Photography
Documentary photojournalism is a discipline that combines the technical craft of photography with the journalistic mission of documenting the world as it is, bearing witness to events, communities and conditions that deserve to be seen and understood. At its best, documentary photography creates the visual record that shapes public memory and political awareness, and photographers in this tradition have consistently influenced how societies understand themselves and the world around them. At the University of Gloucestershire, this three-year full-time degree focuses on developing your skills as a visual storyteller who can work across documentary, journalism and the wider creative industries, with opportunities in years two and three to undertake work placements in the UK or abroad.
You will develop your photographic skills across different contexts and formats, from long-form documentary projects and photographic essays to single-image journalism and multimedia production. The programme combines technical training in camera technique, lighting, digital processing and editing with the ethical, cultural and historical knowledge that serious documentary photography requires. You will study the history and theory of the medium alongside your practical development, understanding how the great documentary photographers of the twentieth century worked and what principles guided their choices, and you will develop your own approach to making images that are both technically accomplished and journalistically significant.
A typical entry tariff of around 120 points is expected.
Graduates work as photojournalists, documentary photographers, editorial photographers, multimedia journalists, digital content producers and photographers for NGOs, charities, cultural institutions and commercial clients. Many pursue portfolio careers that combine commissioned work with personal documentary projects, and the skills of visual storytelling and ethical engagement with subjects are valued in journalism, advertising, arts and cultural production. Postgraduate study in photojournalism, documentary or visual culture is a natural further step for those who wish to deepen their practice or move into academic research.