Photography Studies College (Melbourne)

What Photography Studies College (Melbourne) does

Photography Studies College (Melbourne), trading as PSC Creative College, is a private Australian tertiary education institution founded in 1972 and headquartered in South Melbourne. Operated as a division of Photography Holdings Pty Ltd under the UP Education Australia group, the college delivers accredited higher education and vocational programs in photography, screen media, design, and creative industries. The core academic portfolio comprises a Bachelor of Photography and Digital Imaging, a Bachelor of Creative Industries, three Diploma programs (Screen Media, Fashion Design, and Creative Media and Design), and short courses for career changers and skill-based learners.

The institution's offering is anchored by specialized physical infrastructure including the PrintShop @ PSC professional printing facility and one of the largest professionally equipped photography studios in Melbourne, supplemented by an industry mentor program connecting students with working professionals. Tuition fees, including FEE-HELP-enabled programs for eligible domestic students, constitute the dominant revenue stream, with secondary income from PrintShop print sales and a Square-powered online shop for course books and equipment. Distribution is multi-channel: direct online enrollment via apply.psc.edu.au, on-campus delivery in Melbourne's arts precinct, flexible online options, and international student recruitment under CRICOS accreditation.

The college holds TEQSA Provider No 12200, RTO Code 0111, and CRICOS Provider No 00257G, providing the regulatory foundation for both domestic and international student markets. Marketing and recruitment span open days, secondary school outreach, social media (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, TikTok), exhibitions including the FRESH showcase and Bowness Photography Prize participation, and industry events. PSC has received multiple consecutive AIPP Australian Tertiary Photography Institution of the Year awards (2011, 2013, 2014, 2015) and was named Australian Photographic Prize Educator of the Year in 2025.

Name

Photography Studies College (Melbourne)

Legal name

Photography Holdings Pty Ltd

Website

https://psc.edu.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

1972

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Photography Studies College (Melbourne), trading as PSC Creative College, is a private Australian tertiary institution founded in 1972 that delivers accredited higher education and vocational courses in photography, screen media, design, and creative industries to domestic and international students from its South Melbourne campus.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education - Creative Arts

NAICS

Fine Arts Schools (611610), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113)

SIC

Services-Mailing, Reproduction, Commercial Art & Photography (7330)

akta.pro primary industry

Photography Colleges & Visual Imaging Schools (EDAHAJAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Photography & Videography (EDAAAGAF), Film, Television & Media Arts Colleges (EDAHAJAE)

Keywords

• Photography education
• Creative arts training
• Higher education
• Vocational diplomas
• Fashion design courses

Headquarters

HQ city

South Melbourne

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Tuition Fees: Revenue from tuition fees for accredited higher education and vocational courses including Bachelor degrees, diplomas, certificates, and short courses. Courses include FEE-HELP enabled options for eligible Australian students.
2. PrintShop Sales: Revenue from sale of exhibition prints and photography produced by students and alumni. Images are sold at modest prices with delivery costs included.
3. Course Books and Equipment: Revenue from sale of course books and photography equipment through the PSC shop.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Photography Studies College (Melbourne) is a private higher education institution offering accredited bachelor and diploma programs in photography, screen media, fashion design, creative industries, and creative media and design. The college supplements its academic programs with short courses, a PrintShop service, photography studio facilities, a retail shop, and a structured mentor program to support student learning and industry readiness.

Product overview

Photography Studies College (PSC) Creative College is an educational institution offering a portfolio of creative courses spanning photography, screen media, design, and creative industries. The core offerings include a Bachelor of Photography and Digital Imaging (rated No. 1 in Australia), Diploma of Screen Media (FEE-HELP enabled), Diploma of Fashion Design (online/flexible), Bachelor of Creative Industries, and Diploma of Creative Media and Design. These are supplemented by Short Courses (day/evening options) and supported by facilities including PrintShop @ PSC for professional printing and a professional photography studio. The institution operates from Melbourne's arts precinct and has been recognized as a centre of excellence in photography since 1972.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Bachelor of Photography and Digital Imaging Accredited bachelor-level higher education program in photography and digital imaging, designed for students seeking professional qualifications in photographic practice and post-production.
• Diploma of Screen Media Diploma-level program covering screen-based media production skills for students pursuing careers in film, television, and screen media production.
• Diploma of Fashion Design Diploma-level program in fashion design for students seeking introductory to intermediate professional training in fashion design practice.
• Bachelor of Creative Industries Accredited bachelor-level program providing broad-based training across the creative industries for students seeking flexible pathways into creative careers.
• Diploma of Creative Media and Design Diploma-level program in creative media and design covering foundational creative production skills for students entering creative industries.
• Short Courses Non-accredited short courses in photography and creative arts for hobbyists, beginners, and professionals seeking focused skill development.
• PrintShop @ PSC On-campus printing service offering professional print production for students, staff, and external clients using the college's print facilities.
• PSC Shop On-campus retail store selling course-related materials, equipment, and merchandise to students and visitors.
• Mentor Program Structured mentoring initiative connecting students with practicing industry professionals to support career development and industry readiness.

Quantifiable outcome

• No. 1 rated Bachelor of Photography and Digital Imaging degree in Australia
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Industry Professionals and MentorscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOngoing mentor program connecting students with industry professionals throughout their courses. Industry professionals participate through industry events, guest speaker sessions, and cooperative industry placement education.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Whitehouse Institute of Design, Australia: Whitehouse is a private Australian design college offering fashion, interior, and graphic design programs in Melbourne and Sydney. It targets a similar domestic creative student cohort and competes for the same career-changer enrolments as PSC's design diplomas.
• CATC Design School: CATC is a private vocational design school in Australia offering diplomas in graphic design, interior design, and fashion. It competes with PSC's Diploma of Creative Media and Design and Diploma of Fashion Design for fee-paying domestic students.
• AFTRS (Australian Film Television and Radio School): AFTRS is Australia's leading specialist film, television, and screen school offering accredited higher education programs. It competes with PSC's Diploma of Screen Media and Bachelor of Creative Industries for screen-focused students in Australia.
• National Art School (Sydney): NAS is an independent fine arts school in Sydney offering accredited higher education programs in painting, sculpture, printmaking, and photography. It overlaps with PSC's photography and visual arts focus at the higher education level within Australia.
• SAE Institute (Qantm College / SAE Creative Media Institute): SAE is a private, campus-based creative media college offering diplomas and bachelor programs in audio, film, screen media, and related creative disciplines. Its model of specialised, applied creative education directly parallels PSC's approach.
• Billy Blue College of Design (Torrens University Australia): Billy Blue is a private, specialised design and creative technology college within Torrens University Australia. Like PSC, it focuses on industry-aligned creative credentials (branding, communication, digital design) rather than general academics, making it a close private-sector peer.

Broad incumbents

• Swinburne University of Technology (School of Design): Swinburne runs photography, film, and design degrees in Melbourne. As a major university with strong industry links, it is a broad incumbent offering overlapping creative arts credentials to the same domestic student base as PSC.
• LCI Education (Australia / global network): LCI Education is an international network of design schools, with an Australian campus (former Sydney Design School). It offers design-focused higher education credentials and represents a broader incumbent expanding into PSC's creative disciplines market.
• RMIT University (School of Art / School of Media & Communication): RMIT is a large public university offering photography, screen media, and design programs at undergraduate and postgraduate levels. It competes with PSC for the same creative student pool but within a much broader university portfolio.

Regional players

• Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI): ACMI is Melbourne's national museum of screen culture, running workshops, masterclasses, and short courses in filmmaking, animation, and screen media. While not a degree-granting competitor, it addresses overlapping screen-media learners in the same Melbourne arts precinct.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@psccreativecollege
• Facebookfacebook.com/psccreativecollege
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/photography-studies-college-melbourne-
• Instagraminstagram.com/psccreativecollege
• TikToktiktok.com/@psccreativecollege

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Photography Studies College (Melbourne)