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Fashion BA (Hons)

Undergraduate

Fashion student wearing a blue hat colourful jacket.

Design, make and create with confidence. This hands-on course aims to equip you with the skills to thrive in the fast-paced world of contemporary fashion.

Year of entry

2025-26 2026-27

Location

Coventry University (Coventry)

Study mode

Full-time
Sandwich

Duration

3 years full-time
4 years sandwich

Course code

WN25

Start date

September 2026

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The information on this page is for 2025-26 entry and should be used as guidance for 2026-27 entry. Please keep checking back on this course page to see our latest updates.

Course overview

Push the boundaries of fashion design in this practical course, ideal for aspiring designers ready to create original garments and accessories that respond to today’s creative and industry challenges.

Tackle live briefs and industry-led projects.²
Build independent thinking and practical design skills.
Explore global fashion trends and sustainability issues.

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

Top 5 Student City in England (Coventry)

QS Best Student Cities Index 2026

Why you should study this course

Learn by doing: develop fashion artefacts through active, hands-on studio practice.
Hear directly from visiting industry experts and guest speakers.²
Gain a global outlook on fashion through research, collaboration and critical discussion.
Be supported in groups by experienced tutors who help shape your design identity.
Build a strong foundation for a career across the fashion industry, from design to production.

About the School of Arts and Creative Industries

Our hands-on, practitioner-led approach is rooted in project-based learning. This creates opportunities for cross-disciplinary working and engagement with external collaborators. Where appropriate, you may work with peers from other courses -bringing specialist skills to interdisciplinary projects in ways that reflect the collaborative nature of creative studios and agencies in the creative industries. 
Our learning and teaching mirror the needs of the creative industries, so our graduates have the opportunity to develop the skills and attributes needed to become industry specialists, leaders and innovators.
Our studio culture seeks to ensure you are socially responsible in our creative community and develop critical thinking in research and making processes.
Our global initiatives aim to give you skills to become a collaborative communicator and make you culturally competent.
Our excellent industry links typically enable us to host an exciting programme of guest speakers covering topics such as fashion merchandising, sustainability in practice and fashion journalism.²
Past students have worked on projects as diverse as sportswear design for Reebok and jewellery design for Tatty Devine.

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

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

Fashion Activation – 30 credits

In this module, you will be introduced to the context and culture of the fashion industry in its broadest sense, considering it from a range of positions and roles. You will explore how the different specialisms within the fashion industry work together and how you, as a practitioner, contribute to this landscape. You will explore the history of the discipline, contemporary contexts, and the relationship between practice and context, while fostering skills in critical debate, audience-aware writing and articulating understanding. In this module, you will be introduced to the context and culture of the fashion industry in its broadest sense, considering it from a range of positions and roles. You will explore how the different specialisms within the fashion industry work together and how you, as a practitioner, contribute to this landscape. You will explore the history of the discipline, contemporary contexts, and the relationship between practice and context, while fostering skills in critical debate, audience-aware writing and articulating understanding.

You should learn to:

identify how cultural and contextual factors influence project opportunities and outcomes
select and curate information to support the conceptualisation and refinement of creative audience-specific outcomes in fashion
engage with emerging debates, information and observations to inform personal responses and directions.

Compulsory

Fashion Community – 30 credits

In this module, you will explore a range of approaches to communication with different stakeholders and actors within the evolving fashion industry and broader creative sector. You will begin to consider your own means of communicating appropriate to your specialist area, and how you can best articulate your creative identity. Develop skills in explaining goals and intentions, reflecting on your personal experience in relation to practice, working collaboratively, communicating decisions and effectively archiving and recording practice.

You should learn to:

articulate intentions through a range of creative outcomes in fashion
record and reflect on project experiences and activities in the development of personal practice
reflect interpersonal skills and capabilities when engaging with stakeholders, project negotiation and development.

Compulsory

Fashion Play – 30 credits

In this hands-on module, you will consider ‘play’ as an investigative and developmental tool used in the fashion industry to resolve problems and answer creative challenges. As a practitioner, communicator and developing professional, you will explore processes and techniques that encourage serendipitous and surprise outcomes, then reflect on these as part of your individual development. The module covers problem-solving and solution techniques, creative processes, interpreting briefs and taking creative risks.

You should learn to:

apply problem-solving capabilities to define, develop and refine creative ideas
recognise and respond creatively to real-world challenges within the discipline of fashion
familiarise yourself with creative thinking techniques and experimental processes to develop personal understanding and practice.

Compulsory

Fashion Practice – 30 credits

In this module, you will explore how fashion works in practice and within the fashion industry. You’ll start to reflect on processes and techniques used by fashion practitioners, communicators and businesses and identify your strengths and areas for development. The module focuses on helping you identify and develop your skills and understanding.

You should learn to:

develop ideas and practical solutions through specialist making techniques and processes in fashion
respond to practical challenges and reflect on their relative value in the context of your developing professional practice
reflect on and refine ongoing project work to embrace personal interests and recognise potential career aspirations.

Compulsory

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

Fashion Investigation – 30 credits

Develop your understanding of context and culture in the fashion industry, considering your specialist interests and goals. Dig deeper into the relationships between different areas of the industry and how they rely on one another. You will begin to explore and reflect on your role within this industry and the broader creative sector.

Compulsory

Fashion Voices – 30 credits

Develop your individual voice. Develop skills and capabilities in communication, appropriate to your specialism and role within assigned projects and tasks. Reflect on your role as part of a community of practitioners and how your communication skills and style fit into your specific area of interest in the fashion industry and broader creative sector. 

Compulsory

Fashion Statement – 30 credits

In this practical module, you will connect your making skills with your future ambitions and exercise your individual preferences through fashion-relevant personal practice. Negotiate your practice and experience the designer-maker process from start to finish, focused on your chosen product or artefact area. Reflect on what works for you and how you might move forward in developing your creative identity. 

Compulsory

Fashion Exploration – 30 credits

Breaking tradition leads to innovation. In this practical module, explore how embracing diverse and unexpected approaches can lead to innovative solutions and new design outcomes. Experimentation and innovation are core to this module. Curate your own techniques and develop processes for products and artefacts and consider how this makes you an original and exciting practitioner.

Compulsory

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.

Modules

UK Work Placement– 0 credits

This module provides you with an opportunity to reflect upon and gain experience for an approved placement² undertaken during your programme. A placement should usually be at least 26 weeks or equivalent; however, each placement will be considered on its own merits, having regard to the ability to achieve the learning outcomes.

Optional

International Study/Work Placement – 0 credits

This module provides you with an opportunity to reflect upon and gain experience for an approved international study/work placement² undertaken during your programme. A work/study placement should usually be at least 26 weeks or equivalent; however, each placement will be considered on its own merits, having regard to the ability to achieve the learning outcomes.

Optional

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

Fashion Concepts – 30 credits

Establish yourself as a fashion practitioner. Investigate your own role and specialist practice within fashion and the creative industries. Consider your awareness of issues impacting the fashion industry and society, and how these influence your practice and future goals. Reflect on how your work and visions align with your concept of the ever-changing industry. 

Compulsory

Fashion Innovation – 30 credits

Experiment, explore, ideate. In this module, you will refine your own design and development process, utilising both accepted and novel techniques to define your practice and product outcomes. Reflect on what makes your approach distinct. Why is your work innovative and original? How can you enhance the fast-moving industry with your contributions as a designer-maker? 

Compulsory

Fashion Stories – 30 credits

In this module, you will have the opportunity to demonstrate communication skills in negotiating and articulating project goals and paths to completion. The fashion industry depends on strong planning, foresight and rapid reactions. You will articulate how you work, how you plan and how you organise your time to demonstrate your capabilities as a professional practitioner. 

Compulsory

Fashion Artefact – 30 credits

In this module, you will assert your specialist practice through negotiated outputs, reflecting on your practice and its position within the broad and changing fashion industry and creative sector. Prepare and curate a body of original and relevant work, reflecting your developed products or artefacts, considering your ambitions and the area of the creative industries you hope to occupy. 

Compulsory

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.

Teaching and learning methods may include:

lectures 
seminars 
tutorials 
presentations 
group projects 
workshops 
practical studio sessions 
practical workshop sessions.

Teaching contact hours

As a full-time undergraduate student, you will study modules totalling 120 credits each academic year. You will normally study one 30-credit module at a time. A typical 30-credit module requires a total of 300 hours of study made up of teaching contact hours, guided and independent study.

Teaching hours:

Teaching hours may vary depending on your year of study and selected modules. During your first year, you can expect 12-15 teaching hours each week. You will also have the option to attend additional 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

This course is assessed using methods that vary by module. These approaches are intended to prepare you for the complex and evolving contexts of professional practice.

Assessment methods may include:

artefacts
practical coursework
digital coursework
individual work
group work
presentations/poster presentations
reports
projects
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	GCSE English at grade 4 / C or Functional Skills Level 2, or other equivalent Level 2 awards.
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:

South East Asia

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	2026/27 fees TBC 2025/26 fees: £9,535 per year	Not available
EU	2026/27 fees TBC 2025/26 fees: £9,535 per year with EU Support Bursary 2026/27 fees TBC 2025/26 fees: £19,850 per year without EU Support Bursary	Not available
International	2026/27 fees TBC 2025/26 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 to cover your academic support throughout your placement year. Students commencing their professional placement in the academic year 2027/28 will pay £1,500 if they are paying UK fees, or £1,800 if they are paying international fees.

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.

If you choose to study this course with a professional placement, the University will charge the tuition fees stated above for those on a placement during Academic Year 2027/28. The University will review professional placement tuition fees each year. For UK (home) students, the University may increase fees for each subsequent year of study, but such that it will be no more than 5% above 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. Find out what's included in your tuition costs.

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).

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.

How do you know if you need to pay UK or international tuition fees?

We carry out an initial fee status assessment based on the information you provide in your application. Your fee status determines your tuition fees, and what financial support and scholarships may be available to you. The rules about who pays UK (home) or international (overseas) fees for higher education courses in England are set by the Department for Education. The regulations identify all the different categories of student who can insist on paying the home rate. The regulations can be difficult to understand, so the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) has provided fee status guidance to help you identify whether you are eligible to pay the home or overseas rate.

If you meet all the criteria required by any one category, including any residence requirements, your institution must charge you the home rate. You only need to find one category that you fit into.

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.

The graduate destinations listed above illustrate potential career paths. You may need to gain additional qualifications or practical experience, pass professional examinations, complete training, cover associated costs and meet specific visa or immigration requirements to secure employment in these fields.

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How to apply

Institution code

View our courses on UCAS

UK students

Full-time students will be able to apply for this course through UCAS from September 2025. Read our application pages to find out your next steps to apply.

If you'd like further support or more information about your course get in touch with us today.

+44 (0)24 7765 2222

ukadmissions@coventry.ac.uk

Complete our contact form

International students

International codes:
AHU092

How to apply

For further support for international applicants applying for an undergraduate degree view our International hub.

You can also download our International mini guide for an overview of study options and why you should study with us.

Get in touch with us today for further advice and guidance.

+44 (0)24 7765 2152

ioadmissions@coventry.ac.uk

Complete our contact form

Disclaimers

Coventry University together with Coventry University London, Coventry University Wrocław, CU Coventry, CU London, CU Scarborough, and Coventry University Online come together to form part of the Coventry University Group (the University) with all degrees awarded by Coventry University.

¹Accreditations, partnerships and membershipsons

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. See the relevant body website for more details). Accreditations, partnerships, exemptions and memberships are subject to successful renewal in accordance with the relevant bodies’ standard review process and subject to the university maintaining the same high standards of course delivery. If the accreditation, recognition or membership of this course changes, we will seek to notify applicants and students as soon as possible.

²UK and international opportunities

Please note that we are unable to guarantee any UK or international opportunities (whether required or optional) such as internships, work experience, field trips, conferences, placements or study abroad opportunities and that all such opportunities may be unpaid and/or subject to additional costs (which could include, but is not limited to, equipment, materials, bench fees, studio or facilities hire, travel, accommodation and visas), competitive application, availability and/or meeting any applicable travel, public authority guidance, decisions or orders and visa requirements. To ensure that you fully understand any visa requirements, please contact the International Office.

³Tuition fees

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 permit 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.

If you choose to study this course with a professional placement, the University will charge the tuition fees stated above for those on a placement during Academic Year 2027/28. The University will review professional placement tuition fees each year. For UK (home) students, the University may increase fees for each subsequent year of study, but such that it will be no more than 5% above 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.

⁴Facilities

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 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 current 2025/2026 contract is available on the website for information purposes however the 2026/2027 contract will apply for the 2026/2027 intake. 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.

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