• Undergraduate

Fashion Design: New Practice BA (Hons)

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Overview

Overview

Why study at the University of West London?
  • Ranked 30th university in the UK - The Guardian University Guide 2025
  • Number 1 London university for overall student satisfaction - National Student Survey 2024**
  • Best university for Student Experience and Teaching Quality in the UK - The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024
Why study this course?

Developed in collaboration with industry professionals, this dynamic BA (Hons) Fashion Design: New Practice degree will help to launch your fashion industry career.

Central to the course is the mutually beneficial relationship between fashion design and business and you will develop your skillsets in both disciplines.

By studying this fashion design course you will:

  • build essential fashion skills
  • study silhouette, print and knit experimentation
  • enjoy access to extensive specialist equipment and facilities
  • gain industry practice experience through live briefs, guest speakers, showcases, visits and more
  • have an opportunity to undertake a placement year
  • expand your practical and business skills
  • learn from an industry-active fashion and textiles team

Combining fashion practice with business will propel your career and open a range of opportunities such as working for a brand, freelancing or even setting up your own business.

View some of our students' recent work.

A fashion and textiles student works on a mannequin

Select your desired study option, then pick a start date to see relevant course information:

Study options:
We support flexible study by offering some of our courses part-time or via distance learning. To give you real world experience before you graduate, we also offer some courses with a placement or internship. All available options are listed here. Your choices may affect some details of your course, such as the duration and cost per year. Please re-check the details on this page if you change your selection.
With Foundation Year
Duration: 4 years

Start date:

If your desired start date is not available, try selecting a different study option.

Why study Fashion Design: New Practice with us?

Why study Fashion Design: New Practice with us?

A collage of students

What our students say…

UWL helped to develop my individual handwriting as a designer in a stimulating, challenging and competitive environment, whilst providing me with the technical knowledge and experience to pursue a career. The support given by the lecturing staff is second to none; the team are invested in you and your potential and share in your success as you grow creatively and professionally.

Jessica Read
Next
The sewing room has industrial sewing machines for creating collections.
Top London University Fashion
Students will have the opportunity to showcase their designs and work
Use our pattern cutting room, equipped with high tables and mannequins.
Course detail & modules

Course detail & modules

Our Fashion Design: New Practice course will build your confidence and understanding of fashion with the aim of launching your professional career in this exciting and dynamic industry.

You will develop your design thinking, explore industry processes, learn how to design for specific markets with a business focus and more.

From hands-on workshops, lectures, tutorials and seminars you will experience authentic learning experiences to develop creative, cognitive and technical skills such as:

  • primary and secondary research
  • understanding of market segments
  • understanding how brands work
  • understanding of sustainability UN goals
  • understanding of garment critical paths
  • developing entrepreneurial skills
  • design development
  • industrial manufacturing techniques
  • print and knit applications
  • digital applications.

You will gain experience in industry practice through live briefs, guest speakers, visits and the opportunity to undertake a placement year, while developing your visual language within the fashion business context.

From Level 5 of the course, you’ll be able to personalise your design direction, towards more garment technology or textile application orientated, as well as exploring entrepreneurial thinking.

Facilities and equipment

Throughout your studies, you will have access to a range of specialist equipment and facilities, including: 

  • industrial sewing machines 
  • industrial knitting machines 
  • screen printing 
  • fabric dying 
  • software packages 
  • 3D printing 
  • laser cutting 
  • heat press facilities 
  • access to photography facilities 
  • loan facilities for cameras etc. 

Placement year

You will have the opportunity to engage in an optional placement year between Level 5 and Level 6 if you wish.

Course subject to approval

Approval is the formal process by which the University ensures that the proposed design, content and delivery of a course will provide a high quality learning experience for all students.

Please note, this course is subject to approval. As such module names and content could change.

You will study all compulsory modules and a choice of two optional modules.

Please note, this course is subject to approval. As such module names and content could change.

You will study all compulsory modules and a choice of two optional modules.

Compulsory modules

Entry requirements

Entry requirements

112 UCAS points required from level 3 qualifications

These can include:

  • A Levels at grade B, B and C, or above
  • BTEC Extended Diploma with Distinction, Merit, Merit
  • Access to HE Diploma
  • T Levels

You also need GCSE English and Maths (grade 9 – 4 / A* - C) or Level 2 equivalents.

 

As part of the application process, you will be asked to provide a portfolio.

Looking for BA (Hons) Fashion Design: New Practice with Foundation Year?

View Foundation Year course
Whether you are changing career or don't have the exact subjects and grades required for this course, you might want to choose this course with a foundation year. This will give you an extra year's study to prepare you for the standard degree programme, where you can go on to graduate with a full Honours degree. Follow the link to see full details of the course with foundation year.

Mature applicants (aged 21+): If you do not hold the qualifications listed but have relevant work experience, you are welcome to apply. Your application will be considered on an individual basis.

Level 5 (year 2) entry
To directly enter the second year of this course you will need to show appropriate knowledge and experience. For example, you are an ideal candidate if you have 120 undergraduate credits at Level 4 or a CertHE in a related subject area.

Level 6 (year 3) entry
To directly enter the third year of this course you need to show appropriate knowledge and experience. For example, you are an ideal candidate if you have 240 undergraduate credits (at Levels 4 and 5), a DipHE, Foundation Degree or HND in a related subject area.

Looking for BA (Hons) Fashion Design: New Practice with Foundation Year?

View Foundation Year course
Whether you are changing career or don't have the exact subjects and grades required for this course, you might want to choose this course with a foundation year. This will give you an extra year's study to prepare you for the standard degree programme, where you can go on to graduate with a full Honours degree. Follow the link to see full details of the course with foundation year.
6.0 IELTS or above

You need to meet our English language requirement - a minimum of IELTS 5.5 for each of the 4 individual components (Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening). Visit our English language requirements page for information on other English language tests we accept. 

You also need academic qualifications at the same level as UK applicants. In some countries where teaching is in English, we may accept local qualifications. Check for local equivalents. 

We offer pre-sessional English language courses if you do not meet these requirements.

Find out more about our English Language courses.

As part of the application process, you will be asked to provide a portfolio.

Looking for BA (Hons) Fashion Design: New Practice with Foundation Year?

View Foundation Year course
Whether you are changing career or don't have the exact subjects and grades required for this course, you might want to choose this course with a foundation year. This will give you an extra year's study to prepare you for the standard degree programme, where you can go on to graduate with a full Honours degree. Follow the link to see full details of the course with foundation year.

Mature applicants (aged 21+): If you do not hold the qualifications listed but have relevant work experience, you are welcome to apply. Your application will be considered on an individual basis.

Level 5 (year 2) entry
To directly enter the second year of this course you will need to show appropriate knowledge and experience. For example, you are an ideal candidate if you have 120 undergraduate credits at Level 4 or a CertHE in a related subject area.

Level 6 (year 3) entry
To directly enter the third year of this course you need to show appropriate knowledge and experience. For example, you are an ideal candidate if you have 240 undergraduate credits (at Levels 4 and 5), a DipHE, Foundation Degree or HND in a related subject area.

Looking for BA (Hons) Fashion Design: New Practice with Foundation Year?

View Foundation Year course
Whether you are changing career or don't have the exact subjects and grades required for this course, you might want to choose this course with a foundation year. This will give you an extra year's study to prepare you for the standard degree programme, where you can go on to graduate with a full Honours degree. Follow the link to see full details of the course with foundation year.
Fees & funding

Fees & funding

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Additional costs

There are additional costs for this course that are not included in the tuition fees. See the links below to get a better idea of what to expect:

Please note:

  • Fees for the 2026/27 academic year and onwards may be subject to Government regulation and change.
  • Tuition fees are charged for each year of your course. If your course runs for two years or more, you will need to pay the fee for each academic year at the start of that year.
  • If your course runs for less than two years, the cost above is for your full course and you will need to pay the full fee upfront.
  • If no fee is shown above then the fees for this course are not available yet. Please check again later for updates.

Funding your studies

You may be eligible for a student loan to cover the cost of tuition fees, or a maintenance loan. Additional funding is available to some types of students, such as those with dependants and disabled students.

We offer generous bursaries and scholarships to make sure your aspirations are your only limit. In recent years, hundreds of students have received our Full-time Undergraduate Student Bursary.

Additional scholarships specifically for students in the fields of film, media and design are also on offer.

View full details, including conditions and eligibility.

Funding your studies
{{ formatCurrencyValue(currentVariantData.field_p_cv_int_main_fee.name) }} per year*
Additional costs

There are additional costs for this course that are not included in the tuition fees. See the links below to get a better idea of what to expect:

Please note:

  • Fees for the 2026/27 academic year and onwards may be subject to Government regulation and change.
  • Tuition fees are charged for each year of your course. If your course runs for two years or more, you will need to pay the fee for each academic year at the start of that year.
  • If your course runs for less than two years, the cost above is for your full course and you will need to pay the full fee upfront.
  • If no fee is shown above then the fees for this course are not available yet. Please check again later for updates.

International students - funding your studies

We offer scholarships for international students including International Ambassador Scholarships. 

Further information about funding and financial support for international students is available from the UK Council for International Student Affairs.

 

Financial support for international students
Study & career progression

Study & career progression

A woman looking over some clothing on a mannequin

Once you graduate, you could go on to work as a: 

  • Fashion designer 
  • Knitwear designer 
  • Print designer 
  • Creative pattern cutter 
  • Garment technologist 
  • Stylist 
  • Trend forecaster 
  • Design manager 
  • Trend forecaster 
  • Freelancer 
  • Fashion entrepreneur 
  • Digital fashion designer.

Your Fashion Design: New Practice course also prepares you for further study. If you’d like to go on and specialise in an area of fashion business you’re really passionate about, you will be ready to take on our career-focused Masters degrees for fashion, including:

Please see our postgraduate courses for the full range of courses.

How to apply

How to apply

Search for courses

Student films

Student films

Student work

Elena Guillamon Martin

Elena has always been interested in occasion and bridal wear, and has developed an applique with cord that resembles knots and ropes from sailing boats, and used it to create bodices and occasion wear details.

Fatima Rahim

Fatima's work Abandoned delves into the theme of abandonment through the medium of textiles. With a focus on texture, distressed appearances, fabric manipulation, and decomposition.

Ellie Cumber

Ellie portfolio is a celebration of the joy of festival dressing, based on her recent holiday to the Grand Canyon and the rugged landscape and historical Aztec art indigenous to that area.

Janees Raza

Janees' sustainable collection is based on recycling and reworking denim into contemporary fashion, with a traditional Scottish tartan thrown into the mix, using patchwork and mending.

Donatella Onori

Donatella Onori’s work is based on African tribal wear and Ethiopian military costume, to create embroideries and prints for a contemporary London street vibe.

Mikel Kunze

Incognito by Mikel Kunze is a reaction to the automatic surveillance on London streets, and disguising yourself so that you are incognito.

Maria Jovrea

Maria Jovrea explores the feelings surrounding falling in and out of love, and the heartache and joy of it all.

The catwalk show

Catwalk Show

Gallery of student work

models showcase design
Models showcase students fashion designs
Models showcase students fashion designs
models showcase student fashion designs
models showcase design
Models showcase students fashion designs
Models showcase students fashion designs
models showcase student fashion designs

ARTSFEST

A collage of images demonstrating fashion at the University of West London.

Find out more about the work our students produce and view some of their recent work by visiting our Fashion ARTSFEST page.

Find out more

Important notes for applicants

Disclaimer

*Modern universities - defined as higher education institutions that were granted university status in, and subsequent to, 1992.

**The National Student Survey 2023 and 2024 - Average of answers to all questions by registered student population. Excludes specialist institutions.

Testimonials - our students or former students provided all of our testimonials - often a student from the course but sometimes another student. For example, the testimonial often comes from another UWL student when the course is new.

Optional modules - where optional modules are offered they will run subject to staff availability and viable student numbers opting to take the module.

Videos - all videos on our course pages were accurate at the time of filming. In some cases a new Course Leader has joined the University since the video was filmed.

Availability of placements - if you choose a course with placement/internship route we would like to advise you that if a placement/internship opportunity does not arise when you are expected to undertake the placement then the University will automatically transfer you to the non-internship route, this is to ensure you are still successful in being awarded a degree.