BA Fashion

Year 1

Year 1 offers you a dynamic and highly creative approach to design. You will be introduced to the foundations of fashion drawing and communication, creative cutting, research methods and garment construction.

In Design and Screen Cultures you will address the key histories and theories of design.

You will be encouraged to develop key awareness of the discipline through both contemporary and historical analysis.

You will be able to take up to 60 credits of option courses, either within ECA, or across the wider College, subject to availability and discussion with your Personal Tutor and relevant course organisers.

This offers you the flexibility to construct a suite of courses that reflects your interests and enhances your main study.

Year 2

At this level you will be introduced to our fashion diversity awareness initiative, learning skills in designing for celebrating and understanding diverse consumer markets. You will also design and produce garment work to be showcased at the annual fashion shows.

Computer-based technical drawing and portfolio building is introduced through our renowned DesignBook project.

Again, alongside Design and Screen Cultures courses, you will be able to choose an option course from the wider College, subject to availability.

Introductory methods of classic pattern-cutting and technical garment construction are taught comprehensively throughout the year, providing fundamental skill sets required for study at Year 3 and 4.

Year 3

This is an externally facing professional practice year where there are a range of opportunities for exchange, competitions and live projects with industry.

You will develop business awareness through a live collaborative project designing new brands with acute retail, marketing, costing and consumer awareness.

At this level, you will develop knowledge of materials, tailoring and outerwear, knitwear and accessory design.

In addition, you will take a further Design and Screen Cultures course. Opportunities for study abroad will help broaden your understanding of the discipline.

Year 4

In Year 4, you will develop a personal research plan, designing a six-outfit graduate collection that may be showcased at the annual ECA Fashion Shows and exhibited externally if applicable.

At this level, creativity is married with an understanding of the context for your design work. You will be encouraged to develop innovative approaches to materials, design and garment construction methods.

You will also produce a DesignBook, which will serve as a professional portfolio for the industry and career development.

You will also produce a written dissertation.

Programme structure

Find out more about the compulsory and optional courses in this degree programme.

To give you an idea of what you will study on this programme, we publish the latest available information. However, please note this may not be for your year of entry, but for a different academic year.

Programme structure (2020/21)

Our facilities

The Fashion programme offers excellent technical facilities, including industrial sewing machines and irons, pattern cutting workrooms, knitwear and embroidery machinery.

Students have access to digital printing, 3D printing and laser cutting facilities, in addition to a range of broader campus and University-wide resources.

Placements

Although not mandatory, students are encouraged to undertake paid work placements, usually in the summer months between an academic session.

Students also have the option of undertaking placement in Semester 2 of Year 3.

Study abroad

There are opportunities to study abroad in Year 3.

What are my options for going abroad?

How will I learn?

The majority of design teaching and learning is through involvement in a range of experiential courses situated in a studio environment.

Conceptual, material and technical issues are explored through seminars, workshops, lectures, tutorials and critiques.

Research, critical thinking and study of the visual, intellectual, social and professional contexts that shape creative design practice are regarded as essential to your development. These elements are taught through Design and Screen Cultures courses. This also involves participation in exhibitions, competitions, collaborations and live industry projects.

How will I be assessed?

Formative assessment is continuous throughout the year, aiming to give you meaningful feedback against learning outcomes, and to encourage experimentation in the studio and beyond.

Formative assessment for compulsory courses is through a mix of verbal and written modes such as portfolio, presentations and essays against course learning outcomes. There is a mid-session review, usually at the mid-point of any course you study.

Summative assessment at the end of each course you take is informed by your academic and creative progress and performance throughout. Your course grades are calculated through this summative assessment plus a moderation process.

Programme details

Find out more about this programme's aims, what you will learn, how you will be assessed and what skills and knowledge you will develop.

To give you an idea of what to expect from this programme, we publish the latest available information. However, please note this may not be for your year of entry, but for a different academic year.

Programme details (2020/21)

Careers in fashion can be varied, with students proceeding to gain employment in fashion sectors including:

• Design
• Styling
• Buying and merchandising
• Establishing own brands
• Journalism and media

Graduates have also gone on to work in academia.

Standard entry requirement

The standard entry requirement is:

• SQA Highers: ABBB by end of S5 or AABB/ABBBB by end of S6. BBB must be achieved in one year of S4-S6.
• A Levels: ABB.
• IB: 34 points with 655 at HL.

Minimum entry requirement

The minimum entry requirement for widening access applicants is:

• SQA Highers: ABBB by end of S6. BBB must be achieved in one year of S4-S6.
• A Levels: ABB.
• IB: 34 points with 655 at HL.

More information for widening access applicants

Required subjects

The grades used to meet our entry requirements must include:

• SQA: Highers: no specific Higher subjects required. National 5s: English at C.
• A Levels: no specific A Level subjects required. GCSEs: English at C or 4.
• IB: HL: no specific subjects required. SL: English at 5.

Additional requirements

Mini-portfolio

Applicants will be asked to submit a digital mini-portfolio to provide evidence of artistic aptitude and potential, this will form an important part of the selection process.

Portfolio guidance

Important dates*

• 1 December 2020: mini-portfolio submission site opens
• 15 January 2021: UCAS deadline for Home applicants
• 27 January 2021 at 12 pm (midday) GMT: mini-portfolio submission deadline
• 30 June 2021: final deadline for UCAS applications from applicants from outside the UK and Ireland

BTEC/UAL Diplomas

Applicants studying Pearson BTEC Level 3 Nationals in Art and Design will be considered for entry with the following:

• Pearson BTEC Extended Diploma with DMM.
• Pearson BTEC Diploma with MM plus one A Level at A (or DM plus B at A Level).
• Pearson BTEC Extended Certificate / Subsidiary Diploma with D plus two A Levels at B (or M plus AB at A Level).

Applicants studying the University of the Arts London Level 3 Extended Diploma in Art and Design will be considered with Merit.

*(Revised 25 September 2020 to add mini-portfolio deadlines.)

Find out more about entry requirements

International applicants

We welcome applications from students studying a wide range of international qualifications.

Entry requirements by country

International Foundation Programme

If you are an international student and your school qualifications are not accepted for direct entry to the University you may be eligible for admission to this degree programme through our International Foundation Programme.

International Foundation Programme

Mature applicants

We welcome applications from mature students and accept a range of qualifications.

Mature applicant qualifications

Entry to the second year is available. Successful completion of a Foundation Diploma (at Merit grade), a relevant HND or equivalent is required. Applicants will normally be expected to have undertaken these qualifications in addition to having met the entry requirements (Highers, A Levels, IB etc). In some of our less competitive degrees it may be possible to consider applicants presenting ABC (or equivalent) or above at A Level. These must have been achieved in one set of exams, at first attempt.

You must demonstrate a level of English language competency at a level that will enable you to succeed in your studies, regardless of your nationality or country of residence.

SQA, GCSE and IB

For SQA, GCSE and IB students, unless a higher level is specified in the stated entry requirements, a pass is required in English at the following grades or higher:

• SQA National 5 at C
• SQA Standard Grade at 3
• SQA Intermediate 1 at A
• SQA Intermediate 2 at C
• GCSE/IGSCE at C or 4
• Level 2 Certificate Grade C
• IB Standard Level at 5 (English ab initio is not accepted for entry)

English language tests

We accept the following English language qualifications at the grades specified*:

• IELTS Academic module overall 6.5 with 5.5 in each component.
• TOEFL-iBT (including Special Home Edition) 92 or above with 20 in each section. We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements.
• Cambridge English: Advanced or Proficiency overall 176 with 162 in each component.
• Trinity ISE: ISE II with a distinction in all four components.

We also accept a wider range of international qualifications and tests.

English language qualifications must be no more than three and a half years old from the start date of the degree you are applying to study, unless you are using IELTS, TOEFL, or Trinity ISE, in which case it must be no more than two years old.

English language requirements

*(Revised 27 April 2020 to include TOEFL-iBT Special Home Edition.)

This information is part of a government initiative to enhance the material that higher education institutions provide about their degree programmes.

It is one of many sources of information which will enable you to make an informed decision on what and where to study.

Please note that some programmes do not have Discover Uni data available.

Tuition Fees

Tuition fees for BA Fashion

Additional costs

The estimated cost of basic prototyping materials, final project materials, and printing for the Design Book averages at £150 in Years 1-3.

Please note, students may face additional and variable costs for materials relating to their ongoing projects, and depending on the amount of fabric required per student. We endeavour to keep these costs as low as possible, set by clear budgets.

For Graduate Collections in Year 4, costs may be highly variable depending on the costs of fabrics and additional processes. We encourage our students to budget carefully for their final year and to seek sponsorship for fabrics/finishings where possible to keep costs to a minimum.

There may also be the opportunity to exhibit your work externally in Year 4 at Graduate Fashion Week, which incurs an average cost of £400 per student, for a catwalk show and static exhibition display.

Funding

For more information on how much it will cost to study with us and the financial support available see our fees and funding information.

Fees and funding

• Enquiry Management Team
• Email: futurestudents@ed.ac.uk