It is a friendly, collaborative and hugely supportive place to study with passionate tutors and students. Some of the more 'corporate' requirements of the University of Wales Trinity St David's (to which the college is affiliated) can be a bit frustrating at times but they hardly impact on what is a seriously top-class learning experience. In my particular course the contact time is fantastic and the teaching expertise is unparalleled.

This course could change your life! The course challenges all students to develop both practically and creatively. It strikes a perfect balance between more commercial aspects of photography on the one hand and the use of photography as an artistic medium on the other. Each student is assisted to find their own identity as a photographer as the course progresses. This means that the course feels tailored to you personally, rather than (say) assuming that all students want to follow the same photographic journey. There is also a strong emphasis throughout the course on each student's future direction of travel (work, employment, further study etc.) and how what they are learning feeds into that. The full time course requires about two to three days in college, though that differs from semester to semester. On top of that, students can expect to spend time researching photographers and other artists and planning and taking shots in response to briefs given to them by tutors and a few external businesses. The quality of teaching is very high with lots of contact time and plenty of feedback and support. Tutors and technicians are friendly, extremely approachable and highly experienced. There is a strong sense that everyone is there to help you achieve your goals. The facilities are impressive with loads of opportunities to borrow equipment and use the photo studios. Collaboration is encouraged and photography students often find themselves working with other creatives within the college (e.g. fashion shoots). Opportunities to work in the wider community (sometimes paid for) are also regularly made available. There is a highly successful visiting lecturer programme where external photographers and other practitioners and artists come in to the college to share their own real world experiences. In the later stages of the course, in particular, these visiting experts are used to assist with individual feedback and advice, which is an invaluable added extra. Students are expected to get involved in getting their work in front of the public at all stages, including through college social media takeovers, creating and editing hard copy publications, submitting work to awards and competitions and planning and putting on physical exhibitions. This aspect is challenging but also hugely rewarding and staff are extremely knowledgeable and supportive so that noting feels too daunting. Overall, this is an exceptional course at an amazing art college. It is taught with positivity, compassion and a sense of humour. If you embrace all it has to offer it is life-changing.

No

I can't recommend the BA Photography at Carmarthen School of Art, Coleg Sir Gâr, highly enough. The teaching, which combines practical knowhow with art history, philosophy and cultural context, is first class. The tutors are knowledgable, inspiring, thoughtful and caring and provide a wonderfully encouraging and safe space for students to flourish into confident, accomplished photographers. The enterprise element of the course provides a good opportunity to develop the commercial side of the student's practice, setting them up to hit the ground running when they leave. Support continues after graduation with a strong alumni and Graduate Resident programme. I studied at Carmarthen School of Art as a mature student and graduated with First Class Honours. I can honestly say it was one of the best things I've done in my life. I feel so lucky to have been able to attend such a fantastic degree programme on my doorstep in West Wales!

The college provided an excellent level of contact with the lecturers and the course leader was always on hand to answer questions and give support and feedback. Taught time and the amount of assessments in the first and second years is high which makes you work hard but the results show in the third year when you focus on your own practice.

No