BA (Hons) Fashion Design Degree

Previous students have won prestigious prizes, including the River Island Womenswear Award and the Zandra Rhodes Catwalk Textiles Award. Elevate your fashion career with the BA (Hons) Fashion Design degree at Northbrook College.

Design your future with Northbrook College's BA (Hons) in Fashion Design, accredited by UAL. Our practice-orientated course is where creativity meets industry excellence.

Course Overview

Location: Northbrook College, Worthing, West Sussex, England
UCAS code: W232
Duration: 3 years full-time
Application deadline: 15 July 2024
Start date: September 2024
Fees: £16,500

Entry requirements

2 A-Levels and 3 GCSEs in other subjects grade 9-4 or A-C (or equivalent)
OR
1 A-Level, a Foundation course and 3 GCSEs in other subjects grade 9-4 or A-C (or equivalent)

A portfolio of work or audition is also needed to demonstrate ability in the specialist area.

English language requirements

IELTS certificate or equivalent with an overall score of 6.0, with 6.0 in the writing element and 5.5 in all other sub-elements.

Your application will be assessed based on grades, interview, portfolio/audition, and experience.

Course Information

This fashion design course equips you with hands-on skills and industry experience to create your clothing collection.

Course Content

From the beginning of the course, you’ll experience workshop skills in illustration and design, pattern cutting, sewing, garment manufacture, and printed textiles.

As part of your assessed work placement, you’ll enter the industry in year two. In many cases, you’ll work with designers from the initial concept stage right through to the fashion show.

Throughout the degree, you’ll work across a broad range of design modules that include live industry projects, preparing you for your final year project, where you will produce your full collection of fashion products.

Teaching Method

We use a variety of teaching methods, including:

practical and creative studio-based workshops
discussions
lectures/seminars
tutorials
small group study
self-directed study
study trips

Key Features

Excellent industry links provide work placements and competitions with high-profile brands, preparing you for a career in the global fashion industry.
Access to specialist resources, including fashion publications, future trend resources, and Computer-Aided Design (CAD) for fashion.
Opportunities to showcase your work at internal and external fashion shows.

Course Structure

Year One

The first year equips you with essential skills for design success. Master tools, garment construction, and studio practices for a safe and productive environment. Learn pattern cutting and develop organisation and time management.

Dive deep into visual research, analyse trends, and understand fashion consumers to create purposeful garments. Master design communication through traditional and digital tools.

Explore 3D draping, refine pattern-cutting, and develop construction skills to bring designs to life. Cultivate independent work practices and self-evaluation for a confident design approach.

Research ethical production and develop essential IT skills. Explore zero-waste techniques and organic sourcing for responsible design. Enhance project management and self-evaluation for a more efficient design process.

Build a strong foundation in design theory, history, and social contexts. Develop research and critical thinking through discussions, debates, and independent projects.

Unit 1: Fashion Techniques and Processes
Unit 2: Research and Design
Unit 3: Creative Cutting
Unit 4: Ethical Fashion Design
Unit 5: Cultural and Contextual Studies

Year Two

Year 2 is all about refining your skills and preparing you for the industry.

The first half focuses on advanced technical skills. Dives deep into tailoring, teaching you bespoke cutting techniques and how to consider sustainability in your designs. Unit 7 equips you for designing for the market, with an emphasis on understanding consumer needs and utilising new technologies.

The second half helps you build your professional identity. Unit 8 hones your interpersonal and self-promotion skills, preparing you for the competitive job market. You'll gain work experience and explore career paths through industry contacts and research. Unit 9 strengthens your research and critical thinking abilities, culminating in a self-directed research project.

Unit 6: Tailoring- Custom Design and Make
Unit 7: Fashion Design for Industry
Unit 8: USP and Self-Branding for Work Experience
Unit 9: Advanced Cultural and Contextual Studies

Year Three

The 3rd year of the BA (Hons) Fashion program is a focused journey towards preparing students for successful careers in the fashion industry. The year culminates in the creation of a final collection informed by in-depth research, complex design concepts, and sustainable practices. Students will hone their garment production skills while developing a keen eye for market trends and professional etiquette.

Alongside collection development, students delve into portfolio creation, mastering industry-standard design software and exploring new media communication tools. They will refine their visual identity, curate past work, and craft a portfolio that showcases their unique brand and design aspirations.

To complement their creative talents, the program equips students with essential career-planning skills. Through workshops and discussions, they will learn CV building, job application techniques, and self-promotion strategies. They will also gain practical experience collaborating with industry professionals like models, photographers, and stylists, ensuring a smooth transition from student to professional designer.

Rounding out the year, students embark on a self-directed research project. They will choose a topic that ignites their passion, conduct a critical investigation, and present their findings in a dissertation format. Individual feedback and tutorials will provide ongoing support throughout the research process.