Fashion BA (Hons)

Study level: Undergraduate
Fashion student wearing a blue hat colourful jacket.

Develop your individual creativity and fashion design judgment, and be ready to revolutionise with ever-changing industry needs.

Year of entry

2025-26

Location

Coventry University (Coventry)

Study mode

Full-time
Sandwich

Duration

3 years full-time
4 years sandwich

Course code

WN25

Start date

September 2025


Course overview

Fast paced and dynamic, this course aims to develop your creativity, critical eye, skills and design judgment. We take an active approach to learning through the ongoing production of innovative fashion artefacts and industry interaction.

  • You will have the opportunity to participate in live projects, competition briefs and hear from visiting experts who will offer you a diverse, cultural and global perspective of the fashion industry2 (subject to availability).
  • You will be encouraged to think critically and independently, to consider and respond to the challenges facing the fashion industry and society in general with the aim of becoming a truly global graduate.
A star in the centre of a rosette.

Rated Gold Overall

Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) 2023

Five stars in a speech bubble.

5 QS Stars for Teaching and Facilities

QS Stars University Ratings

City buildings next to a tree.

Top 5 Student City in England (Coventry)

QS Best Student Cities Index 2025

Why you should study this course 

  • The common first year enables you to work alongside students doing our BA (Hons) Fashion, Brand and Communication and BA (Hons) International Fashion Business courses, to widen your knowledge and exposure to other subject areas and professions. You will have the opportunity to collaborate with other students, so you can share your insights and experience which will help you to develop and learn.
  • This fashion degree is a hands-on, creative course. With theory embedded throughout module activities, the work you will undertake will be creative in its content and approach. You will work towards creating fashion artefacts (in their broadest definition), demonstrating your skills as an innovative and directional practitioner who is able to realise ideas as brave, experimental outcomes.
  • Outstanding creative spaces in our purpose-built Delia Derbyshire building offer space and light along with industry standard equipment and technologies4. You will work in a range of scales, materials and processes. You will be encouraged to develop and apply both 2D and 3D techniques and will apply both analogue (traditional) and digital (new technology) approaches to ensure you develop your individual creative identity and ways of working relevant to current and emerging creative sector standards.
  • You will be introduced to current and emerging ways of working, combining materials and processes in new ways. With a strong technical core in the course, you are encouraged to consider “making” in its bravest sense, and to apply your knowledge of materials and processes to the development of new products and artefacts, relevant to the fashion industry.
  • This course, along with others in the suite of fashion courses is highly internationally focused. You may benefit from a wealth of international experience established by the course founders who are passionate about ensuring global collaboration and industry readiness and who seek opportunities to develop solid international awareness and experience where possible2. Themes included within course modules embrace this global approach and you are encouraged to consider diverse perspectives and references from the start of the course.

Collaborations

  • The British Fashion Council

    The BFC Colleges Council is a membership programme representing the leading fashion departments in universities across the UK. The aim is to connect an extensive network of experienced course leaders with the fashion and wider creative industries together in support of arts and fashion education.

  • The Association of Fashion and Textile Courses

    Through its networks has extensive links with industry, public and professional bodies and acts to advise on quality in educational matters nationally and internationally.

  • Graduate Fashion Foundation

    A support network for fashion graduates, who aim to introduce other graduates to the industry and offer them the opportunity to showcase their work. They also mentor students after graduation.

Learn more about Graduate Fashion week which attracts Industry and International audiences from across the world. Find out more here

School of Art and Design Showcase

Engage with and explore the talents and achievements of our art and design Foundation Year course and final-year students.

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What you'll study

This course has a common first year.

The common first year enables you to work alongside students doing similar courses to you, to widen your knowledge and exposure to other subject areas and professions. You will have the opportunity to collaborate with other students, so you can share your insights and experience which will help you to develop and learn. 

If you discover an interest in a specific subject you have studied, upon successful completion of your first year, you could swap degrees with another course in your common first year (subject to meeting progression requirements).

Common first year courses

  • Fashion BA (Hons)
  • Fashion Brand and Communication BA (Hons)
  • International Fashion Business BA (Hons)

In the first year, the curriculum is shared across related courses allowing you to gain a broad grounding in the discipline before going on, in the second and third years, to specialist modules in your chosen field. 

Modules

In your second year, you will continue to develop the skills and knowledge you’ve learned. We do this by embedding the following four principles into the curriculum and developing your:

  • technical skills – digital fluency, backed with the right academic knowledge
  • study skills – to be an adaptive, independent and proactive learner
  • professional skills – to have the behaviour and abilities to succeed in your career
  • global awareness – the beliefs and abilities to be a resilient, confident and motivated global citizen.

You will develop more advanced knowledge and skills to do with: innovation, the fashion industry and designing fashion statements, among others. 

Modules

There’s no better way to find out what you love doing than trying it out for yourself, which is why a work placement2 can often be beneficial. Work placements usually occur between your second and final years of study. They’re a great way to help you explore your potential career path and gain valuable work experience, whilst developing transferable skills for the future. 

If you choose to do a work placement year, you will pay a reduced tuition fee3 of £1,250. For more information, please go to the fees and funding section. During this time you will receive guidance from your employer or participating institution, along with your assigned academic mentor who will ensure you have the support you need to complete your placement. 

Modules

The final year modules aim to bring you to the level to enter the world of work by consolidating your knowledge and skills from your first and second years.

Modules

We regularly review our course content, to make it relevant and current for the benefit of our students. For these reasons, course modules may be updated.


How you'll learn

The School of Art and Design’s teaching and learning mirrors the needs of the creative industries aiming to provide our graduates with the skills and attributes they need to become industry specialists, leaders and innovators to drive social responsibility and design global change.

Our studio and workshop culture seeks to ensure you are socially responsible in our creative community and develop critical thinking in research and ‘make’ processes. Our global initiatives will aim to give you skills to become collaborative communicators and make you culturally competent in the ever-changing world of art or design.

As the creative arena is an ever-evolving space, being curious and adaptable learners is key to our school’s graduates. You will learn how to recognise your strengths and learning needs, and how to self-reflect and grow. You will look to identify your personal development and drive your projects for ambitious career aspirations.


Teaching contact hours

As a full-time undergraduate student, you will study modules totalling 120 credits each academic year. A typical 20 credit module requires a total of 200 hours study. This is made up of teaching contact hours, guided and independent study.

Teaching hours:

Teaching hours vary each semester, year of study and due to module selection. During your first year you can expect 15-18 teaching hours each week. You will also have the option to attend optional sessions including time with a progress coach or to meet with staff for advice and feedback. As you progress through your studies, teaching hours may reduce.

Guided and independent study:

Throughout your studies, you will be expected to spend time in guided and independent study to make up the required study hours per module. You’ll be digging deeper into topics, review what you’ve learned and complete assignments. This can be completed around your personal commitments. As you progress through your studies, you’ll spend more time in independent study.

Online learning:

As an innovative university, we use different teaching methods including online tools and emerging technologies. So, some of your teaching hours and assessments may be delivered online.


Assessment

Your learning journey will be wide ranging, developing your work to have integrity, resilience and be authentic in its production and delivery. The learning that you will undertake will include sessions that are led by staff, group projects, guided learning and directed skill sessions.

You will be assessed using a variety of methods which could vary depending upon the module.

Assessment methods may include:

  • formal examinations
  • phase tests
  • essays
  • group work
  • presentations
  • reports
  • projects
  • coursework
  • exams
  • individual assignments.

The Coventry University Group assessment strategy ensures that our courses are fairly assessed and allows us to monitor student progression towards achieving the intended learning outcomes.


International experience opportunities

Throughout the course a range of optional study visits are offered to students. Past visits undertaken by courses within the Fashion suite have included Paris - to attend Premiere Vision (the World’s Premiere Textile Trade Fair), Berlin to attend Fashion Week and London to attend leading fashion exhibitions. Visits have also been arranged for students to undertake location fashion shoots and have included London, Bristol, The Yorkshire Sculpture Park and Weston-super-Mare.

Please note that all UK and international experience opportunities may be subject to additional costs, competitive application, availability, and meeting applicable visa and travel requirements, and are therefore not guaranteed2.


Entry requirements

Typical entry requirements:

Requirement What we're looking for
UCAS points 112
A level BBC
GCSE 5 GCSEs at grade 4 / C or above to include English
BTEC DMM
IB Diploma 29 points
Access to HE The Access to HE Diploma. Plus GCSE English at grade 4 / C or above.

Portfolio

You may be required to attend a portfolio showcase, activity session or audition or submit a portfolio via email (as is appropriate to your course), either virtually or face to face, as is practical to arrange. Invites for these sessions will be sent directly to your contact email.

Each application will be considered on its merits.

Other qualifications and experience

Our students come from a variety of backgrounds, each with a unique story. We recognise a breadth of qualifications. If your qualifications differ from the above, contact our Admissions Team who will be happy to discuss your qualifications and routes into your chosen course.

Contextual offers and Fair Access Scheme

If you meet the criteria for our Fair Access Scheme, you could automatically receive a contextual offer that may be up to 24 UCAS points lower than our standard entry requirements. View the criteria for our Fair Access Scheme.

Select your region to find detailed information about entry requirements:


You can view our full list of country specific entry requirements on our Entry requirements page.

Alternatively, visit our International hub for further advice and guidance on finding in-country agents and representatives, joining our in-country events and how to apply.

Portfolio

You will be required to submit a portfolio via email or alternatively attend a showcase activity session or audition (as is appropriate for your course) which can be virtual or face to face, as is practical to arrange. Invites to send in your portfolio or attend these sessions will be sent directly to your contact email.

Each application will be considered on its merits.

English language requirements

  • IELTS: 6.0 overall with no component lower than 5.5. Pre-sessional English is available if required.

If you don't meet the English language requirements, you can achieve the level you need by successfully completing a pre-sessional English programme before you start your course.

For more information on our approved English language tests visit our English language requirements page.


Fees and funding

Student Full-time Part-time
UK, Ireland*, Channel Islands or Isle of Man 2025/26 fees TBC
2024/25 fees - £9,250 per year
Not available
EU 2025/26 fees TBC
2024/25 fees - £9,250 per year with EU Support Bursary**
2025/26 fees TBC
2024/25 fees - £19,850 per year without EU Support Bursary**
Not available
International 2025/26 fees TBC
2024/25 fees - £19,850 per year
Not available

If you choose to study this course with a professional placement2 or study abroad year, you will need to pay a tuition fee3 of £1,250 to cover your academic support throughout your placement year.

For advice and guidance on tuition fees and student loans visit our Undergraduate Finance page and see the university’s Tuition Fee and Refund Terms and Conditions.

The University will charge the tuition fees that are stated in the above table for the first Academic Year of study. The University will review tuition fees each year. For UK (home) students, if Parliament permits an increase in tuition fees, the university may increase fees for each subsequent year of study in line with any such changes. Note that any increase is expected to be in line with inflation.

For international students, we may increase fees each year, but such increases will be no more than 5% above inflation. If you defer your course start date or have to extend your studies beyond the normal duration of the course (e.g. to repeat a year or resit examinations) the University reserves the right to charge you fees at a higher rate and/or in accordance with any legislative changes during the additional period of study.

We offer a range of International scholarships to students all over the world. For more information, visit our International Scholarships page.

Tuition fees cover the cost of your teaching, assessments, facilities and support services. There may be additional costs not covered by this fee such as accommodation and living costs, recommended reading books, stationery, printing and re-assessments should you need them.

The following are additional costs not included in the tuition fees:

  • any optional overseas field trips or visits: £400+ per trip
  • any costs associated with securing, attending or completing a placement (whether in the UK or abroad).

Find out what's included in your tuition costs.

Other additional costs

  • Any optional specialist supplies, such as materials, or equipment not supplied by the course.

*Irish student fees

The rights of Irish residents to study in the UK are preserved under the Common Travel Area arrangement. If you are an Irish student and meet the residency criteria, you can study in England, pay the same level of tuition fees as English students and utilise the Tuition Fee Loan.

**EU Support Bursary

Following the UK's exit from the European Union, we are offering financial support to all eligible EU students who wish to study an undergraduate or a postgraduate degree with us full-time. This bursary will be used to offset the cost of your tuition fees to bring them in line with that of UK students. Students studying a degree with a foundation year with us are not eligible for the bursary.


Facilities

The Delia Derbyshire building lies at the heart of our Coventry city campus4. This multi-million pound investment in the arts is home to the Schools of Art and Design, Media and Performing Arts, Humanities, and Psychological, Social and Behavioural Sciences. First opened to students in 2023, the spaces enable you to mix with like-minded students, getting hands-on with cross-disciplinary projects or immersing yourself in the studios with cutting-edge virtual reality and mixed-reality technologies. Get hands-on with the technology and equipment you’d expect to find in the real world. Are you ready to explore, advance and challenge what you think you know?

Facilities are subject to availability. Access to some facilities (including some teaching and learning spaces) may vary from those advertised and/or may have reduced availability or restrictions where the university is following public authority guidance, decisions or orders.

Student in fashion studio, working with fabric.

Fashion studios

You will have access to all kinds of industry-grade equipment for a range of textiles: from laser cutting, digital embroidery, sonic wielding and screen printing, to manufacturing tools for accessories, embroidery and garments.

Female student creating a clay model in the clay studio at Coventry University.

Clay studio

In our clay studio, your ideas become realised by using technological software and clay. Here you can create whatever you imagine, whether that’s an animated character, a sleek car design or theatre props.

Student with model of car.

Digital Design Workshop

Realise digital designs by using our range of milling machines, rapid prototyping and laser cutting machines.


Careers and opportunities

Students on the course are expected to have ambitions within the creative sector and will be supported towards reaching their goals.

We aim to provide students with an opportunity to take an additional work placement year, or study abroad to help expand their network of contacts and to provide you with job-ready experience2.

The optional work placement year is a real, focused opportunity to gain industry experience. This also helps refine your graduate goals and ensure you have a clear direction for your return to studies2.

We will also aim to develop an industry standard portfolio of work, applying skills gained throughout the course.

The suite of Fashion courses at Coventry University are geographically located in the golden fashion triangle of the UK. Home to the design hubs of the giant fashion retailers including, George, Next, Sainsbury’s TU, Morrisons Nutmeg, Murray and a plethora of independent fashion brands, including Bottle Blonde, Alien Cow, Rosie Billington, Lumpy Coffee, (all Coventry University Fashion graduate start-ups), this course is well placed to offer students and graduates accessible and regional industry experiences, as well as international opportunities2.

Where our graduates work

Previous alumni have undertaken placements at companies including Tatty Devine, Adidas, Karl Lagerfeld, Sainsbury’s TU, Calvin Klein, POP Magazine, Arena Homme and magazine, Vogue, George, Next, ASOS, Business of Fashion, High Snobiety, Size, JD Group and Box Raw among others.

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