Photography Programme
If you have a dream of becoming a professional photographer, you will learn how to visualise your own and others’ ideas in pictures through the media culture/photography programme of the Novia University of Applied Sciences. To participate in this study programme you need no previous knowledge of photography, the only prerequisite is that you are visually talented and have a genuine interest in aesthetic expression. Previous training in photography, media and graphic production is seen as an advantage.
The programme, which gives you the vocational qualification of Bachelor of Culture and Arts/Media Production, includes 240 credit points over a period of four years. The photography studies are free of charge but students pay their own material costs.
After completing the programme, you will be able to work as a photography artist with your own visual expression, studio photographer, photojournalist or with commercial photography.
Novia University of Applied Sciences is the only school in Finland offering this programme in Swedish. To apply, submit an application letter in your own words and a completed application form, as well as a work portfolio (ten pictures of your own choice) to the school before the application deadline. Participating in the Photography Programme are students not only from Finland but also from Sweden, Germany and other countries. The language of instruction is for the most part Swedish, but guest lectures in Finnish and English take place regularly.
Included in the vocational studies are photographic art, photojournalism, photographic technique (analogue/digital), lighting, image analysis, imagery and media ethics. In the basic studies are included 40 credit points of subjects such as languages, marketing, art history and cultural studies. Novia University of Applied Sciences has a student exchange program with schools offering photography programmes in Belgium (Karel de Grote-Hogeschool), Portugal (Lusofona University) and Germany (Fachhochschule Bielefeld and Universität Hildesheim) but there are also opportunities for exchange with other photography schools internationally.
Included in the studies are also 30 credit points of work experience. The workplace for this practice period is usually arranged by the student and offers an excellent and important opportunity to familiarise yourself with the photographer’s vocation. Workplaces are not geographically restricted to Finland only.
You will be studying in Nykarleby (Finnish: Uusikarlepyy) on the Finnish west coast. Nykarleby is a small and friendly town and the school enjoys an intimate atmosphere. The Nykarleby campus of Novia has about 100 students who, apart from Photography, study Fine arts, Film and TV production, Design and Music. There are good connections from Nykarleby to other parts of Finland and the Nordic countries. Within 100 km there are two airports with regular flights to Stockholm and other cities. In 2012 the school will move to a new campus in Jakobstad, a town 20 km north of Nykarleby.
You can apply to the photo programme every second year, next time in March-April 2011.
For further information, see www.novia.fi. On this website you will also find information on other study programmes within Novia University of Applied Sciences. If you have questions, please do not hesitate to contact us. You will find our contact details under the link named Personnel. |
