Program Overview

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Fashion Design BA Honours

Overview

Our Fashion Design BA has an exceptional reputation for being aligned with the international fashion industry and enabling you to have outstanding opportunities to engage with the industry throughout your course.

We specialise in helping you to become a highly original and individual creative designer, capable of working at the highest levels of the international fashion industry.

Course Structure

We use several different teaching and learning methods to enable students to develop an imaginative and creative approach to their discipline, based on increasing knowledge of practice and transferable skills.

Learning takes place through a combination of face-to-face teaching and independent study, including lectures, seminars and practical workshops.

Year 1

This level covers the core fundamentals of the fashion design discipline, including 2D and 3D design practice, CAD and CLO 3D, construction, design, illustration, pattern cutting, print, research, and sustainability for fashion design.

The first year of the Fashion Design BA at Westminster concentrates on introducing the student to a variety of skills and techniques related to all areas of 2D and 3D fashion practice. Design, research, illustration, cut, construction, print, and CAD are all covered.

Research is fostered through a variety of methods including visits to London Fashion Week, fashion shows, exhibitions, sketchbooks, and industry visits.

There are lessons in life drawing and illustration so that students understand proportion in 2D as well as 3D. Students undertake a range of design work spanning both conceptual and commercial briefs.

Subjects of study include:

• Construction
• Portfolio 1
• Skills
• Sustainability
• Transformation

Credit Level 4

Year 2

The second year of the Fashion Design BA Honours course focuses on understanding and addressing the demands and needs of the fashion design industry through assignments which develop students' creative 2D, 3D and digital design skills.

The Surface project focuses on fabrication, print and surface embellishment in garment design.

The Sustainable and Responsible Cutting and Draping project allows you to build on the skills gained in the first year and develop experimental cutting techniques aimed at waste reduction for sustainability.

The Identity project allows students to explore and draw on their own cultural identity and how this might inspire their design work.

There is a Preparation for Industry module to prepare students taking the year out in Industry, and a period of internship takes place over 5 weeks whereby Level 5 students assist Level 6 students in the studio in the approach to the Graduate Showcase in June.

Subjects of study include:

• Identity
• Portfolio 2
• Preparation for Industry
• Surface
• Sustainable and Responsible Cutting and Draping

Credit Level 5

Placement Year

The Fashion Design BA Honours course has exceptional industry connections and an excellent track record of successful internships that have benefited both the students and the fashion companies alike. Students gain an enormous amount of specific and transferable knowledge during this period of study.

The four-year option with Extended Fashion Internship is for applicants who feel they would particularly benefit from an opportunity for more professional development within the fashion industry – spending one placement year in between their second and final years at Westminster working with one or more companies in the international fashion industry, either in London or abroad. The optional placement year is subject to an annual University administration fee.

Find out more about the costs involved in taking a placement year.

Year 3

At this level, you are expected to develop a more strategic perspective and draw together your academic and work experience. You’ll study subjects that further develop your design skills, and you’ll also have the opportunity to specialise in areas of particular interest. You’ll develop a pre collection and a runway collection, alongside a portfolio of design work to enable you to apply for design positions on graduation.

The Fashion Design BA Honours course at Westminster was the first undergraduate course to be invited to show a selection of its students on the official London Fashion Week schedule in 2018.

Subjects of study include:

• Collection
• Portfolio 3
• Pre-Collection
• Thesis

Credit Level 6

Entry Requirements

UK

• Level 3 Foundation Diploma in Art and Design – Pass
• International Baccalaureate – 128 UCAS Tariff points from the IB, to include HL 6 in Visual Arts
• BTEC Extended Diploma – DDM in Art & Design or arts related subject
• UAL Extended Diploma – Merit
• Access – 128 UCAS Tariff points from the Access course in an Art & Design or arts related subject
• First year of a university degree in an art and design subject

Please note: A levels – we do not accept A Levels (without and additional Art & Design Foundation year) or country specific equivalent awards such as Abitur, French Baccalaureat, Scottish and Irish Highers or High School Diplomas.

Recommended qualification: Level 3 Foundation Diploma in Art & Design; portfolio review

In addition to one of the above, you should have:

• GCSE English Language grade 4/C – IB grade 4 Higher level, GCSE Maths pass – IB pass

If your first language is not English, you will need an IELTS of 6.0 overall with 6.0 writing and speaking.

Selected applicants will be invited to present a portfolio of their work. We do not consider applications for year 2 or above. We do not offer deferred entry.

International

• International Baccalaureate – 128 UCAS Tariff points from the IB, to include HL 6 in Visual Arts. You can refer to the UCAS calculator to determine your point score.
• Level 3 Foundation Diploma in Art and Design – Pass
• BTEC Extended Diploma – DDM in Art & Design or arts related subject
• UAL Extended Diploma – Merit
• Access – 128 UCAS Tariff points from the Access course in an Art & Design or arts related subject
• First year of a university degree in an art and design subject

Please note: A levels – we do not accept A Levels (without and additional Art & Design Foundation year) or country specific equivalent awards such as Abitur, French Baccalaureat, Scottish and Irish Highers or High School Diplomas.

Recommended qualification: Level 3 Foundation Diploma in Art & Design; portfolio review

In addition to one of the above, you should have:

• GCSE English Language grade 4/C – IB grade 4 Higher level, GCSE Maths pass – IB pass

Selected applicants will be invited to present a portfolio of their work. We do not consider applications for year 2 or above. We do not offer deferred entry.

Portfolio Guidance

To be able to gain an understanding of you as a practitioner and your current breadth and depth of fashion related knowledge, we would like to see an edited sample portfolio of recent work.

What Should I Include in My Portfolio Submission?

• A minimum of three pages of fashion related research. Use your own photographs, sketches, notes, and gathered inspirational images, etc.
• At least three pages of design development from your initial related research. These can be a mix of hand-drawn, collage and computer work. This development work can also include sewn samples, knit, print etc.
• At least two pages of your outcome developed from, and in response to, your research and design development above. Demonstrated through photographs of the work, in close-up etc.
• At least one page that demonstrates either your skills in drawing (for example a fashion illustration) or demonstrates your personal inspirations/skills (outside of your Foundation or BTech project work).
• One page of fashion illustration that shows your skills in drawing while also showing your awareness of contemporary fashion and fashion illustration.

How Should I Structure My Portfolio?

Please prepare a portfolio and save it on a free website such as Flickr, Dropbox, Behance, Issuu, Google or any other portfolio platform. We would like you to copy and paste the portfolio web-link onto a Word document and upload that document to the Applicant Portal, as per instructions on the cover email. Please ensure that we can view the portfolio publicly by simply clicking on the link and that there are no passwords or expiry dates. Please type your full name and reference number on each page. Do not upload the portfolio as a PDF – links only please! Please note that we will not accept portfolios sent by email.

Fees and Funding

UK

• UK tuition fee: £9,535 (Price per academic year)

Please note that if you defer your place, the first year’s tuition fees will be those of the academic year in which you enrol, which may be higher than the fee shown for this year.

Fees are subject to UK Government Parliamentary procedure.

Find out how we set our tuition fees.

International

• International tuition fee: £17,600 (Price per academic year)

When you have enrolled with us, your annual tuition fees will remain the same throughout your studies with us. We do not increase International tuition fees.

Please note that if you defer your place, the first year’s tuition fees will be those of the academic year in which you enrol, which may be higher than the fee shown for this year.

Find out how we set our tuition fees.

Teaching and Assessment

Below you will find how learning time and assessment types are distributed on this course. The graphs below give an indication of what you can expect through approximate percentages, taken either from the experience of previous cohorts, or based on the standard module diet where historic course data is unavailable. Changes to the division of learning time and assessment may be made in response to feedback and in accordance with our terms and conditions.

How You'll Be Taught

Teaching methods across all our undergraduate courses focus on active student learning through lectures, seminars, workshops, problem-based and blended learning, and where appropriate practical application. Learning typically falls into three broad categories:

• Scheduled hours: examples include lectures, seminars, practical classes, workshops, supervised time in a studio
• Placement: placement hours normally include placement opportunities, but may also include live projects or virtual activity involving employers
• Independent study: non-scheduled time in which students are expected to study independently. This may include preparation for scheduled sessions, follow-up work, wider reading or practice, completion of assessment tasks, or revision

Year

Year

1

32% Scheduled hours 68% Independent study 0% Placement

Year

2

53% Scheduled hours 32% Independent study 15% Placement

Year

P

4% Scheduled hours 31% Independent study 65% Placement

Year

3

55% Scheduled hours 45% Independent study 0% Placement

Scheduled hours Independent study Placement

How You'll Be Assessed

Our undergraduate courses include a wide variety of assessments.

Assessments typically fall into two broad categories:

• Practical: examples include presentations, videos, podcasts, lab work, creating artefacts
• Coursework: examples include essays, reports, in-class tests, portfolios, dissertation

Year

Year

1

16% Practical 84% Coursework

Year

2

7% Practical 93% Coursework

Year

P

0% Practical 100% Coursework

Year

3

0% Practical 100% Coursework

Practical Coursework

Data from the academic year 2024/25

Facilities

Our fashion facilities at Westminster are acknowledged as being outstanding, with each cohort having their own dedicated studio to work in, equipped with individual design spaces for every student. Each of our design studios is equipped with industrial sewing machines, pattern cutting tables and mannequins.

Student Awards

Students are encouraged to enter competitions while at Westminster, as part of their course work or as standalone projects. Recent competition winners are listed below.

• Renee Shanel Edwards, Aliyah Dankwah, Reuben Harris and James Rowland receive the BFC Scholarship Award
• Alumnus Paolo Carzana is a finalist for the LVMH Prize
• Renee Shanel Edwards receives The Vanguard Education Fund in partnership with Net-A-Porter and the British Fashion Council
• Alumnus Steven Stokey Daley wins Queens Elizabeth II Award for Excellence in British Design
• Konthorn Wuttiwangangkhana wins Arts Thread’s Global Creative Graduate Showcase award in Casual/Streetwear Fashion

Alumni

• Ashley Williams, Fashion Design BA - 2012, Creative director at Ashley Williams
• Stuart Vevers, Fashion Design BA - 1996, Creative Director, Coach
• Claire Barrow, Fashion Design BA - 2012, Director/ Designer at Claire Barrow
• Liam Hodges, Fashion Design BA - 2011, Creative Director, Menswear Designer at Liam Hodges
• Katie Hillier, Fashion Design BA - 1997, Creative Director, Hillier Bartley
• Markus Lupfer, Fashion Design BA - 1997, Designer, London Fashion Week