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Postgraduate

MA Fashion Photography

Female model with red nails covering her eyes.
MA Fashion Photography. Still from I, Unfolded by Phoebe Guo.
College
London College of Fashion
Start date
September 2023
Course length
15 months

The course situates fashion photography within a range of social, cultural and theoretical models of practice and dissemination.

Applications closed 2023/24

We are no longer accepting applications for 2023/24 entry to this course.

Visit the Courses with places available page for a full list of UAL courses that are open for application.

Why choose this course at London College of Fashion

  • Applicable skills: students will develop a diverse skill set which can be applied to not only fashion photography but fine art, popular culture and mass media.
  • Career opportunities: graduates establish themselves in the industry, often as freelance fashion photographers working with the likes of Gucci, Vogue, The Ragged Priest, Browns Fashion, Sleek Cosmetics, Bricks Magazine, and Wonderland Magazine.
  • Facilities: students on this course will have access to professional standard equipment including photographic studios and a darkroom.

Open day

The next Virtual Open Event for this course will take place on Thursday 2 November. Book your place.

Course overview

The MA Fashion Photography course is designed for graduates or professionals to situate and develop their photographic practice within new or established creative and commercial protocols, and employment opportunities.  Students are encouraged to develop an analysis, philosophy and vision of fashion + photography that is informed by culture, politics, and aesthetics that is outward facing towards industrial, environmental, cultural and societal contribution and benefit, for example. The course draws on a range of cultural, educational, professional and global references to define an expanded and relevant discourse in fashion photography practice, research and development, and employability.

This is meant to foster a range of approaches and techniques, rather than promote a singular or fixed purpose of fashion photography. In this way, the course seeks to develop fashion photographies that oscillate between notions of truth and fiction; sameness and difference; public and private; still and moving; the mirror and window; the epic and the everyday, for example - much like the image and spectacle of fashion itself as body, representation and identity. 

Students engage with photography as the perfect medium, with explicit and implicit capacity for contextual and conceptual interplays, where photography encompasses the full range of technologies and thinking across analogue, digital and moving image platforms. 

The course offers a curriculum and learning environment that stimulates intellectual, practical, technical and collaborative discourses and opportunities. A combination of research and practice leads to a self-negotiated masters project work, which is key to a sustainable livelihood or further academic study.    

The course outcomes shift between editorial and visual art, process and product, and whether made in the ‘real’ world or a performed/ constructed one, the work can disseminate through the page, the wall or the screen - confirming, critiquing or challenging contemporary industry, practice and dialogues in fashion photography.

Climate, Social and Racial Justice

We are committed to ensuring that your skills are set within an ethical framework and are working to embed UAL’s Principles for Climate, Social and Racial Justice into the course.

Contact us

Register your interest to receive information and updates about studying at UAL.

Contact us to make an enquiry.

Course units

  • In/Different Spaces (20 Credits)
  • Interplays: Fashion and Photography (20 Credits)
  • Collaborative Challenge (20 Credits)
  • New Iterations in Fashion Photography (40 Credits)
  • Research Proposal (20 Credits)
  • Masters Project (60 Credits)

MA Fashion Photography is offered in full-time mode and runs for 45 weeks over 15 months. You will be expected to commit an average of 40 hours per week to your course, including teaching hours, tutorial support and independent study.

Learning and teaching methods

The course utilises standard methods, such as lectures, seminars, studio workshops, field trips, and group and individual tutorials, the course cultivates an international perspective with global networks, as well as a ‘go see’ attitude outside of the classroom/ studio.

The following set of teaching and learning strategies also significantly underpin the course ethos:  

Experimental and experiential learning: Students are encouraged to be proactive and take creative risks.  

Collaboration: Collaboration is a core principle and key skill on this course, and students are encouraged to initiate self-directed collaborative projects often required as part of their production team, as well as external collaborations with other MA cohorts within LCF/ UAL, alumni and industry. 

Peer-to-Peer Learning, Knowledge exchange and Feedback: Developing the skill of offering collegial and constructive criticism is key to the construction of a formative learning environment, and to a career in academia, one of the industries our graduates enter. This is embedded in the course, as students present their ideas in class and critique each other’s work as part of the ongoing formative feedback generated. 

Expert Talks: Experts from the industry, alumni, and leading scholars from across LCF/ UAL and other HEI’s are invited to share their expertise with the students in an array of forms, including guest lectures, panels, and workshops. These talks are embedded in the curriculum, complementing and extending the core delivery. 

Technical Delivery: Technical delivery developing core skills in photographic/ media practice and production are embedded in the curriculum to support the core course units. This provision is offered in the scheduled teaching programme as part of an expected level of advanced skill, as well as through sign-up workshop sessions via the media lab/ department technical staff team. 

Graduate Showcase

Explore work by our recent students on the UAL Graduate Showcase

Student and graduate work

  • Aleksandra-Klicka.jpg
  • Boonphisut-Chateakcharoen.jpg
  • Pascal-Emmeran.jpg
  • Susanna-Johansen.jpg

Latest news from this course

Paul Bevan is course director for MA Fashion Photography. Read Paul Bevan's full profile here.

Fees and funding

Home fee

£12,700

This fee is correct for 2023/24 entry and is subject to change for 2024/25 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

£25,970

This fee is correct for 2023/24 entry and is subject to change for 2024/25 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

You will have:

  • A relevant degree and prior experience engaging on a critical and/or practical level with fashion photography, media or fine art photography. 
  • The proven ability and willingness to collaborate, generate ideas, engage with current cultural discourse and showcase an understanding of your practice and the motivation to explore it further at post-graduate level.

We will also consider applicants who are practicing photographers, artists and designers from different professions with an interest in fashion and photography. We are also interested in applicants from an artistic or scientific background, who have a desire to progress into a career in the creative industries.

APEL (Accreditation of Prior (Experiential) Learning)

Applicants who do not meet these course entry requirements may still be considered in exceptional cases. 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 (minimum of three years)
  • 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 we cannot guarantee an offer in each case.

Selection criteria

The course seeks to recruit students from diverse socio-economic and cultural backgrounds and welcomes applications from mature students. Primarily it is the purpose of selection to recruit those students for whom the course would be most beneficial and appropriate, as evidenced through the application process.

English Language Requirements

IELTS level 6.5 with a minimum of 5.5 in reading, writing, listening and speaking. Please check our main English Language Requirements.

Apply now

Applications closed 2023/24

We are no longer accepting applications for 2023/24 entry to this course.

Visit the Courses with places available page for a full list of UAL courses that are open for application.

This section includes all the information you need on how to apply, how your application is considered and what happens next.

UK/EU students can apply to a postgraduate course at LCF by completing a direct application.

Deferring your place

This course accepts requests from offer holders to defer their place for one academic year. Deferral requests are granted on a first-come, first-served basis until all deferral places are filled, or a deadline has been reached, whichever is sooner. Read our Admissions Policy for details, including how to request a deferral and by when.

External Student Transfer Policy

If you are currently studying at another institution and if you have successfully completed 60 credits in the equivalent units/modules on your current PG course and wish to continue your studies at London College of Fashion, you can apply to transfer. The Admissions Tutor will consider applications on a case by case basis, subject to places being available. You must apply directly to the course via the course webpage as early as possible.

Please check our Student Transfer Policy for more important information and be ready to provide us with your current course handbook and transcripts.

Please be ready to provide an official document (translated into English if necessary) from your current university, explaining the learning outcomes of the units you have completed.

Start your application now

Extra information required for applications to this course


When you are submitting your application form, you will also need to provide the following pieces of documentation in support of your application:

Curriculum Vitae

You will be required to submit a Curriculum Vitae (C.V.) in support of your application. This should include your full education and employment history.

Personal statement

The personal statement is your opportunity to tell us about yourself and your suitability for the course that you intend to study.

Some key points to consider:

  • Make sure that personal statement is your own work and is about you.
  • Explain why you want to study the course you are applying to.
  • Try to link your skills and experience required to the course.
  • Demonstrate your interest and enthusiasm for the course and link these with your personality.
  • Make sure it is organised and literate (grammar, spelling, punctuation check).

Study proposal

Your study proposal should be no more than 600 words (excluding research sources, bibliography and appendices).
It should:

  • State briefly the background for the proposal.
  • Determine the precise area of study.
  • Set out clearly and concisely your aims and objectives for the period of study within the course structure.
  • Refer to critical discourses that may underpin your practice and how your work may contribute to these.
  • State your intended methodology and audience/ location. This should include how you intend to conduct your project and who you intend to address.

Your study proposal should have the following structure:

Introduction
Introduce your work. Briefly outline recent developments prior to application. Describe the anticipated programme of study in detail, demonstrating your knowledge of the historical and contemporary context of your area of study. Focus on specific areas or issues that underpin and frame the proposal.

Programme of study
Outline the sequence of practical, theoretical and research that you intend to follow. This will be vital to your programme of study in the development stage in which the Study Proposal will progress and take shape.
For example, describe in detail the methodologies that you follow and their significance for the design process. (Advice and support will be offered by tutors on the course). Any supporting material should appear in the Appendices at the end of the proposal.

Evaluation
Evaluate your work to date. Draw any conclusions you are able to make.

Research sources
Give details of libraries, exhibitions, museums, galleries and special archives that you have visited as part of your research towards the proposal.

Bibliography
Keep a full record of all original and documentary material consulted. List appropriate material using the Harvard Referencing System.

Appendices
Insert any additional material that you consider relevant but not part of the core of the study proposal. This could include links to notes, drawings and additional research material.

Portfolio

You will be required to submit a digital portfolio with a maximum of 30 images that you consider would help support your application. Submit your portfolio via the university’s digital portfolio tool, PebblePad. More details will be sent to you after you have submitted your application.

Video task


We’d like you to submit a 2-3 minute video to help us learn more about you.

Please speak clearly in English and face the camera. Read our guidance for how to submit your video task and which file types we accept.

Your video task should cover the following topics:

We would like you to identify one project from your portfolio which challenged you and your understanding of fashion photography. Explain how this experience has inspired you to apply to MA Fashion Photography at LCF.

What happens next

All application forms, personal statements and relevant documents are read and considered by the course team against the selection criteria listed in the Entry requirements and Selection Criteria sections.

Depending on the quality of your application, you may be asked to submit a number of images of your work. Label and present any visual work with care, including dates and captions.

If the course team wish to consider your application further, you will be invited to attend an interview. If you are selected for interview, these will take place online using Teams from Microsoft – please ensure that you download this software prior to the interview date; this is available as a free download from the Microsoft website. We will send you further details at a later point about how we will connect with you for your interview.

If you are successful at the interview stage you will be offered a place. Please note that applicants are not guaranteed an interview.

Please note that if you are unable to attend, the College may not be able to re-schedule.

How we notify you of the outcome of your application

The result of your application will be communicated to you through your UAL Portal. If your application has been successful, you will receive a full offer pack including details of accommodation, fees, and other important information.

Applications for this course can only be accepted for this year of entry. Applications for deferred entry cannot be accepted.

Application deadline

19 December 2022 and 3 April 2023

Our equal consideration deadlines have now passed. This course will remain open to applications for 2023 entry until places have been filled. Please be aware that courses can close without notice.

We recommend you submit your application as early as possible to allow the Admissions team to resolve any initial queries about your application as quickly as possible.

When you'll hear from us

If this course requires a digital portfolio as part of the application process, you will be invited to submit this through UAL’s online submission tool, PebblePad. We will request this separately after initial processing of your application is complete. Once we request your portfolio, you will have 7 days to submit it.

Once you’ve sent in your application, this will be sent through to our course teams for review. Find out more about what happens after you apply.

Applications closed 2023/24

We are no longer accepting applications for 2023/24 entry to this course.

Visit the Courses with places available page for a full list of UAL courses that are open for application.

This section includes all the information you need on how to apply, how your application is considered and what happens next.

There are 2 ways international students can apply to a postgraduate course:

Read our immigration and visa information to find out if you need a visa to study at UAL.

You can only apply to the same course once per year. Any duplicate applications will be withdrawn.  Read the UAL international application advice for further information on how to apply.

Deferring your place

This course accepts requests from offer holders to defer their place for one academic year. Deferral requests are granted on a first-come, first-served basis until all deferral places are filled, or a deadline has been reached, whichever is sooner. Read our Admissions Policy for details, including how to request a deferral and by when.

External Student Transfer Policy

If you are currently studying at another institution and if you have successfully completed 60 credits in the equivalent units/modules on your current PG course and wish to continue your studies at London College of Fashion, you can apply to transfer. The Admissions Tutor will consider applications on a case by case basis, subject to places being available. You must apply directly to the course via the course webpage as early as possible.

Please check our Student Transfer Policy for more important information and be ready to provide us with your current course handbook and transcripts.

Please be ready to provide an official document (translated into English if necessary) from your current university, explaining the learning outcomes of the units you have completed.

Start your application now

Extra information required for applications to this course


When you are submitting your application form, you will also need to provide the following pieces of documentation in support of your application:

Curriculum Vitae

You will be required to submit a Curriculum Vitae (C.V.) in support of your application. This should include your full education and employment history.

Personal statement

The personal statement is your opportunity to tell us about yourself and your suitability for the course that you intend to study.

Some key points to consider:

  • Make sure that personal statement is your own work and is about you.
  • Explain why you want to study the course you are applying to.
  • Try to link your skills and experience required to the course.
  • Demonstrate your interest and enthusiasm for the course and link these with your personality.
  • Make sure it is organised and literate (grammar, spelling, punctuation check).

Study proposal

Your study proposal should be no more than 900 words (excluding research sources, bibliography and appendices).
It should:

  • State briefly the background for the proposal.
  • Determine the precise area of study.
  • Set out clearly and concisely your aims and objectives for the period of study within the course structure.
  • Refer to critical discourses that may underpin your practice and how your work may contribute to these.
  • State your intended methodology and audience/ location. This should include how you intend to conduct your project and who you intend to address.

Your study proposal should have the following structure:

Introduction
Introduce your work. Briefly outline recent developments prior to application. Describe the anticipated programme of study in detail, demonstrating your knowledge of the historical and contemporary context of your area of study. Focus on specific areas or issues that underpin and frame the proposal.

Programme of study
Outline the sequence of practical, theoretical and research that you intend to follow. This will be vital to your programme of study in the development stage in which the Study Proposal will progress and take shape.
For example, describe in detail the methodologies that you follow and their significance for the design process. (Advice and support will be offered by tutors on the course). Any supporting material should appear in the Appendices at the end of the proposal.

Evaluation
Evaluate your work to date. Draw any conclusions you are able to make.

Research sources
Give details of libraries, exhibitions, museums, galleries and special archives that you have visited as part of your research towards the proposal.

Bibliography
Keep a full record of all original and documentary material consulted. List appropriate material using the Harvard Referencing System.

Appendices
Insert any additional material that you consider relevant but not part of the core of the study proposal. This could include links to notes, drawings and additional research material.

Portfolio

You will be required to submit a digital portfolio with a maximum of 30 images that you consider would help support your application. Submit your portfolio via the university’s digital portfolio tool, PebblePad. More details will be sent to you after you have submitted your application.

Video task


We’d like you to submit a 2-3 minute video to help us learn more about you.

Please speak clearly in English and face the camera. Read our guidance for how to submit your video task and which file types we accept.

Your video task should cover the following topics:

We would like you to identify one project from your portfolio which challenged you and your understanding of fashion photography. Explain how this experience has inspired you to apply to MA Fashion Photography at LCF.

What happens next

Immigration History Check

After you have applied, you will need to complete an Immigration History Check to identify whether you are eligible to study at UAL. Do be aware, if you do not complete the Immigration History Check we will not be able to proceed with your application.

Initial application check

All application forms, personal statements and relevant documents are read and considered by the course team against the selection criteria listed in the Entry requirements and Selection Criteria sections.

Depending on the quality of your application, you may be asked to submit a number of images of your work. Label and present any visual work with care, including dates and captions.

If the course team wish to consider your application further, you will be invited to attend an interview. If you are selected for interview, these will take place online using Teams from Microsoft – please ensure that you download this software prior to the interview date; this is available as a free download from the Microsoft website. We will send you further details at a later point about how we will connect with you for your interview.

If you are successful at the interview stage you will be offered a place. Please note that applicants are not guaranteed an interview.

Please note that if you are unable to attend, the College may not be able to re-schedule.

How we notify you of the outcome of your application

The result of your application will be communicated to you through your UAL Portal. If your application has been successful, you will receive a full offer pack including details of accommodation, fees, and other important information.

Applications for this course can only be accepted for this year of entry. Applications for deferred entry cannot be accepted.

Application deadline

19 December 2022 and 3 April 2023

Our equal consideration deadlines have now passed. This course will remain open to applications for 2023 entry until places have been filled. Please be aware that courses can close without notice.

We recommend you submit your application as early as possible to allow the Admissions team to resolve any initial queries about your application as quickly as possible.

When you'll hear from us

This course receives a high volume of applications. We need to make sure that we give all applications equal consideration, so the course team will review them in two rounds. This means that offers won’t be sent to successful applicants until after the relevant application deadline date. Outcomes for Round 1 will be released by 31 March 2022 and outcomes for Round 2 will be released by 30 June 2022.

Remember to check the outcome of your application in the UAL Portal. If you apply in Round 1 and don’t hear back from us, we will consider your application within Round 2.

Find out more about what happens after you apply.

After you apply

After you’ve submitted your application, you’ll receive a confirmation email providing you with your login details for the UAL Portal. We’ll use this Portal to contact you to request any additional information, including inviting you to upload documents or book an interview, so please check it regularly.

Once we’ve reviewed and assessed your application, we’ll contact you via the UAL Portal to let you know whether your application has been successful.

Careers

All our postgraduate courses offer career development, so that you become a creative thinker, making effective contributions to your relevant sector of the fashion industry.

  • LCF offers students the opportunity to develop Personal and Professional Development (PPD) skills while studying through:
  • Access to to speaker programmes and events featuring alumni and industry.
  • Access to careers activities, such as CV clinics and one-to-one advice sessions.
  • Access to a graduate careers service
  • Access to a live jobsboard for all years.
  • Advice on setting up your own brand or company

Career paths

Masters graduates have an acknowledged advantage in the employment market, obtaining work in a wide range of vocational and academic fields related to fashion. The MA also provides an excellent preparation for higher level research degrees (MPhil or PhD), with an increasing number of graduates undertaking research in fashion related subjects, in practice or theory or entering education as lecturers.

Graduates of this course have recently gone on to work for Solve Sundsbo and Paul McCartney.