NC PHOTOGRAPHY

Intro to the course:

Photography is a wonderful medium that allows us to share what we find beautiful and interesting with others. It can be used to express our ideas, to grab attention, to stir emotions, and to communicate in an increasingly visual world. 

With our brand-new professional studio now up and running, we are delighted to offer this new and exciting photography course, which is designed to support your development as a photographer, and to keep pace with the rapid technological changes happening within the photo-imaging sector. 

We aim to provide you with a broad range of photography skills and experiences, both in our new studio and on location, that will allow you to progress to employment or further studies at HNC level and beyond. 

Our small class sizes and knowledgeable and approachable lecturers facilitate a supportive learning environment in which you will develop your creativity as well as your technical skills, allowing you to successfully build your own portfolio as you progress through the course.

This course is bursary funded.

Who is the course for?

This course is designed for learners who have some basic knowledge of photography or art, and who want to progress to a related higher education course or build a photography career. This includes school leavers, adult returners looking for a change in career, and those who wish to further an existing interest in photography fostered in school or leisure courses. It is designed to introduce a broad range of photography skills with an emphasis on portfolio-building for the next stage in your photography education and career. 

What will I study?

You will learn through a variety of lectures, discussions, practical workshops, fieldtrips, guest lectures and practical project work. Key areas covered are DSLR camera skills, from basic digital file management, through to enhancement and printing, basic studio skills both in portraiture and still-life photography, and portfolio production. The focus is on developing skills that are relevant to the fast-changing photography industry. 

Next Step Course Options

Successful completion will give you direct entry to our HNC or HND Photography course. Application can then be made to study degree level courses including BA Photography.

How will I be assessed?

Ongoing written and mainly practical assessments. You will be asked to submit work to meet specified deadlines reflecting the importance placed upon working to deadlines within the creative industries. You will also create a quality portfolio of work through which you will learn to evaluate and critique your own work. 

Why should I choose this course?

This National Certificate in Photography at SCQF level 6 is a practical, project-based course that will help you to develop creative and technical skills in a wide variety of photographic specialisms, using a range of equipment and techniques. 

There are many career opportunities for those studying photography in this way, for example, in social photography, commercial photography, advertising, art direction, press or sports photography, forensic photography, videography and education.

Where can this course lead?

Employment opportunities available after completing a National Certificate in photography are likely to be in the form of a trainee, or as a photographic assistant. Successful completion of NC Photography at SCQF Level 6 may also lead to progression to our HNC and HND courses, with further employment/self-employment options becoming available on achieving these qualifications.

What are the entry requirements?

Any of the following:

• Nat 5 in English and Art and Design, or equivalent
• NPA Photography at level 5
• Higher Photography
• Portfolio showing recent work, with relevant work experience in the photo-imaging sector

Applicants who do not meet any of the given criteria for entry but can show their aptitude and interest with examples of photographic work could still have an opportunity to access the course at the discretion of the Course Leader. 

Where English is not the first language of the learner, it is recommended that they possess a relevant qualification in English for Speakers of Other Languages or have equivalent competency

What are the interview arrangements?

Offers made will be based on your application. If you do not meet the minimum entry requirements, you may be invited for an interview.

Production of a portfolio of your recent work will be required at induction.

Other information:

The vast majority of students on this course are bursary funded. If you are a bursary funded student you will be given the sole use of a DSLR camera to use whilst studying Photography at South Lanarkshire College, which will be yours to keep on successful completion of the course. 

Bursaries are not a loan and do not need to be repaid.

The National Certificate in photography is valued highly by such professional bodies as the Association of Photographers, British Institute of Professional Photographers and Skillset Scotland, and is an excellent foundation for a career in professional photography.

This course is full time and will run for 18 weeks from January to June.