Academy of Performing Arts in Prague (AMU)
Bachelor's Programme in Photography
Prague 1, Czech Republic
Bachelor's degree
DURATION
3 years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
01 Oct 2026
TUITION FEES
CZK 220,000 / per year *
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* fees might be subject to change. Additional fees may apply
Department of Photography, Film and TV School of the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague (FAMU)
The Bachelor’s Programme in Photography at FAMU is a three-year full-time study track taught in English that provides a rigorous, creative and intellectually grounded introduction to photographic practice. It welcomes students directly after secondary school as well as applicants with previous studies or artistic experience, offering a balanced combination of technical training, conceptual development and theoretical reflection. The programme aims to cultivate photographers capable of articulating a strong personal vision, mastering a wide spectrum of media, and engaging critically with contemporary visual culture.
During the first year, students gain essential technical competencies in both analogue and digital photography while immersing themselves in the history and theory of visual media. The second year shifts towards studio-based specialisation, where students choose a focused artistic environment aligned with their interests. The final year culminates in an extensive bachelor’s project, combining a curated photographic portfolio with written reflection. Throughout the programme, individual mentoring, interdisciplinary collaboration and artistic experimentation are strongly encouraged.
Why Study Photography at FAMU?
FAMU is widely respected for its historical legacy, experienced faculty and distinctive combination of artistic, technical and theoretical training. Key advantages include:
- A strong artistic environment where students are encouraged to experiment, innovate and develop a personal perspective.
- Specialised studios offering focused mentorship and distinct artistic philosophies.
- Interdisciplinary possibilities, allowing students to connect photography with film, sound, media and performance.
- Individualised mentoring, providing consistent feedback and tailored artistic guidance.
- A vibrant international community, fostering cultural exchange, collaboration and global outlook.
- An emphasis on theory and critical thinking, ensuring that graduates can contextualise their creative work within broader artistic and cultural discourse.
This unique combination prepares students to thrive both creatively and professionally.
Programme Goals
The programme is designed to develop versatile, critically informed and professionally prepared visual artists. Its key aims include:
- Technical and methodological mastery — ensuring that students can work confidently with analogue processes, digital workflows, lighting, composition and advanced post-production.
- Development of an artistic identity — supporting students as they discover and refine their own creative voice through experimentation and feedback.
- Understanding of visual culture and media contexts — cultivating the ability to analyse images, situate them within theoretical frameworks, and reflect on broader cultural and social implications.
- Openness across genres and media — encouraging students to work in documentary, fine art, conceptual and experimental modes, and to engage with intermedia or multimedia forms.
- Professional and collaborative readiness — equipping graduates for careers across the creative industries or for further study at the Master’s level.
The programme’s overarching ambition is to prepare photographers who are technically skilled, conceptually articulate and capable of contributing meaningfully to contemporary artistic and media environments.
Graduate Profile
Graduates of the Bachelor’s Programme in Photography typically demonstrate:
- Strong technical proficiency, including mastery of analogue and digital photography, lighting, printing, post-production and various forms of contemporary image-making.
- A defined artistic voice, expressed through a cohesive portfolio and the capacity to work independently on creative or commissioned projects.
- Conceptual and critical awareness, enabling them to reflect on their work’s meaning and articulate its theoretical or social context.
- Interdisciplinary potential, with openness to collaborating across film, media art, multimedia installations or other creative fields.
- Professional readiness, capable of pursuing careers in artistic photography, documentary practice, media and editorial work, visual content creation, curation, cultural institutions or further academic study.
The graduate profile combines craftsmanship, creativity and intellectual competence, ensuring flexibility in an evolving artistic and media landscape.
Career Prospects
Graduates can pursue a broad spectrum of careers, such as:
- Independent visual artist or photographer (documentary, fine art, conceptual, editorial, commercial).
- Multimedia or intermedia creator, combining photography with video, installation or new media.
- Collaborator in audiovisual production, including film sets, creative studios and cultural institutions.
- Creative roles in visual content creation, art direction, curatorship or cultural programming.
- Further academic study, particularly Master’s programmes in photography, media art or related fields.
The programme’s versatility equips students for both traditional photographic practice and contemporary, interdisciplinary artistic work.
Year 1 – Foundations
The first year offers a structured introduction to photographic tools, materials and concepts. Students learn camera operation, exposure, darkroom processes, digital editing, lighting principles and studio practice. Alongside this, they take courses in theory and history of photography, composition, and visual analysis. This blend of technical and intellectual education ensures a solid and comprehensive foundation, preparing students to work independently with image-making tools and ideas.
Year 2 – Studio Specialisation and Creative Exploration
In the second year, students select a studio that aligns with their artistic interests — for example documentary, classic photography, imaginative photography, new aesthetics or interdisciplinary approaches. Each studio provides a unique learning environment with specific methodologies, artistic visions and technical emphases.
Within these studios, students develop thematic projects, sharpen their conceptual thinking, explore different styles and experiment across genres. The studio system offers regular mentorship, critiques, and a supportive setting for deepening artistic identity.
Students may also take electives or collaborate with other departments at FAMU, such as cinematography, editing or sound design, enabling them to explore photography in relation to film, media and performance.
Year 3 – Bachelor’s Project and Artistic Consolidation
The final year is dedicated to the bachelor’s project, a comprehensive photographic work demonstrating the student’s technical command, conceptual maturity and artistic coherence. Students prepare a curated series or visual art project, typically presented in exhibition form, complemented by a written thesis reflecting on their creative process, context and theoretical framework. Their final examination evaluates both the artistic outcome and the student’s knowledge of photographic history, techniques and theory.
Throughout this period, students receive personalised mentorship from faculty and benefit from consultations, critiques and collaborative discussions within their studio environment.