Our graduates have found employment with
ACADEMIC PARTNER
University for the Creative Arts is a specialist creative institution dedicated to art, design, fashion, media, and creative business disciplines. With campuses across the south of England, it is highly industry-focused and known for producing graduates in the creative industries.
Overall ranking: placed 100th in the Guardian University Guide 2026, with strong performance in student satisfaction (80.1%), feedback quality (78.8%), and solid graduate outcomes in creative sectors. UCA is one of the UK’s leading specialist creative universities, particularly recognised for fashion, animation, and design-related programmes
KEY FACTS
LOCATIONS
Hamburg, Germany
DURATION
18 Months
FORMAT
On-campus
CERTIFIED BY
University of Creative Arts
MODE OF STUDY
Full-time
LANGUAGE
English
The School’s admissions process is subject to the Consumer Contracts (Terms and Conditions). Information on your Right of Withdrawal and our Refund Policy can be found in the BSBI study agreement.
SECURE YOUR PLACE ON THIS PROGRAMME BY APPLYING TODAY.
FIND OUT HOW TO APPLY HERE >>
PROGRAMME OVERVIEW
The MA Photography programme offers subject-specific expertise and interdisciplinary skills to craft your unique learning journey. This programme fosters experimentation, intellectual inquiry and a global perspective. It is a combination of theory and practice. The photography master’s programme gives students the opportunity to explore various facets of photography, from traditional techniques to cutting-edge technologies, and navigate a curriculum that encourages creative expression and critical thinking.
Our commitment to providing a well-rounded education ensures that you graduate with the proficiency to thrive in a rapidly evolving field, where innovation and adaptability are paramount. Join us on this exciting journey, where your passion for photography meets a curriculum designed to inspire and propel you towards success.
WHO IS THIS PROGRAMME FOR
Elevate your passion for photography to new heights with our Master of Arts (MA) Photography programme at BSBI’s Hamburg Campus.
This programme is tailored for:
- Individuals with a passion for photography, whether just starting their journey or seeking advanced skills to refine their craft.
- Photographers looking to expand their creative horizons and take their skills to the next level, incorporating innovative techniques and concepts.
- Individuals keen on diving into the dynamic world of photography, gaining insights into industry trends and building a strong foundation for a successful career.
- Those who aspire to tell compelling stories through the lens, whether it’s in the realms of fine art, fashion, advertising, or documentary photography.
- Individuals interested in establishing themselves as freelance photographers or entrepreneurs in the photography industry.
- Those with a keen interest in gallery administration, arts management, and curating within the realm of visual arts.
- Individuals with a fascination for digital imaging, post-production, and the technical aspects of photography careers.
WHAT WILL THE STUDENT EXPERIENCE?
Are you aspiring to pursue a career as an editorial or commercial photographer? Are you eager to express your artistic vision through photography? Perhaps you envision yourself making an impact in photojournalism, fashion photography or other careers in photography.
Our photography master’s programme is designed to guide you in cultivating the essential skills to become a proficient photographer within your chosen specialisation.
Collaborating with fellow students from diverse creative disciplines, such as film, gaming and graphic design, you’ll have the opportunity to construct a dynamic portfolio that mirrors your distinct interests and aspirations as a photographer.
LEARNING JOURNEY
Start on a versatile career path with our MA photography degree, opening doors to a myriad of exciting fields, including:
- Editorial and Fashion Photography
- Advertising Image Creation
- Documentary-Making
- Curation or Art Buying
- Gallery or Project Management
- Writing
- Teaching
- Lecturing
- Retouching
- Art Direction
- Graphic Design
- Academia/Research
- Post-Production/Digital Imaging
- Digital Imaging
- Video Editing
- Picture Editing/Image Management
- Marketing
- Arts Management
- Documentary/Fine Art Photography
Seize the opportunity to explore and thrive in diverse professional arenas as you hone your photography skills.
programme structure
This 18-month (Level 7) MA Photography programme consists of three terms of study and six months dedicated to your dissertation.
The first two terms include a range of lectures and seminars and you’ll start to explore your creative practice to inform the detailed development of your project proposal later in the course.
In the third term you begin developing your MA project, evaluating and testing out the aims of your proposal over a sustained period of self-directed study.
The modules of this programme are offered and delivered 100% on campus.
Defining your practice
Critical Perspective
The unit aims to provide a structured framework to allow you to investigate the potential of methods, ideas and themes in your discipline as well as helping inform and locate your practice.
Context and Method
Exploratory Perspective
Through a series of lectures and seminars, you’ll actively engage in a range of current debates, which provide cultural and intellectual context for the consideration of ideas in visual communication.
The programme addresses interdisciplinary issues through the discussion of theory and the consideration of specific design-led work and texts.
Project Development
Research and Development
In this unit, you will develop the themes and focus of your final project in the fields of illustration, graphic design, animation or visual communication. This will allow you to evaluate and test out the aims of your proposal over a sustained period of self-directed study. At this stage, the development of your project will be guided and questioned through tutorials, group critiques and presentations, which will support the progress of your work and provide rigorous critical appraisal from staff, peers and professional practitioners. While encouraging the continued exploration and questioning of your ideas, you will continue the process of developing appropriate methods and strategies for your project’s realisation as you begin to work more independently as a researcher and practitioner, refining your research questions and the research methods you are using.
Realisation and Dissemination
Resolution and Presentation
You’ll apply knowledge and experience gained in previous units to the realisation of your final MA project – the culmination and consolidation of your studies in the form of a resolved piece, or body of work. It should show coherence and innovation at a professional level of resolution. You’ll also be required to prepare a critical paper intended to reflect upon the specific practical outcome of the MA project, its interpretation and its success as a demonstration of your approach to creative practice through research.
ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
Academic Profile
- Min age: 21
Academic Qualifications
- Successful completion of a bachelor’s degree from a recognised university
- Consideration will also be given to applicants with a minimum of three years of relevant managerial experience, demonstrating an ability to study at postgraduate level.
If you do not meet the academic requirements, you may be assessed based on three years of relevant work experience (illustration, animation, graphic design or general visual communication), demonstrating your ability to study at postgraduate level.
English Proficiency
- IELTS: 6.0 overall TOEFL IBT: 80 (Listening 17, Reading 18, Speaking 20, Writing 17). Pearson Test of English (PTE): 56 (with min 51 in each component). Duolingo English Test: 105+.
Technical Entry Requirement
Computer Equipment
- In recent developments of hybrid learning, we require each student to arrive equipped with a laptop. We, therefore, recommend the purchase of a design-friendly mobile laptop. Please click below to read more about the technical requirement.
- Technical Entry Requirement
Online Application
- You can apply now to study with BSBI! It’s quick and easy, here’s how it works:
- Create an account here
- Select the programme and intake you want to apply for
- Complete all sections of the online application
- Submit online application
- Our Admissions Team will liaise with you with regards to next steps
Portfolio Submission
Your Portfolio Submission
You are required to submit an online portfolio via our BSBI Applicant Portal. Before submitting your artwork, please have a look through the Portfolio Cookbook
What is a Portfolio?
Your portfolio is a collection of your best work. We want to see what inspires you, how you develop your work, your creative thinking processes, how and what you create and what makes you a unique creative individual.
What Should My Portfolio Contain?
- Your portfolio might contain sketches and paintings, digital art and design. It might also contain sound work, short films.
- Upload up to 12 pieces of work which can include audio or video files.
How do I Submit My Portfolio?
- We’ll only be accepting portfolios digitally. You can do this once you’ve applied via our online submission system within the Applicant Portal.
- You can also link to external websites such as Vimeo and YouTube.
Further information on how to compile and upload your portfolio will be provided by our admissions team via our admissions portal once you have applied.
Edge Student Hub
Finding the perfect place to live while you study is crucial. BSBI has partnered with Edge Student Hub, to provide an accommodation package that ensures you have a comfortable from day one in Germany. Located just 45 minutes from central Berlin, the accommodation provides convenience and ease. Shared rooms start at €599 per month, with single rooms and shared apartments also available. Secure your ideal living arrangement and focus on your studies without any worries.
Bring a Friend and save €500!
If you have a friend who is also planning to study in Berlin, let your Accommodation Advisor know. You can receive a €500 discount on your final month’s rent for a shared room*. Please note that your friend must be enrolled at Gisma, BSBI, UE Germany, or Arden Berlin to qualify for this offer.
CAREER PROGRESSION
Our advanced Photography degree programme equips you for your professional journey by integrating practical experience units, guest lectures by accomplished artists, and comprehensive portfolio assessments conducted by prominent individuals in the photography sector. Potential photography careers encompass:
- Freelance photography
- Fine art
- Fashion
- Advertising and editorial
- Post-production/digital imaging
- Picture editing and research
- Curating
- Image, arts and community arts management
- Gallery administration
Dedicated Career Support
BSBI’s dedicated Careers Service helps photography students and alumni reach their career goals and realise their potential. The service offers specialised support and aims to build long-lasting relationships with local and national employers.
LEARNING OUTCOMES
Experimentation & Innovation
In this aspect of our photography master’s programme, you will develop a heightened awareness of contemporary theoretical debates that have significantly influenced current photographic practices. Through critical analysis, you will be able to demonstrate your ability to identify and engage with these debates, showcasing a deep understanding of the evolving landscape of photography. Building upon the foundation of LO1, you will critically articulate a specialist area of photographic practice, utilising thorough research and analysis. This outcome encourages you to delve deep into your chosen field, establishing a nuanced understanding of the theoretical underpinnings that shape your specialised practice.
Engaging with Practice
This learning outcome focuses on establishing a strong connection between research, theory and practical application. Showcase your appreciation for the intricate relationships between these elements, demonstrating critical engagement. Apply technical skills and creative choices to produce a compelling body of work that effectively communicates with your intended audience. This extended outcome emphasises the practical application of technical skills and creative choices. Showcase your ability to not only produce a body of work but to do so with a keen awareness of your audience. Effectively communicate your artistic vision through thoughtful engagement with the technical aspects of photography.
Research & Analysis
In the research and analysis component, you will learn to construct a robust research framework that underpins and explores the contexts of your work, both practically and theoretically. Identify theoretical sources and demonstrate an understanding of contemporary and historical-critical frameworks that inform your research interests. This outcome emphasises your ability to evidence a range of research-informed photographic approaches, employing creative conceptual strategies to enrich your work. Taking research and analysis to a higher level, this outcome requires you to evidence a broader range of research-informed photographic approaches. Demonstrate your proficiency in employing creative conceptual strategies, showcasing a well-rounded and informed approach to your photographic endeavours.
OUR NUMBERS SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES
Built from more than 2,800 student responses across BSBI campuses, the results reflect strong student satisfaction, support, and career-focused learning.
87%
overall student satisfaction
88%
feel BSBI provides a diverse and inclusive environment
90%+
satisfaction with career services
84%
would recommend BSBI
96%
satisfaction with enrolment support
400+
students secured jobs or internships in 2025
HOW TO APPLY
Apply for your enrolment today and secure your place at BSBI.
Speak with an expert and plan your academic future at BSBI.
STUDENT VOICES
Discover what international students have to say about their first days at BSBI!
TESTIMONIALS
"BSBI moved me closer to where I want to be — and gave me a completely new perspective on global business."
"BSBI helped me develop skills, and above all, understand and appreciate different cultures. Living and interacting with people from diverse backgrounds has also improved my language skills."
"BSBI guided me every step of the way, from the application process to arriving in Germany. Their support reassured me I'd made the right choice of choosing them."
"BSBI plays some crucial roles in shaping the leaders of the future through various strategies and initiatives. "
"BSBI broadened my options and simplified my decision-making process. It provided a kickstart to my life in Germany, fulfilling the expectations every international student looks for."
"BSBI offers career fairs showcasing a diverse range of hiring companies and agencies from various sectors. These fairs were particularly helpful in developing my professional CV. The feedback and guidance I received helped me create a strong application that grabbed recruiters' attention, resulting in several successful interviews."
"I was seeking a business school in Europe that aligns with my career goals and budget. The affordability offered by BSBI was a key attraction when compared to other universities and business schools."
