A student stood next to a mannequin

Available with:

  • Foundation Year

Course Summary

Fashion Design BA (Hons) provides creatively minded students with a supportive learning environment to nurture original and authentic approaches to design and garment generation.

You will be encouraged to creatively explore and practice innovative solutions to contemporary design issues, which will enhance your knowledge and amplify your own individual design vision, whilst sharpening your ability to interpret design for specific target markets.

The course will encourage you to value and employ both handmade and digital processes in your design investigation. Delivery is designed to build design independence and professional confidence and will support you to build and establish your own creative ‘individual identity’, whilst learning how to place your work in a professional fashion context.

Graduates from the course have designed for luxury, premium and online brands, undertaken internships with major fashion companies and gained grants to set up their own businesses.

Design brands and industry professionals are invited to provide advice, guidance and insight into current working methods within the fashion industry. Your learning will be very ‘hands-on’ and practically driven to design and garment construction knowledge, which stimulates critical intellectual growth and promotes creative and professional independence in preparation for the fashion industry.

Why You'll Love It

What You'll Study

The Creative Industries, Media and Performance Foundation Year route encourages you to operate as a creative community, developing new skills while learning from each other. You will build knowledge of your chosen area alongside transferrable practical and academic skills to support future employment.

Students have access to a wide range of specialist facilities. For art, design and innovation students this includes painting and sculpture studios, 3-Dimensional design, printmaking workshops, sewing and fashion workshops and graphic design suites. 

  • Term 1: Introduction to Creative Spaces
  • Term 2: Creative Practices in Art and Design
  • Term 3: Originating a Creative Project

The information listed in this section is an overview of the academic content of the course that will take the form of either core or option modules and should be used as a guide. We review the content of our courses regularly, making changes where necessary to improve your experience and graduate prospects. If during a review process, course content is significantly changed, we will contact you to notify you of these changes if you receive an offer from us.

The BA Fashion Design course contains a blend of specialist and interdisciplinary modules at each level of study. 

The University also offers several optional modules to provide students with the opportunity to learn a language and study abroad.

At Level 4, students will be introduced to Design Process and Methods, Design in Context and Design in Practice. 

Modules

This module introduces the key aspects of your subject area, including foundational knowledge, problem-solving skills, effective communication, personal responsibility, and the development of important attributes required for employment within and beyond the creative and cultural industries.

This module will enable you to apply your skills and knowledge to a specific design challenge. You will have the opportunity to apply your subject specific knowledge and expertise in multiple areas of creative practice.

You will have access to workshops and production facilities to produce an outcome to the themed brief.

Chinese: Intermediate Language Development (20 Credits) Option

This module is designed for students who have completed GCSE in Chinese or equivalent. You will further develop your grammar, vocabulary and learning conventions for spelling and pronunciation. You will work with written and recorded texts on a range of cultural, personal and social topics and will develop oral and written communication skills at an intermediate level.

French: Communication in Practice (20 Credits) Option

This module is designed for students that have completed A-Level or equivalent in French. You will further develop your grammar, vocabulary and expression and apply these to real world situations. You will work with written and recorded texts on a range of cultural, personal and social topics and will develop your oral and written communication skills at Post-A level.

French: Intermediate Language Development (20 Credits) Option

This module is designed for students who have completed GCSE or equivalent in French. You will further develop your grammar, vocabulary and learning conventions for spelling and pronunciation. You will work with written and recorded texts on a range of cultural, personal and social topics and will develop oral and written communication skills at an intermediate level.

German: Communication in Practice (20 Credits) Option

This module enables students with A-Level German or equivalent to further develop their grammar, vocabulary and expression and apply these to real world situations. You will work with written and recorded texts on a range of cultural, personal and social topics and will develop your oral and written communication skills at Post-A level.

Spanish: Communication in Practice (20 Credits) Option

This module is designed for students that have completed a A-Level or equivalent in Spanish. You will further develop your grammar, vocabulary and expression and apply these to real world situations. You will work with written and recorded texts on a range of cultural, personal and social topics and will develop oral and written communication skills at Post-A level.

Spanish: Intermediate Language Development (20 Credits) Option

This module is designed for students that have completed GCSE or equivalent in Spanish. You will further develop your grammar, vocabulary and learning conventions for spelling and pronunciation. You will work with written and recorded texts on a range of cultural, personal and social topics and will develop oral and written communication skills at an intermediate level.

Subsidiary Language for Beginners (20 Credits) Option

This module provides the opportunity to study a new language from scratch and introduces you to basic grammar, vocabulary and cultural contexts. You will apply the language to practical situations using both oral and written skills. 

 

The information listed in this section is an overview of the academic content of the course that will take the form of either core or option modules and should be used as a guide. We review the content of our courses regularly, making changes where necessary to improve your experience and graduate prospects. If during a review process, course content is significantly changed, we will contact you to notify you of these changes if you receive an offer from us.

Level 5 builds upon this foundation with more complex learning to develop a deeper understanding of fashion design application, whilst honing professional garment construction skills. Learning is focused on contemporary fashion industry issues and students build confidence in design practice, process and technique. Additionally, there are opportunities to work collaboratively and an experiential learning module prepares students for the workplace. 

Modules

This module explores contemporary cultural and critical issues in both current and future design practice, encouraging you to engage with themes such as ethics, responsibility, and technological advancements. You will have the opportunity to apply your research to practical, real-world problems while collaborating across disciplines. Emphasising interdisciplinary teamwork, the module enables you to work with students, academics, and technical demonstrators from various design fields on shared projects and challenges. Through this process, you will critically examine the societal and cultural factors that shape design, developing a deeper understanding of its role in addressing complex future challenges.

This module will provide you with the practical and theoretical underpinning of professional practice in your specific subject, enabling you to identify and develop key employability attributes and skills in preparation for your future career.  

You will spend several weeks working collaboratively with other students across the School for the Creative Industries on one major project or several smaller projects in a professional ‘simulated real world’ working environment.  Projects will be contemporary, topical, externally focussed and often involve partnership with outside agencies. The module will provide you with opportunities for immersive learning and the chance to apply your knowledge in real-world contexts.

The module provides students with an opportunity to undertake a 140-hour work placement*. This placement is complemented by a number of school-delivered sessions designed to develop their employability, professional practice, and students' understanding of their career options. Students learn to reflect on the nature of creativity within their studies, and gain awareness of how this is valued and relevant in modern workplaces. 

*in some cases, evidence of considerable relevant graduate-level work experience may be accepted as an alternative to completion of the stipulated placement.

In this module you will explore the relationship between fashion design and the manufacturing process, gaining a deeper practical knowledge of how fashion products are made as they progress through the full production cycle.  

By translating clothing design ideas through to final garment resolution, you will develop a deeper understanding of production restrictions and challenges, as you develop your ideas through to  final ‘proto sample’ garment/s.

This module introduces you to more advanced, industry specific garment production methods, whilst expanding and building upon pattern cutting and manufacture skills.

You will learn, practice and employ key skills at each creative stage of garment development and gain valuable technical insight into 3-dimensional problem-solving techniques.   

You will learn through continuous aesthetic self-evaluation.   You will be encouraged to document throughout the creative production and technical manufacturing cycle.

The importance of time management will be crucial, and you will need to produce supporting technical folders to manage the fashion ‘critical path’ production plan.

Choose one of the following:

  1. Professional Placement (40 Credits) Optional
  2. Term abroad (40 Credits) Optional
  3. One of the following Language options

Advanced Language Development and Global Sustainability (40 Credits) Optional

The module will provide the opportunity to further develop your language skills, building on your previous learning at advanced level. The second half of the module includes a placement abroad or, alternatively, a project on a sustainability issue in a target language country. The first half of the module will prepare you for placements abroad where appropriate as well as a deeper understanding of sustainability in target language contexts. 

Developing Intercultural Literacy and Cross-Cultural Skills (40 Credits) Optional

  • The multiple facets of global citizenship
  • Ethical engagement and practice
  • The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals
  • Cross-cultural issues and sensitivity
  • Intercultural communication
  • Culture shock
  • Cultural adjustment
  • Self- assessment of needs: identification of the range of transferable skills, competencies and attitudes employees need and employers expect graduates to possess-with a strong focus on understanding the intercultural competencies (ICC) needed to live and work abroad.
  • Critical analysis/evaluation of individual requirements in relation to culture/cultural adjustment/culture shock/visas/medical.
  • Critical analysis/evaluation of skills already acquired in relation to key skills related to ICC.
  • Devising strategies to improve one’s own prospects of working abroad in the future.
  • Devising an action plan to address gaps in transferable skills based on organisational analysis and sector opportunities.

Experiential Overseas Learning (40 Credits) Optional

Preparation for Experiential Overseas Learning will take place at the University of Chester during level 5 and will include:  

  • The multiple facets of Global citizenship
  • Ethical engagement and practice
  • Cross-cultural issues and sensitivity
  • Intercultural communication
  • Theories, models and strategies of learning

Theories and models Intercultural competence

  • Theories and models of Integration and Multiculturalism
  • Critical thinking skills and models of Reflection
  • Experiential learning models
  • Self-directed experiential learning

Personal and placement-related skills

  • Enhanced independence
  • Improved command of multicultural behaviour
  • Increased knowledge and confidence in their individual facets of personal identity
  • Effective time management and organisational skills
  • Project management – working away from University and independent study
  • Self-management and personal development
  • Team building and team work

Part B: Overseas

Students will engage in experiential learning activities overseas for at least 150 hours 

Post Beginner Language Development and Global Cultures (40 Credits) Optional

The module will provide the opportunity to further develop your language skills, building on your previous learning at beginner level. The first half of the module includes intensive taught sessions in interactive workshop mode which will prepare you for placements abroad or self-directed language development. The second half of the module includes a placement abroad or, alternatively, a project on a cultural issue in a target language country. 

Upper Intermediate Language Development and Global Employability (40 Credits) Optional

The module will provide the opportunity to further develop your language skills, building on your previous learning at intermediate level. The first half of the module includes intensive taught sessions in interactive workshop mode which will prepare you for placements abroad or self-directed language development. The second half of the module includes an placement abroad or, alternatively, a project on a business or tourism issue in a target language country. 

Or you can choose ONE of the following:

  • University Placement Year Optional
  • Subject Placement Year Optional
  • International University Placement Year Optional

 

The information listed in this section is an overview of the academic content of the course that will take the form of either core or option modules and should be used as a guide. We review the content of our courses regularly, making changes where necessary to improve your experience and graduate prospects. If during a review process, course content is significantly changed, we will contact you to notify you of these changes if you receive an offer from us.

At Level 6, students will develop their own specialist practice and undertake research and experimental enquiry in preparation for their final collection development (Final Major Project), a self-directed, independent project, which integrates all of the skills acquired through their studies.  

This is complemented by a Workplace-Readiness module, which focuses on portfolio development and prepares students for employment. 

Modules

This module provides you with the opportunity for an in-depth exploration of a design topic of personal interest. You will select a research question and conduct a thorough investigation using a range of research methods to uncover key insights and present potential opportunities. By the end of the module, you will have developed a research-driven approach to addressing a design challenge that enables new perspectives and innovative ways of thinking. This may or may not relate to your Major Project.

The focus of this module is to build your workspace readiness through the development and production of a visually exciting Curated Portfolio-to-Go and complementary self promotion materials. Work produced for this module can be used to target ‘identified’ areas of prospective career opportunity and enhance your readiness to enter the workplace.

In this module you will engage with more sophisticated and authentic approaches to research, development, experimentation and playful design process, which will form a design basis to underpin your individual approach in Level 6 study.

Pre Collection invites you to explore authentic design concepts, which challenge and will stretch your aesthetic judgement and lead to creation of new and experimental approaches to innovative toile sampling.  The body of work produced will demonstrate your creative journey from concept through to prototype stages and document the judgement and selection needed to develop a professionally informed development process.

Initially, you will undertake deep dive research to investigate potential for innovative concepts and possible starting points for collection building.  You will then be expected to develop a range of experimental samples and design proposals to be refined in readiment for project realisation. Typically, these could include 2 and 3 dimensional prototypes, 3D printed prototypes and/or newly evolved approaches to sampling and garment realisation

The purpose of the module is to create a potential body of work that could be realistically move forward into the final collection production stage and demonstrate resourcefulness and entrepreneurial skills to support individual fashion practice.   This module will be a stepping stone to cement your understanding of the skills to approaches required for the fashion industry.

This module focuses on realising a final collection that showcases your vision and individual identity as a designer.  It encourages increased professional autonomy whilst sharpening your technical skills through the exploration of diverse manufacturing approaches, construction techniques, materials, and processes.

You will expand upon experimental ideas and prototypes developed during the pre-collection stage, further refining them into a cohesive collection of signature finished garments.

The module culminates in the production of a professional signature collection that creatively integrates your accumulated design knowledge with advanced technical and production values and skills.  You will continuously refine your design methods to ensure your creative vision aligns with your chosen industry market and target audience.

Throughout the construction process, you will document and reflect on the fit, form, silhouette, and function of your garments.

'Brand Me' - Shaping the Fashion Industry: A Unique Perspective

This module focuses on evaluating your individual design identity and producing a strategic body of work to support your intended career pathway. You will reflect on your identity as a designer, analyse your unique perspective, and create marketing materials that establishes and elevates your brand. This will help you identify and apply for roles within the graduate market, effectively promoting yourself as an individual (Brand Me).

In the competitive fashion industry, a distinct brand identity and connection with your target market are paramount.  To this end, you will develop work that identifies and establishes your unique selling proposition (USP) or signature style. This will challenge you to move beyond honing your creative skills and design vision, and instead create professional packages that position you as a commercial design asset.

Throughout the module, you will demonstrate resourcefulness and entrepreneurial skills to support your own fashion practice and showcase your professional role as a designer within the wider fashion industry.

The aim of the module is to develop a cohesive body of branding materials that showcases your identity, skills, and design aesthetic. This work should promote your creative capabilities, reflect target market and support your future employability in the fashion design industry and affiliated sectors.

You will be assessed on your capability to the successful create key items, such as:  professional lookbook/s, promotional campaign materials, possible fashion films, sample designs, brand proposal report and business plan (if pursuing entrepreneurship).  You may also wish to add and expand your collection range to enhance content for editorial photoshoots or for possible fashion show opportunities as you build you 'Brand Me package'. 

The information listed in this section is an overview of the academic content of the course that will take the form of either core or option modules and should be used as a guide. We review the content of our courses regularly, making changes where necessary to improve your experience and graduate prospects. If during a review process, course content is significantly changed, we will contact you to notify you of these changes if you receive an offer from us.

How You'll Learn

This Fashion Design course is delivered in three terms of ten weeks each. In each term, you will study 40 credits comprised of either one or two modules. Scheduled contact hours range between approximately 6 and 12 hours per week depending upon level of study and the complexity of the material being taught. This course is delivered through a mix of in-person and online learning.

If studied, the Foundation Year, as with the following years of study, will be taught in three 10-week blocks across an academic year. Each block will comprise of a large 40-credit subject-specific module that includes a breadth of topics and subject skills. You will have on average 12-14 hours of contact time per week during the Foundation Year. There may be variations to this where subject practical or specialist space teaching is included.

You can expect to take part in studio design sessions, practical workshops for manufacturing, pattern cutting and garment prototyping, and CAD workshops. Sessions will be delivered via small group seminars, lectures, one-to-one tutorials and specialist online learning platforms.  

You should expect to spend an average of 30 – 34 hours per week on independent study, which might include:

  • following asynchronous learning material on the University’s VLE, tutorial time with staff
  • using the University’s library
  • working with peers
  • and preparing work for assessment. 

Teaching will be delivered by experienced academics and practitioners in the subject. This will be supplemented by specialist lecturers and speakers from the fashion industry.

The Fashion Design course is assessed through ongoing coursework and there are no exams.  

Your coursework will include a broad range of different types of task, such as:

  • sketchbooks
  • portfolios
  • illustration
  • technical manufacturing
  • pattern cutting files
  • and some written pieces, such as trend or market reports and presentations.

We continuously review the currency of assessment methods used in order that they adequately prepare you for future graduate-level employment and the evolving retail landscape. 

We try to keep costs low for students and subsidise where possible, by providing fabrics and trims, where we can, for toiling and prototyping of garments. 

You should be aware that you will need to budget for final garment fabric costs. 

We do have yearly optional subsidised trips to fashion capitals, e.g. previous trips to see Dior and YSL ateliers in Paris and to see Prada Foundation and Armani HQ in Milan, which cost around £450 pounds per trip.  However, these field trips are optional and you are not required to participate in order to successfully complete the course.

All teaching is delivered by experienced academics and practitioners, with the fundamental principles of the Chester Future Skills Curriculum at its core - building your subject competence, confidence, and key transferable skills to shape you into a world-ready Chester graduate.

Study a Common First Year

This course shares a common 'design and innovation' first year with students on fashion, graphic, interior and product design courses.

This means that you’ll learn alongside students studying a similar discipline, helping to broaden your knowledge and exposure to other concepts, perspectives and professions in the first year of your degree.

As you learn and collaborate with students from other courses, you'll not only widen your social and professional network but also learn new skills that will set you up for success in your industry.

In your second and third years, you will progress to studying more specialist modules within fashion design, developing your skills to become a World Ready graduate.

Creative Campus, Kingsway Tours

Study at our Creative Campus, Kingsway, home to some outstanding art, design and performance-based courses for the University’s School for the Creative Industries. Scroll through our 360 tours to explore our state-of-the-art facilities.

Entry Requirements

112UCAS points

UCAS Tariff

112 points

GCE A Level

Typical offer – BCC-BBC

BTEC

BTEC Extended Diploma: DMM

International Baccalaureate

28 points

Irish / Scottish Highers

Irish Highers: H3 H3 H3 H3 H4

Scottish Highers: BBBB

Access requirements

Access to HE Diploma, to include 45 credits at Level 3, of which 30 must be at Merit or above

T Level

Merit

OCR Cambridge Technicals

OCR Extended Diploma: DMM

Extra Information

Shortlisted applicants will be required to produce a portfolio and attend an interview.

Welsh Baccalaureate Advanced and A Level General Studies will be recognised in our offer. We will also consider a combination of A Levels and BTECs/OCRs.

Students from countries outside the UK are expected to have entry qualifications roughly equivalent to UK A Level for undergraduate study and British Bachelor's degree (or equivalent) for postgraduate study. To help you to interpret these equivalents, please click on your country of residence to see the corresponding entry qualifications, along with information about your local representatives, events, information and contacts.

We accept a wide range of qualifications and consider all applications individually on merit. We may also consider appropriate work experience.

English Language Requirements

  • IELTS Academic: Undergraduate: 6.0 (minimum 5.5 in each band)
  • Postgraduate: 6.5 (minimum 5.5 in each band)

For more information on our entry requirements, please visit International Entry Requirements.

72UCAS points

UCAS Tariff

72 UCAS points 

GCE A level

72 points overall, including grade D in one of the following subjects: Art & Design, Fine Art or Textiles.

BTEC

BTEC Extended Diploma (Art and Design): MMP

International Baccalaureate

24 points including 4 in HL Visual Arts

Irish / Scottish Highers

Irish Highers: H4 H4 H4 H4 H4 including Art

Scottish Highers: CCDD including Art and Design

Access requirements

Access to HE Diploma (Art and Design) – Pass overall

T Level

T Level (Craft and Design): Pass (D or E on the core)

Extra Information

Welsh Baccalaureate Advanced and A level General Studies will be recognised in our offer.  We will also consider a combination of A Levels and BTECs/OCRs.

If you are a mature student (21 or over) and have been out of education for a while or do not have experience or qualifications at Level 3 (equivalent to A Levels), then our Foundation Year courses will help you to develop the skills and knowledge you will need to succeed in your chosen degree. 

Study the final year of an undergraduate degree

If you have successfully completed a Level 5 qualification, e.g. a Higher National Diploma (HND) or Foundation Degree in a relevant subject, then we may be able to consider you for the final year (Level 6) of one of our degrees. Topping up your HND or Foundation Degree will typically take one further year of study and will lead to a full BA (Honours) degree.

To apply for the final year of a degree on a full-time basis you will need to submit an application through UCAS.

For international applicants, please refer to the entry requirements listed on the "Your Country/Region" pages. To be considered for advanced entry into relevant degree programmes, you must have completed a qualification equivalent to a Level 5 or Level 6 in the UK, in a related subject area

Fees and Funding

£9,535per year for a full-time course (2025/26)

Our full-time undergraduate tuition fees for Home students entering University in 2025/26 are £9,535 a year, or £1,590 per 20-credit module for part-time study.

You can find more information about undergraduate fees on our Fees and Finance pages.

Students from the UK, Isle of Man, Guernsey, Jersey and the Republic of Ireland are treated as Home students for tuition fee purposes.

Students from countries in the European Economic Area and the EU will pay International Tuition Fees.

Students who have been granted Settled Status may be eligible for Home Fee Status and if eligible will be able to apply for Tuition Fee Loans and Maintenance Loans.

Students who have been granted Pre-settled Status may be eligible for Home Fee Status and if eligible will be able to apply for Tuition Fee Loans.

£14,450*per year for a full-time course (2025/26)

The tuition fees for international students studying Undergraduate programmes in 2025/26 are £14,450 per year for a full-time course. This fee is set for each year of study.

The University of Chester offers generous international and merit-based scholarships, providing a significant reduction to the published headline tuition fee. You will automatically be considered for these scholarships when your application is reviewed, and any award given will be stated on your offer letter.

For courses with a Foundation Year, the tuition fees for Year 1 are £10,750 and £14,200 for Years 2-4 in 2025/26.

For more information, go to our International Fees, Scholarship and Finance section.

Irish Nationals living in the UK or ROI are treated as Home students for Tuition Fee Purposes. 

Your course will involve additional costs not covered by your tuition fees. This may include books, printing, photocopying, educational stationery and related materials, specialist clothing, travel to placements, optional field trips and software. Compulsory field trips are covered by your tuition fees. 

If you are living away from home during your time at university, you will need to cover costs such as accommodation, food, travel and bills.

The University of Chester supports fair access for students who may need additional support through a range of bursaries and scholarships. 

Full details, as well as terms and conditions for all bursaries and scholarships can be found on the Fees and Finance section of our website.

Who You'll Learn From

Delphine Wilson

Senior Lecturer
Delphine Wilson

Where You'll Study Creative Campus, Kingsway, Chester

Your Future Career

Job Prospects

Jobs directly related to a Fashion Design degree: 

  • Womenswear Designer 
  • Menswear Designer 
  • Product Developer 
  • Product Management 

Jobs where your degree would be useful: 

  • Trend Forecasting 
  • Garment Technologist 
  • Pattern Cutter/Grader 
  • Fashion Merchandiser/Fashion Buyer 

Progression options

  • Design MA

Careers service

The University has an award-winning Careers and Employability service which provides a variety of employability-enhancing experiences; through the curriculum, through employer contact, tailored group sessions, individual information, advice and guidance.

Careers and Employability aims to deliver a service which is inclusive, impartial, welcoming, informed and tailored to your personal goals and aspirations, to enable you to develop as an individual and contribute to the business and community in which you will live and work.

We are here to help you plan your future, make the most of your time at University and to enhance your employability. We provide access to part-time jobs, extra-curricular employability-enhancing workshops and offer practical one-to-one help with career planning, including help with CVs, applications and mock interviews. We also deliver group sessions on career planning within each course and we have a wide range of extensive information covering graduate jobs and postgraduate study.

Enquire about a course