Why BA (Hons) @ AKTO

Study Program

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INNOVATION & SPECIALIZATION

AKTO’s BA (Hons) Photography with Video programme is the only undergraduate programme in Greece that gives students the option to choose a specialization at the end of the first year, while also offering a well-rounded, comprehensive education. The chosen specialization will be reflected on the degree itself and in the transcript. The available specializations are:

• Photography with Video: Documentary & Visual Arts

• Photography with Video: Editorial & Advertising

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & GRADUATE ACHIEVEMENTS

The Career Office, in collaboration with AKTO Alumni, forms the bridge connecting graduates of the programme with the job market. Graduates also have the opportunity to continue their studies in Greece and abroad at postgraduate level. Our graduates have achieved recognition both in Greece and internationally, most recently in the group exhibition Opus One’ 22, presented at De Krook@Ghent in Belgium.

EDUCATIONAL VISITS

Educational visits to museums, exhibitions, studios, and leading companies offer direct exposure to current trends and professional practices in photography and video. These visits offer not just knowledge, but also valuable networking with industry decision-makers. In addition, themed educational trips within Greece and abroad enhance the experience, providing valuable knowledge and networking opportunities in an international environment.

HIGH ACADEMIC STANDARD

The programme combines professional specialization, experimentation, and a research-driven approach through dedicated projects, strengthening critical thinking and the development of independent learning methods. Through the integration of cutting-edge technologies (AI, 360°, VR) and specialized Layout & Digital Publishing practices, the creation of new knowledge is promoted. In this way, the programme prepares students both for the demands of today’s job market and for postgraduate studies at a high academic level.

PROFESSIONAL PARTNERSHIPS & COMPETITIONS

During their studies, AKTO students take part in photography and video content production projects for contemporary digital media and Social Media, in collaboration with companies, cultural and social organizations, such as the Athens Photo World Festival, the Med Photo Festival, Canon, Nikon, and others. They also take part in Greek and international competitions, strengthening their professional profile. In addition, they take part in cross-disciplinary workshops and productions in collaboration with the Fashion Design, Interior Architecture, and Animation departments, gaining valuable interdisciplinary experience. AKTO also ensures students receive special discounts and offers from photography studios and companies in the industry.

ACADEMIC TEAM

The programme is staffed by experienced academics and accomplished professionals in the field, combining deep theoretical knowledge with practical specialization. The teaching staff come from different generations and specializations, creating a dynamic educational environment that combines experience with creative innovation. This balance offers AKTO students valuable knowledge and up-to-date perspectives, preparing them for the demands of contemporary photography and videography.

 

THE PROGRAMME’S NEW ERA

AI & Future Technologies: Integration of Artificial Intelligence and VR/360° applications in image production.

Moving Image Excellence: Video is not simply a “subject“, but a structural element of contemporary photographic identity.

Creative Autonomy & Self–Publishing: The student’s ability to independently design and publish their own work (InDesign, Digital Publishing).

By joining the programme you will develop critical thinking in relation to Photography, and you will gain the necessary knowledge and ability to work with a wide range of media and techniques, both traditional and contemporary, through the combination of artistic education and hands-on engagement with photographic applications across a variety of professional settings.

The curriculum includes both Analogue and Digital Photography from the very start of the programme, so that you gain the necessary knowledge and practical experience. As you progress through the programme, you will develop your understanding of the field’s potential as a medium of artistic expression and communication, at every level, within the broader context of visual art and professional practice. You will be able to comfortably observe, identify, and solve problems, develop your critical thinking, gain analytical skills, and be able to produce alternative solutions. You will engage with relevant theories within an international, historical, and contemporary cultural framework. You will gain theoretical and historical knowledge, conceptual understanding, and the ability to both focus on your own work and expand your horizons. By combining the conceptual and theoretical with the practical, the programme enriches your experience and the acquisition of knowledge through inquiry, while at the same time developing your oral and written communication skills, as well as your ability to present original solutions grounded in international practices. A range of transferable skills is embedded in the programme to support you in building a successful career, as well as in your continuous development as an artist and professional.

Contact us at admissions@aktocollege.gr so we can send you the Detailed Study Guide, as well as the Programme Specification And Curriculum Map For Photography.

This programme was developed and is delivered and assessed by AKTO, awarded by and quality assured by Middlesex University London.

YEAR 01

The first year includes 6 modules that introduce students to the fundamental theoretical and practical principles of photography and video. The programme covers shooting techniques, visual storytelling, composition, lighting, and image editing, preparing students for the specialized directions of the second year.

Class schedules are mainly in the morning and early afternoon, in order to smoothly support the transition into the new academic reality, giving members of the student community the necessary “space” for systematic practice, guidance, and intensive presence in the studios. At the same time, this schedule also makes it easier for those who have recently completed secondary education to be smoothly integrated into the daily study programme.

At the end of the first year, students choose between the two available specializations, which they then follow as shown below:

Documentary & Visual Arts or Editorial & Advertising.

Throughout their studies, we provide advisory guidance so that you are fully informed about the content of each specialization and the professional prospects they offer, helping you make the best choice based on your interests and professional ambitions.

SEMESTER 01 | MODULES

• PHOTOGRAPHY ESSENTIALS
(Basic principles of photography)

• IMAGES, AESTHETICS & MEANING
(Images, aesthetics & meaning-making)

• VIDEO ESSENTIALS
(Basic principles of video)

SEMESTER 02 | MODULES

• ADVANCED PHOTOGRAPHY TECHNIQUES
(Advanced photography principles)

• CONTEXTUALISING PHOTOGRAPHY
(Context & analysis of photography)

• PHOTOGRAPHY & VISUAL MEDIA
(Photography & visual media)

YEAR 02

The second-year modules are designed to deepen the knowledge you gained in the first year, providing specialization based on the direction you choose. During the third and fourth semesters, you will take one compulsory core module, complemented by the specialized modules of your chosen direction.

As part of an Interdisciplinary Cross-Disciplinary Approach, students engage with the subject matter of both directions. Differentiation and grading arise from the specialized approach, research, and practical application of coursework, depending on the specialization chosen.

Maintaining morning and early-afternoon schedules ensures a steady study pace and intensive depth in both studio and theoretical subjects, thereby supporting skills development and personal progress at this critical stage of study.

The teaching modules per direction are listed below:

PHOTOGRAPHY WITH VIDEO: DOCUMENTARY & VISUAL ARTS

SEMESTER 03

• EXPANDED TOOLKITS & PROCESSES
(Advanced Photography Tools & Processes, core modules)

• DOCUMENTARY & VISUAL ARTS: ESSENTIALS
(Documentary & Visual Arts: Basic principles)

SEMESTER 04

• CREATIVE & PROFESSIONAL FUTURES
(Creative & Professional Prospects, core modules)

• DOCUMENTARY & VISUAL ARTS: ADVANCED CONCEPTS
(Documentary & Visual Arts: Advanced Concepts)

PHOTOGRAPHY WITH VIDEO: EDITORIAL & ADVERTISING

SEMESTER 03

• EXPANDED TOOLKITS & PROCESSES
(Advanced Photography Tools & Processes, core modules)

• EDITORIAL & ADVERTISING: ESSENTIALS
(Editorial & Advertising: Basic principles)

SEMESTER 04

• CREATIVE & PROFESSIONAL FUTURES
(Creative & Professional Prospects, core modules)

• EDITORIAL & ADVERTISING: ADVANCED CONCEPTS
(Editorial & Advertising: Advanced Concepts)

YEAR 03

In the third year, you will take one specialization module in the fifth semester, while at the same time carrying out your Research Project on a topic of your choice. In the sixth semester, you will move on to your Final Major Project, where you will create your own design work based on the same topic.

During the development of your research project you will receive consistent guidance and supervision from your instructors, while also collaborating with your fellow students (peer feedback), aiming to achieve a high level of results and develop a steady work rhythm throughout the semester.

Classes take place both in the morning/early afternoon and in the late afternoon/evening, allowing for substantial research and practical work, while also making it easier for members of the student community to be professionally active. During the third year, having already developed important skills and built a strong portfolio, many students stand out and become active in the job market, through freelance or part-time collaborations, both in Greece and abroad.

In addition, you will have many opportunities for professional practice through Real Work Projects, in collaboration with major agencies, brands, and art and cultural organizations in Greece and abroad.

The teaching modules per direction are listed below:

PHOTOGRAPHY WITH VIDEO: EDITORIAL & ADVERTISING

SEMESTER 03

• MAJOR PROJECT: RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT
(Research Project)

• DOCUMENTARY & VISUAL ARTS: PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE
(Professional Development)

SEMESTER 04

• MAJOR PROJECT: INTEGRATION & PRESENTATION
(Final Major Project)

PHOTOGRAPHY WITH VIDEO: EDITORIAL & ADVERTISING

SEMESTER 03

• MAJOR PROJECT: RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT
(Research Project)

• EDITORIAL & ADVERTISING: PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE
(Professional Development)

SEMESTER 04

• MAJOR PROJECT: INTEGRATION & PRESENTATION
(Final Major Project)

It is a great honour to lead the Photography department at such a pivotal moment for our field. Photography and Moving Image (Video), both as a subject and as a philosophy, are today more firmly established in the arts and visual communication than ever before. Their relationship with technological developments allows them to flourish, even amid the uncertainties of our times.

The newly revalidated programme combines the art of photography with new technologies and Video, preparing creators who consistently respond to today’s professional challenges. Our goal is to meet the new demands of the medium, to fully integrate Video as both an autonomous and a supporting storytelling tool, and to embrace the exciting horizons opening up before us.

We make use of all the means and practices our era has to offer — from Innovative Digital Technologies (AI, 360° Imaging & VR) to Materiality and Experimental Techniques — providing high-level training. At AKTO, we cultivate a community of creators ready to succeed in any future scenario.

Supporting interdisciplinarity and a Cross-Disciplinary Approach, we encourage collaborations with the Graphic Design, Interior Architecture, Fashion Design, and Fine Art & New Media departments. In this academic cycle, you will be fully equipped to be Industry Ready: from studio organization and branding, to self-publishing production, shaping communication strategy for contemporary digital media, and building your professional network in the market.

In closing, my best advice to you is that the most important assets remain imagination, belief in your own abilities, enthusiasm, and dedication, as these are the foundations of your success.

Lambros Papanikolatos
Programme Leader BA (Hons) Photography with Video

At AKTO, distinguished Greek photographers, video artists, and art theorists teach, recognized for both their academic and artistic work. Specialized professors and PhD holders, together with research staff, pass on innovative and in-depth knowledge to students, responsive to the changing needs of society, technology, and the market. AKTO’s academic team helps students express themselves through a free and bold spirit of inquiry and research, aiming for social benefit both domestically and internationally.

Meet the members of AKTO’s Photography Academic Team

Tuition Fees & Registrations

For the Full-Time undergraduate study programmes, the academic year has one (1) intake period, starting in October. For the Open College undergraduate study programmes, the academic year has two (2) intake periods. The first period is in October, followed by the second period the following February.

Contact us at admissions@aktocollege.gr for more information about intake periods.

Read below for information about tuition for AKTO’s undergraduate programmes:

Contact us at admissions@aktocollege.gr for further clarification about tuition and payment methods.

Candidates for the undergraduate study programmes must hold a Greek Lyceum Leaving Certificate or an equivalent secondary education qualification from abroad, such as an IB Diploma, A levels, or GCSE. Citizens of countries that are not members of the European Union or the Schengen Agreement must obtain a student visa or residence permit before enrolling. For candidates whose native language is not Greek, the language proficiency requirement is level B2.​

Contact us at admissions@aktocollege.gr for more information about the enrollment requirements.

At AKTO, we accept applications for transfers and admission via qualifying exams in every enrollment period. The process includes an interview and a presentation of a portfolio from the candidate’s previous academic path. Interested applicants can be admitted to an advanced semester or year of study and complete their studies through AKTO’s programmes.

Read detailed information about the transfer process to AKTO

AKTO subsidizes students with scholarships, tuition discounts, or even full subsidies, depending on the enrollment period, available places, and social criteria.

Read detailed information about:

Contact us at admissions@aktocollege.gr for more information.

Facilities & Services

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AKTO, recognizing the pedagogical challenges and contemporary demands of education, offers its students a range of benefits to help them, both with their studies and with their social life. These benefits include:

Read in detail about all the benefits AKTO offers

AKTO uses the most popular and up-to-date platform for synchronous and asynchronous learning, in partnership with Microsoft: MS Teams. Students can install the application either from the Play Store / App Store on mobile phones, or from the website on computers. Teams can also be used from all modern browsers (Edge, Chrome, Firefox), with Chrome and Edge recommended.

Learn more about the Technical Specifications and the Technical Support Office

Career Prospects & Academic Progression

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Photography has always been a language of communication intertwined with developments in technology. As technology moves fast and conditions point us toward a future that is far more advanced (3D Imaging, CGI, AI, 360 Degree & Drone Photography, 5G networks, etc.), at AKTO we draw inspiration from this and try to creatively process all these new “realities” of our times. Given that photography will remain in a transitional stage with a tendency toward continuous redefinition, we follow the new trends that emerge, aiming for new students to gain high-level training and know-how, so that they can create freely, without limitations, in turn changing established rules. They will be able to adapt flexibly, professionally, to this new multimedia environment, contributing in this way to the future of photography and visual communication, both in Greece and abroad.

The Photography department’s programme is focused on promoting entrepreneurship, covering many contemporary areas of professional activity, responding to the demands of the market and of the cultural and creative industries. More specifically, graduates of the department will be able to present their work in portfolio form, create their own self-publications, design their own websites in combination with an active presence on social media. They will have the ability to support, overall, a broader communication strategy aimed at reaching their own audience and effectively communicating their work. In addition, they will have gained all the tools needed to negotiate and set the terms of collaboration with their future partners.

With the content of the study programme promoting diversity and ethical work practices, supporting professionals with vision, flexibility, and confidence, holders of the BA (Hons) Degree in Photography will be able to pursue a wide range of specializations, covering different areas of professional activity, such as:

  • Advertising photography (studio manager, photographer’s assistant)
  • Fashion & Editorial Photography (Print media & social media)
  • Commercial & Corporate Photography
  • Portrait Photography
  • Digital Image Processing Specialist (Post-production expert, retoucher)
  • Photojournalism / Documentary Photography (war, political, social, sports, etc.)
  • Collaborator with Photo Agencies
  • Theatre and Performing Arts Photography (Theatre and Dance photography)
  • Architectural photography (Interior Photography, Real Estate)
  • Aerial photography
  • Food photography
  • Social Media & e-shop Photography
  • Social Event Photography (Wedding, Concert & Event Photography)
  • Filmmaker & Videographer
  • Video Editing Specialist (Video Editor)
  • Film & TV Stills Photography
  • Director of Photography
  • Scientific photography (Forensic, Medical, Scientific Photography)
  • Archaeological Photography
  • Travel photography
  • Photo Editor (Magazines, Press, Online portals)
  • Photography book publishing
  • Digital Documentation Specialist for Archives / Museum Collections
  • Exhibition & Publication Curator
  • Stock Photography
  • Creative & Fine Art Photography
  • Photography Teaching / Academic career

AKTO’s Careers Office helps graduates connect with the job market and a wide range of professional activity across various fields. AKTO Alumni is the largest 360˚ Art & Design community in Greece.

AKTO’s university Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees, awarded in collaboration with Middlesex University London, are recognized as professionally equivalent, in accordance with Presidential Decree 38/2010, as amended by Law 4093/2012, 4111/2013, 4205/2013, and 4635/2019. Middlesex University London is recognized by DOATAP as an institution equivalent to Greek Higher Education Institutions, while our graduates’ degrees have been recognized by A.T.E.E.N. Holders of these degrees are able to take part in ASEP competitions, in accordance with Article 13 of Law 4148/2013.

Read more about the Recognition and Accreditation of AKTO’s University Degrees

Graduates of the undergraduate programmes can continue their studies in AKTO’s Postgraduate Programmes, validated by Middlesex University London. As graduates of AKTO College, and members of our alumni community, they receive the AKTO Alumni tuition subsidy if they choose to continue their studies in AKTO’s study programmes.

Read more about the Academic Progression of AKTO’s Undergraduate Studies graduates

AKTO experience

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EFA1OEQrAK0&list=PLSU84yIj4AfePFOw9sqplGJvfbuvkFkQC&index=9

HASHTAG Project Backstage

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=16OmK4PFRDA