Is accreditation important?

I've been looking into uni courses for 2024 and before I send off my application I want to know, is it important that a degree is accredited? Specifically arts degrees.

Which arts degrees?

I'm looking at photography and i have a friend applying to illustration who also would like to know

Its only important for professional degrees like Engineering, Architecture, Pharmacy etc, where you have to do an accredited degree to have professional registration.

For Photography there is no 'must have' accreditation to work in this area - so please ignore any college or Uni that pretends that whatever 'badge' they have paid for is worth anything. It isnt. Ignore it.

Then no accreditation doesn’t matter.

Pay more attention to the studio facilities (dark rooms, studios, print rooms, software provided for free etc) and look at the graduate shows from previous years to get a good feel for the style and variety of work that’s supported to see if you’re likely to be a good fit with the course. For both photography and illustration the style and variety of work (and the quality) can vary hugely between universities.

Its only important for professional degrees like Engineering, Architecture, Pharmacy etc, where you have to do an accredited degree to have professional registration.
For Photography there is no 'must have' accreditation to work in this area - so please ignore any college or Uni that pretends that whatever 'badge' they have paid for is worth anything. It isnt. Ignore it.

I've been looking into uni courses for 2024 and before I send off my application I want to know, is it important that a degree is accredited? Specifically arts degrees.

This is info that my daughter's school has provided parents with. They track past students performance and they have an aim of ensuring that former students are in a career by the time they are 24. This is a summary of their research and recommendations.

Professionally accredited degrees have been approved by a professional body to meet the standards and needs of a specific industry, so are relevant and employable. Look at degree apprenticeships too. The best professionally accredited subjects (career path, tenure, best remuneration, and best graduate prospects):
· Accounting and Finance / Accounting & Economics / Accounting & Law / PWC Flying Start - Accounting (ICAEW)
· Actuarial Science / Finance & Actuarial Science / Actuarial Science & Mathematics / Maths, Statistics & Actuarial Science
· Architectural Engineering / Automotive Engineering / Civil Engineering / Civil & Structural Engineering / Aeronautical Engineering / Electronic Engineering & C. Sci / Energy Engineering / Mechanical Engineering / Manufacturing Engineering
· Architecture / Structural Engineering & Architecture / Architecture & Landscape Architecture
· Building Surveying / Quantity Surveying / Real Estate / Planning / Construction & Surveying / Rural Land Management
· Computer Science & Cyber Security (NCSC)
· Dentistry
· Nutrition & Dietetics / Sport & Exercise Nutrition / Nutritional Sciences / Nutrition & Medical Sciences Human Nutrition
· Education (Psych.) / Teaching (QTS) – Maths / Art / English (ages: 7-11), or degree in Maths / English / Art + PGCE (11+)
· Journalism / Photojournalism & Documentary Photojournalism (UAL: LCC only)
· Law / English Law & French Law / English Law & German Law / Law with European Law / Law & Accounting
· Logistics with Purchasing Management / Logistics, Procurement and Supply Chain Management (CIPS/CILT)
· Medicine / Veterinary Medicine
· Meteorology / Climate Science
· Naval Architecture & Marine Engineering
· Nursing – (Adult / Child) / Midwifery
· Optometry / Audiology
· Pharmacy
· Physiotherapy / Occupational Therapy
· Radiography / Diagnostic Radiography / Radiotherapy & Oncology

Benefits of professionally accredited degrees:
Few institutions will be accredited by professional body – It simplifies your decision about where to study. Accredited courses have stronger links to a sector, so internships, etc are often offered. Also, the alumni network will help ensure the course is relevant and that students on, or graduates on such course are employed.

A degree shows that you can learn, but a professionally accredited degree shows that you are keen to do a job/career.

Key things that a professionally accredited degree shows: motivation, work ethic, determination, enables you to get relevant work experience – track record, get to know how to be a team player, and making a decision to do it personal maturity - You need to stand out!

Professional accreditation = essential to do job. Weak career area = prof qual is nice-to-have or not required at all ie Marketing.

NB Marketing, History, Geography, Advertising, Archaeology, Geology, Physics, Criminology, Human Sci, Ecology, Management, Hotel Management, Film, Fashion Buying & Merchandising, Fashion Management, HR, Heritage, Tourism, Sociology. and Politics may be interesting, but graduates will do a role in one of the recommended professionally accredited degree areas, or will do poorly paid jobs, and these subject areas have some as modules (applied) to boost employability of graduates, and help promote a uni as providing job-ready career-focused graduates.

For photography accreditation is of VERY limited use. Particularly at undergraduate level. Photographers gain work based on their portfolios.
Once a photographer has graduated then professional accreditation might be worthwhile but it will normally be based on a portfolio of work assessed by the professional body not on the undergraduate degree - and will be very specific to the type of photography undertaken (for example AoP is quite commercial focused).
Note from your list above BAPH isn't an accrediting body, it's a commercial course provider.
I'd suggest that any applicant interested in Fashion Photography pays attention to the universities and courses with substantial presence at Graduate Fashion Week rather than journalism accreditation. The fashion industry is pretty inward-looking and GFW competition entries, portfolios and prizes are more likely to have an impact than a generic journalism accreditation.

Thank you so much for your reply. There is a lot of conflicting information out there. Thank you.

So very true. Some have told her to avoid creative subjects entirely. One said to aim for Design Engineering!! The best advice that she has received has been to build a portfolio of her work.