical Welsh BACC Offer

Pass the Advanced Welsh Baccalaureate Diploma with Grade C/D in the Skills Challenge Certificate and BC - CD at A Level with a relevant art and design subject (this is equivalent to 104-80 UCAS tariff points).

Typical BTEC Offer

BTEC Extended Diploma Distinction Merit Merit - Merit Merit Pass in a relevant subject (this is equivalent to 112-80 UCAS tariff points).

Typical Access to HE Offer

Pass the Access to HE Diploma with a minimum of 80 UCAS tariff points

Tuition Fees

Tuition fees are shown in and the most likely applicable fee is shown based on your nationality.

International Applies to you

Applies to you

Non-residents

16200 GBP / year

≈ 16200 GBP / year
Domestic Applies to you

Applies to you

Citizens or residents

9535 GBP / year

≈ 9535 GBP / year

Living costs

Cardiff

United Kingdom

628 - 1066 GBP / month

The living costs include the total expenses per month, covering accommodation, public transportation, utilities (electricity, internet), books and groceries.

Funding

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Scholarships Information

Below you will find Bachelor's scholarship opportunities for Documentary Photography (Hons).

Available Scholarships

You are eligible to apply for these scholarships but a selection process will still be applied by the provider.

About

Overview

Career

Programme Structure

Key information

Duration

Start dates & application deadlines

Language

Prepare for Your English Test

Credits

Delivered

Campus Location

Disciplines

What students do after studying

Academic requirements

English requirements

Prepare for Your English Test

Other requirements

General requirements

Tuition Fees

International Applies to you

Domestic Applies to you

Living costs

Cardiff

Funding

Need help with your student visa?

Scholarships Information

Available Scholarships

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