BA Fashion

Year 1

Year 1 offers you a dynamic and creative approach to design.

You will be introduced to the foundations of:

• fashion drawing and communication
• creative cutting
• research methods
• 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.

Optional courses

You will be able to take up to 40 credits of optional courses. These can be taken within ECA, or from the wider College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences.

Your choices will be subject to availability and discussion with your personal tutor and relevant course organisers.

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

Year 2

In Year 2, you will be introduced to our fashion diversity awareness initiative.

This will help you learn skills in:

• designing for celebrating
• understanding diverse consumer markets

You will also:

• design and produce garment work to showcase at the annual fashion shows
• take part in the renowned DesignBook project, introducing computer-based technical drawing and portfolio building
• take courses in Design and Screen Cultures
• choose an optional course from the wider College, subject to availability

Introductory methods of classic pattern-cutting and technical garment construction are taught comprehensively throughout the year. These provide fundamental skill sets required for study in Years 3 and 4.

Year 3

This is a professional practice year with an external focus.

You will have a range of opportunities in industry, including:

• exchange
• competitions
• live projects

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

At this level, you will develop knowledge of:

• materials
• tailoring and outerwear
• knitwear
• accessory design

You will take a further Design and Screen Cultures course.

Study abroad

Opportunities to study abroad will help broaden your understanding of the discipline.

Year 4

In Year 4, you will develop a:

• personal research plan
• six-outfit graduate collection that you may showcase at the annual ECA Fashion Shows and exhibit externally

At this level, creativity is combined 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:

• written dissertation
• DesignBook to serve as a professional portfolio for the industry and career development

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 (2023/24)

Our facilities

You will be based at Edinburgh College of Art's Lauriston Place campus.

We offer excellent technical facilities, including:

• industrial sewing machines and irons
• pattern cutting workrooms
• knitwear and embroidery machinery

You will also be able to access:

• digital printing
• 3D printing
• laser cutting facilities
• a range of broader campus and University-wide resources

Take a virtual tour

You can take a closer look at Edinburgh College of Art and explore our facilities and campus on the University's Virtual Visit site.

Take a virtual tour of the Edinburgh College of Art

Placements

Placements are not mandatory.

However, we do encourage you to take on paid work placements in the summer months between academic sessions.

You will also have the option of completing a placement in Semester 2 of Year 3.

Study abroad

You will have the opportunity to study abroad in Year 3.

What are my options for going abroad?

How will I learn?

Most 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
• critiques

We see research, critical thinking, and study of the visual, intellectual, social and professional contexts that shape creative design practice as essential to your development.

These elements are taught through Design and Screen Cultures courses. This also involves participation in:

• exhibitions
• competitions
• collaborations
• live industry projects

How will I be assessed?

We use formative assessment throughout your study. This helps give meaningful feedback and encourages experimentation in the studio and beyond.

Formative assessment for compulsory courses can include:

• portfolio
• presentations
• 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 all courses is informed by your:

• academic progress
• creative progress
• performance throughout

Your course grades are calculated through this summative assessment plus a moderation process.

Our graduates work in various 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

Portfolio

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

Fashion portfolio brief

Portfolio guidance

(Revised 21 September 2023 to add link to portfolio brief.)

Important dates

• 1 December 2023: portfolio submission site opens.
• 31 January 2024: deadline for all applicants (including international applicants).
• 6 February 2024 at 12 pm (midday) GMT: mini-portfolio submission deadline.

(Revised 30 August 2023 to add portfolio guidance and important dates.)

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.

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 with a Foundation Diploma will normally be expected to have undertaken these qualifications in addition to having met the first year entry requirements (Highers, A Levels, IB, relevant HNC, 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.

A list of accepted HNDs, along with further information for adult returners, can be found on our adult returner page:

Adult returner applicants

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

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
• GCSE at C or 4
• Level 2 Certificate at 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: total 6.5 with at least 5.5 in each component.
• TOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition): total 92 with at least 20 in each component. We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements.
• C1 Advanced (CAE) / C2 Proficiency (CPE): total 176 with at least 162 in each component.
• Trinity ISE: ISE II with distinctions in all four components.
• PTE Academic: total 62 with at least 54 in each component.

(Revised 29 August 2023 to remove PTE Academic Online)

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, PTE Academic, TOEFL or Trinity ISE, in which case it must be no more than two years old.

English language requirements

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

Years 1 to 3

In Years 1 to 3, we estimate an average cost of £150 to cover:

• basic prototyping materials
• final project materials
• printing for the Design Book

You may face other costs for materials relating to your ongoing projects. This can depend on the amount of fabric required per student. We try to keep these costs as low as possible, set by clear budgets.

Year 4

For Graduate Collections in Year 4, your costs will depend on the costs of fabrics and additional processes.

We encourage our students to:

• budget carefully for their final year
• seek sponsorship for fabrics/finishings where possible to keep costs to a minimum

You may also get the chance to exhibit your work externally in Year 4 at Graduate Fashion Week. The average cost per student is £400, including 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

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