What is it about?
Our society is increasingly visual and media-oriented. At the same time, digitalization is ensuring a constant process of transformation. Further developments and changes in the profession of photography, both technically and aesthetically, are therefore part of the core business. This is why you will acquire all skills relating to production, distribution and reception in photography and related visual media during your studies.
Profile of the study program
Photography deals with questions such as
- How do I turn an idea into an interesting photo series?
- How do I create photographic images and compile them into a powerful photo series?
- How do I successfully develop concepts and research the content of a topic?
Researching and analyzing topics, designing and implementing concepts
The seven-semester Bachelor's degree program in Photography offers specializations in the areas of photojournalism and still life; food, advertising, editorial, fashion, architecture, studio and portrait photography as well as artistic photography. Throughout your studies, you will expand your key skills to include the necessary legal and business management knowledge.
The first year of study provides you with a solid grounding in the basics, which is taught through various design modules and a science module. A module on advanced design principles provides an introduction to interdisciplinary design principles. Project studies begin in the second year of study. You will plan design projects and implement them independently. In the advanced design modules, you will apply photographic image design to the fields of journalism, advertising, art and documentation.
In the third year of study, you will develop the ability to research, analyze, apply methods, design concepts and implement them in a target group-oriented manner for various photographic and media projects.
implement them. You will deepen your technical knowledge and work in an interdisciplinary manner. In addition, you will expand your scientific skills and intensify your engagement with theories and analysis.
Finally, you will write your Bachelor's thesis independently and present your work in a colloquium.
Bachelor of Arts, which prepares you for self-employment and employment in the field of photography
After successfully completing the course, you will graduate with a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.).
Students report on the study program
Video: Students report
Specializations in the study program
Photography offers specializations in the areas of:
- Photo reportage/photojournalism/still life
- Food/advertising/editorial/fashion/architecture/studio/portrait photography
- Artistic photography
- Conceptual photography
Course of study
This is a thematic overview of the course content. Detailed information on the exact names of the courses, information on ECTS or semester hours per week can be found in the examination regulations and in the module handbook.
| 1st semester | Media dialects of photography | Media strategies in photography photography |
Photographic technique | Photographic technique | |
| 2nd semester | Media dialects of photography | Media strategies in photography photography |
Photographic technique | Science | Key skills Presentation, rhetoric, study status talks |
| 3rd semester | Media dialects of photography | Media strategies in photography photography |
Additional competence | Science | Key competencies Scientific Writing |
| 4th semester | Media dialects of photography | Image editing - research | Interdisciplinary project |
Key competencies Economics, law |
|
| 5th semester | Concept & Design | Image editing - Curation | Interdisciplinary project |
Science | |
| 6th semester | Concept & Design | Profiling / Branding | Additional competence | Science | |
| 7th semester | Bachelor project supervision | Thesis & colloquium | Key competence Business start-up |
Why study at Fachhochschule Dortmund?
What makes Fachhochschule Dortmund special? What should you know about the city and the region? How is Fachhochschule Dortmund positioned in terms of internationality and what counseling and support do we offer you? Find out more about Fachhochschule Dortmund.
Who is it for?
Desirable subject-specific and interdisciplinary knowledge
The Bachelor's degree program in Photography may suit you if you are creative, enjoy finding or inventing images and like to put ideas into practice. Are you keen to experiment and are already trying out unusual angles and forms of realization? Then studying photography could be just the thing for you. It is helpful if you are prepared to struggle through many practical and theoretical challenges.
Prospects after graduation
Career prospects
Those who have a degree in this study program often work
- self-employed as a freelancer in all areas of photography
- employed as a picture editor at magazine publishers and media companies
- as an art buyer in advertising agencies
Graduates work, for example, in
- image production
- advertising photography
- editorial photography
- photojournalism
- Documentary photography
- Artistic photography
- Multimedia presentations / scenography (trade fair presentations, AV shows, exhibition design, multimedia installations)
- Short film (trailers, short films / video clips, video journalism, motion graphics)
- Hypermedia / non-linear storytelling (multimedia authoring, net-based works / DVD-ROM, interactive publications, e-learning concepts)
- Multimedia advertising strategies, art direction
- Image distribution / image mediation
- Agencies and companies in the communication and advertising industry (advertising, communication, design, event and image agencies, public relations agencies, image archives, image databases)
- Image reception / image use
- Image editing, curatorial work, collection management
- Commercial enterprises - advertising, public relations and communication departments
- Public institutions in the fields of administration, politics, science & research, communication
Master programs
Information and counseling on the transition from university to work
Stay abroad possible during your studies
What do I need?
1. qualification / certificates and degrees
The qualification for studying at universities of applied sciences is proven by the certificate of the university of applied sciences entrance qualification or a previous education recognized as equivalent.
Here you will find a detailed description of the various recognized qualifications.
2. relevant practical activity / pre-study internship
Proof of twelve weeks of practical work is deemed to have been provided if the applicant has acquired the qualification for the degree program through the certificate of the university of applied sciences entrance qualification from a higher secondary school for design.
Applicants who have acquired the qualification for the degree course in another way must provide evidence of twelve weeks of practical work experience in a field related to photography (photo design, media, multimedia/hypermedia, picture agency, advertising agency, publishing house). At least half of the internship must be proven at the time of enrollment. The missing time of the internship should be made up as soon as possible; the corresponding proof should be provided by the time of the Bachelor's thesis at the latest.
The internship is deemed to have been completed through relevant training in the field of photography or related fields, through a one-year guided internship in the field of art and design or through a six-month relevant internship.
The relevant practical activity of 12 weeks duration must be demonstrated in a professional sector of photography or photographic design.
Examples of the photography or photo design sector:
- Photo studios
- photo studios
- Specialist laboratories
- photo design
- photo archive
- Photo collection
- Commissioned and press photography
- Picture offices of the municipalities/states
- Picture agency
- Picture archives
- Picture editors
- media
- Multimedia/hypermedia
- advertising agencies
- publishing houses
- curatorial activities
- museums
At least half of the internship must be completed before starting the degree course and proof of this must be provided when enrolling. The missing time of the internship must be completed at the earliest possible date; the corresponding proof must be provided by the time of the Bachelor's thesis at the latest.
3. suitability assessment
Admission to the assessment procedure for the course-related artistic and design aptitude requires registration. This application must be made online on the website of the Faculty of Design. The corresponding dates and deadlines are communicated on the faculty's homepage.
Applicants will be invited to the assessment procedure in writing after the registration deadline and the topics of the two homework assignments will be announced.
The examination board responsible for determining the artistic and creative aptitude for the degree program will review this "portfolio" in the absence of the applicant and decide unanimously on aptitude.
If the artistic and creative aptitude of the applicant for the study program can already be clearly determined after the first stage of the procedure, it will be awarded without participation in the second stage of the procedure.
Tip: Visit the faculty's portfolio advisory service! All questions about the degree program and the portfolio will be discussed individually. A portfolio consultation will definitely help you to find out whether you are a good fit for this study program.
The Faculty of Design will inform applicants in writing of the committee's decision on the results of the procedure. The results are communicated as pass or fail. They must be accompanied by information on legal remedies.
If they have passed, applicants are awarded the course-related artistic and creative aptitude. If the artistic and creative aptitude for the study program has been finally determined, the aptitude is generally valid for the three enrollment dates following the determination.
Applicants whose artistic/creative aptitude has not been established may participate in the assessment procedure again at the earliest on the following year's deadline.
Students who have already achieved 30 credit points (CP) in a related design course at another university can be exempted from participating in the course-related artistic and creative aptitude assessment upon application.
The application must be submitted to the Chairperson of the Examination Board. Officially certified copies of the transcript of records must be submitted to the chairperson of the examination board as proof of academic achievements.
4. register now!
The study program starts annually in the winter semester and is admission-free.
However, enrolment for the study program is only possible after recognition of aptitude and fulfilment of the other admission requirements
Who can help me?
Central Student Advisory Services (ZSB)
Student advisory service
Contact with students
Admissions Office for Student Affairs
Registration office team
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