Uni, decisions decisions...

[Joenail]

As you probably guessed, I can't decide on what universities to apply for, so any help here would be greatly appreciated.

So far I've looked at:

University College Falmouth - looks great, good set-up, good lecturers, good place, students' work each year is all very different. Seems like they let you develop your own style more than a lot of places, but it's as far away as I could possibly get from Glasgow without leaving the UK. Fees aren't a massive issue.

Edinburgh Napier - Heard some good things, but went to visit & it looked horrible. The photography dept. is down in the basement. It's as if they're embarrassed about it. Don't know much about the quality of teaching & career direction as they didn't talk much about it. Plus side is that the course is photography AND film.

Glasgow School of Art (fine art photography) - I know a few people that studied there & have warned me against it. Too arty farty for me anyway.

GSA (Vis. Comm.) - Not sure what to think about it, photography there looks good, more my kind of style. Not sure how photo-orientated it is though. Plus, it's close to home so that's a bonus.

Edinburgh College of Art - Doesn't seem to have much direction in terms if types of photography. The students' work all looks quite similar as well.


I'm interested in every aspect of photography (keep all options open & all that), but my main thing is definitely street photography, documentary & reportage. General un-posed photo essay stuff.

Any advice/opinions/words would be greatly appreciated as this has been killing me for the last few weeks.

Cheers,

-J

 

[alexnail]

You might hate me for saying this but I think a degree like photography would be a bad choice, particularly in this economic climate. I did an engineering degree and I have 16K of debt on my back, but I do have a valuable qualification. Photography degrees are not, in my opinion, valuable qualifications.
If you want to make a success of photography as a career your time might be better spent doing a business degree or something similar. Otherwise learning as assistants to other photographers may be a better way of getting to where you want to be. You could even try shooting for the local paper if you want to get into the more people focussed side of photography.
Just know that in the last 10 years everyone with a camera thinks they can take a photo. In this increasingly competitive environment its the photographers with the best business skills and drive that succeed.

Alex

 

[mrsbobbins]

If joe has been living in Scotland for over 5 years you don't pay uni fees in Scotland

I think it hard to choose and like what Alex said it could end up begging a bad move with loans ect

 

[Joenail]

I know it's probably a bad idea in the long run, but I've decided it's what I want to do more than anything else. Even if I never earn any money from it I'll still have a degree under my belt & will have spent 3/4 years doing something I love. I can always re-study if I stay in Scotland for photography since there aren't any fees.

Thanks for your response all the same.

 

[SamP]

[YOUTUBE]swDpWNKB5Co[/YOUTUBE]

Seriously, get a real degree and study photography on the side. You'll thank me later on in life.

 

[danjama]

I know it's probably a bad idea in the long run, but I've decided it's what I want to do more than anything else. Even if I never earn any money from it I'll still have a degree under my belt & will have spent 3/4 years doing something I love. I can always re-study if I stay in Scotland for photography since there aren't any fees.

Thanks for your response all the same.

Very true.

I started a BA in creative writing because it was something I loved. If that's not a reason to dedicate time to something, what is?

In my opinion, Falmouth sounds like the best option. It's a great place, and there is nothing better than getting as far away from what you know as possible. Everything will be new and exciting, from the people to the scenery to the cutlery you eat with. Soak it all up, be inspired, and live.

(Talking like this makes me want to drop everything and move somewhere new )

 

[Joenail]

Very true.

I started a BA in creative writing because it was something I loved. If that's not a reason to dedicate time to something, what is?

In my opinion, Falmouth sounds like the best option. It's a great place, and there is nothing better than getting as far away from what you know as possible. Everything will be new and exciting, from the people to the scenery to the cutlery you eat with. Soak it all up, be inspired, and live.

That's what I was thinking, just a matter of me persuading myself to give up what I have here for a few years.

(Talking like this makes me want to drop everything and move somewhere new )

Do it! don't let life stop you living

 

[alpina]

Have you looked at Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen? I am doing a BA in commercial photography. I finished my HND in photography this summer and using the uni-link setup that the uni has with Aberdeen College I gained entry into the third year of the BA.

 

[punkuate]

Degrees in photography are not useful at all, its not very much about photo taking, and much more about writing essays. I'd go for a shorter course at a college or something. I know people in their last year of a photography degree who don't know the very basics of photography because they don't learn anything.

 

[alpina]

Degrees in photography are not useful at all.

I disagree completely. A major part of this years semester is business studies, very very useful in a photography context. I agree that there is no camera techniques being taught but its assumed that you know how to use it at degree level.

Looking at a photograph in a critical contextual way is a useful skill being taught in the class and I have realised that there is a whole new world out there for me to consider.

 

[jamesb84]

I'm sorry, I've tried not to post recently as its been getting a bit silly round here...but I can't let this one go.

The guy wants to do PHOTOGRAPHY at uni, who the hell are all these people to say he should do something else. It's probably bad enough his teachers etc are trying to discourage him without total strangers doing the same.

That's the equivilant to me walking up to you in the street and saying "wow your job is crap, why did you do that?" Seems a little rude no?

For that matter, those of you poo-pooing the idea of a photo degree, how many of you did a photo degree?! Or is this just "Internet expert" speak?

To the OP, I know guys who graduated from Falmouth and they said it was very good, they are employed as photographers. I can't comment on anything else with any authority.

The other course that comes very highly recommended among my colleagues is Documentary Photography at Newport. A lot of guys who went there are now employed as very successful photographers in Wales and the South West, and I'm sure there are many more nationally as well. I know Newport also have some very good links with industry.

 

[punkuate]

The guy wants to do PHOTOGRAPHY at uni, who the hell are all these people to say he should do something else. .

Because he admits its probably a bad idea in the long run and seems to just want to study something he enjoys which is why I'm suggesting a more practical based photography course through a college might actually be better for "fun" and he might learn more. Its more of doing what he actually enjoys and less reading about where *insert name of photographer* grew up and where he exhibited. Also, it means he doesn't need to leave his life in Glasgow as there are some pretty good photography courses right here.

Also it might be worth looking specifically at commercial photography degrees, I know a guy who did this recently who seemed to be enjoying it and it also has quite a lot of practical information (i.e - marketing) which might be worth looking into?

 

[realspeed]

There are about 39 people with degrees chasing each job apparently. As an employer given the choice between a graduate and someone without a degree but has experience I would hire the one with experience every time.

Getting a degree isn't the " be all end all" to a successful career, I should know from personal experience.

My advice is skip UNI with the huge debt incurred and go out there and learn through hard slog and do the work and learn that way.

Go to night school if you want qualifications, thats what I did

Realspeed

 

[Photodiva]

Hi. i feel like chipping in here. My own experience (I passed on the university experience when people were 'dropping out' and 'tripping') is that I now regret not having the uni experience. Not only that, but I found that when applying for jobs in recent years, if I couldn't 'tick the box' with a degree in the 'education' box, I couldn't get as far as an interview, even though my years of experience in the job seemed to outweight the 20-somethings fresh out of uni. I almost went down the route of 'buying' a degree. Where I now work most of the junior admin all have BAs and MAs (mostly in the arts) just to earn £17k.

My kids have now been thru uni, son got a job in an area he wanted, but it doesn't pay great shakes. My daughter finished this year, and I'm not expecting her to find anything worthwhile in the immediate future.

So, Joe. What can I say? If you really want to study photography, do it. You may end up working in a Quick Print afterwards to pay your bills, but is that important? Do you want to make a career in photography? Its hard work, but if you've got talent and can make contacts during your time at Uni, its not completely impossible. Almost all of the photographers in the BP Photographic Portrait exhibition at the NPG have 'done' a degree, if that's anything to go by. But good business skills are needed as much as good photography skills. See if you can find the biographies of photographers you rate and see what their pathway was.

Worst case is you have spent 3-4 years NOT on the dole, not feeling depressed about not getting a job, and actually enjoy your time. Don't worry about the debt - probably the whole country will be bankrupt in 4 years time anyway

 

[cambsno]

You might hate me for saying this but I think a degree like photography would be a bad choice, particularly in this economic climate. I did an engineering degree and I have 16K of debt on my back, but I do have a valuable qualification. Photography degrees are not, in my opinion, valuable qualifications.
If you want to make a success of photography as a career your time might be better spent doing a business degree or something similar. Otherwise learning as assistants to other photographers may be a better way of getting to where you want to be. You could even try shooting for the local paper if you want to get into the more people focussed side of photography.
Just know that in the last 10 years everyone with a camera thinks they can take a photo. In this increasingly competitive environment its the photographers with the best business skills and drive that succeed.

Alex

I would probably agree with Alex. If thats what you really want to do, then do it, but something to think about is what use will the degree be in 10 years time. Many people end up in a career they never expected to be in, and a more general degree would possibly be better in years to come.

As others have said, if you were to assist or even go freelance for the next 3 years, I feel you would be much better off than coming out of Uni with a degree but limited experience. If you do plan to go then look at what they do at the END of the course, do they have companied linked with them who may provide placements, or get you off to a start?

 

[Strappy]

Joe, looking through your list and it seems that you're favouring Falmouth already.

IMO, you'd be daft not to go there. It's the course you want to do, it's got a good reputation and you feel right about it - bit of a no-brainer, really. Yes, it's far away from home but that's a good thing; you'll meet new people, see new things and with a Scottish accent, you'll be girl bait.

As for getting a 'useful' degree, I went to uni as a mature student and studied a very technical course. I've since used about 5% of what I learned and worked in an IT and business environment alongside people who studied arts subjects and hadn't a clue about the inner workings of computers. These days unless you're going into a specialist area, the majority of degrees only show that you have a certain level of intelligence and capability, the rest you tend to pick up on the job.

You want to work in a specialist area, you want to study a related and worthwhile course for that area and you love it so go for it. Yes, it could all go tits up and you end up unable to get work as a photographer so you're forced to get a job working for The Big Insurance Co. or OmniBank but you'll always have those photography skills to fall back on and there's nothing stopping you from producing work for small exhibitions or projects you can follow up in your spare time.

 

[TinaC]

As an old lady who left school to work with horses and ended doing Systems Analysis and Programming and teaching these in Further Ed I will cautiously dip my toe in this murky pond.

You want to study photography? Your signature "You don't study photography. You do it." - Elliott Erwitt

Photography is (like computing) a wide area of expertise and the industry like physical evidence of skill. My view would be to find a photographer who produces interesting and varied work and persuade them to take you on as an 'apprentice' At the end of 3 years you will have that wonderful thing 'real world experience'

Best of luck for your future

 

[Strappy]

Photography is (like computing) a wide area of expertise and the industry like physical evidence of skill. My view would be to find a photographer who produces interesting and varied work and persuade them to take you on as an 'apprentice' At the end of 3 years you will have that wonderful thing 'real world experience'

As a counter-point to that, you'll have three years experience of shooting in the style of the person you manage to persuade to take you on. The uni course will give you 3 years experience of a variety of techniques and styles plus you'll be able to approach potential employers or mentors with a portfolio full of examples of just how wide your experience is.

 

[Vic]

I'm going to skip the 'photography degrees are a waste of time' debate, they never lead anywhere and it's impossible to change that opinion. If you want to do a photography degree then do it, seriously if its something you are passionate about it then do it, you won't regret it.

I'll comment on Napier, don't write it off due to the facilities, although I totally understand what you mean, I visited it and got a shock! It's got great tutors and they enjoy experimenting. They don't have so much of an agenda as GSA although they do favour the documentary/art side of things.

I would skip the ECA and the GSA personally.

Speaking as someone who is in their final year of doing a photography degree, if you take every opportunity, use every contact you can, get as much experience as you can, READ as much as you can you should come out with the determination to really make it go somewhere.

 

[PsiFox]

If you can't decide what is going to be best for you, how can you expect us to tell you what to do. It's your life, you know it best and you need to make the decisions that may change your life forever.

Are you going to come back in 10 years and ask should you should marry your girlfiend and get a mortgage?

You have choices to make all your life. Now you have to decide to either follow your heart or follow your brain. You are young enough that should you make a mistake now it isn't the end of the world.

 

[Strappy]

If you can't decide what is going to be best for you, how can you expect us to tell you what to do. It's your life, you know it best and you need to make the decisions that may change your life forever. <snip>

That's a bit harsh, isn't it? I read the OP as the usual, "I've made up my mind what I want to do, I just need to think out loud for a bit". See about 85% of the "new lens" threads for further examples.

Anyone who gets other people to make their decisions for them on the internet probably shouldn't be allowed to use it unsupervised.

 

[skiking]

As an old lady who left school to work with horses and ended doing Systems Analysis and Programming and teaching these in Further Ed I will cautiously dip my toe in this murky pond.

You want to study photography? Your signature "You don't study photography. You do it." - Elliott Erwitt

Photography is (like computing) a wide area of expertise and the industry like physical evidence of skill. My view would be to find a photographer who produces interesting and varied work and persuade them to take you on as an 'apprentice' At the end of 3 years you will have that wonderful thing 'real world experience'

Best of luck for your future

I too work in IT for one of the big IT services companies, I don't have a degree and I got my knowledge from starting at the bottom and letting my drive and desire get me on in the company. I'm working at the same level as many a person with degrees (altho' there are plenty above me ). Experience is a good call.

Why can't the OP get an 'apprentice' role with a photography company (apprenticeships are back in fashion again with a number of employer incentives) and do the degree part time ?

 

[Harvey_nikon]

I would personally do a photography degree, just to do it.

However in real life I don't feel it would add a lot to my skill set.

What you should all remember is that some photography jobs require a degree in photography, such as the Medical one posted recently for the NHS.

 

[jon ryan]

Some food for thought:

From the Complete University Guide

Statistics show that in 2010, six months after graduating, just over 60% of film and photography graduates were in employment. Nearly 30% of these were professionals in the arts, design, culture and sports sectors while 31% were working in the retail sector.

Have you considered Fine Arts or Design? Both of these can have a large photography element and may give you more options on graduation.

 

[Chris Primadona]

My current HND course is leading me to the third year (hons). at city of glasgow.
http://www.cityofglasgowcollege.ac.uk/courses/creative-industries/ba-hons-photography

 

[EMA747]

Joe have you had a look at this http://www.oca-uk.com/distance-learning/photography You can get a degree out of it, you don't have massive fees, you can work while you learn if you want to. There are quite a few on here doing it and they seem to rate it pretty highly. I am looking into it but haven't done it so can give any feedback. It's not got the "uni experience" part but with the cost of uni these days I wouldn't say go just for the experience. For the record I didn't really enjoy uni that much.

 

[Kaolin]

I can't say anything useful about photography degrees, but I do work in a University and spent 10 plus years as a student. I now supervise a range of students and it is really important to make the most from any degree, many students sadly do not. It is very true to say you get back what you put in (both academically and practically). Particularly in the current climate you need to differentiate yourself from the others on your course so for example look at what the RPS offers. As a suspect you will need more than just a degree to launch a career (I am not saying the degree won&#8217;t help). Try and arrange some work experience in whatever part of the field interests you. Try and work towards having a varied and interesting CV by the time you finish, so when applying for jobs you stand out from the crowd.

 

[Chris Primadona]

The things you learn from the degree would make it worthwhile alone. The networking and bit of paper at the end (and letters after your name) are just a bonus in my opinion. I went into my HND with 10 years photography experience, thinking I knew it all. A couple of months into the course and I'm learning something new every day!. It's well worth it IMHO.

 

[Joenail]

Wow, didn't realise how many comments this had, cheers people. Will reply to each one when I get home!

 

[Joenail]

Ok, replying begins now.

I apologise, but I'm not going to reply to anyone who has said don't do it, because I know all the reasons (I think!) not to and it hasn't put me off one bit

Some food for thought:

From the Complete University Guide

Have you considered Fine Arts or Design? Both of these can have a large photography element and may give you more options on graduation.

Thanks for the link Jon, an interesting read.
I've just finished studying graphic design for 2 years, which lead me to rediscover photography after a good 12 years without a camera. Graphic design isn't for me - can't get my head around communicating somebody else's message in something quite personal.

My current HND course is leading me to the third year (hons). at city of glasgow.
http://www.cityofglasgowcollege.ac.uk/courses/creative-industries/ba-hons-photography

I've just spent 2 years in a graphic design course there, so I visited the 12th floor quite a lot (that's where the photography dept. is). The COGC teaching isn't what I'm looking for at all. I want to be able to develop my own style (as I'm sure everyone does), & it doesn't seem like they let you do that as much as they should. It's all very standard, straight on portraits with other photography students with no expressions as 'models'. 70% of the course is in the studio doing stuff like this, or so it seems. I know one of the part time lecturers there fairly well & he pretty much confirmed what I already thought about it.

Have you looked at Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen? I am doing a BA in commercial photography. I finished my HND in photography this summer and using the uni-link setup that the uni has with Aberdeen College I gained entry into the third year of the BA.

I have, looks good, but commercial photography isn't what I want to spend 3 years doing. Cheers anyway!

I'm sorry, I've tried not to post recently as its been getting a bit silly round here...but I can't let this one go.

The guy wants to do PHOTOGRAPHY at uni, who the hell are all these people to say he should do something else. It's probably bad enough his teachers etc are trying to discourage him without total strangers doing the same.

That's the equivilant to me walking up to you in the street and saying "wow your job is crap, why did you do that?" Seems a little rude no?

For that matter, those of you poo-pooing the idea of a photo degree, how many of you did a photo degree?! Or is this just "Internet expert" speak?

To the OP, I know guys who graduated from Falmouth and they said it was very good, they are employed as photographers. I can't comment on anything else with any authority.

The other course that comes very highly recommended among my colleagues is Documentary Photography at Newport. A lot of guys who went there are now employed as very successful photographers in Wales and the South West, and I'm sure there are many more nationally as well. I know Newport also have some very good links with industry.

haha, well said
Newport is now in my top 2, so thanks for suggesting that. They say they work closely with Magnum. Any idea how true this is & what it means for people studying there? I know the course was set up by a Magnum photographer, so could that be all it is?



& finally, to all of you who said it's best to get experience or assist someone, I've got a chance of working in a local gallery for a while and assisting a fairly well known landscape photographer (initials are T.C, that's all you're getting until someone guesses it ).

Thanks to everyone who commented & sorry if I didn't reply to some of you, but I think I've covered just about everything here. It's good to know that people are willing to take time to give us horrible student b******* some advice

-J



P.S - application decisions have been made (for now, at least)
#1 - Falmouth
#2 - Newport
#3 - Ed'bra Napier
#4 - GSA (either vis. comm. or fine art photography)
#5 - Something in America that's really hard to get in to, just to see if I can

 

[Vic]

I've just spent 2 years in a graphic design course there, so I visited the 12th floor quite a lot (that's where the photography dept. is). The COGC teaching isn't what I'm looking for at all. I want to be able to develop my own style (as I'm sure everyone does), & it doesn't seem like they let you do that as much as they should. It's all very standard, straight on portraits with other photography students with no expressions as 'models'. 70% of the course is in the studio doing stuff like this, or so it seems. I know one of the part time lecturers there fairly well & he pretty much confirmed what I already thought about it.

It's a shame there is a lecturer saying that this is all the course at the Met is, I'm guessing as they are part time they don't get to teach on the degree. :| I am in my honours year in conjunction with the Met and I (and Napier and GSA grads) can honestly say it is one of the best courses for creative freedom there is. I myself have been allowed to do full time curating for the honours year and there were two of us in Street Level's Futureproof. This is probably as it is being a fairly new degree so they don't have a set 'agenda' or direction to their degree but I hope in a few years time it will be one of the best courses in Scotland.

Although I totally understand about viewing the HND as more rigid but the teaching style in 2nd year+ is anything but.

 

[Joenail]

It's a shame there is a lecturer saying that this is all the course at the Met is, I'm guessing as they are part time they don't get to teach on the degree. :| I am in my honours year in conjunction with the Met and I (and Napier and GSA grads) can honestly say it is one of the best courses for creative freedom there is. I myself have been allowed to do full time curating for the honours year and there were two of us in Street Level's Futureproof. This is probably as it is being a fairly new degree so they don't have a set 'agenda' or direction to their degree but I hope in a few years time it will be one of the best courses in Scotland.

Although I totally understand about viewing the HND as more rigid but the teaching style in 2nd year+ is anything but.

Fair enough, maybe maybe it's just the NQ & HNC work I've seen then. Didn't even know they did a BA. Must find out about that

 

[Flash In The Pan]

I know it's probably a bad idea in the long run, but I've decided it's what I want to do more than anything else. Even if I never earn any money from it I'll still have a degree under my belt & will have spent 3/4 years doing something I love. I can always re-study if I stay in Scotland for photography since there aren't any fees.

Thanks for your response all the same.

Yes, you'll have a degree but sorry, in reality it's not a degree that's going to get you a job in any other field other than photography, unless you fancy working in Jessops.

I fully understand what you say about doing a degree in a subject your passionate about, I did that and in hindsight I wish I hadn't and instead had done something with a definite career path, such as law.

With regard to the bit about "I can always re-study if I stay in Scotland for photography since there aren't any fees", I'm not sure I understand what you mean by that. In general you can only get funding once for undergraduate study (there are some funded masters degrees etc), you can't go back and do a second degree (under or postgrad) without having to pay for it yourself.

 

[EMA747]

With regard to the bit about "I can always re-study if I stay in Scotland for photography since there aren't any fees", I'm not sure I understand what you mean by that. In general you can only get funding once for undergraduate study (there are some funded masters degrees etc), you can't go back and do a second degree (under or postgrad) without having to pay for it yourself.

What Graham says is correct and well worth keeping in mind. I have contacted the powers the be and the said that if you have completed study to a given level they NOT fund something of an equivalent level if you go back to study in the future (it's call Equivalent Level Funding I think). ie if you do an undergrad degree they would not fund you to do a second one as you would already have that level of qualification. In my case I had to drop out due to illness at the time so didn't complete my degree so they would fund me again. I did Civil Engineering and like others have said it would pretty certainly buy me a place with a good company if I completed it.

 

[Joenail]

What Graham says is correct and well worth keeping in mind. I have contacted the powers the be and the said that if you have completed study to a given level they NOT fund something of an equivalent level if you go back to study in the future (it's call Equivalent Level Funding I think). ie if you do an undergrad degree they would not fund you to do a second one as you would already have that level of qualification. In my case I had to drop out due to illness at the time so didn't complete my degree so they would fund me again. I did Civil Engineering and like others have said it would pretty certainly buy me a place with a good company if I completed it.

Yes, you'll have a degree but sorry, in reality it's not a degree that's going to get you a job in any other field other than photography, unless you fancy working in Jessops.

I fully understand what you say about doing a degree in a subject your passionate about, I did that and in hindsight I wish I hadn't and instead had done something with a definite career path, such as law.

With regard to the bit about "I can always re-study if I stay in Scotland for photography since there aren't any fees", I'm not sure I understand what you mean by that. In general you can only get funding once for undergraduate study (there are some funded masters degrees etc), you can't go back and do a second degree (under or postgrad) without having to pay for it yourself.

I mean I can get a loan for fees, providing they don't go up on Scotland as well, for a 2nd degree. That way it'd work out at about the same price if not cheaper than one degree in England.

I know I probably will never earn much from photography and I'm perfectly happy with that. Money has never been a big part of my motivation. The way I see it is that I can spend the next 4 years focusing full time on photography without having to worry too much about the financial aspect, or I can spend it doing something I have little or no interest in & fail at getting a job with that as well.

That being said, if I miraculously landed a well paying photography job in my field right now I'd put uni on hold for it, but we all know that's not going to happen

 

[EMA747]

I mean I can get a loan for fees, providing they don't go up on Scotland as well, for a 2nd degree. That way it'd work out at about the same price if not cheaper than one degree in England.

I see what you are saying but I'd be careful. When I rang the student loans body last year there was a LOT of things they told me that would be very hard to find out otherwise.

I think if you can afford it and want to do it then go for it. Its' your time and money at the end of the day. I didn't do it because I would have had to live in Falmouth and all the costs added up came to around £50K and that was on the old funding system. That's just silly money for a photography degree imo.

 

[Flash In The Pan]

I mean I can get a loan for fees, providing they don't go up on Scotland as well, for a 2nd degree. That way it'd work out at about the same price if not cheaper than one degree in England.

Yes, yes you can. That still means saddling yourself with a level of debt that will probably equate to a years salary in most photography jobs. On top of the debt that you'll accrue during the original course.

I know I probably will never earn much from photography and I'm perfectly happy with that. Money has never been a big part of my motivation.

Trust me, if you end up with £30k of debt after doing a first degree, never mind funding a second one, money will become a huge motivator for you....

 

[jamesb84]

Ok, replying begins now.
haha, well said
Newport is now in my top 2, so thanks for suggesting that. They say they work closely with Magnum. Any idea how true this is & what it means for people studying there? I know the course was set up by a Magnum photographer, so could that be all it is?

-J



P.S - application decisions have been made (for now, at least)
#1 - Falmouth
#2 - Newport
#3 - Ed'bra Napier
#4 - GSA (either vis. comm. or fine art photography)
#5 - Something in America that's really hard to get in to, just to see if I can

I believe that they do have some decent links with Magnum, certainly they've had guest lectures and I believe there are opportunities (highly competitive I understand) with them.

I am quite good friends with a guy who went to Brooks in New York, he mainly does fashion now but there's a number of guys from there that work in photojournalism. However, it's hugely expensive and extremely competitive to get into.

Finally, Neil Turner (of the BPPA and a very well-respected photojournalist) has recently started a Photojournalism course in Bournemouth.

http://uptospeedjournalism.co.uk/

It's an NCTJ accredited course, which is still widely recognised as the benchmark for photographers, and since the demise of Norton College, Sheffield and the Paul Delmar run course (which used to be the daddy of courses) it's probably the best bet for that route.

 

[EMA747]

Finally, Neil Turner (of the BPPA and a very well-respected photojournalist) has recently started a Photojournalism course in Bournemouth.

http://uptospeedjournalism.co.uk/

It's an NCTJ accredited course, which is still widely recognised as the benchmark for photographers, and since the demise of Norton College, Sheffield and the Paul Delmar run course (which used to be the daddy of courses) it's probably the best bet for that route.

Anyone got any first hand experience of this course? I was just having a look at their website and it sounds pretty good and cheap compared to university.

 

[Furtim]

It's not immediately relevant to this debate in terms of subject, but for what it is worth, I ended up picking my Uni course based on what I thought would be practical in the long term rather than where my heart was.

20 years on, I am fortunate enough to have a reasonable job as a result, but if you were to ask me what my only regret in life was, i would say not following my heart back at Uni.

My eldest kid starts uni next year, and the best advice I can give him is to do what he really wants. If it does not work out for him, in the short term, he can always do another degree after - it's only 3 years out of your life.