Fashion Design BA(Hons)

You'll develop your practice in our professionally equipped fashion studios. Supported by the academic and technical course teams, you'll learn essential skills like concept development, 2D and 3D design, fashion illustration and colour and material development. You'll also learn technical skills like pattern cutting and garment construction. While studying the theories surrounding fashion and writing, you'll explore cultural, historical and ethical issues.

Modules

Research

In this module, you'll begin to acquire core skills in research within the context of a fashion design brief. You'll become familiar with methods of research and the fashion vocabulary, and explore traditional mark making in the form of drawing, while also developing digital communication skills.

Cut and Construct

This module will help you to grow core garment production techniques. In-depth analysis of specific techniques and processes will inform your knowledge of the pattern/construction process and their application in the fashion industry.

Discovery

Through design project briefs, you'll build upon the techniques explored in previous modules to enhance your production and research skills, and your own emerging design voice. You'll engage with concepts of risk-taking, play and curiosity to develop original and progressive design ideas in both 2D and 3D formats.

Themes in Culture

This module helps you to contextualise your design and production skills. You'll work on developing appropriate research, presentation, and communication skills to enable you to effectively articulate your ideas.

With a focus on professional practice, this year will see you begin to shape your identity as a fashion designer, as you develop a confident personal perspective. Through live and simulated industry briefs, you'll apply your skills to areas like brand and market awareness, sustainability, ethical and moral issues, and ideas presentation. You'll be introduced to digital and screen printing, machine knitting, advanced cutting techniques, tailoring and advanced CAD/digital design solutions. You can also choose to take on a self-directed industrial placement during the summer break. Students have undertaken work experience with brands like Maison Margiela, Dior, Christopher Kane, Mary Katrantzou, JW Anderson and palmer//harding.

Modules

Fashion Thinking

You will research, interrogate and form a defensible viewpoint of the contemporary fashion industry based on up-to-date design practices, futurology and ethical considerations. Alongside this philosophical investigation, you will also learn how clothing brands are formulated. Working as part of a group, you will experience team dynamics and be encouraged to present your ideas in open forums, where you'll discuss, negotiate and defend them.

Fashion Industry Practice

In this module, you'll gain a "Real World" experience, working on live projects or those simulating industry working practices and timescales. You will explore the synergies and tensions that take place between the creative and professional contexts of the fashion industry and develop skills to creatively direct a brand-specific clothing collection and present design ideas to be carried through into garment realisation.

Innovation

Following introductory workshops in advanced garment production techniques such as knit, print and advanced cutting, you will harness these new skills to enhance your own fashion design voice. You'll produce innovative and progressive new ideas for clothing in both 2D and 3D, while being encouraged to embrace the unexpected and reject the obvious.

Theories of Culture

This module delves deeper into the historical, social, cultural and global contexts in which contemporary fashion design practice occurs. It introduces theoretical perspectives in order to develop your ability to discuss your own and others' practice in an academic framework.

In the final year of your Fashion Design degree, you'll develop a graduate collection by intensively researching, developing and exploring 2D and 3D concepts. Alongside this, you will produce a dissertation, portfolio and look book to help launch your career. There will be opportunities to promote yourself by participating in industry live competition briefs set by the British Fashion Council and the Graduate Fashion Foundation.

Modules

Collection Research

You'll develop and collate the concept, market/customer, colour, materials research, and so on, that you will use to inform your pre- and graduate collections. Research will be meaningful and also explore the ethical and sustainability considerations of your chosen fashion message.

Pre-Collection

You will investigate, develop and present a pre-collection which fully integrates your research materials. This process will allow you to make informed decisions about areas of strength and weakness within your research before committing to a final decision on your graduate collection.

Dissertation

In this module, you will complete a dissertation on an agreed subject relating to your individual interests and practice. You will reflect on personal research strengths and practice and engage in considered debate and detailed discussion of the chosen topic.

Collection

In this module, you will complete your graduate fashion collection, based on preparation completed in previous Year Three modules. This will culminate in the delivery of an assigned number of fully realised garments collated as coherent outfits, ready for presentation at a fashion show or equivalent.  

Professional Strategies

This module will support you in developing a range of self-promotional materials relevant to your individual ambitions following graduation. Industry guests and careers/employability specialists will share advice and guidance regarding interviews, placements, contacting potential employers, and postgraduate study.

Why study an Integrated Foundation Year route?

If you’re taking on a new subject that you haven’t studied in depth before, have been out of education for a while or have a non-standard educational background then an Integrated Foundation Year degree may be the right choice for you. It is a four-year degree with an Integrated Foundation Year to start, which allows you to explore the primary elements of your subject before progressing on to the remaining three years of the BA(Hons) degree.

What you'll learn

If you choose this pathway, you'll study five core modules in your Foundation year. These are all designed to help you explore the foundational elements of your subject. You'll gain relevant technical skills, learn to experiment and take risks, develop an understanding of professional practice, have opportunities to work across disciplines and collaborate with other students on live project briefs.

Modules

Explore

You'll begin your foundation year by working collaboratively with others to explore themes of the future. You'll take risks, experiment through play and be supported to break through barriers.

Technique

You'll take subject-specific workshops and develop essential technical and practical skills in your area of study. You'll also enhance your analytical and organisational abilities.

Apply

You'll work with your peer group to think beyond discipline by addressing a societal or global issue. You'll then showcase your work to your peers and deliver and accompanying evaluation of your process.

Industry

You'll enhance your creative and practical skills in your subject specialism by responding to typical industry briefs, underpinned by focused research and experiments. You'll also gain industry insights through guest lectures and workshops.

Launch

You'll develop your unique identity in your specialism through the production of a self-initiated body of work. Your final project will be the bridge to your next year, fully supported by evaluative reviews and critical analysis of the work you have created.

After the Foundation year, you progress into Year One of the full three-year degree, equipped with a deeper knowledge of your subject, a clear understanding of your strengths, and develop a practical and technical skillset and the confidence to excel in your chosen subject.

The Integrated Foundation Year pathway for this course is new for entry year 2023 and subject to validation.

We consider all applications on their own individual merit and potential. We invite all applicants to an interview day or audition to give them the opportunity to demonstrate this along with what inspires and motivates them in their field. Applicants will also be able to show their portfolio or give a performance depending on the course. We welcome applications from all subject backgrounds, whether you’ve specialised in STEM, the arts or humanities.  

UCAS Tariff points will primarily be from Level 3 qualifications such as but not limited to A-levels, T Levels, a BTEC/UAL Extended Diploma or a Foundation Diploma. 

Check how many points your qualifications are worth

For applicants whose first language is English we require you to have or be working towards GCSE English Language Grade 4 (C), or equivalent. 

If English is not your first language you will need to meet the same standard which is equivalent to the IELTS Academic 6.0 overall score, with at least 5.5 in Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening. We accept a range of in country equivalencies and approved tests.  

If you need a student visa to study in the UK, you'll need to take a recognised language test that is approved and vouched for by the University. You can read our English Language Requirements for more information.

UK applications: 25 January 2023 (for equal consideration)

Applications after the 25 January will be considered on a first-come, first-served as long as there are places available. Apply for this course now.

International fee payers can apply throughout the year. But we recommend applying as early as possible, to make time for visa and travel arrangements.