History of Photography

Photography has become the major form of image-making and visual communication since its development in the nineteenth century. Its role in all fields of the arts and sciences is being expanded, renewed and questioned by contemporary digital cultures.

Our MA History of Photography enables you to learn about - and negotiate your individual path through - past and present photographic practices and cultures, in order to develop your interests, whether your engagement with the medium is academic, artistic, personal or vocational.

You will develop subject-specific and transferable research, critical and writing skills that will enhance your career opportunities in the field and beyond, whether in academia or teaching, photography as a practice, galleries and museums, or in the media. The course is also ideally suited to preparing students with a practice-based background considering a PhD.

This degree offers you the opportunity to study with internationally recognised experts. Our teaching staff are defining the field, conducting ground-breaking research in the history and theory of photography in its various uses and manifestations. You will work closely with our staff while also benefiting from our diverse and vibrant student body of all ages and backgrounds. The teaching is also enriched by the international research culture of the History and Theory of Photography Research Centre.

You can take part in exclusive visits to photographic archives and exhibitions, and take advantage of placement opportunities in the Jo Spence Memorial Library and Archive. Alternatively, there are opportunities for work placements with other London museums, galleries and archives.

Highlights

Birkbeck was ranked as one of the top four universities in the UK for its Art and Design research in the 2021 Research Excellence Framework.

We offer a number of bursaries for postgraduate students.

We encourage you to become involved in our lively research culture through the History and Theory of Photography Research Centre, the Architecture, Space and Society Centre, the Centre for Museum Cultures and the Vasari Research Centre, which has pioneered the field of digital art history.

You can attend a wide range of events, including those organised by the Postgraduate Research Seminar, which brings art historians from all over the UK and beyond to speak at Birkbeck; the biennial Murray Lecture; the programme of exhibitions and displays at Birkbeck's Peltz Gallery, and events at the Birkbeck Institute for the Humanities. You can also attend Arts Week, a programme of public events and activities, held each May. Find out more about our staff and student activities on the Birkbeck History of Art blog or join us at one of our information evenings, held throughout the year.

You will have access to an incredible range of resources, including the Birkbeck Library and our in-house resources centre, the Jo Spence Memorial Library and Terry Dennett Archive, the British Library, and specialist libraries at the University of London, Courtauld Institute of Art and National Art Library. You can also visit the photographic collections and exhibition spaces of the V&A, Museum of London, National Portrait Gallery (Heinz Archives), Photographers’ Gallery, Tate, Barbican, Institute of Contemporary Arts, Hayward Gallery and INIVA, as well as commercial galleries and photography book dealers.

You will have the option to join our study trips, offered each spring. Cities visited in the last few years include Florence, Paris, Venice, Vienna, Rome, Berlin and Moscow.

Careers and employability

Graduates can pursue career paths in academia/teaching, the creative arts, media and photography. Possible professions include:

higher education lecturer

museum/gallery curator

photographer/press photographer

community arts worker

advertising art director.