| Program start date | Application deadline |
| 2024-09-01 | - |
Program Overview
Ulster University's MFA Photography program empowers students to become professional photographers with a unique artistic voice. Through critical engagement, advanced skills development, and a major project, graduates are prepared for careers in fine art, commercial photography, and other creative industries. The program features renowned faculty, guest lectures, and a supportive community that fosters artistic growth and professional success.
Program Outline
Degree Overview:
MFA Photography
at Ulster University is a postgraduate program designed to equip students with the skills and knowledge necessary to thrive as professional photographers in the contemporary art world.
The program emphasizes critical engagement with the medium, encouraging students to develop a unique artistic voice informed by both their individual vision and the broader cultural context.
Objectives:
- Develop advanced photographic skills and techniques.
- Cultivate a critical understanding of contemporary photographic practices.
- Foster independent and self-directed learning.
- Prepare graduates for professional careers in the arts and creative industries.
Program Description:
The MFA Photography program features a rigorous curriculum that balances theoretical study with practical application. Students participate in seminars, workshops, individual tutorials, and group critiques, receiving guidance from internationally renowned photographers and academics.
The program culminates in a major project, which could be a photographic exhibition, publication, or other creative endeavor accompanied by a written contextualization.
Outline:
Year One:
- Reviewing Practice: This module explores the cultural and critical influences shaping contemporary photography, introducing key concepts like postmodernism, authorship, and subjectivity.
- Photography and Culture: Students delve into theoretical frameworks that inform photographic practice, engaging with critical issues in visual representation.
- Contemporary Contexts: This module encourages students to consider the exhibition, publication, and distribution of their work, exploring the evolving landscape of contemporary photographic practices.
- Photographic Futures: Students examine the intersection of digital culture and photography, developing critical skills to engage with emerging trends and technologies.
Year Two:
- Master's Project: Students embark on a self-directed project to develop a cohesive body of work, culminating in an exhibition or publication accompanied by a written contextualization.
- Resolution & Portfolio: This module focuses on refining and presenting the master's project, ensuring strong technical and conceptual execution.
Assessment:
Assessment methods vary depending on the module, typically including a combination of:
- Photographic work in progress
- Seminar presentations
- Essays
- Master's project and written contextualization
Teaching:
The program is taught by a distinguished faculty of practicing photographers, writers, and thinkers, including Professor Paul Seawright, Ailbhe Greaney, Dr. KayLynn Deveney, Ken Grant, Clare Gallagher, and members of the prestigious Magnum agency, Martin Parr and Donovan Wylie. The program also features guest lectures from renowned practitioners and academics.
Careers:
Graduates of the MFA Photography program are prepared for diverse careers in the photographic field, including:
- Fine art photographers
- Commercial photographers
- Photographic curators
- Editors
- Critics
- Educators
- Museum/gallery professionals
Other:
- The program offers an annual field trip to Paris and regular site visits to cultural institutions.
- Students have access to advanced technical facilities and dedicated studio spaces.
- The program fosters a close-knit community of artists and thinkers. The program's rigorous curriculum, renowned faculty, and supportive environment position its graduates for excellence in the dynamic world of contemporary photography.
Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland and EU Settlement Status Fees
£7,000.00
International Fees
£23,265.60
Entry Requirements:
EU and UK Students:
- Applicants must hold one of the following:
- A second-class honours degree or higher from a university of the United Kingdom or the Republic of Ireland.
- A Graduate Diploma, Graduate Certificate, Postgraduate Certificate, or Postgraduate Diploma with a 50% average.
- In exceptional cases, substantial and significant experiential learning can be considered in place of formal qualifications. Evidence demonstrating graduate abilities must be provided at interview or on application.
International Students:
- A second-class honours degree or higher from an institution recognized as equivalent to a UK university.
- Alternatively, an equivalent standard (normally 50%) in a Graduate Diploma, Graduate Certificate, Postgraduate Certificate, or Postgraduate Diploma.
Additional Requirements for All Applicants:
- A portfolio of practical work must be provided at interview or on application.
Language Proficiency Requirements:
English Language Requirements for International Applicants:
- Minimum requirement: Academic IELTS 6.0 with no band score less than 5.5.
- Trinity ISE: Pass at level III also meets this requirement.
- Ulster recognizes other English language tests with comparable IELTS equivalent scores.
- The University's General Entrance Requirements must also be met.
