Skip to main content
Panoramic collage of university campus architecture

MA History of Photography

Birkbeck University of London, United Kingdom
Save

Course Overview

The MA History of Photography at Birkbeck University of London is a unique and exciting programme that explores the history and development of photography as an art form. Students will learn about the key movements, trends, and figures in the history of photography, as well as the social, cultural, and political contexts in which they emerged. The course will also cover the technical aspects of photography, including camera technology and darkroom processing. Through a combination of lectures, seminars, workshops, and exhibitions, students will gain a deep understanding of the subject matter and develop their critical thinking and research skills. By examining the history of photography in relation to other art forms, such as painting, sculpture, and film, students will also gain a broader perspective on the role of image-making in human culture. Graduates of this course will be well-equipped to pursue careers in photography, museums, galleries, and other cultural institutions.

Additional Information

The MA History of Photography is taught by experienced academics and practitioners who are actively engaged in research and professional practice. The course benefits from strong links with the photographic industry, including leading museums and galleries in London. Students will have access to a range of resources, including the Birkbeck Photographic Library, which contains an extensive collection of books, periodicals, and other materials related to the history of photography.

Unlocking the Secrets of Photography History in London's Cultural Hub

Birkbeck University of London is an ideal place to study the history of photography due to its location in the heart of London. The city is home to a vibrant and diverse photographic community, with numerous galleries, museums, and festivals dedicated to the medium. By studying at Birkbeck, students will be able to engage with this community through exhibitions, events, and other opportunities, providing valuable networking and learning experiences.

Why You Should Study This Course

Our MA History of Photography enables you to learn about - and negotiate your individual path through - past and present photographic practices and cultures, in order to develop your interests, whether your engagement with the medium is academic, artistic, personal, or vocational.

You will develop subject-specific and transferable research, critical, and writing skills that will enhance your career opportunities in the field and beyond, whether in academia or teaching, photography as a practice, galleries, and museums, or in the media. The course is also ideally suited to preparing students with a practice-based background considering a Ph.D.

This degree offers you the opportunity to study with internationally recognized experts. Our teaching staff is defining the field, and conducting groundbreaking research in the history and theory of photography in its various uses and manifestations. You will work closely with our staff while also benefiting from our diverse and vibrant student body of all ages and backgrounds. The teaching program is also enriched by the international research culture of the History and Theory of Photography Research Centre.

General Eligibility

A second-class honors degree (2:2) or above in a relevant subject or equivalent (for example, professional experience).

Part Time Work Details

20 hours of work permit weekly for international students.

What You'll Study

1 Modules

COMPULSORY MODULE:

  • Frameworks: Histories and Theories of Art, Architecture, Photography

RESEARCH EXERCISE/WORK PLACEMENT:

  • Museum Cultures Work Placement

  • Research Exercise

INDICATIVE OPTION MODULES:

  • Art and Identity: 'Race', Ideology, Culture

  • Art and Photography Since 1970

  • Contemporary Photography and the Index

  • Curating Difficult Histories: Museums, Exhibitions, Art Activism

  • Display, Exhibition, and Spectacle in London, 1750-1850

  • Exhibiting the Pain of Others: Museums, Violence, and Memory

  • Fashioning the Body

  • Impressionism Now

  • Modernity's Waste Spaces

  • Photography and the Brazilian 'Image World' circa 1840-1950

  • Photography in the Archives: Issues for Nineteenth-Century Photography

  • Queer and Black Photography in 1980-1990s Britain

  • Silk Threads: Weaving Global Art Histories of Medieval Textiles

  • The Book Unbound

  • Visual Cultures of Disability

MA HISTORY OF PHOTOGRAPHY DISSERTATION:

  • Dissertation MA History of Art

Language Requirement

  • IELTS6.0
  • TOEFL78
  • PTE58
  • Duolingo79
If English is not your first language or you have not previously studied in English, the requirement for this programme is the equivalent of an International English Language Testing System (IELTS Academic Test) score of 6.5, with not less than 6.0 in each of the sub-tests.

Additional Information

This course is available: Part-Time, 2 Years (Course fee for local:£4,905; Course Fee For International Students: £9,015 )

Ready to get started?

For any enquiries or further details, please don't hesitate to contact us. Let's take the next step in your academic journey together.

Contact Us
Call
WhatsApp
Email