Photography university rankings 2027
Cardiff Metropolitan University is the best university for photography in 2027, ahead of University for the Creative Arts and University of Lincoln. We ranked 44 universities on teaching, support, graduate pay and what it is like to live there.
- 1Cardiff Metropolitan University, 115 points. 100% academic support and 98% teaching.
- 2University for the Creative Arts, 113 points. 100% teaching and 82% satisfaction.
- =3University of Lincoln, 112 points. One of the safest cities and £24,500 graduate pay.
The full ranking
Showing the top 10 of 44.
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Teaching quality98%2nd of 44Academic support100%1st of 44Student satisfaction75%17th of 44Graduate pay£23,50018th of 44Cost of living6613th of 44City safety60.319th of 44Social life797th of 44Pubs per square mile423rd of 44
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2University for the Creative ArtsCanterbury, Epsom, Farnham, Rochester
- Teaching
- 100%
- Satisfaction
- 82%
- Graduate pay
- £23,000
113Teaching quality100%1st of 44Academic support93%17th of 44Student satisfaction82%4th of 44Graduate pay£23,00022nd of 44Cost of living7330th of 44City safety68.79th of 44Social life7520th of 44Pubs per square mile134th of 44 -
Teaching quality87%19th of 44Academic support82%37th of 44Student satisfaction78%10th of 44Graduate pay£24,5005th of 44Cost of living635th of 44City safety74.44th of 44Social life7617th of 44Pubs per square mile77th of 44
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=3University of Wales Trinity Saint DavidCarmarthen, Lampeter and Swansea
- Teaching
- 93%
- Satisfaction
- 79%
- Graduate pay
- £24,000
112Teaching quality93%11th of 44Academic support97%5th of 44Student satisfaction79%8th of 44Graduate pay£24,0006th of 44Cost of living649th of 44City safety65.712th of 44Social life7138th of 44Pubs per square mile134th of 44 -
Teaching quality79%37th of 44Academic support88%27th of 44Student satisfaction85%2nd of 44Graduate pay£22,50030th of 44Cost of living6715th of 44City safety73.95th of 44Social life7811th of 44Pubs per square mile102nd of 44
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Teaching quality98%2nd of 44Academic support95%9th of 44Student satisfaction76%14th of 44Graduate pay£23,50018th of 44Cost of living635th of 44City safety60.916th of 44Social life7041st of 44Pubs per square mile423rd of 44
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Teaching quality97%4th of 44Academic support97%5th of 44Student satisfaction72%29th of 44Graduate pay£23,00022nd of 44Cost of living601st of 44City safety58.821st of 44Social life7520th of 44Pubs per square mile423rd of 44
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Teaching quality96%6th of 44Academic support95%9th of 44Student satisfaction74%20th of 44Graduate pay£24,0006th of 44Cost of living7330th of 44City safety57.023rd of 44Social life821st of 44Pubs per square mile94th of 44
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Teaching quality90%15th of 44Academic support100%1st of 44Student satisfaction75%17th of 44Graduate pay£24,0006th of 44Cost of living6715th of 44City safety59.120th of 44Social life7715th of 44Pubs per square mile423rd of 44
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Teaching quality84%26th of 44Academic support82%37th of 44Student satisfaction82%4th of 44Graduate pay£23,00022nd of 44Cost of living6511th of 44City safety82.91st of 44Social life7427th of 44Pubs per square mile041st of 44
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Teaching quality92%14th of 44Academic support94%13th of 44Student satisfaction79%8th of 44Graduate pay£24,0006th of 44Cost of living8239th of 44City safety73.56th of 44Social life7235th of 44Pubs per square mile134th of 44
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Teaching quality81%32nd of 44Academic support91%19th of 44Student satisfaction80%7th of 44Graduate pay£22,00034th of 44Cost of living7330th of 44City safety72.97th of 44Social life797th of 44Pubs per square mile231st of 44
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Teaching quality80%33rd of 44Academic support87%30th of 44Student satisfaction78%10th of 44Graduate pay£23,00022nd of 44Cost of living6715th of 44City safety78.42nd of 44Social life7333rd of 44Pubs per square mile134th of 44
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Teaching quality87%19th of 44Academic support95%9th of 44Student satisfaction73%25th of 44Graduate pay£24,0006th of 44Cost of living7027th of 44City safety68.79th of 44Social life7138th of 44Pubs per square mile134th of 44
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Teaching quality96%6th of 44Academic support91%19th of 44Student satisfaction72%29th of 44Graduate pay£22,00034th of 44Cost of living613rd of 44City safety51.227th of 44Social life7427th of 44Pubs per square mile77th of 44
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Teaching quality80%33rd of 44Academic support88%27th of 44Student satisfaction71%35th of 44Graduate pay£23,50018th of 44Cost of living7434th of 44City safety74.83rd of 44Social life7520th of 44Pubs per square mile77th of 44
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Teaching quality85%24th of 44Academic support92%18th of 44Student satisfaction77%12th of 44Graduate pay£23,50018th of 44Cost of living6819th of 44City safety47.330th of 44Social life797th of 44Pubs per square mile102nd of 44
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Teaching quality86%22nd of 44Academic support86%33rd of 44Student satisfaction83%3rd of 44Graduate pay£25,0003rd of 44Cost of living7027th of 44City safety53.926th of 44Social life7617th of 44Pubs per square mile618th of 44
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Teaching quality87%19th of 44Academic support94%13th of 44Student satisfaction76%14th of 44Graduate pay£20,00043rd of 44Cost of living6923rd of 44City safety47.329th of 44Social life815th of 44Pubs per square mile94th of 44
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Teaching quality86%22nd of 44Academic support94%13th of 44Student satisfaction73%25th of 44Graduate pay£22,00034th of 44Cost of living6819th of 44City safety57.122nd of 44Social life797th of 44Pubs per square mile231st of 44
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Teaching quality94%9th of 44Academic support94%13th of 44Student satisfaction73%25th of 44Graduate pay£24,0006th of 44Cost of living6819th of 44City safety39.439th of 44Social life7811th of 44Pubs per square mile520th of 44
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Teaching quality80%33rd of 44Academic support87%30th of 44Student satisfaction86%1st of 44Graduate pay£22,50030th of 44Cost of living6819th of 44City safety54.925th of 44Social life815th of 44Pubs per square mile329th of 44
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Teaching quality96%6th of 44Academic support95%9th of 44Student satisfaction71%35th of 44Graduate pay£23,00022nd of 44Cost of living635th of 44City safety36.641st of 44Social life7427th of 44Pubs per square mile77th of 44
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Teaching quality88%17th of 44Academic support89%23rd of 44Student satisfaction74%20th of 44Graduate pay£22,00034th of 44Cost of living6613th of 44City safety56.624th of 44Social life7427th of 44Pubs per square mile77th of 44
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19University of GloucestershireCheltenham, Gloucester
- Teaching
- 84%
- Satisfaction
- 76%
- Graduate pay
- £24,000
85Teaching quality84%26th of 44Academic support88%27th of 44Student satisfaction76%14th of 44Graduate pay£24,0006th of 44Cost of living6923rd of 44City safety61.915th of 44Social life7235th of 44Pubs per square mile134th of 44 -
Teaching quality97%4th of 44Academic support98%4th of 44Student satisfaction69%41st of 44Graduate pay£24,0006th of 44Cost of living7027th of 44City safety36.142nd of 44Social life7811th of 44Pubs per square mile423rd of 44
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Teaching quality93%11th of 44Academic support100%1st of 44Student satisfaction70%39th of 44Graduate pay£24,0006th of 44Cost of living7330th of 44City safety50.528th of 44Social life7041st of 44Pubs per square mile134th of 44
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Teaching quality82%31st of 44Academic support86%33rd of 44Student satisfaction72%29th of 44Graduate pay£18,50044th of 44Cost of living7535th of 44City safety69.58th of 44Social life7715th of 44Pubs per square mile520th of 44
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Teaching quality77%38th of 44Academic support81%39th of 44Student satisfaction77%12th of 44Graduate pay£24,0006th of 44Cost of living624th of 44City safety64.513th of 44Social life6943rd of 44Pubs per square mile041st of 44
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Teaching quality89%16th of 44Academic support84%36th of 44Student satisfaction74%20th of 44Graduate pay£23,00022nd of 44Cost of living8038th of 44City safety63.014th of 44Social life7520th of 44Pubs per square mile041st of 44
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Teaching quality93%11th of 44Academic support89%23rd of 44Student satisfaction72%29th of 44Graduate pay£24,0006th of 44Cost of living6715th of 44City safety38.340th of 44Social life7617th of 44Pubs per square mile520th of 44
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Teaching quality84%26th of 44Academic support90%22nd of 44Student satisfaction75%17th of 44Graduate pay£25,0003rd of 44Cost of living6511th of 44City safety45.432nd of 44Social life7138th of 44Pubs per square mile423rd of 44
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Teaching quality74%39th of 44Academic support65%43rd of 44Student satisfaction72%29th of 44Graduate pay£22,50030th of 44Cost of living7937th of 44City safety60.518th of 44Social life821st of 44Pubs per square mile111st of 44
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Teaching quality94%9th of 44Academic support97%5th of 44Student satisfaction66%44th of 44Graduate pay£21,00040th of 44Cost of living9140th of 44City safety44.433rd of 44Social life7520th of 44Pubs per square mile77th of 44
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Teaching quality64%42nd of 44Academic support65%43rd of 44Student satisfaction74%20th of 44Graduate pay£23,00022nd of 44Cost of living601st of 44City safety67.711th of 44Social life6744th of 44Pubs per square mile041st of 44
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Teaching quality85%24th of 44Academic support80%40th of 44Student satisfaction73%25th of 44Graduate pay£22,50030th of 44Cost of living6923rd of 44City safety44.138th of 44Social life821st of 44Pubs per square mile77th of 44
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Teaching quality80%33rd of 44Academic support87%30th of 44Student satisfaction81%6th of 44Graduate pay£20,50042nd of 44Cost of living9140th of 44City safety44.433rd of 44Social life821st of 44Pubs per square mile77th of 44
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Teaching quality84%26th of 44Academic support89%23rd of 44Student satisfaction74%20th of 44Graduate pay£22,00034th of 44Cost of living635th of 44City safety35.543rd of 44Social life7520th of 44Pubs per square mile329th of 44
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Teaching quality71%41st of 44Academic support89%23rd of 44Student satisfaction71%35th of 44Graduate pay£24,0006th of 44Cost of living6923rd of 44City safety46.731st of 44Social life7520th of 44Pubs per square mile86th of 44
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Teaching quality63%43rd of 44Academic support96%8th of 44Student satisfaction72%29th of 44Graduate pay£26,0002nd of 44Cost of living9140th of 44City safety44.433rd of 44Social life7427th of 44Pubs per square mile77th of 44
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Teaching quality83%30th of 44Academic support91%19th of 44Student satisfaction68%42nd of 44Graduate pay£22,00034th of 44Cost of living9140th of 44City safety44.433rd of 44Social life7811th of 44Pubs per square mile77th of 44
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Teaching quality73%40th of 44Academic support70%42nd of 44Student satisfaction70%39th of 44Graduate pay£23,00022nd of 44Cost of living7535th of 44City safety60.817th of 44Social life7333rd of 44Pubs per square mile618th of 44
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Teaching quality88%17th of 44Academic support85%35th of 44Student satisfaction71%35th of 44Graduate pay£21,00040th of 44Cost of living649th of 44City safety30.744th of 44Social life7235th of 44Pubs per square mile231st of 44
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Teaching quality60%44th of 44Academic support75%41st of 44Student satisfaction68%42nd of 44Graduate pay£29,0001st of 44Cost of living9140th of 44City safety44.433rd of 44Social life7427th of 44Pubs per square mile77th of 44
What the ranking shows
- Cardiff Metropolitan University leads by 2 points. Its strongest results are 100% academic support and 98% teaching.
- The best-paid graduates are not at the top. University of East London has the highest graduate pay at £29,000, but ranks 35th.
- Three universities score 100% for academic support, including Cardiff Metropolitan University in the top three.
- Pontypridd and Wrexham are the cheapest places to live, with a cost-of-living index of 60. London scores 91.
How the ranking works
We rank each university on eight measures: teaching quality, academic support, student satisfaction, graduate pay, cost of living, city safety, social life and pubs per square mile. The ranks are added together and the highest total ranks first. Lower living costs count as better, and universities with the same total share a place. Read the full methodology.
Four things to check before you apply
- Portfolio requirements. Many photography courses ask for a portfolio or an interview. Follow each university's guidance and show how your projects developed, not just finished images.
- Studios, kit and darkrooms. Check what cameras, lighting, studios, printing and darkroom facilities you can book, and how busy they get near deadlines. Visit an open day if you can.
- Extra costs. Ask whether you need your own camera and what you will pay for film, printing, storage and travel. Some courses lend equipment, others expect you to buy it.
- Course focus and professional practice. Courses range from commercial and fashion to documentary and fine art photography. Check the modules, live briefs and teaching on freelance business skills.
Questions students ask
Which is the best university for photography in the UK?
Cardiff Metropolitan University ranks first in our 2027 photography ranking with a score of 115, ahead of University for the Creative Arts (113) and University of Lincoln (112).
Do you need a portfolio for a photography degree?
Often, yes. Many courses review a portfolio or hold an interview. Requirements vary, so check what each university asks for and when.
What qualifications do you need for photography at university?
A degree usually needs two or three A-levels or equivalent. Foundation degrees and HNDs usually need one or two. Art, Photography or Media subjects help, but requirements vary by course.
Do you need your own camera?
It depends on the course. Some departments loan cameras and lighting, while others expect you to own or buy specific kit. Ask before you apply so you can budget.
Are there other routes into photography?
Yes. You can take a college course, start as a studio assistant, or do a Level 4 photographer higher apprenticeship. Freelance work is common, so business and marketing skills matter too.
Related rankings
Sources: university course pages, the National Careers Service and the Graduate Outcomes survey. Graduate pay is measured about 15 months after finishing.
