PhotoJournalism BA (Hons)

On this dynamic and specialist degree you’ll learn the technical and professional skills to operate as a professional photojournalist.

We offer you the chance to be current, innovative and free thinking. You’ll learn how to be technically proficient, handle digital work flows confidently, investigate stories, think on your feet, and how best to explore your personal interests through visual storytelling.

This degree has modules in Press and PR photography as well as short and long form documentary photography and film. The course also includes modules in journalism, multi-media and social media. We primarily teach through a range of live briefs and classroom workshops.

By covering news, sports, cultural and community events alongside breaking news, you will learn communicate stories through a variety of visual approaches across different media platforms. There is also space in the timetable to work on long form film and photography features and documentary projects.

The course also offers the opportunity to collaborate with departments across the University and work on external commissions. After three years study our students leave USW industry ready – with experience of current working practices, a strong technical skill base, a refined portfolio and confidence in their own abilities.

As we are a small cohort we are able to work one to one with our students to prepare them for industry. Our graduates have gone on to find employment in the newspaper and magazines industry, film production and in social media, marketing and PR roles.

Careers

By the time you graduate from the Photojournalism degree, you’ll be an independent thinker with the ability to work internationally. You’ll also have built up two to three years’ of work experience in photography and photojournalism, and you’ll know how to deal with clients and work in a professional manner.

You could pursue a career as a freelance photojournalist, fashion, sports or music journalist, in marketing, PR and social media.

Our Careers and Employability Service

As a USW student, you will have access to advice from the Careers and Employability Service throughout your studies and after you graduate.

This includes: one-to-one appointments from faculty based Career Advisers, in person, over the phone or even on Skype and through email via the "Ask a Question" service. We also have extensive online resources for help with considering your career options and presenting yourself well to employers. Resources include psychometric tests, career assessments, a CV builder, interview simulator and application help. Our employer database has over 2,000 registered employers targeting USW students, you can receive weekly email alerts for jobs.

Our Careers service has dedicated teams: A central work experience team to help you find relevant placements; an employability development team which includes an employability programme called Grad Edge; and an Enterprise team focused on new business ideas and entrepreneurship.