BA in Fashion Design
Birmingham, United Kingdom
DURATION
3 up to 4 Years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
Request application deadline
EARLIEST START DATE
Sep 2024
TUITION FEES
GBP 9,250 / per year *
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* UK students: £9,250 per year | international students: £13,980 per year
Scholarships
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Introduction
Our BA (Hons) Fashion Design degree course will equip you with the necessary knowledge and skills to succeed in the fashion industry and have the chance to take part in exciting work placements, with companies such as Paul Smith, Ted Baker, Christopher Kane, Reiss, H&M and Adidas.
As well as womenswear and menswear designers, the BA (Hons) Fashion Design can also allow you to find employment as the following: accessories designer, art director, activewear designer, brand manager, buyer, content creator, curator, childrenswear designer, costume designer, 3D designer, denim designer, display designer, fabric buyer/developer, factory sourcing, graders/pattern cutter, influencer/talent management, interiors for retail, jewellery designer, knitwear technician, lingerie/intimates designer, merchandiser and digital designer.
You will learn to work with different design systems alongside staff who have valuable industry experience with a range of recognised brands. Each year, a selection of our final-year students showcase their final-year work to industry leaders at events such as Graduate Fashion Week and New Designers in London.
What's covered in this course?
The course equips you with the necessary knowledge, skills and attributes to succeed in a wide range of careers in the fashion industry.
Your first year will introduce you to a number of fashion topics, helping you to develop a good foundation of fashion knowledge and skills, in both design and technical areas.
Your second year helps to strengthen your personal and professional development in relation to your own career goals. You will also have the opportunity to study abroad this year.
An optional placement year takes place between years 2 and 3, providing an opportunity for an internship in the industry.
Your final year gives you the opportunity to specialise in women’s or menswear. You will focus on your own individual area of practice and produce garments that reflect your personal direction as a creative fashion design graduate.
The course blends individual creativity and commercial realism, and you will be able to apply your skills and knowledge of the professional design process, from concept to product.
Professional placement year
This course offers a professional placement year. This allows you to spend a whole year with an employer, between the second and third years of your degree and is a great way to find out more about your chosen career. Some students even return to the same employers after completing their studies.
The University will draw on its extensive network of local, regional and national employers to support you in finding a suitable placement to complement your chosen area of study. If you do not find a suitable placement, you will be automatically transferred back to the standard, non-placement version of the course.
Please note that fees are payable during your placement year, equivalent to 20% of the total full-time course fee for that year (£1,850 for UK students).
Why choose us?
- We have excellent links with regional and international brands such as Burberry, John Lewis, SuperDry and Rab, which give the course colour and contemporary relevance.
- You can enjoy a vast archive of fashion publications dating back to the 1930s and develop digital skills within Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop and Clo 3D, essential industry tools within the global fashion industry.
- You will have the chance to showcase your final year work to industry leaders looking for talent at national and regional events.
Gallery
Curriculum
Year one
In your first year, you are introduced to a broad range of fashion studies theory and technical skills, building a sound base for further study in years two and three.
You will learn design skills such as CAD, live fashion drawing, fashion illustration, fashion flats, styling and photoshoots. Alongside this, you will gain theoretical skills, such as contextual studies in fashion and related art and design.
You will also gain the skills that you need to solve practical problems and create presentations.
In order to complete this course you must successfully complete all the following core modules (totalling 120 credits):
- Design Development and Realisation
- Individual Aesthetic
- Creative Direction
- Context and Theory
Year two
In your second year, you will develop more advanced research, design development, presentation and technical skills, with a view to gaining work experience that will enhance your skills and employability upon graduation.
In order to complete this course you must successfully complete all the following core modules (totalling 100 credits):
- Creative Realisation
- Critical Studies
- Advanced Practice
In order to complete this course you must successfully complete at least 20 credits from the following list of optional modules.
- Work Placement
- Live Project
- Collaborative Practice
Core modules are guaranteed to run. Optional modules will vary from year to year and the published list is indicative only.
Year three
In order to complete this course you must successfully complete all the following core modules (totalling 120 credits):
- Contextual Studies
- Major Project: Fashion Design
- Independent Practice
Career Opportunities
The course is ideal if you intend to pursue a creative career in fashion design and related industries. Throughout the degree, you will develop the fundamental skills needed to work within the fashion industry, equipping you with the necessary knowledge, skills and attributes to succeed in your creative practice.
You will have the opportunity to apply for work experience in your chosen sector of the industry during your second year, with the option of a professional placement year between the second and third years of study. On successful completion, you will graduate with a portfolio-based final outcome relevant to your individual career aspirations.
Graduate jobs
Graduates from our course progress to gain jobs within many of the major high-end and high-street companies, both within the UK and overseas. You’ll find Birmingham City University alumni working in Adidas, Marks & Spencer, Erdem and Victoria Beckham.
As well as womenswear and menswear designers, the BA (Hons) Fashion Design can also allow you to find employment as the following: accessories designer, art director, academics and teacher, activewear designer, brand manager, buyer, content creator, curator, childrenswear designers, costume designer, 3D designer, denim designer, digital operations, data analyst/insights, display designer, e-comms developer, fabric buyer/developer, factory sourcing, graders (pattern), homeware designer, influencer/talent management, interiors for retail, jewellery designer, knitwear technician, lingerie/intimates designer, merchandiser and digital designer.
Destinations:
- Paul Smith
- Reiss
- Ted Baker
- WGSN
- J.Lindeberg
- H&M
- Adidas
- The V&A
- Gym Shark
- MA Central Saint Martins
- MA Royal College of Art
- MA London College of Fashion
Placements
This course offers an optional professional placement year. This allows you to spend a whole year with an employer, between the second and third year of your degree and is a great way to find out more about your chosen career. Our students have previously secured placements with major fashion brands including H&M, Next, Amanda Wakeley, Mary Katrantzou and Iris Van Herpen.
Links to industry
Throughout our course, we actively encourage collaboration sponsored and live projects with the fashion industry. We have worked with Paul Smith, Burberry, George and Rab. These collaborations underpin our delivery and add value to the curriculum within the course. Industry links:
- The British Fashion Council
- The National Trust
- Harvey Nichols
- The Commonwealth Games
- River Island
- Superdry
- The Couture Company
- London Royal Ballet
- Carrier Goods
- Gym Shark
- Hades Knitwear
- Katie Jones