Fashion BA (Hons)

 

Course Code

UCAS Code: WN25
International Code: AHU075

Location

Coventry University (Coventry)

 

Study mode

Full-time
Sandwich

Duration

3 years full-time
4 years full-time with study abroad / professional placement

Start date

September 2022

How to apply
Book an Open Day
Download a prospectus
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Course overview

Study level: Undergraduate

If you have an appreciation of art and fashion and want to work within the industry, our aim is to nurture your individual creativity.

  • 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 industry (subject to availability).
  • You will be encouraged to think critically and independently, to consider and respond to the challenges facing the fashion industry society in general and become truly global graduates.
  • Fast paced and dynamic, this course seeks to support you in developing your individual creativity and fashion design judgment, encouraging an active approach to learning through the ongoing production of innovative fashion artefacts.
globe decorative icon

Global Ready

An international outlook, with global opportunities
human silhouette teaching in front of a blackdoard

Teaching excellence

Taught by lecturers who are experts in their field
Resume icon displaying a paper and a pen

Employability

Career ready graduates, with the skills to succeed

Why you should study this course 

  • You'll have the option to undertake a Professional Placement or Study Abroad Year with partner institutions. For example, past students have studied in Milan, Barcelona, Paris, Tokyo, Stockholm, Amsterdam, Bologna and Liege.
  • Work on live industry-led projects with UK companies which in the past have included Claire’s, Sainsbury’s TU, Tatty Devine, Sales Gossip, George and Reebok.
  • Current strong links with local employers, for example, Pilot, Next, Sainsbury’s and George at Asda, as well as national employers such as LSN:Global, Trendstop and international employers like Iris Van Herpen and The Theatre of Rome.
  • A fashion area at Coventry University which is stocked with a wide range of consumables (thread, fusing, zips, eyelets, trims etc.), a fabric store, fashion archive and a wide range of dress stands for the production of adult clothing, children’s wear, outsize and maternity.
  • Support to enter national competitions which in the past have included the Clothes Show Live, Hand and Lock, Midlands Design Awards, Claire’s Accessories, George, The Worshipful Company of Glove Makers, The Broadweavers and Clothiers Association, The Coventry Mercers.
  • Opportunities to exhibit your work at key events. Past events have included the Clothes Show Live and events internationally in China and Europe. All students have the opportunity to submit work through a competitive process. Work will be selected by ourselves and/or industry professionals, in order that we show work that is of an acceptable standard for exhibition.
  • At Coventry University, access to three well equipped fashion workrooms, a fashion design studio, two shop window areas for visual merchandising, fabric library, storeroom and two laser-cutting rooms, which include industry-standard traditional machinery and highly specialist equipment, such as a digital printer, sublimation printer, vinyl cutter, millinery equipment, leather scriver, sonic welders, tape seamer, bullet moulder, computerised heat fusing machines and keyhole button holes.
100%

of our students are satisfied with the quality of the course

NSS, 2019

Watch our video showcasing studying Fashion at Coventry University

Flying start has helped to make my experience at Coventry University even better by providing me with vital equipment and access to excellent technology all for free. Having access to the laser cutters, 3d printers, jewellery workshops and lots more for free has allowed me to broadens my knowledge of fashion and design. This has enabled me to explore multiple paths into the industry and given me a larger skill set than many other fashion graduates, allowing me to stand out.

Georgia Lewandowski, Final Year (2020) BA Fashion student
An up-close portrait of a student in front of a wooden door

What you'll study

Year 1 provides a broad-based course of study. It covers a wide range of practical and theoretical subjects, which are necessary for you to have a comprehensive understanding of the fashion industry. Subjects studied include: design, pattern cutting, manufacturing, trend forecasting, fashion communication, marketing and branding and CAD (computer-aided design).

Modules

  • This module will present you with opportunities to gain fundamental knowledge within the area of traditional and non- traditional methods of design and manufacture. You will be introduced to the terminology of the Fashion workroom / studio and will investigate a range of traditional techniques including pattern cutting, manufacture and workshop practice.

    Compulsory

    Assessment: Portfolio

  • The aim of this module is to enable you to develop an understanding of fashion innovation from the perspective of the designer. You will investigate successful sustainable brands within the marketplace and produce visual research demonstrating an understanding of brand values, ethics, target markets and customer profiles.

    Compulsory

    Assessment: Portfolio

  • The aim of this module is to introduce you at an early stage to a range of key concepts and theories relevant to the creative field of fashion, with particular reference to inclusivity, sustainability, ethical and technological practices.

    Compulsory

    Assessment: Coursework

  • This module will offer you a breadth of fashion communication experiences. You will be introduced to creative visual techniques through photography, illustration and technical drawing. Across the module, You will develop skills using digital technology and develop an understanding of imagery, presentation, editing and layout.

    Compulsory

    Assessment: Coursework

  • This module will provide you with the opportunity to gain professional experience and reflect on your personal, professional and learning development in relation to your individual strengths and weaknesses. You will consider fashion-specific skills such as networking and collaborating, and will be challenged with different tasks to develop your practice within fashion settings, in relation to your goals and aspirations.

    Compulsory

    Assessment: Coursework

In Year 2, you will explore PR, styling, brand management, creative marketing and promotion, entrepreneurship, team working, trend forecasting, sustainability and ethics, product design development and production, and fashion communication. Students undertake a variety of real-world projects through industry led briefs, previous companies have included George, Sainsbury’s TU, Pentland, Murray, Kitty Joseph and Reebok.

Modules

  • Through this module, you will undertake a range of tasks, offering an opportunity to try out different roles within the evolving fashion industry and further develop your industry knowledge while you begin to negotiate your own creative practice and future paths. Tasks will include individual activities including ideation, design development, product development and product realisation. In addition, there is a collaborative, group opportunity allowing you to select your own roles within the group enterprise, working towards a shared, collective goal. Roles here might include styling, PR, merchandising, film / animation, social media, branding and more.

    Compulsory

    Assessment: Portfolio

  • In this module you will build on your growing knowledge of the global fashion industry. You will work on a series of short, live projects intended to offer a range of experiences of working with the fashion industry and to build on cultural awareness and knowledge of diversity within a range of fashion contexts.

    Compulsory

    Assessment: Portfolio

  • Fashion is a truly global industry shaped by economic climate, politics and social change. This module aims to develop a broad perspective of the International Fashion Industry and to offer students an insight into the experience of working across different countries and cultures collaboratively.

    Compulsory

    Assessment: Portfolio

  • This module focuses on planning ahead and considering career and personal ambitions. You should identify and explore your preferred area of the industry and formulate and evidence awareness of steps required, including references to opportunities offered within the course (including placement, and / or study abroad options) as well as extra-curricular prospects to improve your professional outlook.

    Compulsory

    Assessment: Presentation

After the second year, this course offers you the option to undertake a Professional Placement Year or Study Abroad Year .

If you wish to do so, you can opt to take the Professional Placement or Study Abroad module which both typically run for a full academic year between years 2 and 3 of your course. You are able to progress onto the relevant module if you have successfully completed the first two years of the course (i.e. having accumulated 240 credits) and provided that you confirm your interest you are undertaking this option before the end of your second year, typically in August.

You could choose one of the following:

  • an Erasmus study placement at an EU university;
  • a study placement at a university outside the EU;
  • an Erasmus professional work placement;
  • an approved professional work placement separately and independently organised that is outside the EU;
  • an approved professional work placement separately and independently organised within the UK;

While the Professional Placement and Study Abroad modules are non-credit bearing and do not incur any additional tuition fees, if successfully completed, these modules will appear on your final academic transcript. In addition, if you complete this year, you will also gain an enhanced degree award title as the additional suffix of “With Professional Placement” if you’ve gone on a work placement and “With International Enhancement” if you’ve gone on a study abroad programme will be added.

The Arts and Humanities Employability Unit can provide you with a wide range of support services in order to help you secure a placement opportunity.

Please note that we are unable to guarantee any placement or study abroad opportunities and that all such opportunities may be subject to additional costs (e.g. travel and accommodation etc.), competitive application, availability and/or meeting any applicable visa requirements. To ensure that you fully understand the requirements in this regard, please contact the International Office for further details if you are an EU or International student.

Past students have worked with companies including Tatty Devine, Seraphine, Comptoir Des Cotonnieres, Mary Katranzou, Sainsbury’s TU, The Future Laboratory, Calvin Klein, Natori (New York), POP Magazine, Arena Homme and Arena Homme +magazine, Vogue, Iris Van Herpen (Amsterdam), WGSN, New Look, Topshop, Burberry, Boden, George, Peter Jensen, Injury (Hong Kong), The Fashion and Textile Museum and J Model Management.

In Year 3 , you are expected to develop your own course of research and study visits to support your learning, culminating in a showcase of individual talent in a professional arena, for example the Coventry Degree Show and Graduate Fashion Week (professional arenas are subject to change).

Modules

  • This module gives you the opportunity to build on the project proposal and development work in Future Fashion Concepts, which forms the basis of your professional potential. You may select to exhibit your work in the form of a catwalk or capsule collection, event organisation, development of fashion products, journal and newspaper contributions, visual merchandising, agency, public relations or other negotiated forms of presentation. You may also consider developing a body of work in a professional environment.

    Compulsory

    Assessment: Portfolio

  • This module offers you the opportunity to appraise your individual strengths and abilities in preparation for graduation. You will be encouraged to build on your previous experiences and initiate an area of creative development appropriate to your future practice. Specialist areas of research may include womenswear, menswear, childrenswear, textile, jewellery, footwear and accessory design, photography, illustration, visual merchandising, marketing, PR and publishing.

    Compulsory

    Assessment: Portfolio

  • In this module, you will continue to explore your specialist interests and future roles, in light of the evolving and global fashion industry. You will be expected to identify your career aims and ambitions and to consider your own body of work and its context in relation to these goals. You will edit and curate an industry ready portfolio and up to date CV.

    Compulsory

    Assessment: Coursework

  • Optional

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

In a typical teaching week, you will have approximately 13 ‘contact’ hours of teaching. This includes a combination of:

  • medium group teaching: workshops, seminars and lectures
  • small group teaching: seminar, critiques and tutorials
  • studio practice and bookable workshop access

The contact hours may be made up of a combination of face-to-face teaching, individual and group tutorials, and online activities.

The School of Art and Design often provides opportunities to engage in external or collaborative activities such as competition/Industry briefs and speakers beyond your course studies. We strongly encourage you to take advantage of these opportunities to support your learning journey.

As an innovative and enterprising institution, the university may seek to utilise emerging technologies within the student experience. For all courses (whether on-campus, blended, or distance learning), the university may deliver certain contact hours and assessments via online technologies and methods.

Assessment

The course is assessed using a variety of methods online and physically, including (but are not limited to), project work, presentations, essays/reports, individual assignments and group work elements.

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

Job ready

Upon successful completion, you will have knowledge of:

  • fashion design practice in relation to employment opportunities within and beyond the fashion industry, including design, product development, manufacture, fashion communication promotion
  • the application of research methods appropriate to creative development and production, and branding and marketing
  • a breadth of visual design practice, including questions of aesthetics and concepts of design.

Upon successful completion, you will be able to:

  • demonstrate an active critical approach to learning through fashion design practice and the production of fashion artefacts
  • apply advanced knowledge and understanding of social and cultural responsibility as appropriate to Sustainable Development Goals in the context of the fashion industry
  • apply inter-cultural awareness within a global fashion context
  • evidence professional skills which include agility, resilience and initiative appropriate to diverse and ever-changing fashion industry environments
  • demonstrate creative industry attributes of innovation, resourcefulness and entrepreneurship relevant to different fashion markets.

International experience opportunities

Our sandwich option allows a full-year placement, as a Professional Enhancement Year or International Enhancement Year of study which may be taken abroad.)

Throughout the course, there will be opportunities to engage with various external events both online and in person. The events vary each year and offer an exciting unique experience for each year group of students. Past events have included, Graduate Fashion Week, London Fashion Week, Berlin Fashion Week, Midlands Fashion Awards, New Designers and Paris Premiere Vision (subject to availability).

Entry requirements

Typical offer for 2022 entry.

Requirement What we're looking for
A level BBC to include at least one Art or Design subject
GCSE Minimum five graded 9-4, or equivalent, including English
BTEC DMM in an Art or Design subject
IB Diploma 29 points to include Visual Arts or Design Technology at Higher Level

We recognise a breadth of qualifications, speak to one of our advisers today to find out how we can help you.

Chat with UK admissions

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.

Are you eligible for the Fair Access Scheme?

We believe every student should have the opportunity to dream big, reach their potential and succeed, regardless of their background.

Fair Access Scheme

Select your region to find detailed information about entry requirements:

Europe

Americas

Middle East

South Asia

South East Asia

East Asia

Africa

Russia and Central Asia

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

If you do not have the typical entry requirements, you may want to consider studying this course with an international foundation year. Upon successful completion our International Foundation Year - Art, Design and Media will provide you with the knowledge and skills you need to progress onto this undergraduate degree.

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.

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: 6.5 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.

Chat with International admissions

Fees and funding

2022/23 Tuition fees

Student Full time Part time
UK £9,250 per year Not available
International £18,050 per year Not available

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.

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. Find out what's included in your tuition costs.

Facilities

Our fashion area is stocked with a range of consumables, a fabric store, fashion archive and dress stands for the production of adult clothing, children’s wear, outsize and maternity.

You will also have access to three well equipped fashion workrooms, a fashion design studio, visual merchandising room, fabric library, storeroom and two laser-cutting rooms, including a digital printer, sublimation printer, vinyl cutter, millinery equipment, leather scriver, sonic welders, bullet-moulder, computerised heat fusing machines and keyhole button holes.

Student in fashion studio, working with fabric.

Fashion studios

You will have access 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 using VR headset in Games Technology lab.

Games Technology laboratory

Our gaming lab is a technological paradise, equipped with high-end gaming PCs that have all of the industry-standard software necessary for your course*. It also houses virtual reality game development and motion capture technology.

Careers and opportunities

This course covers all aspects of both design and marketing. This combination aims to prepare students for a wide range of careers in the fashion industry.

We are committed to preparing you for your future career and giving you a competitive edge in the graduate job market. The university's Talent Team provide a wide range of support services to help you plan and prepare for your career.

Where our graduates work

Recent graduates from this course are employed in a range of professional environments and companies including: Adidas, Sainsbury’s Tu, George, ASOS, Murray, Box Raw, Urban Outfitters, Primark. Some of our graduates continue with their studies to postgraduate level to study masters degrees and PHDs.

We also aim to prepare graduates, through their studies, to work as freelancers and brand creators. Successful alumni brands include; Bottle Blonde, Alien Cow, Rosie Billington Studios, Studio Karro, Lumpy Coffee and Curtis Lee.

Further study

You can choose to continue your studies at Coventry University with the International Fashion Marketing MSc at our London Campus. You may be entitled to an alumni discount on your fees if you decide to extend your time with us by progressing from undergraduate to postgraduate study.

How to apply

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Your next steps

Student life
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Fees and funding

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  • Student Contract

    By accepting your offer of a place and enrolling with us, a Student Contract will be formed between you and the university. A copy of the 2021/22 Contract can be found here. The Contract details your rights and the obligations you will be bound by during your time as a student and contains the obligations that the university will owe to you. You should read the Contract before you accept an offer of a place and before you enrol at the university.

    Tuition fees

    The tuition fee for the course that is stated on the course webpage and in the prospectus for the first year of study will apply. We will review our tuition fees each year. For UK and EU students, if Parliament permit an increase in tuition fees, we 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. Following the UK’s exit from the European Union, EU students should be aware that there may be a change to UK laws following the UK’s exit, this may change their student status, their eligibility to study part time, and/or their eligibility for student finance. We will act in accordance with the UK’s laws in force in relation to student tuition fees and finance from time to time.

    For International students the tuition fee that is stated on the course webpage and in the prospectus for the first year of study will apply. We will review our tuition fees each year. For international students, we may increase fees for each subsequent year of study but such increases will be no more than 5% above inflation.

    Accreditations

    The majority of our courses have been formally recognised by professional bodies, which means the courses have been reviewed and tested to ensure they reach a set standard. In some instances, studying on an accredited course can give you additional benefits such as exemptions from professional exams (subject to availability, fees may apply). Accreditations, partnerships, exemptions and memberships shall be renewed in accordance with the relevant bodies’ standard review process and subject to the university maintaining the same high standards of course delivery. 

    Facilities

    Facilities mentioned on this page may not be relevant for every course. Due to the ongoing restrictions relating to COVID-19, some facilities (including some teaching and learning spaces) and some non-academic offerings (particularly in relation to international experiences), may vary from those advertised and may have reduced availability or restrictions on their use.

    Placements and study abroad opportunities

    Please note that we are unable to guarantee any placement or study abroad opportunities and that all such opportunities may be subject to additional costs (e.g. travel, visas and accommodation etc.), competitive application, availability and/or meeting any applicable visa requirements. To ensure that you fully understand the requirements in this regard, please contact the International Office for further details if you are an EU or International student.

    Additional costs

    This course may incur additional costs associated with any field trips, placements or work experience, study abroad opportunities or any other opportunity (whether required or optional), which could include (but is not limited to), equipment, materials, bench fees, studio or facilities hire, travel, accommodation and visas).