UAL Level 3 Diploma in Photography - Year 1 of 2

Applications Open - Monday 2nd November 2026

Applications Close - Open all year

How to Apply – Please apply through KentChoices and use your KentChoices login which your school should provide

PLEASE NOTE - Popular courses can fill up quickly so apply early to avoid disappointment

If you have any queries regarding the courses, please contact EKC Canterbury College

You can make up to 5 applications to Colleges within the EKC Group, that is:

• EKC Ashford College
• EKC Broadstairs College*
• EKC Canterbury College*
• EKC Dover College
• EKC Folkestone College*
• EKC Sheppey College

*Junior Colleges exist in these locations.

Please only add one course or T Level per application, except for A Levels at EKC Canterbury College, where up to 4 A Level courses can be added per application. At your interview, you and the tutors can discuss the best level and courses in order for you to progress.

Do you enjoy seeing the world through a lens? Then get ready to turn your creativity into powerful images that tell stories, capture moments and shape how people see the world. Explore photography as both an art form and a professional practice! From studio shoots to location work, you’ll develop the skills to create striking, high-quality images while building your own unique style. With photography playing a key role across media, fashion, advertising and digital content, this two-year course is the perfect starting point into a creative and in-demand industry.

Pick up the camera and start shooting from day one! You’ll work in both studio and real-world environments, learning how to control lighting, composition and camera settings to capture professional-quality images. Step into the studio and experiment with lighting setups, backdrops and direction, building confidence in how you plan and shoot your own projects. You will also take your work further by editing and enhancing your images using digital software, transforming your ideas into polished, final products. You’ll explore both traditional and digital techniques, from analogue processes to modern image-making, giving you a broad and versatile skillset. Along the way, you’ll develop your own visual style, learning how to communicate ideas, tell stories and respond creatively to briefs. You will develop skills in: • Studio and location photography • Digital and analogue techniques • Image editing and post-production • The creative process and responding to briefs • Research and developing a creative practice • Producing a specialist final outcome You’ll also gain valuable industry insight through employer engagement and work experience opportunities, helping you understand how the media industry operates and where your skills can take you.

You’ll build a strong and varied portfolio, developing your work across practical projects and creative assignments. Each project helps you refine your skills, experiment with new ideas and produce work that reflects professional standards. At the end of each year, you’ll complete a final project, giving you the opportunity to take creative control, develop your personal style and produce a body of work that showcases your skills and prepares you for your next step.

To study at Level 3, you will need an average entry score of 5.0 from your best 6 GCSE subjects, ideally including English and Maths. You will also be required to show a portfolio of work when you apply. In instances where little or no portfolio and/or performance experience is shown, we will guide you towards the best course to help you build your portfolio and develop the skills and knowledge you need to succeed at higher levels. This study programme is designed to help you move quickly toward advanced jobs, higher education, or apprenticeship opportunities if you know what you want to do next and meet the entry requirements needed for success.

By the end of your course, you’ll be ready to take your next step into the world of photography and the wider creative industries. This course opens the door to a range of career paths, including: Photographer (studio, freelance or commercial) • Photojournalism • Fashion photography • Advertising and content creation • Photo editing and retouching • Digital media You can progress onto university, art schools, specialist photography courses or apprenticeships, using the portfolio you’ve built to stand out and secure your place in this competitive and exciting industry.