Program Overview

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Fashion Design

Overview

Fashion is a fast-paced and exciting industry, but where do you start? Embark on a transformative journey with our leading Fashion Design degree at the University of Salford. Located in the heart of Greater Manchester at our New Adelphi campus, you’ll be studying within one of the most vibrant centres of the UK.

This course offers innovative methods and industry-standard approaches to research, design, digital and making skills, empowering you creatively and technically. You'll benefit from access to our purpose-built studios, cutting-edge technology, and industry-standard equipment. The course also offers work placement opportunities where you can gain invaluable work experience, preparing you for a successful career in the fashion industry.

Course Details

All About the Course

Year one is all about introducing you not only to the fundamentals of fashion design and giving you the opportunity to develop your skills in a hands-on project-based environment but realising the impact of risk taking and experimentation. You’ll learn to illustrate, design, cut patterns and construct garments. As well as this, you’ll also look at the perspectives and contexts surrounding fashion design. By the end of your first year, you’ll be able to communicate your ideas to a professional standard and have the technical skills to make them a reality.

In your second year, the focus of your learning turns to the fashion industry. You’ll undertake a live project, working with a fashion house or label. This will give you chance to put what you’ve learned so far into practice in a real-world scenario, as well as give you first-hand experience of working with fashion design professionals. You’ll develop your understanding of markets and design trends through research, analysis and practical projects.

At the end of year two, you’ll undertake a work placement to develop your awareness and understanding of the fashion industry. Work placements offer the opportunity for regional, national or international experience in fashion-related organisations.

Your third year on our bachelor’s degree in fashion design provides the opportunity to personalise your studies to align with your interests and career goals. All your hard work will be put into practice in your final project. You’ll have the freedom to take your project in any direction you wish, and your work from this final module will be exhibited at a fashion show in Manchester. Some students will also be selected to take part in our prestigious annual fashion show in London or other international destinations.

Year One

• Introduction to Fashion Design
• Fashion Design: Principles
• Fashion Contexts
• Introduction To Pattern Cutting and Construction Techniques
• Fashion Illustration & CAD 1
• 3D Approaches to Design Research

Year Two

• Fashion Illustration & CAD 2
• Critical Dialogues
• Fashion Design Specialism
• Work Placement: Fashion Design
• Digital Fashion Design
• Fashion Design Professionalism

Year Three

• Design and Research for an External Brief
• Pre-collection
• Portfolio Module: Fashion Design
• Negotiated Major Project: Collection
• Major Project Proposal

What Will I Be Doing?

Teaching

As part of this undergraduate degree in fashion design, your timetable will include a breakdown of your scheduled lessons with timeslots for you to explore your independent research interests. Your classes will be based at our New Adelphi building.

As part of this course, you’ll be encouraged to create drawings, produce garments and compile visual and written notebooks in order to document your design process and the progress of your learning.

An important aspect of this course is having the freedom to find your own path in your studies, however there will be tutor guidance and support available to you throughout. You’ll learn how to research effectively using the internet and university library resources.

Finally, you’ll work on workshop and studio projects where you’ll learn and develop technical skills that are essential for fashion design.

Assessment

Assessments are an important part of your academic journey, giving you the chance to put the skills and knowledge you’ve learned into practice.

Throughout your fashion design course at University of Salford, you’ll be assessed through a variety of different methods including coursework, presentations and essays. The grades from formal assessments count towards your module mark.

Employment and Stats

Employment

Your career options with a fashion design degree span everything from working as a designer, pattern cutter, stylist, through to becoming a buyer, visual merchandiser, illustrator or work within the retailer and management sector, to name just a few roles.

Graduates have gone on to work for renowned companies including Adidas, Fred Perry, John Lewis, Levi’s, Max Mara, New Balance, Puma, Zara, H&M and many more. We’ve also had graduates go on to set up their own businesses using the skills they’ve gained on this fashion design degree.

Further Study

Graduates showing strong academic and research skills can pursue a further postgraduate path through our Postgraduate programmes on a full-time or part-time basis subject to a satisfactory proposal.

Requirements

Applicant Profile

Ready to apply for this fashion design course? First and foremost, you’ll have to submit a personal statement and meet our entry requirements. A personal statement is a personal summary (up to 4,000 characters) of your academic, professional/life experience and future goals.

We’ll want to see your personality and understand:

• what motivates you and what you’ve learnt on your current academic journey
• why you want to work in the fashion industry and your experience of fashion design so far
• why this fashion design course at University of Salford is right for your future goals

In addition to this, we’d also like to see examples of your previous work in a well-presented portfolio. We want to know who inspires you, which brands and designers do you admire, and why? Your portfolio can take the form of sketches or images of your textile creations. We don’t expect you to be an expert - as you’ll learn new creative and technical skills on this course - but we’d like to see that you have some experience in a relevant area. and that you can demonstrate a clear design process.

When reviewing your portfolio, we’ll be looking for examples of drawing and colour usage, design/idea development, sketchbooks and notebooks, photographs, as well as 2D and 3D work. At this stage in your career, we would much rather see experimental and playful drawing and developmental work than all finished work showing a final solution.

We don’t need to see all the work you have produced - around 20-30 samples in your main portfolio would be ideal as well as some sketchbooks. Any offers will be conditional upon our subject team having the opportunity to review your portfolio, and we look forward to viewing your work.

For some applicants, you may also be asked to take part in an informal group seminar discussion or interview– either live or on camera – to demonstrate your skills.

Standard Entry Requirements

• GCSE English Language at grade C/level 4 or above (or equivalent) is required.
• Maths at grade C/4 or above (or equivalent) is preferred but not essential.

You must fulfil our GCSE entry requirements as well as one of the requirements listed below:

• UCAS tariff points: 104-112 points
• A level: 104-112 points
• T level: Merit
• BTEC National Diploma: DMM including Art & Design
• BTEC Higher National Diploma: Applicants may be considered for entry into year two
• Foundation Degree: Applicants may be considered for entry into year three
• Access to HE: Pass Level 3 Access to HE Diploma with 112 points (relevant subjects)
• Scottish Highers: 112 points including an art and design subject
• Irish Leaving Certificate: 112 points including an art and design subject
• International Baccalaureate: 31 points including an art and design subject
• European Baccalaureate: Pass in Diploma with at least 73% overall (relevant subject)
• Foundation Diploma in Art and Design: Distinction = 112 UCAS points - if you have a Pass (80 points) or Merit (96 points), you must have additional qualifications to a total of 112 points.

International Students

We accept qualifications from all around the world. Find your country to see a full list of entry requirements.

If you are an international student and not from a majority English speaking country, you will need IELTS 6.0 with no element below 5.5.

We also accept a range of other English language qualifications. If you do not have the English language requirements, you could take our Pre-Sessional English course. Or if you have finished high school in your country but don’t have the qualifications to gain entry to this course, you can take our International Foundation Year as a pathway to this degree.

Alternative Entry Requirements

Salford Alternative Entry Scheme (SAES)

We welcome applications from students who may not meet the stated entry criteria but who can demonstrate their ability to pursue the course successfully. Once we have received your application we will assess it and recommend it for SAES if you are an eligible candidate.

There are two different routes through the Salford Alternative Entry Scheme and applicants will be directed to the one appropriate for their course. Assessment will either be through a review of prior learning or through a formal test.

How Much?

Your tuition fees are regulated by the UK government who has proposed changes to tuition fees for UK students studying in England from 1 August 2025. The fee stated reflects this proposed change, but remains subject to parliamentary approval. Your tuition fees may increase in your first and each subsequent year of your programme to the maximum amount permitted by UK law or regulation for that academic year.

Type of study	Year	Fees
Full-time home	2025/26	£9,535 per year
Full-time international	2025/26	£17,650 per year
Full-time home	2026/27	£9,535 per year
Full-time international	2026/27	£18,120 per year

Additional Costs

Students should expect to pay their studio levy each year. Most undergraduate students will receive £150 per year from the Salford Inspire scheme which can be put towards your studio fee. In addition, in year three of study, students will also incur a cost to participate in shows.

• First year costs: £150
• Second year costs: £150
• Third year costs: £350

For optional trips, you should expect to pay from £350 to £1,200. Costs are approximated based on the current academic year.

You should also consider further costs which may include books, stationery, printing, binding and general subsistence on trips and visits.

Scholarships for International Students

If you are a high-achieving international student, you may be eligible for one of our scholarships. Explore our international scholarships.