Fashion

Award

BA (Hons)

Location

Stoke-on-Trent campus

Stoke-on-Trent campus

Stoke-on-Trent campus

UCAS code

W235

Start dates available

  • September 2027

Start dates available

  • September 2027
University of Staffordshire Courses

Top 10 in the UK for Fashion and Textiles

Guardian University Guide 2027

Develop an industry-ready portfolio

You’ll undertake live industry projects, work experience and interdisciplinary projects throughout the course, which is 100% coursework based.

Access industry-standard tech and enviable support

You’ll have the opportunity for great contact time with tutors along with technical expertise across CAD pattern cutting, laser cutting, 3D and digital fabric printing, and more.

Our graduates have gone on to work in design, marketing and more for the likes of Burberry, Tom Ford, Next and ASOS. Now you could be taking the fashion world by storm too.

Fashion is an ever-changing industry that needs professionals who can respond to challenges. On our course, you’ll learn creative design, technical practices and the fashion business skills to turn your ideas into success.

You can personalise your studies with the option of choosing one of three pathways: Fashion and Textiles; Design and Technology; or Marketing and Communication. This will help you focus on a career, such as becoming a fashion designer, garment technician, fashion buyer, textile designer, content creator or brand marketing specialist.

You’ll tackle live projects and industry collaborations to build your experience and portfolio. Our students have also carried out placements with the likes of Vivienne Westwood, Max Mara, Craig Green and Next.

You’ll get hands-on with everything from pattern cutting and CAD drawing to photo shoots and exhibitions. We also explore sustainability and diversity in fashion, along with emerging technologies like Clo3D software for 3D virtual designs.

All applicants are individually assessed via a portfolio review. Read our portfolio advice for fashion applicants.

On successful completion of study, depending on your choice of specialist pathway, we will issue you with one of the following awards:

  • BA (Hons) Fashion
  • BA (Hons) Fashion (Design and Technology)
  • BA (Hons) Fashion (Fashion and Textiles)
  • BA (Hons) Fashion (Marketing and Communication)

Duration

  • Full-time course runs for 3 years
  • Full-time with a placement year runs for 4 years
  • Full-time with a foundation year runs for 4 years

Course content

First year:

You’ll explore hot topics in the industry and the shift towards greener and more ethically-aware processes and products. Another module explores the history of fashion, which you can tailor to your interests.

You’ll cover how the industry works and ideas are communicated – from leading design houses through to commercial high street and online brands.

The technical skills you’ll develop include pattern cutting, garment construction and CAD drawing. It will involve designing a fashion print, constructing a garment out of the fabric and then undertaking a professional photo shoot to evidence your design in the best way possible.

Second year:

You will produce a portfolio of work that reflects your exploration within the various industry sectors, with a focus on your area of specialism if desired. There will also be a substantial fashion project to help get you industry-ready. For this, you’ll be working with a real industry brief, taking your ideas from concept to product development. It could involve anything from creating a new collection through to a marketing campaign.

You’ll also build professional skills through working on your CV and mock interviews for an internship or junior role.

Third year:

For your major project (FMP), you’ll devise a concept and identify your market and consumer. Depending on your pathway, it could involve designing and producing a collection, creating textiles using trend forecasting, or a fashion film. Your FMP will showcase your skills and interests to the fullest, with the option to combine multiple disciplines.

You’ll plan and implement a professionally staged event and/or product. This will enable you to use your creativity and skills such as team-working and problem-solving.

There will be a structured portfolio presentation, where you’ll reflect on your professional fashion practice and share your insights.

Professional body accreditation

Upon the recommendation of the Professional Qualifications Committee the Governing Council of The Textile Institute agree to accredit this programme as fulfilling the academic requirements for the Associateship of the Textile Institute.

Modules

The tables provide an indicative list of the modules that make up the course for the current academic year. Each module is worth a specified number of credits. Our teaching is informed by research, and modules change periodically to reflect developments in the discipline. We aim to ensure that all modules run as scheduled. If for any reason a module cannot be run we will advise you as soon as possible and will provide guidance on selecting an appropriate alternative module where available.

Year 3 compulsory modules
Contextual And Critical Investigation 30 credits
Final Major Project Of Fashion 60 credits
Professional Practice 30 credits
Year 3 compulsory modules
Contextual And Critical Investigation 30 credits
Final Major Project Of Fashion And Textiles 60 credits
Professional Practice 30 credits
Year 3 compulsory modules
Contextual And Critical Investigation 30 credits
Final Major Project Of Fashion Design & Technology 60 credits
Professional Practice 30 credits
Year 3 compulsory modules
Contextual And Critical Investigation 30 credits
Final Major Project Of Fashion Marketing & Communication 60 credits
Professional Practice 30 credits

Progression routes to masters

Entry requirements

What do I need?

UCAS

96 UCAS points

A Levels

CCC

BTEC

MMM

Work out your estimated grades using the UCAS calculator

Other UK qualifications
  • Access to HE Diploma – Pass Access with a minimum of 80 UCAS tariff points. Applicants to Staffs who are taking the Access to HE Diploma receive a reduced tariff point offer as part of our access and participation plan activity
  • OCR Cambridge Technical Extended Diploma – grade MMM
  • T Levels - Eligible T Level applications will be asked to achieve a minimum overall grade of P (A*-C) or Higher Pass as a condition of offer

We welcome applications from students studying a range of international and UK qualifications, including Advanced Skills Baccalaureate Wales, Scottish Highers/Advanced Highers and the Irish Leaving Certificate. Offers will normally be made in line with our standard entry requirements and may include specific grade requirements in relevant subjects.

All applicants are individually assessed via a portfolio review. Read our portfolio advice for fashion applicants.

We understand that you might have experienced a challenging run up to higher education and may have not met the entry requirements as listed. If this is the case don’t worry, contact us and our team of expert advisors can guide you through the next stages of application, or help you find the perfect course for your needs.

Facilities

Fashion workshop

Our fashion workshop contains sewing machines, fabric cutters, CAD machines and mannequins, including lock stitch, overlockers, cover stitch, blind hemmer, walking foot (heavy materials), pressers and Gerber Accumark (digitiser and plotter). Read more

Find out more about our fashion workshop
Watch video

Smart Zone

A bustling centre of invention, innovation and creation with two floors of dedicated workshop and collaboration spaces for engineering and creative students. Read more

The Smart Zone fuses state-of-the-art fabrication spaces with augmented and blended reality facilities, allowing you to bring your ideas to life using the latest digital and immersive technologies. Find out more about our Smart Zone.
Watch video

Betty Smithers Design Collection

A vast assortment of vintage 20th-century pieces giving you a rare opportunity to study how garments are constructed. Read more

Find out more about our Betty Smithers Design Collection

Laser Room and Digital Printer

The Laser Room is now widely used by all areas as it can cut or etch a variety of materials, accurately and repeatedly. The area also includes a 3D printer.

Careers

Our degree offers you the opportunity to explore the fundamentals of fashion. You then develop your specialism, depending on your personal interests, which means graduates from our Fashion degree are likely to find work as:

  • Fashion Designers
  • Pattern Cutters
  • Garment Technologists
  • Stylists
  • Trend Forecasters
  • Textile Designers
  • Illustrators
  • Buyers
  • Context Creators
  • Merchandisers
  • Fashion Writers
  • Bloggers/Vloggers
  • Events Managers

Students on this programme have the opportunity to enhance their studies with a placement year, gain valuable work experience, and take part in international activities—potentially supported by the Turing funding.

All students have access to Careers, Placements & Employability, our dedicated careers team.

Teaching and assessment

Teaching

The teaching on this course is firmly rooted in studio and collaborative practice. You develop your skills across a wide range of project-based activities, which take place within a studio setting appropriate to the subject. Sometimes you will work in whole groups across the creative industries department, sometimes you will work in teams, with presentations of your work to your peers and the academic staff. At other times during your study, you will be working on individual self-initiated projects. During projects, there will be tutorial sessions with academic staff where you explore your practice in more detail.

In addition, you take part in lecture and seminar activities which allow you to explore the contextual and professional background to the projects you are undertaking. These are led by the creative industries lecturers and also guest tutors from industry who bring their specialist insight into the sessions. You also participate in technical skills instruction sessions with Technician Instructors enabling you to enhance your making and digital skills across a wide range of techniques and approaches.

Assessment

You are assessed in this course by a range of different types of coursework and practical activities. The assessment task for each module will vary dependent upon its content but may include:

  • A portfolio of completed artwork, professionally presented in the format required by the assignment, project or brief.
  • Workbooks, sketchbooks etc., documenting the process of generating, developing and resolving thoughts/ideas, and demonstrating the influence of research on practical work.
  • Research books, folders, dossiers, etc. documenting the gathering, sorting and presentation of research material.
  • Technical Exercises demonstrating your skills and competencies using particular equipment and/or techniques.
  • Written essays or reports, in which you are exploring the contextual or professional background to a specific project.
  • An individual or group seminar presentation and/or the accompanying material which you have used to create the presentation.
  • Pre-recorded video journals or presentations.

Learning support

In addition to the excellent support you will receive from your course teaching team, our central Academic Skills team provides group and one-to-one help to support your learning in a number of areas. These include:

  • study skills such as reading, note-taking and presentation skills
  • written English, including punctuation and grammatical accuracy
  • academic writing and how to reference
  • research skills
  • critical thinking and understanding arguments
  • revision, assessment and examination skills
  • time management

Additional support

Our Student Inclusion Services support students with additional needs such as sensory impairment, or learning difficulties such as dyslexia.

Feedback

Throughout the modules you take on your course you are provided with formative, developmental assessment opportunities, which are carried out in tutorial and critique situations. Feedback is usually provided to you orally, with a written record kept either by the tutor or by you. This is sometimes produced as the result of peer or self-assessment exercises.

All modules also included formal or “summative” assessment tasks and the grades from the formal assessments count towards your module mark. You will normally receive feedback on coursework assessments within 20 working days following the date of submission.

Staff

You will be taught by an expert teaching team whose expertise and knowledge are closely matched to the content of the modules on the course. The team includes senior academics and professional practitioners with industry experience. Postgraduate research students who have undertaken teaching training may also contribute to the teaching of seminars under the supervision of the module leader.

Please note, teaching team staff members may change during your studies.

Please note, teaching team staff members may change during your studies.

Profile Image

Holly Nancarrow-Hassall

Senior Lecturer

Holly has a strong knowledge of industry standards and gained experience covering all elements from fabric testing, and digital and manual pattern cutting and is currently developing the use of AI and VR within fashion education.

Holly's profile
Profile Image

Angela Devoti

Senior Lecturer

Angela is a Design and Visualisation Lecturer on the BA (Hons) Fashion course here at Staffordshire University. She teaches across a variety of modules including Design, Visualisation and History and Theory of Fashion.

Angela's profile
Profile Image

Fiona Wilson

Senior Lecturer

Fiona is a Senior Lecturer in Creative Industries specialising in print, textiles, and enterprise, combining academic expertise, professional practice, and research into play, experimentation, and creative confidence.

Fiona's profile

Fees

For the course starting on 20 September 2027, the tuition fees are:

Study option UK / Channel Islands International
Full-time £10,050 per year of study £17,285 per year of study

UK and Channel Island students: This tuition fee is agreed subject to UK government policy and parliamentary regulation. If the UK government passes appropriate legislation, the fee for subsequent years of study may increase in each academic year. But this increase will not exceed the rate of inflation as measured by RPIX**. Any change in fees will apply to both new and continuing students. The University will notify students of any change as early as possible. Further information about fee changes would be posted on the University’s website once this becomes available.

**RPIX is a measure of inflation equivalent to all the items in the Retail Price Index (RPI) excluding mortgage interest payments.

Included in the fees:

Travel, and accommodation costs incurred by compulsory trips and visits away from the University that are directly linked to the learning requirements of a specific module.

The use of all workshops, studios and specialist technical facilities and hire of equipment relating to the course of study.

 

 
Not included in the fees:

The estimated cost of text books over the duration of the course. All essential text books are available from the library, but some students chose to purchase their own copies.

Travel, subsistence, entrance fees etc. incurred by optional trips and visits away from the University related to the course.

The cost of materials for the development of a student’s individual practice and work. Additional costs vary dependent upon student’s own choice of materials and approach to their practice.

Optional personal insurance when borrowing equipment such as cameras, lighting equipment etc. for extended period of use off campus [Approx £50-£100]. It may be possible to add some items to home contents insurance.
Accommodation and living costs

Accommodation and living costs are not included in our fees. 

Sources of financial support

If you receive funding from Student Finance you may be eligible to apply for additional benefits. Details can be obtained by reading our additional funding web pages, or visiting www.gov.uk.

Scholarships and additional funding

As an undergraduate student at Staffordshire, you may be eligible for additional financial support through one of our scholarships and bursaries. You can visit our funding page to find out more and check your eligibility.

Our students

Work by Rebecca Adjei and Mailie Dennis

Work by Rebecca Adjei and Mailie Dennis

Work by Flavia Nistor

Work by Flavia Nistor

Work by Tsz Yin Chiang

Work by Tsz Yin Chiang

University Of Staffordshire Quote

Over the last four years, the course has involved two sets of learnings, practical and theory.  The practical included technical construction, draping and pattern cutting, and theory was based on fashion history, business, and sustainability.  Invaluably I have also gained a lot from the time spent with the fashion lecturers, they have been a joy to work with.

Nunika Khungar

2024

University Of Staffordshire Quote

Coming here I’ve realised Fashion is more than just designing and making, there’s also styling, marketing etc. One thing that is really good about this course is they help you find your path.

Recca Adjei

Graduate

University Of Staffordshire Quote

I think a degree was the best thing to do because I'm able to gain more skills. I'm able to meet new people and network and able to be in an environment where I know that the industry I want to do is what's catered towards me.

Busola Gbaja

Graduate

University Of Staffordshire Quote

“The course starts from basics and gets everyone up to a good level in pattern cutting, construction, illustrations and CAD. We learn this while doing projects which means you get stuck in right from the beginning. The amount I have learnt already is crazy! The staff know their subjects really well so the teaching is great, but they are also good at encouraging you individually to achieve new things.”

Lizzie Bishop

Fashion student

University Of Staffordshire Quote

It’s not just sewing machines. We also get to use wood, metal, plastic, and resin to really explore areas.

Emily Lowndes

Fashion Student

Fashion Highlights - Semester 2

Feature

From seeing their designs walking the runway at Graduate Fashion Week to a live brief with Culture& - our Fashion students are turning personal identity into powerful, real-world creative practice.

Apply now to Fashion

Location Award Study option Start date
Stoke-on-Trent campus BA (Hons) Full-time 20 September 2027 Apply now

Not ready to apply yet?

Rules and regulations

If you are offered a place at University of Staffordshire, your offer will be subject to our rules, regulations and enrolment conditions, which may vary from time to time.

Students of University of Staffordshire enter into a contract with us and are bound by these rules and regulations, which are subject to change. For more information, please see: University Policies and Regulations.

Fashion - Instagram
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for Career Prospects

Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2025

for Social Inclusion

The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2026

for First Generation Students

The Mail University Guide 2026

in the UK for Games Education

Rookies Games Design and Development 2023, 2025

TIGA Best Games Institution 2024, 2025

of Research is “Internationally Excellent” or “World Leading”

Research Excellence Framework 2021

of Research Impact is ‘Outstanding’ or ‘Very Considerable’

Research Excellence Framework 2021