BA (Hons) Professional Photography

Course overview

Our BA (Hons) Professional Photography one-year top-up degree is unique to Scotland. It is delivered over only one academic year and is open to applications from those progressing from a two-year HND in Photography. The degree is taught at Edinburgh College and validated by Kingston University London.

Future skills embedded in the course curriculum will equip graduates with a future-proof skill set. The course is designed to enable you to develop your skills in contemporary and commissioned photography, preparing you for a future career within the Creative Industries.

This course is industry-linked, accredited by the British Institute of Professional Photography (BIPP) and endorsed by the Association of Photographers (AOP).

You will be taught by highly qualified and experienced lecturers in state-of-the-art Edinburgh College photography studios, including a drive-in facility suitable for shooting vehicles, advertising, and fashion. The equipment store contains an extensive range of industry-standard equipment available for loan, including top-of-the-range cameras, lenses, and lighting. In-house colour-managed printing is available from our new Focal Point, a purpose-built digital printing and retouching lab. Studios and printing can be booked online. You will receive guest lectures from professionals in the industry and attend our Creative and Tech Futures Day, where you will make essential industry connections for your future career.

This course is benchmarked by the achievements of our graduates, many of whom are multi-award winners in national and international photography competitions. Our successful graduates become employed, self-employed or progress on to postgraduate study. 

Examples of past students' work can be found on the Edinburgh College of Photography

What you will learn

• Final Major Project: Module Leader, Jon Lee
• Photography in Context: Module Leader, Raymond Keith
• Professional Futures: Module Leader, Alan McCredie

How the course is assessed

• This course is assessed by continual assessment through set course modules.
• You will undertake a range of practical assignment briefs and concentrate on developing a body of work that will showcase your creative and technical skills.
• Contribution to individual tutorials, group tutorials and seminars.
• A final developed portfolio of work, written essays, and reports.

Number of days per week

• 3 days per week

Entry requirements

• HND Photography with an A or B pass in Graded Unit 2 or an international equivalent.
• A portfolio of work.
• A successful interview.

 

Information on Tests / Auditions / Interview Requirements

Portfolio Submission Instructions 2026

Instructions on how to send your digital portfolio and personal statement will be sent to you once you have completed and submitted your application. It is important to complete the application as soon as possible, so interview dates can be arranged.

Portfolio Guidance 

Your digital portfolio should be a selection of 15 of your most creative photographic work that reflects your intended specialism (e.g., fashion, advertising, photojournalism, documentary), and/or images from personal projects.

These images can come from individual Units and/or work made from Graded Unit 2. It is important that you name your files “yourname_image1.jpg” and “yourname_image2.jpg”, as we will be receiving many files and need to keep track of them. Images to be sent will be 300 ppi and saved as JPGs. 

Personal Statement Guidance 

You must submit, along with your portfolio, a short statement (Word doc – one side of A4 only) that outlines:

• What specialism of photography do you intend to further develop on the BA (Hons) course?
• Your approach to making photographic work
• How will you contribute to it
• Your ambitions for your photography
• References to photographers and artists who provide inspiration
• Why this Edinburgh College course will benefit you

Should you require any assistance, please contact the course leader at jon.lee@edinburghcollege.ac.uk

Timescale

Upload portfolio submission and personal statement before Friday, 28 February 2026.

Privacy Notice Performing Arts and Photography Selection.pdf (edinburghcollege.ac.uk)

English Proficiency Requirements English Proficiency Requirements: IELTS 6 is required if English is not your first language. Further information regarding IELTS levels and certification is available from our admissions team.

Progression and Articulation Routes

• Further study at postgraduate level

Career options

Freelance employment in:

• Fashion photographer
• Advertising photographer
• Corporate photographer
• Documentary photographer
• Photojournalist photographer
• Forensics / Medical photographer
• Image editing/retoucher
• Assisting / Digi Tech
• Photographic production
• Picture Editor