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Fashion Design at Arts University Plymouth - UCAS

There are other course options available which may have a different vacancy status or entry requirements – view the full list of options

Course summary

Join our dynamic BA (Hons) Fashion Design program, tailored to nurture independently-minded fashion thinkers and makers poised to lead change in the industry. Our comprehensive curriculum equips you with the skills and knowledge essential for influencing change. With a focus on creativity, innovation, and practical application, our program prepares you for a rewarding career in fashion design. We empower aspiring fashion thinkers, makers, and designers to embrace their creative journey and carve their path in the ever-evolving fashion landscape. By seamlessly blending traditional craft techniques with cutting-edge digital technologies, you'll transcend your ideas from concepts to tangible, three-dimensional creations. Join us as we redefine design, take creative risks, and communicate your unique style through your craft. Why Choose This Course? Our interdisciplinary approach ensures that you'll develop not only your fashion design skills but also expertise in textile surface pattern, print, digital media, and production. You’ll collaborate with professionals across various fields, from presentation and marketing to designing a portfolio, working closely with photographers, graphic designers, and filmmakers throughout the university and in industry. Our philosophy focuses on nurturing independently-minded fashion thinkers and skilled makers who confidently challenge industry conventions. With an innovative curriculum and strong industry links, including opportunities for entrepreneurship and live projects, our course equips you with the skills and connections needed to thrive in today's fashion landscape. Equipped with cutting-edge industry-standard technologies, our studios serve as your creative sanctuary. You'll embrace a culture of cross-disciplinary collaboration, where you'll hone your skills in our professional textile print studios, jewellery and ceramics workshops, and our innovative Fab Lab. Here, you'll have access to the latest in laser cutting, 3D printing, and design technology, expanding your horizons and unleashing your creativity to its fullest potential. You'll have the freedom to refine your signature aesthetic without the constraints of a predefined house style. Our comprehensive program covers every facet of the design process, including trend analysis, research, design development, drawing, and illustration. Dive into the realms of colour and fabric development, and immerse yourself in historical and cultural studies that inform your creative vision. Whilst studying this course, you'll utilise global trend forecasting tools like WGSN and The Future Laboratory, and master software such as Adobe Creative Suite and Gerber Accumark for CAD pattern cutting. Our curriculum covers every aspect of the design process, from future forecasting to concept and design development, and from creative pattern cutting to the leadership of compelling marketing campaigns. Throughout this course you’ll gain a comprehensive understanding of sustainable design and ethical manufacturing, gaining insight into every step of the commercial supply chain. Students on this course explore the factors influencing design, development, and production while participating in industry events worldwide, including London, Paris, New York, and Berlin. Showcase your work at prestigious events like Graduate Fashion Week and leverage our extensive professional network to secure placements with leading fashion houses like Alexander McQueen, Vivienne Westwood, and more. Fashion is one of the largest employers in the UK’s creative industries, offering endless opportunities for forward-thinking individuals. Our students pursue various career paths, such as fashion designers, knitwear designers, stylists, buyers, tailors, fashion illustrators, pattern cutters, trend forecasters, visual merchandisers, studio managers, garment technologists, production coordinators, merchandisers, and lecturers.

Modules

Arts University Plymouth offers a year long sandwich year option. Framed within the institution’s innovative Common Unit Framework, the sandwich year experience is offered as a unit that contributes to your BA (Hons) Degree. The sandwich year can take the form of an internship or work placement, and can take place in the UK or abroad. It is intended to give you the possibility of gaining experience in art and design practice in a ‘real life’ industry setting, before you return to complete the final year of your degree. You will be able to build your CV and, if you choose to take on your sandwich year outside of the UK, enhance your experience of international creative practice. Sandwich year placements will be selected by each student who wishes to take one, assisted by Course staff within AUP. Opportunities may also come through corporate approaches to AUP or through links built by your course tutors. Each placement opportunity will be reviewed by the University before being approved to ensure its suitability to be part of your course. During the Sandwich Year you remain enrolled at AUP with access to IT and your email accounts, online library and learning support. Once approved, the sandwich year will count towards your overall degree and completion of it will be acknowledged on your degree certificate.


How to apply

Application codes

Please select a course option – you will then see the application code you need to use to apply for the course.

Points of entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

  • Year 1

International applicants

Plymouth is the largest city in the county of Devon, and the safest big city in south-west England, listed in the top ten safest cities in the UK. The city has excellent travel links via car, train and ferry, with direct train services to London Paddington and the rest of the country and easy access to three nearby airports (Bristol, Newquay and Exeter). Plymouth is the gateway to the South West of England and is approximately 3 hours from London by train. The best airport to fly into is London Heathrow, which has a direct rail line to Paddington station. Our dedicated international team will be able to support you throughout your application and enrolment with us, giving you expert advice and guidance on everything you need, from accommodation to what to do once you arrive in the UK.

Entry requirements

Qualification requirements

Your application will tell us about your qualifications and previous experience, but studying the arts is about more than can be captured on forms. We need to find out about your creative potential, your abilities and idiosyncrasies, so we will invite you to talk about your work with a member of our HE academic team. You can tell us about your aspirations, and why you want to study at the university. It is also a good moment to find out what we can offer you. We encourage you to visit the university, so that you can see our facilities, meet our teaching and technical staff, and discuss any other queries you may have; however we appreciate this may not be possible, and are happy to talk to you via an online platform (such as Google Meet or similar). We accept a range of international qualifications and will look at each application individually.

Please click the following link to find out more about qualification requirements for this course

https://www.aup.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/how-to-apply

Additional entry requirements

Portfolio

If your application meets our entry requirements, we’ll invite you to submit your portfolio, so that we can review your work and find out more about your creative potential. You will have the opportunity to submit your portfolio digitally, or in person at one of our Applicant Experience Days. At an Applicant Experience Day, you'll also get the chance to discuss your portfolio with a member of our academic team.


English language requirements

TestGradeAdditional details
IELTS (Academic)6IELTS (Level B2):overall score of 6.0 with minimum scores Listening: 5.5, Speaking: 5.5, Reading: 5.5, Writing: 5.5
Trinity ISEPassIntegrated Skills in English II (Level B2), minimum grades required: Reading: Pass Listening: Pass
PTE Academic50PTE Academic (Level B2), minimum grade required: Listening: 50, Reading: 50, Writing: 50, Speaking: 50

Click here to find out the most up-to-date information on our English Language requirements

https://www.aup.ac.uk/international/language-requirements


Student Outcomes

Operated by the Office for Students

There is no data available for this course. For further information visit the Discover Uni website.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

Republic of Ireland £9250 Year 1
EU £16500 Year 1
Channel Islands £9250 Year 1
England £9250 Year 1
Northern Ireland £9250 Year 1
Scotland £9250 Year 1
Wales £9250 Year 1
International £16500 Year 1

Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website .

Additional fee information

During the year, you will remain an enrolled student and have access to university resources (library, student support etc). The reduced fee level for the sandwich year will be up to £1,250.
Fashion Design at Arts University Plymouth - UCAS