BA in Fashion
Kingston upon Thames, United Kingdom
DURATION
3 up to 4 Years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
Request application deadline *
EARLIEST START DATE
Request earliest startdate
TUITION FEES
GBP 9,250 / per year **
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* only for home students. We will continue to accept applications from international students after the 25th of January
** UK students: £9,250 per year | international: £16,500 for the first year
Introduction
Why choose this course?
Our Fashion BA (Hons) degree was ranked No.1 in London for Fashion in The Guardian University Guide league table 2023 and was one of a handful of worldwide institutions to be awarded four badges of excellence by the Business of Fashion (for Best Overall, Best in Global Influence, Best in Learning Experience and Best in Long-term Value). We have been ranked in the top 25 Fashion Schools in the World, and one of only three in the UK, by Fashionista, the influential and trusted source of fashion news.
The course focuses on the evolution and radical change in design. You will explore how design is influenced by cultural, social, critical and historical studies.
You will develop your own signature style, experimenting across sketch work, 2D to 3D, knitwear and digital print in Kingston School of Art's workshops and dedicated fashion design studios. You will also have access to our working dress archive which includes pieces from 1750 to the present day, including the recently-acquired Sibling knitwear archive. Our curator also works closely with Bath Fashion Museum.
Our strong industry links mean you will learn to apply creativity to the real world and will be industry-ready on graduation.
Kingston alumni have gained senior positions in global fashion companies including Burberry, Calvin Klein, Paul Smith, All Saints, Alexander McQueen, Club Monaco, Margiela and Saint Laurent. Other graduates have achieved success with their own labels including Sophie Hulme, Joshua Kane, Charli Cohen and Amy Powney, Design Director for Mother of Pearl.
Reasons to choose Kingston
- Kingston is ranked No.1 in London and No.2 in the UK for fashion and textiles (Guardian university league table 2023).
- This course has been awarded the Creative Skillset Tick (Fashion Design category), which recognises outstanding courses and their contribution to the creative industries.
- Kingston is one of just a handful of worldwide institutions to be awarded four Badges of Excellence by the Business of Fashion.
Gallery
Admissions
Curriculum
What you will study
You will study all aspects of the design process from research and design development to creating garments using cut and construction. Critical and historical studies will underpin and inspire your studio projects.
Modules
Year 1
Year 1 introduces the design process covering all the 2D aspects of fashion design, and design products covering all 3D aspects. You will explore knitted and printed textiles, fashion styling, photography, pattern cutting and draping to create shapes. Our fashion illustration classes and workshops in Photoshop, Adobe, pattern cutting, knitting and sewing techniques are delivered to support studio classes.
Core modules
- Design Process 1
- Design Product 1
- Professional Practice 1
- Design, Style and Image: Themes in Fashion History
Year 2
In Year 2 you will participate in live, sponsored projects and international competitions. You will experience professional practice through a careers module, including talks by concept designers, retailers, stylists and recruitment agencies, plus CV writing workshops and role-playing for interviews.
You will explore trends through concept design and work in teams on a sustainable design project that is exhibited in London.
Core modules
- Design Process 2
- Professional Practice 2
- Design Product 2
- Critical Issues in Fashion: Research and Practice
Optional year
At the end of Year 2, you will have the opportunity to take a year out to study abroad and gain work experience overseas.
Our Study Abroad or Erasmus programmes are located in Berlin, Amsterdam, Paris, Milan, Hong Kong, New York, Seoul Paris and Toronto. We have a dedicated placement officer within the fashion department to support the placement programme.
Students in the Sandwich year will receive a Certificate of Industrial Experience for satisfactory completion of the required placement module.
Final year
The final year is about creating your own collection and portfolio and entering the British Fashion Council competitions including Mulberry, Burberry, Pringle and Chloe. All students show at the degree fashion show in Kingston; selected students show at the London press show and exhibit at Graduate Fashion Week in London. Kingston Fashion Show hosts a pre-show reception for press and industry contacts, which has previously been sponsored by Fenwick, Brooks Brothers, Dewhirst, Overbury and Bentalls.
Core modules
- Design Process 3
- Final Major Project
- Dissertation: Research and Reflection
Please note
Optional modules only run if there is enough demand. If we have an insufficient number of students interested in an optional module, that module will not be offered for this course.