Drawing a comparison between two photographic courses.

The two courses that I will be comparing are:

• BA (hons) Photography at Southampton Solent University
• Fda Action Photography at Truro and Penwith College

Having completed a course in ND photography at Stratford-Upon-Avon College, I started a course at Southampton solent university in September 2008 to study BA Photography.
In total, I stayed at the university for 10 weeks before I left the course and the city as I felt that the course didn’t meet my expectations, and also the environment in which I was working and living wasn’t one that I felt comfortable within.
On starting the course, the normal ‘welcome’ procedures took place as a group of 83 new students set about working on the first 5 projects that were issued before most students had even had time to learn the tutors names.
I [among most of the other students] was very confused about what was being asked to produce in time for the deadline, but due to the high number of students on the course it was nearly impossible to get in contact with the tutors in order to find out what I needed to know to complete the task set. Having given up hope of getting any one-on-one help from any of the relevant lecturers I decided to just set about fulfilling the brief to the best of my ability while conferring with other equally confused students to discuss weather we had done the right thing as regards the work we had produced.
Having handed the first of the many projects in I received a 2.2 grade which I consider to be an acceptable grade given that over half the students on the course failed outright. On receiving my first one to one contact with my lecturer [several weeks into the course] for feed back, I was told that my work was ‘unacceptable’ and that I could ‘feel free to leave the course’. Immediately it became apparent to me that the lecturer had little to no interest in encouraging the ideas and visions of students, rather that to run his own idea of what ‘good photography’ was into everyone’s heads, closing his mind to any other thoughts and ideas that weren’t his own. So I decided to take his advice, and leave a few days later.
With my want to learn about photography remaining unsatisfied I applied to Begin the Action Photography course at Truro College, which education wise, has been the best decision I have ever made. I feel that on this course a more hands on approach is taken to photography, rather that sitting around in a stuffy room talking about what makes a good photograph, but not actually taking any.
I have also found that with smaller groups it is very easy to get contact with tutors in order to discuss ideas, and I also feel that here my ideas have been encouraged rather that shot down in flames. I also really enjoy the atmosphere of the college and living near to the coast. I find it much easier to produce work now I am in a place in which I feel settled and comfortable. In my opinion it is an all round better way of life and a better way of learning.