HND in Art and Design L5 - Photography Y1

Course overview

The Higher National Diploma in Photography is aimed at students who wish to continue their education through applied learning. On the course you will cover a variety of specialist subjects to support professional and personal development. The course explores analytical and critical approaches to photography, providing students with a more in-depth understanding of the subject and opening more areas of employment or degree level study. You will be encouraged to engage in the contemporary debate about political, social and economic factors which influence contemporary photography.

This course offers you the opportunity to develop your own style and visual language within photography and how to apply that for professional practice. You will develop skills within both digital and analogue photography with the college’s own black and white darkroom and studio spaces.

The Higher National Diploma is recognised by employers as well as universities, providing a pathway for progression to degree level. At the end of the course, you will be expected to create a portfolio of work to assist you in pursuing a career within the creative arts industry, alongside the end of year exhibition where you and your peers work will be celebrated.

Course requirements

Entry requirements include one of the following:

• A Level or BTEC Level 3/EX qualification in Art and Design or Photography

• Access to higher education certificate

All students must have at least grade 4 (or C) in GCSE Maths and English (or equivalent qualification – please contact the college to find out which equivalent quals we accept).

What will I do?

Units for Level 5

• Professional Practice (ongoing)

• Applied Practice collaborative Project (Pearson-Set)

• Advanced Photographic Studies

• Moving image

• Photojournalism

• Commercial Photography

What will it give me?

Higher National Diploma (HND) in Photography (this is equivalent to the first two years of a bachelor's degree). You can then apply and acquire a bachelor’s degree by completing the final year at a university.

Materials needed

Students on the HND would also benefit from having their own DSLR camera for the duration of the course. If students do not have one at the start of the course the college library has a handful that can be borrowed for a week at a time (7 days).

Students will also need to provide their own stationery and research files (such as a sketchbook or A4/A3 document folder).