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Postgraduate

MA Contemporary Photography; Practices and Philosophies

Composite images of a figure leaning in different poses
Anastassia Radtsenko, MA Contemporary Photography; Practices and Philosophies
College
Central Saint Martins
Start date
September 2024
Course length
Two years (60 weeks)
Extended full-time

MA Contemporary Photography; Practices and Philosophies is a fine art photography course which merges research with practice.

Applying for more than 1 course

You can apply for more than 1 postgraduate course at UAL but we recommend that you apply for no more than 3. Find out more in the Apply Now section.

The course is rooted in the idea that photography has no self-limiting identity or essence. Creating visually exciting and intellectually compelling work, you will develop as an artist with photography at the core of your practice. This course is part of the Art programme.

Why choose this course at Central Saint Martins

  • Transdisciplinary practice: On this course, you will study photography as an interlacing of fine art, technology, aesthetics and new media. You will explore the effects of digital cultures on art practice, the everyday and the environment.
  • Visiting practitioners: The course has an extensive visiting lecturer programme, including leading artists, philosophers and curators.
  • State-of-the-art equipment: You will have access to advanced equipment for scanning, large-format digital colour and chemical black and white printing.
  • Curatorial projects: The course offers opportunities for you to take part in group curatorial projects, in which you will learn to curate in a shared space.

Recent student successes

Course overview

Unlike many other photography courses, MA Contemporary Photography; Philosophies and Practices at Central Saint Martins is not committed to one notion of what photography is. Instead, it aims to provide you with the tools to locate your own practice within a broad range of contemporary art forms. On this course, you will nurture your practice by working with reference to a number of disciplines, including performance, installation, new media, fashion and site-specific work. You will explore the philosophy of the visual image as a melting pot of political, aesthetic and social concepts.

This course explores photography as a plural, transdisciplinary and multimedia global language. Situating photography at the core of contemporary visual art, the course integrates theory and practice. You will explore photography as a discipline which interlaces fine art, technology and new media. You will research photography as a universal language of contemporary cultures. These encompass the arts, the sciences and also the construction of personal identities. This course will provide you with the tools to work in fields related to artistic production and the extended creative industries.

A key objective of the course is to overcome the distinction between theory and practice and to offer an experience of deep integration of making and thinking. The course emphasises new media and post-internet approaches as the language of contemporary art practice. These are explored through theory seminars and workshops in physical computing, metadata, augmented reality and social media. The core activities of the course are the making, outward presentation and contextualisation of your work.

We are committed to developing ethical contemporary photography practices. To achieve this, we are working to embed UAL's Principles for Climate, Social and Racial Justice into the course.

Course units

On MA Contemporary Photography; Practices and Philosophies, critical evaluation is central to your development. You will be expected to take part in group critiques, where you will analyse yours and your peers' work through discussion. Throughout the course, exhibiting is one of the core pedagogical tools. This includes experimental forms of exhibition, such as digital platforms, social media, TV screens, site-responsive installations, interactions with handheld devices, publications and performances. The course makes use of showcase opportunities for you to develop your work in response to audience.

The course is transdisciplinary by design. It will support you to develop an individual, engaged practice. This might span the fields of fine art, visual media, contemporary philosophy or online and offline technology. The course offers an extensive mentorship programme. This includes work with contemporary practitioners, curators and philosophers. Through this engagement, you will be challenged to examine your work in relation to current developments in photography. It will also help you to link your practice to professional applications of the medium.

Unit 1: What is Practice? (In Photography)

Unit 1 on this course provides you with a detailed engagement with your practice through experimentation, questioning, play and dialogue. The unit is organised around several key components. The main aim of these is to provide you with the tools to exercise your curiosity and imagination in the realm of visual image. We will guide you to find your voice and signature style, allowing you to explore art, new media and technology.

Unit 2: Developing Practice and Research

This is a self-led unit of research which feeds into your work in progress and your research paper. You will develop your practice and research through a programme of crits. This programme will also include individual tutorials and seminars, focused around the development of your practice and research paper. Weekly seminars will also help you clarify your research interests. Experimental installs and crits will provide a space for negotiation of practice and for focusing your research.

Unit 3: Realisation of Practice and Research

Unit 3 is also a self-led unit of research and practice. It will culminate in the production of your work for show and dissemination. You will be supported in the production of a body of work for exhibition in whatever form. This unit is structured around weekly presentations and demonstrations of your work in progress supported by group crits and feedback. You will also have one-to-one and small group tutorials with course staff and visiting practitioners.

Important note concerning academic progression through your course: 

If you are required to retake a unit you will need to cease further study on the course until you have passed the unit concerned. Once you have successfully passed this unit, you will be able to proceed onto the next unit. Retaking a unit might require you to take time out of study, which could affect other things such as student loans or the visa status for international students. 

Mode of study

MA Contemporary Photography; Practices and Philosophies is offered in extended full-time mode which runs for 60 weeks over two academic years. You will be expected to commit 30 hours per week to study, which includes teaching time and independent study. The course has been designed in this way to enable you to pursue studies, while also undertaking part-time employment, internships or care responsibilities.

Credit and award requirements

The course is credit-rated at 180 credits. 

On successfully completing the course, you will gain a Master of Arts (MA degree). 

Under the Framework for Higher Education Qualifications, an MA is Level 7. All units must be passed in order to achieve the MA but the classification of the award is derived from the marks for the second and third units. 

If you are unable to continue on the course, a Postgraduate Certificate (PG Cert) will normally be offered following the successful completion of 60 credits, or a Postgraduate Diploma (PG Dip) following the successful completion of 120 credits.  

Learning and teaching methods

The learning and teaching methods devised for this course include: 

  • Briefing materials, written guidance and meetings 
  • Inductions and technical support 
  • Lectures and guest speakers 
  • Independent project proposal document 
  • Shared teaching events across the art programme 
  • Extended collaborative project opportunities 
  • Personal and group tutorials 
  • Seminars and symposium 
  • Presentations and sharing events 
  • Recommended reading and viewing 
  • Professional networking visits 
  • Independent study 
  • Critiques and peer evaluations 
  • Self-critical evaluation 
  • Assessment feedback.

Course Leader Daniel Rubinstein on the ethos of the course

Student view: Liying Hu

Student view: Niloofar Taatizadeh

Student view: Ebony Francis

Graduate Showcase

Explore work by our recent students on the UAL Showcase

  • The Bicycleur
    The Bicycleur, Laurence J Moss, 2023 MA Contemporary Photography; Practices and Philosophies, Central Saint Martins, UAL
  • Briefs
    Briefs, Parks Sadler, 2023 MA Contemporary Photography; Practices and Philosophies, Central Saint Martins, UAL
  • STILLNESS IS NO MAN'S LAND / DISAPPEARANCE
    STILLNESS IS NO MAN'S LAND / DISAPPEARANCE, Tiff Chan, 2023 MA Contemporary Photography; Practices and Philosophies, Central Saint Martins, UAL
  • LAMELLA://
    LAMELLA://, Sarah-Jane Field, 2023 MA Contemporary Photography; Practices and Philosophies, Central Saint Martins, UAL
  • No Return
    No Return, Anastasia Tikhonova, 2023 MA Contemporary Photography; Practices and Philosophies, Central Saint Martins, UAL
  • Untitled
    Untitled, kun liu, 2023 MA Contemporary Photography; Practices and Philosophies, Central Saint Martins, UAL
  • She
    She, MENGZHU LI, 2023 MA Contemporary Photography; Practices and Philosophies, Central Saint Martins, UAL
  • Museum of a Polish Modern Woman
    Museum of a Polish Modern Woman, Iga Koncka, 2023 MA Contemporary Photography; Practices and Philosophies, Central Saint Martins, UAL
  • Desiring Machine
    Desiring Machine, Gemma Lewis, 2023 MA Contemporary Photography; Practices and Philosophies, Central Saint Martins, UAL

Student work

  • Irene-Dominguez.jpg
    Irene Dominguez
  • Julia-Wolf.jpg
    Julia Wolf
  • Yajing_Hu.jpg
    Yajing Hu
  • Simona_Sharafudinov.jpg
    Simona Sharafudinov

MA Contemporary Photography; Practices and Philosophies stories

  • Photo by Jamie Johnson

    An art education multipack of perspectives and contexts in Sideshow

    Central Saint Martins Art Programme and friends take over the Lethaby Gallery this January. With installed artworks and a playful programme of daily happenings, Sideshow zones in on the offbeat, with uplifting perspectives on serious concerns.

  • Luciana Dal Ri, 'Dust'

    GROTTO: Postgraduate Art Print Sale preview

    Opening soon! CSM XMAS GROTTO: where you can buy affordable work by final-year postgraduate students from across the Central Saint Martins Art programme. Over 100 limited edition A3 prints at £50 available to buy in person and online.

  • Credit: Elmira Ismukhamedova

    MullenLowe NOVA Awards 2023: the nominees

    Announcing the nominations for this year's MullenLowe NOVA Awards for Fresh Creative Talent, as part of CSM Shows 2023. This year, 52 nominated students present projects across art, design, fashion, architecture, materials and performance.

  • Fran Hayes, BA Fine Art

    Nominations for MullenLowe NOVA Awards 2022 announced

    As we prepare to open our doors to celebrate our graduating students in Central Saint Martins Shows, we can share the nominations for this year's MullenLowe NOVA Awards for Fresh Creative Talent.

Facilities

Staff

Associate Lecturer (Art in context): Dean Kenning
Associate Lecturer (Lighting workshops): Dave Lewis
Associate Lecturer (Performance workshops and tutorials): Helen Richardson

Recent seminars

Tamsin Dillon
Dr Louise Garrett
Professor Johnny Golding
Rebecca Heald
Juliet Jacques
Dr Hayley Newman
Dr Jona Piehl
Dr Lynn Turner

Recent Visiting Practitioners

Sam Burford
Richard Grayson
Juliet Jacques
Aaron McPeake

Fees and funding

Home fee

£6,980 per year

This fee is correct for 2024/25 entry and is subject to change for 2025/26 entry.

Tuition fees may increase in future years for new and continuing students on courses lasting more than one year. For this course, you can pay tuition fees in instalments.

Home fees are currently charged to UK nationals and UK residents who meet the rules. However, the rules are complex. Find out more about our tuition fees and determining your fee status.

International fee

£18,350 per year

This fee is correct for 2024/25 entry and is subject to change for 2025/26 entry.

Tuition fees may increase in future years for new and continuing students on courses lasting more than one year. For this course, you can pay tuition fees in instalments.

Students from countries outside of the UK will generally be charged international fees. The rules are complex so read more about tuition fees and determining your fee status.

Scholarship search

Entry requirements

The standard entry requirements for this course are as follows:

  • An honours degree 
  • Or An equivalent EU/international qualification.

AP(E)L – Accreditation of Prior (Experiential) Learning

Exceptionally applicants who do not meet these course entry requirements may still be considered. The course team will consider each application that demonstrates additional strengths and alternative evidence. This might, for example, be demonstrated by:

  • Related academic or work experience
  • The quality of the personal statement
  • A strong academic or other professional reference

Or a combination of these factors.

Each application will be considered on its own merit but cannot guarantee an offer in each case.

English language requirements

IELTS level 6.5 or above, with at least 5.5 in reading, writing, listening and speaking (please check our main English language requirements webpage).

Selection criteria

We select applicants according to potential and current ability in the following areas: 

  • The quality of your practice 
  • Ability to devise and develop a self-directed programme of study 
  • The ability to develop and contextualise work in written form 
  • The ability to analyse and evaluate in both visual and oral terms 
  • Eagerness to contribute to the learning environment at postgraduate level.

What we are looking for 

We are seeking imaginative, resourceful individuals who are committed to exploring and developing a strong individual visual language. 

Apply now

Application deadline

Deadline

Round 1:

13 December 2023 at 1pm (UK time)

Round 2:

3 April 2024 at 1pm (UK time)

Digital portfolio deadline

Round 1:

16 January 2024

Round 2:

16 April 2024

Decision outcome

Round 1:

End of March 2024

Round 2:

End of June 2024

Round 1
Round 2
Deadline
13 December 2023 at 1pm (UK time)
3 April 2024 at 1pm (UK time)
Digital portfolio deadline
16 January 2024
16 April 2024
Decision outcome
End of March 2024
End of June 2024

All applications received by 3 April will be treated equally. If there are places available after this date, the course will remain open to applications until places have been filled.

Read more about deadlines

Apply now

Application deadline

Deadline

Round 1:

13 December 2023 at 1pm (UK time)

Round 2:

3 April 2024 at 1pm (UK time)

Digital portfolio deadline

Round 1:

16 January 2024

Round 2:

16 April 2024

Decision outcome

Round 1:

End of March 2024

Round 2:

End of June 2024

Round 1
Round 2
Deadline
13 December 2023 at 1pm (UK time)
3 April 2024 at 1pm (UK time)
Digital portfolio deadline
16 January 2024
16 April 2024
Decision outcome
End of March 2024
End of June 2024

All applications received by 3 April will be treated equally. If there are places available after this date, the course will remain open to applications until places have been filled.

Read more about deadlines

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How to apply

Follow this step-by-step guide to apply for this course

Step 1: Initial application

You will need to submit an initial application including your personal statement and CV.

Personal statement advice

Your personal statement should be maximum 500 words and include:

  • your reasons for choosing the course
  • your current creative practice and how this course will help you achieve your future plans
  • any relevant education and experience, especially if you do not have any formal academic qualifications.

Visit our personal statement page for more advice.

CV advice

Please provide a CV detailing your education, qualifications and any relevant work or voluntary experience. If you have any web projects or other media that you would like to share, please include links in your CV. If English is not your first language, please also include your most recent English language test score.

Study proposal advice

Please provide a summary of your study proposal (800-1000 words).

It should include:

  • an outline of your study proposal including the methodologies, practices and theories that you plan to explore
  • a summary of your current work and creative practice
  • any contextual references that demonstrate your understanding of contemporary art practice and thinking.

Please note, your proposal serves to inform your application and we understand that your ideas will inevitably develop and change throughout your studies.

Step 2: Digital portfolio

We will review your initial application. If you have met the standard entry requirements, we will ask you to submit a digital portfolio.

You’ll need to submit this via PebblePad, our online portfolio tool.

Digital portfolio advice

Your portfolio should consist of recent work that reflects your creative strengths.

It should:

  • be maximum 25 pages
  • consist of work that illustrates your previous experience, technical skills and creative practice
  • include any relevant research that demonstrates your capacity for independent inquiry and awareness for cultural and social contexts
  • include any group projects to demonstrate your ability to work collaboratively
  • demonstrate your ability to critically reflect upon your own creative practice and the contemporary art world.

For more support, see our Portfolio advice and PebblePad advice.

Step 3: Interview

You may be invited to an interview following our review of your application. All interviews are held online and last 15 to 20 minutes.

For top tips, see our Interview advice.

You also need to know

Communicating with you

Once you have submitted your initial application, we will email you with your login details for our Applicant portal.

Requests for supplementary documents like qualifications and English language tests will be made through the applicant portal. You can also use it to ask questions regarding your application. Visit our After you apply page for more information.

Applying to more than 1 course

You can apply for more than 1 postgraduate course at UAL but we recommend that you apply for no more than 3 courses. You need to tailor your application, supporting documents and portfolio to each course, so applying for many different courses could risk the overall quality of your application. If you receive offers for multiple courses, you'll only be able to accept 1 offer. UAL doesn't accept repeat applications to the same course in the same academic year.

Visas and immigration history check

All non-UK nationals must complete an immigration history check. Your application may be considered by our course teams before this check takes place. This means that we may request your portfolio and/or video task before we identify any issues arising from your immigration history check. Sometimes your history may mean that we are not able to continue considering your application. Visit our Immigration and visas advice page for more information.

External student transfer policy

UAL accepts transfers from other institutions on a case-by-case basis. Read our Student transfer policy for more information.

Alternative offers

If your application is really strong, but we believe your strengths and skillset are better suited to a different course, we may make you an alternative offer. This means you will be offered a place on a different course or at a different UAL College.

Deferring your place

We do not accept any deferral requests for our postgraduate courses. This means that you must apply in the year that you plan to start your course and you will not be able to defer your place to start at a later date.

Application deadlines

For postgraduate courses at UAL there are 2 equal consideration deadlines to ensure fairness for all our applicants. If you apply ahead of either of these deadlines, your application will be considered on an equal basis with all other applications in that round. If there are places available after the second deadline, the course will remain open to applications until places have been filled.

Careers

Our postgraduate Art Programme offers valuable opportunities to build transferable professional knowledge and skills. The exchange of perspectives with others through shared units, reading groups and debates helps establish stimulating and productive networks.

The focus on proposing and developing a major independent programme of study is supported by a shared professional practice lecture series featuring guest speakers plus opportunities to attend symposia and critique work in progress across subject areas. The Postgraduate Art Programme has wide-ranging links with professional organisations, collections and galleries, and includes opportunities for interaction and networking according to your personal career direction.

MA Contemporary Photography; Practices and Philosophies explores photography as a visual language feeding into a wide range of professional arenas and related disciplines. MA Contemporary Photography; Practices and Philosophies graduates are equipped to work in the gallery world, fine art publishing, book publishing and advertising, in London and beyond. They may also progress academically to research (PhD study) and teaching. Equipped with industry and cultural knowledge, you'll leave us knowing your worth in the art and business worlds, at home in international gallery or commercial contexts and able to initiate substantial cultural projects.