Our MA programme will deepen your knowledge of the diverse applications of photography. You will get a better understanding of contemporary art practices and requirements, and will optimise both the artistic and professional potential. Our curriculum encourages you to explore the significance of the photographic medium within a cultural, political and social context, and to develop an individual vision while interacting with current trends in art and design. You will also learn to write and speak about your work with an advanced level of fluency and to frame your practice in historical and critical contexts. By the time you graduate with the Master’s in Photography, you will have acquired the skills to think conceptually and to realise your ideas in artistic and practical projects using state-of-the-art technology.
Our campuses are equipped with professional workspaces and an extensive range of equipment. Facilities include spacious photo and green screen studios, an analogue darkroom, a scanning and print studio, film editing suites and sound studios. Students also have the opportunity to borrow a range of photographic equipment free of charge for projects both on and off campus. This includes digital and analogue camera equipment, professional lighting and other accessories.
At the University of Europe for Applied Sciences (UE), our educational approach is to enable students to discover and fully develop their individual talents. Teaching takes place in small groups in a friendly, informal atmosphere. You will have the opportunity to actively shape your studies and your career path by choosing your own specialisations and selecting courses from a range of interdisciplinary subjects. Our professors will support your individual progress helping you to develop your own distinct signature and to refine your talents and strengths. The master’s programme includes practical projects led by distinguished photographers and artists, as well as international study trips and workshops in New York, Iceland or different cities in Asia to help you prepare for your future career.
Our modern, centrally located Berlin campus is a meeting place for students from over 60 countries. Famous for its lively arts scene, in recent years, Berlin has also become one of Europe’s most important start-up capitals.
The University of Europe for Applied Sciences (UE) is state accredited, has received multiple awards and is a world leader among universities with an international approach.
Learning takes place in small groups enabling our students to benefit from individual support and personal contact with professors. All our lecturers are successful professionals and experts in the fields of art, design and photography.
Internationality is important to us. That is why we were ranked as one of the 25 best international universities worldwide for student mobility and an international approach (U-Multirank 2016). Our many international students come from across the globe to gain a highly regarded English-language degree from a German university. Our degree programmes are state recognised and accredited by ZevA (Central Evaluation and Accreditation Agency). With its reputation as the country of innovators, Germany is the perfect place to complete your studies.
We do our best to ensure that you can fit your studies around your life. For this reason, lectures for master’s programmes generally take place three days per week. However, you will also need to plan time for preparation and follow-up work for your courses.
The MA Photography programme is dedicated to photographers interested in developing their work, engaging in critical conversations in relation to how images shape contemporary culture, and building technical and formal skills with which to expand the possibilities of lens-based work. Visual storytelling and the analysis of narrative structures are key components of the programme.
You will be encouraged to redefine the creative role of photography in contemporary culture through both traditional and experimental forms of image-making. You will also develop your own distinctive visual language, which you can apply either to commercial or artistic work.
Additional elective courses will enable you to expand your knowledge of entrepreneurial strategies and curatorial practices.
In your third semester, you will complete a master’s thesis consisting of a photography project and an academic thesis on a subject of your choice.
With a master’s degree, you will have the qualifications required to work successfully as a freelance photographer or artist, or to take on a leadership role in an agency or company. You will have the skills and expertise needed to work in interdisciplinary, multicultural and international teams in a wide range of contexts such as art institutions, design agencies, advertising publishers, magazines, galleries, the film and media industry, or the art market.
Potential career options:
The degree category Master of Arts allows students to pursue an academic career path, including doctorate and postdoctorate qualifications.
As a private university, University of Europe for Applied Sciences (UE) is funded by tuition fees rather than by the state. Our students benefit from our investment in progressive teaching methods, state-of-the-art facilities, experienced teaching staff and our steadily expanding network.
You can find information about financing a master's study programme on our Tuition fees and financing page.
You can apply for the winter semester a year in advance.
You will need the following documents to complete your application:
The admission procedure includes a review of your application documents and portfolio.
Find out more about applying to the University of Europe for Applied Sciences.