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Fashion student in colourful outfit

Fashion

Undergraduate Pathway in Fashion

Work with award-winning academics and practitioners who have a wealth of industry experience with brands such as Gucci, l’Oreal Professional, Barneys New York, Libertys, and Robert Cavalli.

Opportunities to complete live projects with major companies such as Superdry, Epson, Nike, Harvey Nichols, and Selfridges.

Birmingham City University’s range of specialist studios and workshops – and the combination of digital and traditional skills you will learn – will help you build a professional portfolio.


Duration

  • Two or three semesters

Intakes

  • September
  • January
  • May

Entry Points

  • Foundation

Progression Degrees

BA (Hons) Fashion Branding and Communication

You will develop the following range of skills associated with the fashion industry:

  • Creative direction and styling
  • Art direction and graphics
  • Print and digital design
  • Branding strategy
  • Journalistic writing.

You will have the opportunity to showcase your final-year work to industry leaders at events such as Graduate Fashion Week in London.

Find out more: BA (Hons) Fashion Branding and Communication

BA (Hons) Fashion Business and Promotion

After completing this degree, you will be able to take on a range of industry roles, including:

  • Buying
  • Marketing and PR
  • Trends forecasting
  • Event management.

You will develop commercial and consumer awareness and benefit from regular industry guest speakers.

Find out more: BA (Hons) Fashion Business and Promotion

BA (Hons) Fashion Design

This degree offers the chance to complete work placements with companies such as Paul Smith, Ted Baker, H&M and Adidas. Blending individual creativity and commercial realism, you will apply your professional design skills to produce garments that reflect your personal direction as a designer.

Find out more: BA (Hons) Fashion Design

BA (Hons) Textile Design

This degree celebrates the diversity of contemporary textile practice and is full of choices to help you tailor your studies to your personal interests. You will explore both digital technologies and traditional craft methods as well as the following textile processes:

  • Print
  • Weave
  • Knit
  • Embroidery.

Find out more: BA (Hons) Textile Design

The Student Experience | Fashion and Textiles

Programme Details

Foundation Modules

Interactive Learning Skills and Communication*

Throughout this module, you will learn the academic skills needed for success at a UK university, such as:

  • Time management
  • Public speaking techniques
  • Appropriate language styles
  • Professional communication and presentation
  • Researching and referencing techniques.

Creative Workshop*

During this module, you will develop and demonstrate imaginative and flexible approaches to different art and design techniques. You will develop your ideas within the creative studio environment.

Critical Thinking*

You will be introduced to the fundamentals of critical thinking. You will learn how to examine and comment on components of an argument, so that you can develop a structured and analytical response.

Extended Media Experimentation

You will explore your own ideas while experimenting with processes and techniques and discovering the characteristics and properties of selected media.

Information Researching, Recording and Responding in Art & Design

During this module, you will learn how to undertake in-depth research while exploring many ways to record your findings. You will also learn how to respond to problems, enabling you to develop your skills, self-confidence and studio practice.

Interactive Learning Skills and Communication & Preparation and Progression in Art and Design

This module will cover topics including:

  • Understanding cultural and gender differences
  • Methods for planning, preparing and producing a major art and design project
  • Preparing for exhibition.

Knowledge & Understanding of Creative Practice in Art & Design

You will develop an understanding of contemporary, cultural, social and historical contexts in art and design. This will help you develop your creative practice and make informed decisions about your pathway choices.

Mass Communication*

This module will introduce you to the core concepts and principles relevant to mass communications, including some of the major theories.

Media Experimentation in Art and Design

You will have the opportunity to explore a wide range of media – experimenting with both traditional and contemporary processes and techniques. You will gain an understanding of the potential and limitations of media, using critical review and reflection in the planning and development of your own ideas.

Personal Combined Experimental Studies in Art & Design

This module will cover topics including:

  • Reviewing and reflecting on your own work
  • Challenging previous thoughts, ideas and beliefs
  • Health and safety requirements
  • Record-keeping.

* Additional four modules in the three-semester programme

Entry Requirements

In addition to GCSE Maths and English or equivalent at grade C/4 or above, you must submit a good portfolio if you are entering the two-semester programme without a related academic subject.

Workshop Requirements

All students accessing the 3D workshops, plaster room, glass room, water-jet cutting room and the kiln room will need to wear safety footwear with toe caps. Such footwear can be purchased from any safety footwear provider (e.g. Sports Direct) and can be as cheap as £12. The shoes should be S1P and comply with EN 20345.

There is no long-term storage facility for personal items in the workshops, so you will need to bring the safety footwear with you each day you are accessing the workshops.

Career Prospects

  • Buyer
  • Fashion Designer
  • Fashion Journalist
  • Fashion Photographer
  • Merchandiser

Industry-standard Facilities

The School of Fashion and Textiles is based in the Parkside Building on BCU’s City Centre Campus. Inside you will find weave rooms, fashion studios, specialist machines and lots of work space. Take a look at where you will be studying and the facilities available to you.

Our Facilities – Fashion and Textiles
Student working on their portfolio

Art Support

Want to study Fashion but don’t yet have a portfolio of work? Check out our Art Support Hub, where you can access:

  • Taster videos on working with materials such as craft wire and salt dough
  • A virtual tour of our latest in-college Art Exhibition
  • Inspiring stories of BCUIC student success in the creative industries.
Explore our Resources
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