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Photography (Year 2 Direct Entry) HND

(SCQF level 8)

Arts and Photography, Creative Industries

Mode of Study

Full-time

Start Date

25th Aug 2025, 2 years

Location

City Campus

  • Applications from International Students Welcome
  • Overview

    This highly competitive course provides you with the skills you need to start a career in photography or a related area within the creative industries. This is a practice-based course with projects delivering skills for studio or location. Alongside technical skills, you're encouraged to work on self-reflection and evaluation through class feedback sessions.

    You will have an opportunity to work independently on self-initiated projects and to develop your own photographic ideas and briefs.

    With a broad range of experienced staff on hand and industry-standard facilities, this course is an excellent opportunity for those with a keen interest in photography, who want to develop that interest through full-time study.

    You will continually update your photographic portfolio showcasing your most recent work throughout the course.

    This course is assessed using a project-based folio approach, you will work on live briefs and a range of challenging industry appropriate briefs to complete each assessment. 

    You should have an HNC or 1st Year HND certificate and should be equipped with the skills needed for 2nd year HND study.

    Industry links are excellent and form an important element to the course - you will work collaboratively on a range of external projects designed to enhance your professional skills.

    This course is placed on the Scottish Credit Qualifications Framework at Level 8. 

    Entry requirements

    Minimum entry requirements

    • HNC in Photography OR
    • First-year of HND Photography.

    Additional selection requirements

    • You'll be invited for a group and/or individual interview where you can find out more about the course and tell us why you're interested in this subject area or we'll make an offer based on your application form.
    • You'll be asked to provide a strong photographic portfolio of printed work - Portfolio Guidance.

    ESOL entry requirements

    Applicants whose first language is not English should have minimum SQA ESOL National 5 or equivalent for NC/NQ courses and ESOL Higher or equivalent for HNC/D courses.

    What you study

    • Advanced Image Editing.
    • Work Placement.
    • Social Photography.
    • Stock Photography.
    • Photojournalism.
    • Advertising.
    • Fashion.
    • Documentary.
    • Exhibition.
    • Graded Project 2.

    After the course

    Careers

    With an HND in photography, you'll be prepared for a position in the highly competitive creative and media sector including advertising, commercial, press and photojournalism, fashion, sports, social, medical, scientific, throughout the UK and worldwide.

    Continuing Study

    On successful completion of your HND, you may apply for the third year of the BA (Hons) Photography degree course offered at the college, in partnership with the University of the West of Scotland. You may also apply for degree-level study at other institutions.

    Teaching

    How the course is taught

    This course will be delivered through blended learning with demonstrations, lectures and practical activities.

    You will follow a project led delivery.  The course is divided into 3 portfolio submissions where a range of projects and challenging briefs are delivered. You will be given the autonomy to self-manage your time to prioritise projects in studio and location.  A wide range of industry specialists take part in the course to share their expert advice and valuable career experiences.

    Contextual studies play an important role in the course as you are exposed to a wide range of practitioners and photographic styles.   Collaboration and live briefs are integral to the course delivery and you are encouraged to expand your skills through these experiences.

    Additional Information

    Materials

    You will be advised about the materials required. 

    • Mode of Study:
      Full-time
    • Start Date:
      25th Aug 2025, 2 years
    • Location:
      City Campus
    • Applications from International Students Welcome