Study a Photography Foundation course with OCA
This Open course aims to equip you with fundamental creative, visual and technical skills in photography.
It is a practical, task oriented course filled with creative approaches to making photographs that will help you develop your photography as a means of imaginative self-expression and experimentation.
The course is rooted in the main genres of photography and will provide you with a solid intellectual foundation, in plain language, to pursue photography at Degree level. It can equally be studied as a stand-alone course which will transform how you think about photography and the photographs you take.
Robert Enoch on Open Foundations – Photography
Course Aims
The course aims to:
- Familiarise students with workflow, techniques, experimentation, visual effect and visual strategy.
- Provide a solid understanding of the camera and how to use shutter and lens to creative effect.
- Explain how to use shadows, stillness and movement effectively.
- Explore the portrait through the use of depth, distance, composition and light.
- Examine the role of narrative in photography through the use of series and sequences, staging and juxtaposition.
- Discover the inspiration of visual research in the creative practice of photography.
- Combine images, objects and concepts to create still lives.
Course Outcomes
Through the course, you will:
- Make a large portfolio of creatively diverse projects.
- Develop a productive and positive attitude.
- Understand fundamental visual skills vital for creating effective imagery.
- Gain a knowledge of the fundamental genres of photography.
- Have experimented widely with a variety of visual strategies and techniques and gained those as tools to put to work in new projects.
- Organise your workflow to provide you with a seamless structure and the confidence to create serious work.
- Understand the ways photographs communicate to the viewer and appreciate the viewer’s experience.
Gina Lundy - Unit Leader for Foundations in Photography
“Freelance photographer, visual artist and educational practitioner based in Glasgow.
Interested in social engagement through arts practice, educational outreach programmes and the transforming power of the arts.
Currently concentrating on artistic practice and developing freelance photographic work, through further study, commissions and residencies…”
Foundations
£935
Per course
Level 1 (HE4)
£4,500
For the level
Level 2 (HE5)
£4,500
For the level
Level 3 (HE6)
£4,500
For the level
Breakdown of costs...
Level 1 (HE4) |
£1,500 Per course unit (4o credits) |
All of the OCA’s Level 1 (HE4) course units are worth 40 credits each. If you’re studying towards an Open degree, you’ll need three Level 1 (HE4) course units to gain the necessary 120 credits to move on to Level 2 (HE5). Deposit is £465 followed by 7 monthly instalments of £155. |
Level 2 (HE5) |
£2,250 Per course unit (6o credits) |
Some of the OCA’s Level 2 (HE5) course units are worth 60 credits each. If you’re studying towards an Open degree, you’ll need two Level 2 (HE5) course units to gain the necessarry 120 credits to move on to Level 3 (HE6). Deposit is £595 followed by 11 monthly instalments of £155. |
Level 3 (HE6) |
£4,500 For the level |
OCA’s Level 3 (HE6) course units hold differing amounts of credits depending upon the given Open degree pathway. |
Foundations
£1,075
Per course
Level 1 (HE4)
£5,160
For the level
Level 2 (HE5)
£5,160
For the level
Level 3 (HE6)
£5,160
For the level
Breakdown of costs...
Level 1 (HE4) |
£1,560 Per course unit (40 credits) |
All of the OCA’s Level 1 (HE4) course units are worth 40 credits each. If you’re studying towards a degree, you’ll need three Level 1 (HE4) course units to gain the necessary 120 credits to move on to Level 2 (HE5). Deposit is £580 followed by 7 monthly instalments of £170. |
Level 2 (HE5) |
£2,580 Per course unit (60 credits) |
Some of the OCA’s Level 2 (HE5) course units are worth 60 credits each. If you’re studying towards a degree, you’ll need two Level 2 (HE5) course units to gain the necessary 120 credits to move on to Level 3 (HE6). Deposit is £760 followed by 11 monthly instalments of £170.
|
Level 3 (HE6) |
£5,160 For the level |
OCA’s Level 3 (HE6) course units hold differing amounts of credits depending upon the given degree pathway, and therefore are varied in cost. For individual pricing, please see the individual course unit pages on this website. |
Fees, Funding and other costs
Foundation courses are ineligible for Student Finance funding, but we have deposit and instalment options available to help spread the costs.
There are also bursaries available for students on low incomes. See our fees and funding page for more info.
Other costs you may find on your degree include purchasing materials/books/texts to assist in your practice and research. Approximate additional materials/resources costs for Photography are £250-500 for foundation courses.
Fees, funding and other costsCourse Sample
Click below to download an in-depth guide to the course.
If you have any questions before enrolling, please don’t hesitate to contact us!
Photography courses
Not sure if this is the course for you? Take a closer look at the other Photography courses OCA has to offer.
Learn more