BA (Hons) Fashion Design

Year One — You will be taught the key core skills required for fashion design study, such as fashion drawing and illustration, design methods, colour awareness and application, material use and behaviour, pattern cutting and garment production, visual research methods, portfolio presentation and digital applications for design.

Year Two — You continue to develop your work process and presentation skills, and further engage with live projects, competitions, and industry events to expand and enhance your professionalism. The Menswear module will introduce you to the principles of designing for this discipline, and, through pattern cutting and garment production, you will combine elements of traditional tailoring techniques with contemporary design. Through the Design through Creative Pattern Cutting module, you will explore and apply the technique of creative pattern cutting, as integral to the design process, to realise ‘creative cut’ concepts into final garments.

Year Three — This self-directed final year takes a holistic approach to your practice through a body of work that is supported by reflective and critical writing, and culminates in the realisation of your graduate collection, which reflects your individual philosophy, positioning, and career aspirations as a fashion designer/maker. Live projects will further enhance your portfolio in preparation for employment.

Work experience covers a broad range of activities and students are encouraged to undertake work placements during their time at university. Through our Portfolio and Professional Practice module in year two  you will be introduced to relevant platforms and opportunities for sourcing work experience. Our Careers, Employability and Enterprise team offer support that enhances employability skills and underpins engagement with industry.

Our students have had prize-winning entries put into production that have led to offers of employment and exposure in national media. Recent accolades include:

• LOVE magazine - ‘Brightest talents emerging from Britain’s leading fashion schools’ feature photographed by Tim Walker - students’ work featured and interview in Love Magazine Diaries , volume 2 , July 2020.
• The Guardian Magazine - student’s written editorial piece selected as Guest Editor Class of 2020 Art & Design take over June 2020.
• The Guardian - student featured as one of five next generation designers to watch, Weekend Magazine published June 2020.
• Grazia magazine - Graduate Fashion showcase, student featured as one of nine UK fashion graduates to watch - June 2020.
• Student shortlisted for the i-D Global Design show sponsored by GUCCI – 2020.
• Finalists for the Graduate Fashion Foundation Awards 2020 –Adaptation award & Fashion Technical Drawing award (eight shortlisted students).
• Students work selected to be featured on the ShowStudio class of 2020 platform.
• Students work featured on the British Fashion Council platform at London Fashion Week June 2020.
• Finalist of The Golden Shears Tailoring Competition 2017 and 2019.
• Finalists of the Graduate Fashion Week 2018 Considered Design Award.
• Finalist of the Graduate Fashion Week 2018 Lectra Iconic Design Award, in association with Vivienne Westwood.
• Student work featured in the national press, Times, Guardian, Telegraph in 2019.
• Student work featured in Vogue Italia and Vogue Brazil 2018.
• Students featured in 2019 and 2018 Drapers/GFW ‘Stars of Tomorrow’ feature.
• Students work selected by Graduate Fashion Week to be shown at The Houses of Parliament promoting new talent and British fashion graduates.

Click here to view the course specification

The fashion industry is ever diversifying, and there are many opportunities for our fashion design graduates. Typically, careers include positions in fashion design, fashion buying, trend prediction, visual merchandising, garment production and technology, and pattern cutting. Some graduates choose to take on freelance work, or set up their own company. Graduates may also continue to postgraduate study.

We’re looking for students with the best potential to succeed - irrespective of their background. That’s why we welcome a wide range of qualifications and experience.

Click here to view our entry requirements

Undergraduate degree courses at Leeds Arts University are delivered and supported through a range of teaching and learning strategies. Courses are made up of modules, these are elements of study that are taught and assessed separately. Each module carries a clearly identified credit value, the accumulation of which will allow you to progress to the next level of the course. 100 hours of learning are expected for every ten credits of the course. Each level (year) of the course is made up of 120 credits and therefore requires 1200 hours of learning. This equates to 40 hours of study per week throughout the academic year.

For every 100 hours of study, approximately 25 hours are delivered as taught or staff-led sessions and the remaining hours are a combination of other types of supported learning and independent study.

For further information visit Undergraduate teaching & learning at Leeds Arts University.

Tuition Fees

Our current fees are listed here

Other Costs

Further costs of study are related largely to the costs of materials and depend very much on how individual students choose to respond to University briefs. At the start of the first year you will be provided with a starter kit of equipment and materials that will help you during the first few months of the course. You will be provided with basic materials to help you complete set briefs. As you progress through the course, you will incur additional costs depending on the level and complexity of the work you are making and the materials you use.

The costs below are the result of asking our students to state how much they spend during the year and creating an average, as such they are indicative only.

Equipment & Materials

• Level 4 (First Year) Module Related Costs - £100 (approximately)
• Level 5 (Second Year) Module Related Costs - £200 (approximately)
• Level 6 (Third Year) Module Related Costs - £400 (this is only a guideline, as costs of some level 6 modules are entirely dependent upon individual students’ direction).

Computers & Digital Equipment

Our course is offered using a blended learning model which means you will need to access some course materials and video conference using a computer or mobile de-vice (eg laptop, tablet or smartphone). If you are intending to buy a computer for your studies we suggest that you wait until you commence your studies. You will quickly find out what you need and what you don’t need. The Course Team will be able to offer you advice on what to buy and where to purchase it from based on your creative needs and budget. If you do not have access to a mobile device and are unable to afford one you may be eligible for further support from our hardship fund, more information can be found here.

Educational Visits & Offsite Activities

Due to current travel restrictions and the uncertainties caused by the pandemic no residential trips are planned for the autumn 2020 term. This situation will be assessed and reviewed as the course progresses so that opportunities for educational visits further afield can be explored. Costs for such trips are in addition to other costs but attendance is not mandatory.

We provide support for undergraduate students dependent upon their financial circumstances. Visit Undergraduate Financial Support for further information.

Click here to view our Terms & Conditions

Click here to view the Key Information for this course

We are delighted to welcome undergraduate visiting and exchange students from Europe and around the world who would like to spend a semester or a full academic year taking credits from our exciting range of courses. You will be fully integrated into the academic and social life of the University during a period of full-time supervised study and your credits transferred back to your home institution.

You can join us through programmes such as Erasmus+, individual university partnerships or as an independent applicant. Please see here for more information and how to apply.

Leeds Arts University students interested in spending some time overseas can find information on the international opportunities available during your course here.

Questions? Contact international@leeds-art.ac.uk

Please apply direct to the University for our BA (Hons) Fashion Design course using the links below.

If you need any assistance completing the form please contact the Admissions team at admissions@leeds-art.ac.uk.