Photography - Advanced: HND

Lecturer demonstrating camera functions to a student in a photography classroom filled with artwork.

Qualification

HND

Study Mode

Full Time

Duration

2 Years - 2.5 Days per week

Start date

Aug 2026

Campus

Springburn

Applications open January 2026

Course overview

Turn your passion for photography into a professional creative career with this advanced, industry-focused HND programme.

This highly practical and creative course is designed to help you develop your photography to a professional standard. Supported by experienced, award-winning lecturers, you’ll strengthen your technical skills, build creative confidence, and develop a polished portfolio that showcases your personal style.

You’ll work across a wide range of photographic genres including documentary, fashion, architecture, advertising and fine art. The course blends studio and location work, giving you hands-on experience with professional darkrooms, bespoke studios and specialist equipment.

Throughout the programme you’ll take part in live briefs, industry collaborations and exhibitions, building the skills, knowledge and connections needed to progress into employment or degree-level study within the creative industries. Whether you want to become a freelance photographer, join a studio or move on to university, this course gives you the creative and technical foundation to take the next step.

This course is ideal for:

Learners aiming for a professional career in photography or creative media.
Students who enjoy hands-on, project-based learning guided by industry experts.
Those planning to progress to university-level photography or visual arts study.
Creative individuals ready to explore advanced technical and artistic approaches.

What you will learn

At HND level, you’ll specialise and refine your craft — working to professional briefs, producing exhibition-ready work, and gaining experience that mirrors industry practice.

Your studies will include:

Advanced Image Editing – using industry-standard software for retouching and creative compositing.
Advertising & Commercial Photography – developing imagery for products, brands and campaigns.
Documentary & Photojournalism – telling real stories with powerful visual impact.
Fashion & Portraiture – exploring style, composition and direction in people photography.
Architecture & Studio Still Life – mastering composition, precision lighting and visual balance.
Alternative Processing – experimenting with analogue and mixed-media photographic methods.
Exhibition Practice – preparing, curating and presenting your work in a public setting.
Creative Industries Practice – working on live briefs, client-based projects and collaborations.
Graded Unit Project – your final professional portfolio project, showcasing your personal photographic voice and technical excellence.

You’ll leave with a comprehensive professional portfolio, exhibition experience and the confidence to work independently or continue to degree-level study.

A Photography student at Glasgow Kelvin College with bright green hair and tattoos speaks into a microphone, discussing architecture photography during an interview.

📸 Behind the Lens with Kelvin’s Photography Students

Our photography students recently enjoyed a trip to Collective Architecture in Glasgow, where they heard from Jane who spoke them through everything they needed to know about architecture photography. 📸

View on YouTube

Entry requirements

✅ A minimum B grade pass in Higher / Advanced Higher in Photography AND

✅ Minimum B grade in National 5 English or a minimum C grade at Higher English OR

✅ An L6 NQ in Photography (minimum 15 credit passes)

✅ You should have a keen interest in Photography and the Creative Industries and bring a portfolio of photographic images to an interview (for example, portraits, landscapes and other relevant subject matter)

If you do not meet the above criteria, you may be considered with no formal qualifications, if your portfolio is of a sufficient standard

All applicants should bring a portfolio of recent work (for example, portraits, landscapes or other relevant subjects) to interview.

ℹ️ You must be 16 years or over at the start of the course commencement date.

ℹ️ For this course, if English is not your first language

you need to have SQA ESOL Higher (or equivalent, click here to see equivalent qualifications)

If you do not have a formal ESOL qualification but your language skills meet this level, you should apply for your course and then contact our Admissions team to organise an internal language assessment here at the College.

Career Opportunities

Graduates can progress to a variety of roles in the photography and creative sectors, including:

📸 Commercial Photographer

📰 Press or Media Photographer

🎨 Fashion, Portrait or Wedding Photographer

🔬 Scientific or Medical Photographer

💡 Studio or Photo Lab Assistant / Digital Retoucher / Picture Editor

Future prospects

On completion of the HND Photography course, you can progress directly to degree-level study at:

The Glasgow School of Art
Edinburgh Napier University
Or other universities offering advanced entry to BA Photography or Creative Media programmes.

This qualification also provides a pathway to freelance work or employment within photography studios, agencies, or media organisations.

Real Industry Connections

Our recent students have exhibited work, won national competitions, produced photography for corporate clients, newspapers and magazines as well as the music industry.

Our students have gained employment as Medical Photographers, Photographic assistants, Press Photographers, Picture Editors, Fashion and Commercial Photographers, Social and Wedding Photographers, Community workers, Lecturers, Fine Art Photographers, Digital Retouchers and Studio Owners.