"hey, the course is pretty good, its started very slowly they start with very basic stuff we learnt at a levels which is a bit anoying, like how to use an slr? lol anyway the lectures have started getting more interesting because im starting to learn new things, weve a had a few guest speakers which is really good, its really nice hearing people talk about there work properly. The project themes are pretty open so you can do alot with them but i found at the begining they didnt give us any idea of what a degree level sketchbook should be like and theres alot they didnt tell us about the online system they use which you need to know about because all your project info, essay info, lecture prep and timetables are on it and they didnt really explain it very well. had a very stressful start to the course because of that but its settling down now. the facilities are amazing here darkrooms and equipment is all very nice. The photography building is open till 9 at night so its really good opening times for working. dont really no what else to say. urmm the area is beautiful, falmouth is nice, uni accomadation is very nice, double beds :P i still feel like im settling down so everything is a bit scary at the moment."

From Max studying BA (Hons) Photography at University College Falmouth

"The course is good at Newport :)

last year the course leader was rubbish and tried to focus more on fine art / portraiture than fashion and advertising but this year he's now teaching art foundation and we have one of the advertising design teachers running the course so it seems a lot better.

I only went back this week so i'm still settling in to second year but I would definately recommend it. The facilities are amazing - dark room, colour dark room, studios etc and the new teachers are also really good.

first year is a bit dull as it's going over a lot of what I knew from Long Road and basic stuff but this year does look really good.

I'm friends with a lot of the Photographic Art students too and their course looks really good - lots of experimental work."

Vicki R - at University of Wales studying BA Photography for Fashion and Advertising

STOP PRESS!! STOP PRESS!! STOP PRESS!!

2010 UPDATE

Just hearing back from ex-students who have just graduated or at uni studying Photography. Read their comments here - scroll down to see the new ones in.

Keep checking back as new information is being added all the time!!!

"I'm doing doc. phot. at newport as you know. enjoyed my first year a lot. worked with the south wales fire service and a number of museums around the country to make work (none of which is online) Very independent work ethic and great resources. About to start conceptual modules in second year, strong on history and theory too, lectures, essays, dissertations etc. Lecture series: david hurn, stephen gill, raimond wouda, broomberg and chanarin, martin parr, anna fox, helen sear, mark durden, ian walker etc etc. It has totally changed my conception of what photography is and can be."

Sam L - studying BA Documentary Photography at University of Wales, Newport

"I'm at camberwell college of arts doing BA photography and i love i love it, the course leader is martin newth, check out his work its amazing. the year before i did the foundation in photography at LCC which was great too...any UAL photography course is great tbh! so glad i did photograpy at long road... :)"

Liam M - studying BA Photography at Camberwell College of Arts

"After completing my ND at Huntingdon I went on to do a Degree at Anglia Ruskin. I can't say much for the University itself but what I will say is that there are a couple of quality staff there in the Photography dept. Kerstin Hacker is awesome, she is a documentary photographer aswell as the Course Leader. There is also Hag who is an amazing film photographer. I am currently studying Photography at the London College of Communication, I'm only in my second week but have high hopes, so would definately recommend it."

Amy E

"Have known many students do photography at Bournemouth and Nottingham and have had really good feed back from both, Leeds Met don't do photography any more. If any one applies to do photography at Hull make sure they choose the Harrogate Campus."

Laura B

Current List of Photography Courses at Uni

The link below will open a PDF which gives details of current Photography courses.

http://longroadfilm.co.uk/lrphoto/asset_10892.pdf

Update - Nottingham Trent - BA Hons Photography

"Heya...so heres a quick update on my course at Nottingham Trent Uni. First term has gone by swiftly with no problems. Afew lectures,seminars and practical lessons (workshops) during the week (which last 2-3 hours so you have quite alot of spare time to study...(or hang out) and theres not always something going on at uni everyday so you are bound to have a day free!) The course is really clear and lots of help around if you don't understand. Great facilities to use and nice building! (Theres even a fruit and veg stall outside the art block at cheap prices so ideal for students..). Theres mini-5 week projects with a brief that really gets you thinking---you produce a set of photos etc. and a mini essay. On the social side of things....Nottingham is welll good for a night out! has a mix of nights to goto---lots of cool pubs and clubs. Student union has quite alot going on and theres lots of benefits for students around and about. town centre is just a street away from uni so really good. Shops are decent and you'll meet lots of new people on your course!...if you want to know anymore info then just e-mail me...its a wicked course and town to live in,so come!"

BA (Hons) Photography at Falmouth

Just in from Katie is who justed started at Falmouth. Thanks for the info and good luck with the course.

"The last few weeks have majoritively been based on getting to know and
use the equipment studios, dark room ect. Which doesn't sound to
exciting at all but has been... we are being introduced to the
facilities by profession practitioner's whom are involved within the
subject area ie Week one was an introduction to Pinhole Photography
with the Amazing Justin Quinell (Check him out) the aim was to get us
to experiment and work outside of our comfort zone. We had to make
pinhole camera's made out of found object.. shoes and all sorts. which
proved to be really interesting an exciting.
We have about five hours of lectures/seminars per week, our lecturer is
amazing and everyone is asked the opinions and we have separate group
discussions in which we go over and talk about what we learnt &
achieved from the lectures.. its all very interesting and informative..
We are set a brief to shoot ATLEAST two films per week and there are
workshops everyday on different techniques and equipment use in
photography ie Flash workshops, Black and white printing Digital
printing ect. Its very hectic i get some afternoons or mornings off but
am mostly in everyday: i think i have about one whole day off a
fortnight, which is good because i know im definitely getting my moneys
worth!
The facilities here are incredible: brand new 2007, The are two very
large studios in which you can fit trucks and several smaller
ones...there are, dark rooms which include both tray and machine
processing, colour darkrooms, digi sweets and all the latest state of
the art equipment. The store has lot to offer from standard nikon 35mm
to digital slr' to everything basically. What i am most pleased with
are the tutors which are all very approachable, I was having a few
problems in week two and was offered tea and a chat... which I think
sums up the whole environment here which is very friendly.
As for the night life!!!
Its in a small town there are lots of pubs and small bars...so its what
you make it! There are clubs which open till three but usually all the
parties are up at tremough the campus digs which are situated about
5miles from falmouth in a small village called penryn.All the lectures
workshops lessons for this course are in tremough the library and shop
are also situated up here so you don't have to travel into college if
you stay in halls but if you do decide to move into falmouth the bus
run every ten minutes and take around fifteen to get here so its not
far! I guess i would explain the atmosphere here it as being very
relaxed and chilled and obviously with all the scenery and beaches:
beautiful!
Its a great place to study!"

www.falmouth.ac.uk

Nottingham Trent University

Just starting to hear from students starting courses in 2007 - so here goes:

"Heya! My names My Linh and I'm currently studying at Nottingham Trent University. I've just started the course, but everything seems to be going really well! The welcome week at Nottingham Trent is really REALLY good as theres loads of fun events to goto, for example: we had to dress up as spartains,army,nu rave and had a beach party!!! Its a great week to meet new people and makes you feel at ease before the proper lectures start. Will keep this updated once I've settled in more...so far so good..."

For more info: www.ntu.ac.uk

Documentary Photography - Newport - from a 1st year

Just in from James who started this September at Newport - good luck with the course and thanks for the info.

"Ive been studying documentary photography at the University of Wales, Newport for about 8 weeks now and so far I've learnt a hell of alot.

The first year is about getting you off your arse, onto the streets, speaking to people and actualy using your camera (i shot the same amount i did in two years at long road as i have done in 3 weeks here..) So its expensive as you can imagine but worth it. You get to meet so many interesting people when you have a camera round your neck - whom otherwise you would probably have never met.. (e.g im doing a portrait assignment on an retired gypsy boxer and i'm going hunting with him and his sons next week)

Only do this course if:-

- you had atleast one gap year after coming out of A levels.. (the average age on this course is probably 22) cos otherwise - if you havent been traveling or anything i doubt you'l be able to look after yourself as well - and know how to deal with different people. which is essential to documentary photography.

- you think you can organise and motivate yourself to actualy have a go at the course. as theres only 2 hours of lectures a week and its easy to do **** all if you want...

- you dont mind being stuck out in the sticks a bit as the universities about 5mins from newport itself but in a beautiful village called Caerleon (which has 18 pubs!) - newport's supposed to be a shit hole - but actualy its a wierd and wonderful time warp stuck in the 80's - which probably makes it one of the most interesting places to be doing Documentary.

To sum things up, the tutors know what theyre doing - theyre all working documentary photographers. The facilities are very good. The Library is very good (research). And the students on the course are really interesting as well - its good."

Documentary Photography - Newport

This is from Pete who graduated in June 06 from Newport with a 2:1 - congrats!

"I did Documentary Photography at Newport University. Although initially a hard decision to make, it was the right one. The hard decision was whether i wanted to live and learn in a city as 'unendearing' as Newport and i can say now that you shouldn't let that deter you. Newport is a stone's throw from Cardiff if you pine for a more cosmopolitan social scene, and if you look hard enough the bar scene in Newport has its little gems (try Meze lounge, TJ's and The Angel).

As for the course the teachers are reasonably helpful although it would be a good idea to get chummy with them early in year one to make sure they remember you and provide you with a decent amount of tutorials. Their advice and lectures are generally good with the occasional brilliant one. Ian Walker deserves a mention as he is a doctor in Doc.Phot. as you will call it, and you will want to go to his friday morning lectures however hung over you are. And make sure you go to every single lecture with visiting photographers - we had several magnum photographers come in for talks as well as a bunch of fantastic photographers you probably will never have heard of. From my experience the year you will be in will be from all over the place - we had Malaysians, Norwegians, Germans, Swedes, Finns, Italians etc. in my year alone. I think the course has been expanded so expect up to 80 students in your year. Most people from all years of the course are helpful enough as long as you don't bother them when deadlines loom otherwise they normally moan about 'bloody 1st years' to your face. Just wait till you're a third year.

As for the other photography courses, i lived with two members of the photo-art course and they constantly had the piss taken out of them for taking such a 'noddy' degree. I think that was a little harsh, as i personally saw a lot of the work and the teachers seemed very helpful. In fact the only reason Doc.Phot. gets all the publicity is because of its reputation and how long its been running for. I wouldn't be too keen on the other 'multi-media' courses there though, they really do seem a little shite.

I shall leave the best part of Newport Uni till last - the people. Not so much the locals, mind (although the staff at the local SPAR were great). My fondest memory is of all the different people you meet along the way, some good some bad, but always interesting. I came out with 10 or so people that i know will be life long friends. There's only 3000 students at Newport Uni, so it had a close knit feel about the place. Some of the college parties are great (fancy dress and break beat raves), and try and get down to the gower (nr. Swansea) for amazing beaches, BBQs, and sunsets. Oh and the Newport accent is hilarious. It really is localised to the Newport area too."