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Subject · 338 verified programs

Photography degrees

Degrees in making and thinking about photographic images, from analog and darkroom work to digital, documentary and conceptual practice.

Also called: Photographic Arts, Photography and Media, Lens-Based Media, Photographic Practice, Fotografie.

139 BFA · 74 BA / BA (Hons) · 50 MFA · 35 Other bachelor’s award · 21 MA · 16 Other master’s award · 2 BDes · 1 MDes · 136 official concentration, 179 dedicated degree, 19 named major, 4 documented pathway

338 programs

How results are ordered: alphabetically by institution, or by most recently checked when you choose that sort. There is no price ranking, because tuition in different currencies, fee categories and bases (per year, per credit, whole program) is not comparable. A program appears under a subject only through a verified link (dedicated degree, major, concentration or documented pathway). A value we could not verify is shown as “not published”, never as “no”. Items marked Sponsored are paid placements; they never change verification or order. Online programs are not counted as physically located in a state or city, and an institution’s location does not tell you whether it enrols students from your country.

About photography study

Photography as a degree subject covers the making of still images with light-sensitive and digital media, as well as the ideas and histories that surround them. Students learn camera operation, exposure, lighting, editing and printing, and are asked to consider photography as documentary, art, commercial and vernacular practice. Approaches range from analog processes to digital imaging and expanded forms.

Programs usually combine technical instruction with project-based studio work and critique. Students may use darkrooms, digital labs and studios, and commonly study the history and theory of photography. Self-directed projects are central, and many programs encourage sustained bodies of work, sequencing, bookmaking or exhibition design, along with attention to ethics and representation.

Photography is closely related to film and video production, which is moving-image work, and to digital arts and graphic design, which may use photographs as materials. It differs from fine arts programs by its focus on a specific medium and its processes. Some programs place photography in an art context, others in a documentary or commercial context, and some combine it with related media.

What study typically involves

  • Camera technique, exposure and lighting
  • Darkroom and analog processes in many programs
  • Digital capture, editing and printing
  • Documentary, portrait and conceptual projects
  • Sequencing, editing and photobook or exhibition work
  • History and theory of photography
  • Ethics, critique and professional practice

Award titles. Photography is commonly studied within BA, BA (Hons) or BFA programs and, at postgraduate level, MA or MFA degrees. Research degrees, including practice-based PhDs, may exist in some countries. Award titles differ internationally, so rely on the official program page.

Photography often appears as a major, a pathway in a media or fine arts degree, or an MFA concentration. The directory lists a program under this subject only with a verified dedicated degree, major, official concentration or documented pathway.

Portfolio and admissions guidance

Requirements differ for every program. Always check the official admissions page; this directory cannot guarantee acceptance.

Applicants to photography programs are usually asked for a portfolio of images, often grouped into one or more series with short captions or a statement. Many programs value coherence and curiosity over technical perfection, and prior darkroom experience is not always required.

Requirements vary by country and program. Some ask for a set number of images or a project brief, and some hold interviews or tests. Postgraduate programs generally expect a sustained body of work and a statement describing the direction of the practice.

Check each official admissions page for formats, limits and deadlines. Admission is never guaranteed, and no universal template exists.

See also the guide to preparing an art portfolio.

Funding and costs

At MFA and PhD level, funding in some programs may include teaching assistantships, darkroom or lab technician roles, tuition remission or competitive scholarships.

Terms vary by program, country and year, and many students receive partial or no support. Verify details directly with the program and funding bodies.

Costs beyond tuition. Students often pay for cameras and lenses, film, paper and chemicals, printing and mounting, lab or darkroom fees, storage and software.