Length of course: 1 year full-time or 2 years part-time
Location: Harrow Campus, North West London
School: School of Media, Arts and Design

MA Photojournalism at the University of Westminster is designed to provide an intensive experience of contemporary photojournalism and is the ideal stepping stone to a career in photography. Students will work on realistic assignments taken to a professional level, both individually and in groups, and will collaborate to produce a high quality magazine during the course. There will also be seminars and discussions about photographic theory relevant to the current practice of photojournalism.

Background

MA Photojournalism commenced in 2000 and is a highly respected and successful course with an international profile. Graduates go on to careers in the arts, media and photographic industries including art, documentary, fashion, journalism and education. It can also lead to further study as a PhD student. The course is based at the Harrow Campus in North West London, one of the foremost media education centres in Europe.

Introduction

This course provides a unique combination of professional practice and critical understanding for photographers and journalists interested in entering the field of editorial and related photography. It builds on the international reputation of the journalism and photographic departments of the University. The MA is a modular course designed to equip students with a sound command of the working methods necessary to sustain a career in contemporary journalism. The course is especially useful for photographers and media professionals who wish to broaden their skills and knowledge in the field of photojournalism as well as for recent graduates wishing to work in editorial photography as photographers, picture editors or picture researchers in the press or picture agencies.

Course Content

Full time students

Semester One Modules

• Photojournalism – The Picture Story
• Photography for Publication
• History, Theory and Sociology of Press Photography
  
  

Semester Two Modules

• Magazine Editorial Production
• Writing for Photojournalists

Summer Project

From June until the end of August, students will complete their Major Project.

Part time students will negotiate their study programme with the Course Leader

Students are required to complete six modules totalling 180 credits. Of these, 60 will be awarded for the production of an extended major photographic project intended to enhance career development. 40 credits will be awarded for the completion of a professional quality magazine project working with other students in small teams. 20 credits will be awarded for all other modules.

Teaching days are normally Tuesdays and Wednesdays in Semesters One and Two.

Module content

Semester One

Photojournalism – The Picture Story concentrates on the structure, form and content of the picture essay. Students will produce a professional quality photo story by the end of the module and a written critical assessment.

Photography for Publication focuses on how to produce successful news or feature images for the press. The module will cover pre-production and post-production of digital images in Photoshop.

History, Theory and Sociology of Press Photography will equip students with the historical, critical and sociological contexts that inform the practice and deployment of photojournalism in the contemporary media sphere.

Semester Two

Magazine Editorial Production will facilitate students working in groups to produce a finished magazine to a professional standard. Each group will devise a magazine concept, produce the photographs and text, design the pages and see the project through to print stage. Specialist design tuition and weekly editorial meetings throughout the module will monitor progress of the publication. The resulting magazine will be an important part of each student's final portfolio.

Writing for Photojournalists will cover the essential components of print journalism as well as introducing students to the vital relationship of text to image and encouraging students to think critically about their written and photographic work. The module will also look at writing introductions, headlines and captions.

Major Project: students will negotiate their project with tutors taking into account their expected career path. Projects can range from a substantial photographic portfolio on a major theme to a book dummy or website. The work produced on this module should be used as a significant career asset when students enter the world of professional photography.

Tutors

Your tutors are:

• Max Houghton - current editor of 8 magazine and experienced writer and researcher for the international press
• Dr David Campany - writer, curator, editor and Reader in Photogaphy at the University of Westminster. His books include Art and Photography (Phaidon, 2003), The Cinematic (Whitechapel Gallery/MIT 2007), Photography and Cinema (Reaktion, 2009) and Jeff Wall speaks with David Campany (La Fabrica 2010). For Caixa Forum Barcelona/Madrid he has curated Hannah Collins, Historia en curso. Películas y fotografías (2009). He is co-curating the inaugural show at Le Bal, Paris, a new space dedicated to documentary. He writes for Frieze, Ojodepez, Art Review, Source, Photoworks and The Oxford Art Journal. David is a co-founder of PA magazine. He is working on a books about Walker Evans, Jeff Wall, experimental documentary and the photographic page.
• Ben Edwards -  Photographer, film maker. Partner: www.blendimages.com. Agents: www.gettyimages.com
• Colin Jacobson - highly respected former picture editor for national magazines
• Ian Denning - experienced art director, latterly at the Sunday Times magazine, the Independent magazine and LIFE magazine in New York
• Andy Golding - Chair of Photography, an experienced practitioner, also participates on MAPJ, conducting studio lighting workshops.

Resources

Throughout the course, there will be regular talks from influential Visiting Lecturers from the world of professional photography who may also give critiques on student work. Students will be kept informed of exhibitions and occasional group visits will take place. The University's latest unique resource is Westphoto, an on-campus commercial picture agency that handles new student work.

The Stationers’ Foundation University Bursary Scheme 2011

A new postgraduate bursary scheme was launched by the Stationers’ Foundation in 2010. One £6,000 award will be made in July for an applicant for MA Photojournalism at the University of Westminster. Applicants should hold an offer for a place on MA Photojournalism. Applicants must be resident in the UK and under 25 on 1st September 2011.

Find out more information here

Entry requirements

Students should normally possess a good first degree from a recognised university or institution of higher education or have relevant professional working experience to a level that will allow engagement with postgraduate study. We particularly welcome mature applicants with a background in the media, the arts or business seeking a change of direction in their career.

Qualities expected in applicants:

• a proven interest in visual communication
• an interest and ability to express ideas through photography
• an ability to research and present visual story ideas
• an awareness of the role and importance of text in photojournalism
• an ability to work creatively both individually and in groups
• an ability to think critically about the context of their work

The language of instruction and of journalism practice will be English and the intensive nature of this course requires that candidates must be able to speak and understand English fluently and write in English to a high standard. Applicants from non-English speaking backgrounds should have an overall IELTS score of 7.0. Alternatively we do also accept a minimum of TOEFL 650 (paper-based test) or TOEFL 280 (computer-based test) or TOEFL 115 (internet-based), plus a relevant academic or professional background. For further information about English language requirements and courses available, please contact the Admissions Department at the address below.

Interviews

Whenever possible, candidates will be interviewed personally but otherwise by telephone or email. Interviews will normally take place in the early months of the year of entry. Applicants are asked to bring a portfolio of 10-12 photographs (analogue or digital) to the interview. The work should present a coherent body of recent work by the applicant to show their interest in and aptitude for photojournalism, preferably on a particular story or topic. Evidence of writing skills may also be requested.

Overseas applicants unable to attend personally should submit examples of recent photographic work by email or CD at the time of completing the application form. All applicants may be offered a conditional place dependent on the completion of a specific photographic or written assignment.

Staff contact details

Max Houghton, Course Leader
Email:m.f.houghton@wmin.ac.uk

Ben Edwards, Senior Lecturer
Email: edwardb@wmin.ac.uk

Colin Jacobson, Senior Lecturer
Email: c.jacobson@wmin.ac.uk

For application enquiries and further information please contact:

University of Westminster
Admissions and Marketing Office
Harrow Campus
Northwick Park
Harrow HA1 3TP

Tel: +44 (0)20 7911 5903
Fax: +44(0)20 7911 5955
E-mail: harrow-admissions@wmin.ac.uk
Course Administrator: Mrs Nila Gandhi gandhin@wmin.ac.uk

"This leaflet is issued on the understanding that all matters in it are subject to change. In particular the University of Westminster reserves the right in every case and at its discretion and for any reason to alter or not offer courses or parts of courses." November 2007