Looking to become a professional photographer? There are several aspects of photography to consider when choosing a college program, including entrepreneurial opportunities, the social impact of photography, and the evolving definition of the medium. Universities, colleges, and specialist schools around the world offer programs that can help students develop their technical skills, artistic practice, and professional knowledge. Navigating the options can be difficult. Let’s take a look at the top photography schools in the world.
Top Photography Schools in the World
1. California Institute of the Arts
California Institute of the Arts offers Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) and Master of Fine Arts (MFA) programs in Photography and Media. The four-year BFA program develops students’ technical, conceptual, and critical skills through core studio classes and increasingly independent work. Students must pass a graduation portfolio review to complete the BFA degree.
BFA students initially work in communal studios grouped by year level, while many upper-level students are assigned individual studios. The two-year MFA program is built around graduate critiques, seminars, and independent studies with faculty. MFA students are assigned individual studios, have access to communal labs and specialist facilities, and mount exhibitions in the school’s galleries.
2. Centre d’enseignement professionnel de Vevey
Centre d’enseignement professionnel de Vevey (CEPV) offers photography training within the Swiss vocational education system. Its full-time initial photography program generally takes four years and leads to a Certificat fédéral de capacité (CFC), or Federal Certificate of Competence. The program includes a six-month internship with a company during the final year. CEPV also lists a two-year accelerated option for eligible applicants.
CEPV also offers a two-year, full-time higher professional program leading to the qualification of Designer diplômé-e ES en communication visuelle, spécialisation en Photographie. Students develop a personal style, adapt to new technologies and changing photography markets, take part in workshops led by professional photographers, and collaborate with cultural institutions.
3. Parson’s School of Design
Students pursuing a bachelor’s degree in photography at Parsons School of Design enter a research-based, studio-intensive program. The four-year, full-time Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) program requires 120 credits. Its curriculum explores commercial, documentary, fashion, and artistic image-making. Students work with photography and video across print media, websites, social media, installations, performances, motion capture, and 3D imaging.
The full-time Master of Fine Arts (MFA) program requires 60 credits and takes 26 months to complete. Students begin with an eight-week summer session and participate in critiques, research, intensive projects, and annual graduate thesis exhibitions and publications. Photography students have access to darkrooms, two digital labs, a digital printer, and five shooting studios. Graduates pursue careers in commercial, editorial, and fashion photography, documentary production, and fine art.
4. Yale University School of Art
Yale University School of Art is a graduate school whose only degree is the Master of Fine Arts (MFA). Its Photography MFA is a two-year program that admits ten students each year. Students receive technical instruction in black-and-white and color photography, nonsilver processes, and digital image production. Darkroom, studio, and computer facilities are provided.
The Yale School of Art requires MFA students to complete at least 60 credits and an approved thesis presentation. Faculty review students’ work at the end of each term. Within the Photography MFA, a critique panel of faculty members and visiting artists or critics meets weekly and conducts a final review each term. The school also invites outside professionals to give lectures and participate in critiques.
5. Tokyo Zokei University
- Study Program
- Location: Japan | Program Offered: Undergraduate Photography Major
Tokyo Zokei University offers a Photography Major within its Department of Design. The program follows a four-year study flow and approaches photography as a form of research rather than solely as a means of self-expression. Students explore the medium through practical photography and artwork production while developing a more objective and socially aware approach to their work.
During the first year, students learn the basics of film-based and digital photography while developing their ability to read and interpret finished photographs. In the second year, students begin specialized courses in expressive studies and area studies. Area studies connects photography with local research and social collaboration. Tokyo Zokei University also maintains international partnerships that support short-term exchange and workshop programs.
6. Spéos Photography School
- Study Programs
- Location: France | Programs Offered: One-Year Intensive, Two-Year, and Short Programs
Spéos Photography School offers several one-year intensive photography programs. Its current options include the Accelerated Bachelor in 1 year – The Entrepreneurial Photographer, Professional Photography, Photojournalism by Spéos and Agence France-Presse (AFP), Creative Documentary by Magnum Photos and Spéos, Fashion, Luxury and Beauty Photography, and Expert in Digital Visual Creation: Photography, 3D, AI, Video. The accelerated bachelor’s program leads to the title of Entrepreneurial Photographer, certified at Level 6 of France’s Répertoire national des certifications professionnelles (RNCP).
Spéos also offers two-year programs in Professional Photography and The Entrepreneurial Photographer, as well as shorter programs and workshops. Its one-year programs are taught in English and are open to international students from around the world. Two-year programs are taught in English or French, depending on the program, and are also open to international students.
7. Royal College of Art
The Royal College of Art offers a full-time Master of Arts (MA) in Photography. The program requires 180 credits and takes one year, or 45 weeks, to complete. The Royal College of Art describes the program as an expanded and interdisciplinary art practice with no fixed identity.
The Photography MA examines still and moving images, publishing, performance, installation, social practice, sound, synthetic media, text, and writing. Students explore digital and analog forms of photography in relation to sociopolitical debates, intercultural discussions, theory, practice, and emerging methods of circulation and distribution.
We hope this article on the best universities and schools for photography in the world was helpful. To learn more about studying abroad, check out the Available Programs for International Students.
