Dual Degree between Paris College of Art & Goldsmiths - MA Photography Practice
The School of Media, Communications and Cultural Studies at Goldsmiths is collaborating with Paris College of Art to deliver a newly designed credit recognition and dual degree for those interested in exploring study in different contexts internationally.
Once you have successfully completed the first year of the MFA Photography and Image Making you’ll join Goldsmiths’ MA Photography Practice programme for a year of study.
You will study Year 1 at PCA and Year 2 at Goldsmiths.
Why study through this partnership
- Studying in both London and Paris gives you the chance to build a network in two of Europe's most innovative and biggest cities which have great opportunities to start your career. This will help you stand out in a crowded job market in both the UK and France, making you more employable in a national and international market.
- With the support of our dedicated Careers Service, leading faculty and an international alumni network, you’ll graduate with expertise and professional connections as you take the first steps into your chosen career.
- Our single-site campus is located 10 minutes from London Bridge, and you’ll have all that London has to offer on your doorstep. Both Paris and London are hubs for art and the creative industries. meaning you will have the chance to lay foundations in world-leading cities for the industry.
- You’ll graduate with two degrees – a MFA in Photography and Image Making from Paris College of Art and a MA Photography Practice from Goldsmiths. This will help you stand out in the European market, where most Master's degrees take two years to achieve one certificate.
- Living independently in a new country will expose you to a different culture, enhance your self-confidence and resilience in unfamiliar circumstances, and allow you to make new friends from around the world.
- You'll study at a world-leading institution for media and visual arts. Our School of Media, Communications and Cultural Studies, ranked 18th globally and third in the UK for Communication and Media Studies (QS World Rankings by Subject, 2026) and second in the UK for research excellence (REF, 2021), provides an exceptional environment for developing your practice within a broader cultural context.
Contact
If you have specific questions about the degree, contact course leader Jacob Love.
What you'll study
In Year 1, you will study the first year curriculum of the MFA Photography and Image Making at PCA.
In Year 2 at Goldsmiths, you'll engage with photography through hands-on workshops, critical seminars, one-to-one tutorials, and independent research. Our approach emphasises both technical precision and creative experimentation, encouraging you to develop work through cycles of making, critique, and refinement that sharpen your visual sensibility.
During the degree at Goldsmiths, you will:
- Cultivate sophisticated visual literacy and articulation. Understanding the subtle grammar of images is fundamental regardless of technology. Our curriculum emphasises deep visual analysis alongside technical skill-building, supported by some of the world's leading media and cultural theorists, preparing you to position your practice within broader critical discourses and communicate with sophistication across evolving platforms and contexts.
- Practice across the full spectrum of contemporary image-making. Photography exists in a state of exciting flux, simultaneously experiencing an unprecedented digital revolution and a renaissance in traditional analogue darkroom craft. We encourage exploration across moving image, CGI, installation, sculpture, and both traditional and emerging technologies, with the conceptual frameworks to make these explorations meaningful.
- Develop through genuinely personal teaching and support. Our deliberately small cohort means you benefit from sustained one-to-one tutorials and close group critique, within a programme that treats theory and practice as inseparable. We value the learning journey as much as final outcomes and treat expansive research and productive experimentation as central to creative development.
- Present your work to real audiences, twice. Exhibition is integral to your development. You will have two full public exhibitions: an interim show in spring to test ideas and develop curatorial skills, and a degree show in summer attended by industry professionals, friends, colleagues and family.
Teaching and learning
This course is interested in the development of the individual voice while situating this development in the context of the wider developments in photography and post-photography, other forms of image-making. To this end, we use a number of teaching formats, such as lectures, seminars, technical sessions, groups crits and individual tutorials.
How you'll be assessed
Original portfolio submission; coursework and essays.
Watch videos of student work
Our community
- Dynamic international cohort: Study alongside students from diverse cultural backgrounds who bring unique perspectives to image-making
- London connections: Benefit from our close ties to London's vibrant art scene and photography community, including special relationships with Peckham24 photography festival and other high profile commercial galleries
- Expert faculty: Learn from active practitioners who are pushing the boundaries of contemporary photography through their own research and creative work
- Critical context: Position your practice within the rich intellectual environment of Goldsmiths, where photography is examined at the intersection of art, media, and society
Technical facilities and workshops
Our extensive facilities support both traditional and experimental approaches:
- Analogue processes: Medium/large format cameras, darkrooms, alternative processes, film technologies
- Digital technologies: High-end digital cameras, studio lighting, post-production suites, large-format printing
- Expanded media: Videography, sound recording, 3D modeling, Sonic Immersive Media Lab for large-scale multiscreen video installations
- Dedicated spaces: Purpose-built areas for experimental installation work and exhibition preparation
- Emerging technologies: AI image generation, computational photography, CGI
- Publishing and presentation: Book binding, zine production, exhibition design
Entry requirements
To start the programme at Paris College of Art, students must initially have satisfied Paris College of Art’s admissions criteria for the MFA Photography and Image Making and apply to PCA.
Successful applicants will have passed the first year of the MFA Photography and Image Making at Paris College of Art.
International qualifications
We accept a wide range of international qualifications. Find out more about the qualifications we accept from around the world.
If English isn’t your first language, you will need an IELTS score (or equivalent English language qualification) of 6.5 with no element lower than 6.0 to study this programme. If you need assistance with your English language, we offer a range of courses that can help prepare you for postgraduate-level study.
Fees and funding
Annual tuition fees
You will need to pay the relevant tuition fee for the MA Photography Practice programme, as reviewed and set annually by Goldsmiths. For more information about the tuition fee, please visit Tuition fee amounts.
Scholarships
Goldsmiths does not offer any specific scholarships to this dual degree programme.
Goldsmiths offer a wide range of scholarships and bursaries, and our Careers Service can also offer advice on finding work during your studies. Find out more about funding your studies with us.
Additional costs
In addition to your tuition fees, you'll be responsible for any additional costs associated with your course, such as buying stationery and paying for photocopying. You can find out more about what you need to budget for on our study costs page.
There may also be specific additional costs associated with your programme. This can include things like paying for field trips or specialist materials for your assignments. Please see the programme specification on degree pathway pages for more information.
Skills and Careers
Preparing you for a successful future
The dual degree programme between the Paris College of Art and Goldsmiths, University of London, equips you with the expertise needed for a successful career in photography.
Goldsmiths complements the critical and professional foundations needed to sustain a career in contemporary photography. A rigorous theoretical grounding, close one-to-one mentorship, and training across the full spectrum of image-making, from analogue traditional darkroom craft to moving image, installation, and emerging technologies, ensures you graduate as a versatile, intellectually confident practitioner.
Two full public exhibitions, attended by industry professionals, provide direct entry points into London's world-class photography community. Supported by dedicated mentors, you'll develop a comprehensive skill set, preparing you to excel in the field of photography.
With opportunities for hands-on experience and networking with industry leaders, this dual degree marks an important step to a successful future in Photography.
Find out more about employability at Goldsmiths.
Careers further afield
Graduates emerge with a distinctive visual voice, advanced technical skills, and the critical thinking abilities needed to thrive in contemporary art and commercial contexts.
Our alumni go on to build careers as exhibiting artists, educators, curators, commercial photographers, photo editors, commissioners, and technicians, amongst many others, though experience shows us that the boundaries between these roles are increasingly fluid.
For the duration of their studies, every student is treated as an artist: we invest fully in the development of their own practice, their visual thinking, their critical voice, and their aesthetic sensibility.
We believe these qualities have far greater longevity and flexibility than vocational training alone, and that whatever field our graduates move into, it is this depth of formation that enables them to engage with creativity, purpose, and authority.
Graduate visas
Our Immigration Advisory Service can provide advice on graduate visas.
More information about your studies
For queries about studying at Goldsmiths
Contact our Internation team:
- Sophie Parsons s.parsons@gold.ac.uk
- Dominic Grego d.grego@gold.ac.uk
For queries about studying at Paris College of Art
Contact:
- Daniel Schug, Senior Academic Development Coordinator, daniel.schug@paris.edu
- Steve Bisson, Programme Leader for Photography, steve.bisson@paris.edu
International students
Explore the following links for information and requirements regarding your preparation and arrival in London.
- London may be more expensive than your home city. Check out London cost of living for information on basic average expenses and tips for saving money.
- Stay ahead of the curve by visiting our when you arrive page for essential information on healthcare, support services and more.
- Take a look at our Immigration Advisory Services for all-visa related enquiries and one-to-one chats with experts.
- Unsure of where to live? Explore Goldsmiths' Halls and Accommodation for a variety of housing options.
- Goldsmiths’ Multi-Faith Chaplaincy offers a non-judgmental space for all beliefs and faith traditions.
You can also visit our International students page for further support and advice.
Transitioning to Goldsmiths
Transitioning into a new university from a partnership is a wonderful and unique experience, though it comes with its own set of challenges. Understanding the effort it takes to move countries and universities, here are our top tips to make your transition into Goldsmith's smoother and more enjoyable.
- To start, connect with current students through our student-led platform, Unibuddy. This allows you to chat directly with current students who have experienced the transition themselves and can help you through any doubts and queries.
- Discover our wide range of Societies. Whether you’re looking for competitive sports teams or the university’s newspaper, you have a wide selection of activities to choose from.
- Explore the events at Goldsmiths to get a feel for the vibrant student life and meet people from all years and subject areas. From cultural festivals to academic seminars, there’s always something happening on campus.
- Check the Student Union (SU) for events and opportunities, including part-time job opportunities, non-academic support, Salsa Dance classes, and the popular Trashy Tuesdays at the SU Bar.
- Lastly, don’t forget to review the International Student Handbook available on the Student Union's Website for important information on housing, arriving to the UK, support services and more.