Bachelor of Applied Arts in Commercial Photography at Durban University of Technology

Programme overview

Three-year full-time contact degree (NQF level 7) at ML Sultan Campus that trains multi-skilled, critical and creative visual practitioners for a career in commercial photography. Learning combines practice with theory, technical skill and academic rigour.

Faculty: Faculty of Arts and Design | Department: Department of Visual Communication Design | Duration: 3 years | Study mode: full-time | Location: Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

What you will study

Traditional and digital photography projects, studio-based tuition and location photography across genres including portraiture, advertising, industrial, fashion, documentary, landscape, architecture, editorial, food, photojournalism, and medical and scientific photography, plus practice-based research methods and critical theory.

Career pathways

Advertising, magazines, commercial and industrial photography, newspapers, freelance work and education.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

Bachelor of Applied Arts in Commercial Photography (NSC): bachelor's pass with English at rating 3 and four recognised 20-credit subjects at rating 4. Applicants must also pass a departmental test of photographic knowledge and submit a portfolio of three photographic images from the categories landscape, documentary, social, architecture, wildlife and advertising. Applicants aged 23 or older with at least three years of relevant work experience may apply through the work experience, age and maturity route, which includes a Senate-approved admission assessment.

Tuition is charged per module, so the total depends on the modules you register for each year. Current fees are listed in the official fee schedule.

First-time undergraduate applications for the 2027 academic year must reach the CAO by the closing date of 30 September 2026; some programmes close earlier. Applications are made online through the CAO (www.cao.ac.za). The application fee is R250 (South African citizens) or R300 (international applicants), paid when submitting; the application is active only once payment is received.

Apply through the official page: https://onlineapps.dut.ac.za/

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