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UndergraduateHigher National CertificateUCAS: 146W

Photography

University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI)
Thurso, Scotland
Visit University Website
1 yearDuration
£8,925Per Year (Intl)
£7,440Home Fee
65%Satisfaction

Course Overview

Offered by University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI), the HNC Photography provides a comprehensive undergraduate education in creative arts and design. Based in Thurso, Scotland, this programme combines theoretical knowledge with practical application, with a 1-year full-time structure. Are you a creative practitioner, looking to build a solid technical and theoretical foundation in the field of contemporary photography? Maybe you’re looking to expand your academic experience? Do both with our Photography HNC. International tuition fees are £8,925 per year, home/UK fees are £7,440 per year, and a minimum IELTS score of 6.0 is required for admission. Graduates from this programme benefit from strong career prospects, with a median graduate salary of £17,500 within three years, and 85% of graduates in employment or further study.

What You'll Learn

Photography Foundations and Practice
Digital Image Processing and Editing
Portraiture and Figure Photography
Documentary and Environmental Photography
Still Life and Commercial Photography
Photographic Lighting and Composition
Portfolio Development and Professional Practice
Contemporary Photography Theory and Criticism
UCAS Code:146W
Academic Year:2026-27 entry
View on university website

Entry Requirements

📋 Academic Entry Requirements

A-Level

D

UCAS Points21

🗣️ English Language Requirements

TestOverallLRWS
IELTS Academic65.55.55.55.5

L = Listening, R = Reading, W = Writing, S = Speaking

Tuition Fees & Funding

International Student Fee

£8,925

per year

Total Course Cost (1 years)£8,925

Home Student Fee

£7,440

regulated fee

Scholarships available for eligible students

Fees shown are for current entry. Fees may increase annually in line with inflation.

📊 OFFICIAL UK DATA

Graduate Outcomes

Based on official LEO data (HMRC tax records)

💰 Graduate Salaries — University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI)

Time After GraduationLower Quartile SalaryMedian SalaryUpper Quartile Salary
3 years£11,500£15,000£18,500
5 years£14,000£19,500£24,500

UK subject average: £20,000 — sector benchmark across all UK universities

Graduate Salary vs UK Subject Average

This course
UK average
Salary 3 years after graduation▼ 25% below UK average salary
This course
£15,000
UK average
£20,000
Salary 5 years after graduation▼ Close to UK average salary
This course
£19,500
UK average
£20,000

Salary trend: ↑ up £4,500 from year 3 to year 5

Official Data

Salary figures are sourced from Discover Uni graduate outcomes data for this subject area at this provider (subject area: CAH25). These represent typical earnings and may not reflect this specific course. For official data, visit Discover Uni at Discover Uni.

💼 Employment Breakdown

55%Working
30%Studying
10%Work & Study
40%Professional Jobs
Official Data

Graduate employment outcomes are sourced directly from Discover Uni for this specific course and provider. For full details, visit Discover Uni at Discover Uni.

Student Satisfaction

Subject area average

National Student Survey (NSS) results — undergraduate final-year students only

Teaching on my course
65%
Learning opportunities
71%
Assessment and feedback
71%
Academic support
66%
Organisation and management
50%
Learning resources
70%
Student voice
63%
Continuation rate% students continuing to year 2
50%

National Student Survey via Discover Uni.

Official Data

Source: Subject-group average for this provider

2 Scholarships Available

Matched to your course, level & nationality

Your nationality

Merit

Carnegie Undergraduate Vacation Scholarship

University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI) · Undergraduate

  • Available to all international students
  • For undergraduate study
  • Open to your course
Need-based

Thomas and Margaret Roddan Trust Bursary

University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI) · Undergraduate

  • Available to all international students
  • Open to your course
University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI)

About University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI)

University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI) offers Photography as part of its comprehensive programme offerings.

—QS World
—UK Ranking
8,685+Students
98+Courses
TEF —
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