Run by Norton College in Sheffield, the NCTJ-accredited press photography and photojournalism course has formed some of today's best photojournalists and rising stars such as Dan Chung and Simon Roberts. The course is led by Paul Delmar, who will be retiring this year.

Paul Sanders, picture editor of The Times unofficially announced the cut one his Facebook page last Tuesday, writing: "Sad day for news photography. The Sheffield Nctj course is officially dead. Cut because of a lack of funding. The end of an era."

In a statement released to BJP, Andrew Cropley, principal of Norton College, part of The Sheffield College, says: “The future of the press photography and photojournalism block release and full time courses is currently being reviewed following government funding cuts to adult courses, a fall in the number of applications to this course and changes within the media industry."

However, he adds, "the college is currently considering various options, as we recognise this is a unique, highly valued and prestigious training course. Previously, the course has been part subsidised though government funding and students have paid for part of the course costs, approximately £1500. The college is exploring if the course can continue to be delivered from September 2010 with students paying all of the fee, approximately £3500 to £4000, and on the condition there is sufficient demand.”

According to NCTJ, the press photographers’ and photojournalists’ qualifications "consist of four exams and a portfolio assessment," with students and photographers learning "general photographic knowledge: practical application and technical proficiency in stills and video photography; photographic practice: basic approaches to using the stills and video camera, to assignments and to captioning in print and online; media law for photographers: general reporting relevant to photographers including contempt, copyright, confidentiality, reporting restrictions, courts and the law; and photographers’ portfolio: a record of training and experience which demonstrates skills and techniques in stills and video photography."

For more information on the NCTJ course, visit www.nctj.com.