Top MA Photography Degrees in 2027

A master’s in photography is a big decision. It’s a year or two of your life and often a lot of money. Done right, though, it gives you time to build a serious body of work, tutors who push your ideas, and a network that can open doors for years.

Quick comparison

University	Country	Format	Duration	Fees (latest published)
Royal College of Art, MA Photography	UK (London)	In person	1 year	About £15,600 home / £39,200 international
London College of Communication (UAL), MA Photography	UK (London)	In person	15 months	£14,710 home / £31,510 international (2027/28)
University of Westminster, MA Expanded Photography	UK (London)	In person	1 year	Check the university’s website
Falmouth University, MA Photography (Online)	UK / anywhere	Online, part time	2 years	£12,150 total
Aalto University, MA Photography	Finland (Helsinki)	In person	2 years	Free for EU/EEA; €20,000 a year for others
ECAL, Master Photography	Switzerland (Lausanne)	In person	2 years	About CHF 1,050 per semester for foreign students, plus materials

Best MA Photography degrees in the UK

1. Royal College of Art (London)

The RCA is a postgraduate-only art and design school, and its MA Photography sits firmly in the world of contemporary art. Expect a cross-disciplinary community of artists and writers, lots of experimentation and not much hand-holding. It’s best for people who see photography as the core of an art practice rather than a commercial career.

Duration: 1 year full time, starting September 2027
Fees: listed at about £15,600 for home students and £39,200 for international students
Funding: the RCA has several scholarships that MA Photography students can apply for, some worth up to £10,000 toward fees
Good for: artists with a strong, developed portfolio

2. London College of Communication, UAL (London)

LCC’s MA Photography is one of the biggest and best-known in the UK. You pick one of three pathways (Expanded Practice, Curation or Publishing) so you can shape the course around making work, exhibiting it, or putting it into books and magazines. The college has colour and black-and-white darkrooms, studios and a digital suite.

Duration: 15 months full time
Fees (2027/28): £14,710 home, £31,510 international
Applying: a personal statement, CV, a 500-word study proposal, a portfolio of two bodies of work, and a short video task. Round 1 closes on 1 December 2026, round 2 on 17 February 2027
Good for: people who want options beyond just making pictures, like curating or publishing

LCC also runs separate MAs in Photojournalism and Documentary Photography, and in Commercial Photography, if you know exactly which direction you want.

3. University of Westminster (London)

Westminster’s MA Expanded Photography treats photography as a broad field: documentary, fashion, editorial, photobooks, virtual photography and writing all come into it. It has a strong focus on professional skills, so it’s a good pick if you want a creative career rather than only an art practice.

Duration: 1 year full time, at the Harrow campus
Fees: not confirmed for 2027 entry yet, so check the university’s course page
Good for: photographers who want to work across several areas of the industry

4. Falmouth University (Online)

If you can’t move or stop working, this is the one to look at. Falmouth’s online MA Photography is run by its Institute of Photography and is designed specifically for online study, with webinars, live lectures and an international group of classmates. There are three start dates a year: January, May and September.

Duration: 2 years part time
Fees: £12,150 in total, payable in instalments, with an early-bird discount of up to £600
Entry: a degree helps, but you can still apply without one if your portfolio is strong
Good for: working photographers and anyone outside the UK who wants a UK master’s from home

Best MA Photography degrees in Europe

5. Aalto University (Helsinki, Finland)

Aalto is Finland’s leading art and design university, and its photography master’s is known for strong artistic vision combined with conceptual thinking. It’s a two-year, 120-credit programme taught in English.

Duration: 2 years full time
Fees: free for EU/EEA and Swiss citizens; €20,000 a year for everyone else
Funding: non-EU students can apply for Aalto scholarships that waive 50% or 100% of tuition, plus a Finland Scholarship that adds €5,000. You apply for these with your main application
Good for: EU students wanting a free, high-quality MA, and strong international applicants who can win a fee waiver

6. ECAL (Lausanne, Switzerland)

ECAL is one of Europe’s most respected art and design schools, and its Master Photography has a reputation for sharp, contemporary work and excellent studio skills. Students study still life and lighting at a high level, run long personal projects, and take part in research into new image technologies. Graduates regularly show work at international book fairs and exhibitions.

Duration: 2 years (4 semesters), taught in English
Fees: low by international standards. Public tuition is about CHF 1,050 per semester for foreign students, plus a contribution toward materials
Good for: technically skilled photographers who want to work at the cutting edge of image-making, without UK-level fees

Also worth knowing: MFAs in the US

In the United States, the equivalent is usually a two-year Master of Fine Arts (MFA) rather than an MA. Yale’s MFA in Photography is the most famous, with tuition of about $50,198 for 2026–27 and a total cost of attendance close to $80,000 a year, though financial aid is available. Other well-known options include RISD and the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.

How to choose the right MA

Art or career? The RCA and ECAL lean toward contemporary art. Westminster and LCC’s specialist MAs lean more toward professional careers.
Budget. Fees range from a few thousand Swiss francs to nearly £40,000. Add living costs, especially in London.
Format. If you need to keep working, an online MA like Falmouth’s is far more realistic than moving abroad.
Look at graduate work. Every school shows recent graduates’ projects online. If the work excites you, that’s a good sign.

Typical entry requirements

Most MA Photography courses ask for roughly the same things:

An honours degree, usually in photography or a related subject. Many schools also accept strong applicants without one if they have relevant experience
A portfolio of recent work, often one or two projects
A personal statement and sometimes a short study proposal
For international students, an English test such as IELTS 6.5 overall
An interview, often online

FAQ

Can I do an MA in Photography without a photography degree?

Often yes. Many courses accept degrees in other subjects, or relevant professional experience, if your portfolio is strong. Falmouth’s online MA, for example, encourages applicants without a degree to apply.

Which is the cheapest MA Photography on this list?

For EU citizens, Aalto is free. For everyone else, ECAL in Switzerland has very low public tuition compared with the UK or US.

Can I study an MA in Photography online?

Yes. Falmouth’s online MA Photography is part time over two years, with three start dates a year, and it’s designed for distance learning.

Are there scholarships?

Yes. Most universities have their own awards, like the RCA’s scholarships and Aalto’s tuition waivers. See our guide to free scholarship options for photographers for outside funding too.

When should I apply for 2027 entry?

Start now. Many UK courses run application rounds from December to early spring, and Aalto’s main application window usually closes in early January. Places are limited, so applying early gives you the best chance.

Final thoughts

There isn’t one “best” photography master’s, only the one that fits your work, budget and goals. Shortlist two or three, look closely at what their graduates make, and talk to current students if you can. A good fit will matter far more than a famous name.