Study Fashion, why & how to study

CONTENTS

1. What’s Fashion?

2. What Fashion degrees can you study?

3. What do you need to get onto a Fashion degree?

4. What topics does a Fashion degree cover?

5. How will you be assessed?

6. Why study Fashion?

7. What do Fashion graduates earn?

8. What jobs can you get as a Fashion graduate?

9. What are the postgraduate opportunities?

10. Similar subjects to Fashion

11. Have any questions?

What’s Fashion?

Fashion is the study of popular styles and the global fashion industry. It covers clothing, footwear, accessories, makeup, body piercing, furniture and more. Degree courses look at the design, manufacturing, and marketing of items for a range of different sectors and their impact across the world.

Courses aren't just about creating the next celebrity trend. You could study costume design, textiles, styling, buying, journalism and a whole variety of other areas.

What Fashion degrees can you study?

Undergraduate degrees in Fashion include:

• Costume Design and Practice BA
• Fashion with Journalism BA
• Fashion Technology BA
• Fashion BA
• International Fashion Branding BA

Options may include an integrated foundation year or professional placement year.

What do you need to get onto a Fashion degree?

Most undergraduate Fashion courses ask for 80–144 UCAS points. Not every university will base their offer on UCAS points and some courses may have lower or higher requirements.

• A Levels: AAA–CCE
• BTECs: DDD–MMP
• Scottish Highers: AABBB–BBC (Advanced Highers: AA–BB)
• International Baccalaureate: 35–24
• Universities will usually ask that you have studied: an A Level (or equivalent) in an art-related subject.

Other good subjects to have studied include:

• An essay-based subject at A Level (or equivalent)
• An art foundation qualification may be required; some undergraduate courses include a foundation year

Experience that would look good on your application:

• Work shadowing isn’t essential but may be useful – you could try textiles or clothing manufacturers, clothing retailers, an alterations tailor or wedding shop
• Entering competitions such as Wool4School or Young Fashion Designer UK Competition, or the National Careers Challenge
• Furthering your knowledge of the fashion business through websites such as the British Fashion Council, Textile Institute, or the UK Fashion and Textile Association
• For your portfolio, evidence of what inspires you – research designers, visit museums, and note any technologies, materials or processes that intrigue or interest you
• If eligible, attending a Fashion&Business National Saturday Club

Other requirements for this subject include:

• Portfolio
• Pass in the practical element of science if taken at A Level
• Interviews may be held by some universities

What topics does a Fashion degree cover?

Typical modules for courses in this subject include:

• Brand generation
• Business analytics
• Collaborative enterprise
• Critical and creative contexts
• Design concept to production
• Fashion and textile skills and processes
• Fashion design: exploring materials and methods
• Fashion writing and design for publications
• Introduction to fashion management
• Product management
• Styling for fashion editorial
• Thinking through making
• Trend forecasting

How will you be assessed?

Courses are assessed in a variety of ways, depending on the module:

• Continuous coursework assessment
• Design portfolios
• Essays
• Live or simulated industrial briefs
• Presentations
• Project work (group and individual)
• Prototypes
• Storyboards
• Written reports

Why study Fashion?

Through a Fashion degree course, you'll be thinking analytically about clothes, studying fashion history and following trends with an eager eye. You'll need to be hardworking and creative, but it can be very rewarding to see your projects come to life.

Career-specific skills:

• Understanding all the steps in the fashion design process, from concept to catwalk
• Depending on your degree, technical skills that may include illustration, pattern cutting and trend forecasting, or business skills to understand consumers and predict trends
• You’ll learn how to be creative and succeed in a competitive environment

Transferable skills:

• Collaboration
• Communication
• Critical and analytical thinking
• Entrepreneurial
• Idea generation
• Presentation
• Research
• Self-motivation
• Time management
• Visual and creative strengths

Professional accreditation:

• Textile degrees may be accredited by the Textile Institute
• Degrees with a business focus may be accredited by the Chartered Management Institute (CMI) or professional accountancy bodies, and may provide a pathway to professional qualifications or membership status

What do Fashion graduates earn?

Fashion graduates can expect an entry-level salary of around £20,000–£22,000.

Mid-career, an average salary for a merchandiser ranges from £35,000–£49,000; for buyers it can vary between £37,000–£75,500, with those based in London paid a premium. Designers earn less, from £29,000–£52,500.

What jobs can you get as a Fashion graduate?

A degree in Fashion is highly specific but can be tailored to a whole range of roles in the fashion industry or beyond. Many companies offer graduate schemes. Roles could include:

• Copywriter
• Fashion designer
• Fashion journalist
• Fashion stylist
• Homeware and interiors designer
• Marketing manager
• Media buyer
• Merchandiser
• Pattern cutter
• PR manager
• Product development
• Retail buyer
• Retail manager
• SEO manager
• Textile technologist

What are the postgraduate opportunities?

Postgraduate study in Fashion includes design specialisms, technological developments and business processes. Most courses are taught master’s degrees; research degrees are less common. Examples of postgraduate study include:

• Fashion and Textiles Design with Industry Placement MA
• Fashion Design Technology PGDip
• Fashion Management MSc
• Fashion, Enterprise and Society MA
• International Fashion Retailing MSc

Similar subjects to Fashion

Fashion combines creative design, business sense and an understanding of material; with these interests you could also consider:

• Art & Design
• Business & Management Studies
• Marketing
• Creative Writing
• Drama, Dance & Cinematics
• History of Art, Architecture & Design
• Interior Design
• Materials Technology

Have any questions?

Ask our experts! You can email ask@thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk with your question about studying Fashion – we’ll be happy to hear from you.