Fashion BA (Hons)
Length:
3 or 4 year options
UCAS Code:
W233 (3 Year)
W230 (4 Year)
Institution Code:
N39
Optional Diploma Years:
Creative Professional Development (1 year, Level 5 diploma), or Creative Computing (1 year, Level 5 diploma), available between years 2 & 3
Let your creativity take flight as you learn the essential creative design and practical skills of the global fashion industry.
This future-oriented course equips graduates with adaptable skills to navigate a changing industry and prioritise ethical responsibility and inclusive design, combining creative thinking and technical skills. Our BA (Hons) Fashion emphasises visual research, conceptual thinking, material exploration, commercial awareness and professional communication within a supportive fashion community.
Our course will encourage you to explore concept development, pattern cutting, 3D digital rendering, tailoring and professional garment construction supported by technical skills and couture levels of craftsmanship. Guest lectures, seminars and workshops with acclaimed practitioners, stylists and academics will give you insight into how the industry works.
You will have access to studio space, specialist fashion design resources and well-equipped workshops run by on-site technical staff. Our Fashion studios and workshops are the right setting to develop your ideas and perfect essential skills such as drawing, digital design and professional presentation. We will help you to develop a professional portfolio to showcase your design identity and profile the quality of your manufactured garments to employers.
Accreditation
Our course benefits from close industry links and is a member of the British Fashion Colleges Council and the Graduate Fashion Foundation.
Why study with us
- Study a fast-paced and varied curriculum of fundamental fashion in which the individual student voice is developed through personal choice of research topics, client profiles and creative outcomes.
- Build an advanced technical skill base in pattern cutting, fabric development and manufacturing to create 3D garments.
- Explore professional ways of communicating ideas and essential digital skills and build a strong fashion industry awareness.
- Study core topics including contemporary narratives on craft practices and traditional skills, creative cut and digital fashion, as well as international relations, social, cultural and gender identities.
- Undertake projects that push you to take creative risks with both ideation and execution. You’ll also gain practical experience through industry-focused projects with brands like John Lewis, Superdry and Ralph Lauren.
- Live projects, competitions and industry placements help you engage in and build external networks and opportunities, preparing you to be industry-ready beyond graduation.
Course Content
Integrated Foundation Year (optional)
Our Integrated Foundation Year is designed to equip students with the necessary skills, knowledge and confidence to thrive in their chosen degree subject. The course provides a comprehensive introduction to various disciplines, blending critical thinking and creative problem-solving with practical hands-on experience. This year serves as a bridge to undergraduate studies, allowing students to explore their interests within a supportive and inspiring environment, while familiarising themselves with the campus, workshops, and tutors.
Year 1
This first unit focuses on creative experimentation and the development of core technical skills. Throughout the unit you will be introduced to historical and contemporary designers and cultural, sustainable and ethical concepts – encouraging you to question how fundamental aspects of global design practice and theory can be used as research tools to develop design concepts and creative identity. You will gain insight into fibres and fabrics, engage in life drawing, and be introduced to design software. The unit also includes an introduction to flat pattern cutting, 3D manipulation, and fundamental construction and manufacturing techniques. You will be supported to discover the University’s resources and campus, to help you understand the fundamentals of studying at university level.
40 credits
In this unit, you will explore and experiment with techniques and materials to enhance your creative skillset. Using an iterative approach, you will evolve your ideas through the development of your research process book, fabric/textile exploration, and the creation of 3D prototypes. You will further enhance relevant manufacturing techniques and creative pattern-cutting and draping methods, as well as further develop your design software skills to include Clo3D. Throughout this unit you will investigate how to communicate your design ideas in 2D, and 3D forms, with consideration towards ethical and sustainable practices. The unit will help you to strengthen your transferable skills through teamwork, presentation skills, organisation, and project planning. You will collaborate with final-year students across the department, assisting with their collections while gaining insight into a variety of industry sectors and roles to help support your personal career trajectory.
80 credits
The first week of each academic year is called Wayfinding week. It’s an opportunity get your bearings, establish new connections and, after your first year at Norwich, re-establish old ones. Your course team will talk you through the year ahead and explain the expectations for the year. We’ll help you navigate new encounters and identify areas to focus on as you progress through your course.
An important element of Wayfinding Week is taking part in our annual ‘Make it Manifest(o)’ project. Your course team will introduce the project in which we’ll ask you to consider your hopes and vision of the year ahead at Norwich and work with students in other year groups to bring your ideas to life. The project culminates in a celebratory display of work across the campus. The project will help you to develop your critical creativity through different approaches, concepts, and mediums. You’ll encounter diverse perspectives and build friendships and networks within our university community.
Interchange weeks are opportunities to step away from your disciplinary studies and engage in projects, workshops, visits and talks that extend your knowledge and understanding of the world. Whether you learn a new skill or take part in a global challenge project with students from other courses, you will come away with new insights to take back to your course. Interchange is part of the schedule for all Norwich students with sessions held across and beyond the campus led by university staff, visiting lecturers and students.
Year 2
In this unit, you will explore and experiment with techniques, materials, and media. Through industry-based projects and workshops, you will apply your creative design ideas to practical and creative fashion design skills and problem-solving through 2D and 3D experimentation. You will explore a range of manufacturing and finishing techniques and alternative methods of pattern-cutting and draping, as well as develop your design software skills, including Clo3D. Using an iterative approach, you’ll evaluate your work by developing research process books and 3D prototyping and sample development, with an emphasis on ethical and sustainable practices. The unit will introduce you to fashion sectors and career paths and increase your knowledge of teamwork, presentation skills, organisation and project planning.
80 credits
This unit focuses on helping you understand your practice in a broader context through collaboration and working together in mixed teams on projects, where you will use your creative ideas to generate solutions to a challenge or brief. Understanding and utilising different perspectives and practices the projects will allow you to explore how creativity can make an impact in society by understanding the client’s needs, problem solving, experimentation, and risk-taking. This collaborative learning experience will expose you to a range of new processes and approaches that will develop your creative thinking.
40 credits
The first week of each academic year is called Wayfinding week. It’s an opportunity get your bearings, establish new connections and, after your first year at Norwich, re-establish old ones. Your course team will talk you through the year ahead and explain the expectations for the year. We’ll help you navigate new encounters and identify areas to focus on as you progress through your course.
An important element of Wayfinding Week is taking part in our annual ‘Make it Manifest(o)’ project. Your course team will introduce the project in which we’ll ask you to consider your hopes and vision of the year ahead at Norwich and work with students in other year groups to bring your ideas to life. The project culminates in a celebratory display of work across the campus. The project will help you to develop your critical creativity through different approaches, concepts, and mediums. You’ll encounter diverse perspectives and build friendships and networks within our university community.
Interchange weeks are opportunities to step away from your disciplinary studies and engage in projects, workshops, visits and talks that extend your knowledge and understanding of the world. Whether you learn a new skill or take part in a global challenge project with students from other courses, you will come away with new insights to take back to your course. Interchange is part of the schedule for all Norwich students with sessions held across and beyond the campus led by university staff, visiting lecturers and students.
Diploma Year (optional)
Students have the opportunity to spend a year after the second of their degree (or the third year if studying for a degree with an Integrated Foundation Year) enhancing their employability options through a Level 5 Diploma. They can choose from courses designed to provide:
- opportunities to gain industry insight, developing employability skills through a series of supported experiences, expanding professional networks and building confidence in the workplace, or
- an introduction to creative computing, building an understanding of how coding skills can be used to advance and complement creative practice.
Final year
This is the first and shorter of the two units that make up your final year of undergraduate study. You’ll develop strong conceptual and practical skills through extensive research, design development, original pattern cutting and craftsmanship, technical refresher sessions, campus workshop refreshers, and identifying software for CAD, laser cutting, and practical digital practices. The unit examines future and emerging practices, guiding students to find their creative identity and investigate ideas through live briefs and competitions. You will produce a research report on a topic broadly related to fashion and your practice, expanding on the research ideas developed in your second year. You’ll apply various research methods and methodological approaches, informed by your approach to your creative practice and future career aspirations.
40 credits
Your final unit allows you to research, conceptualise, and create a self-determined final-year project(s), building on the skills, knowledge and understanding you have gathered throughout the programme. Throughout the unit, you will continue to enhance your creative approaches by engaging in workshops, fostering a critical mindset and mastery of materials, technologies, and processes. The year will include opportunities to engage with industry through live projects, competitions, or professional bodies, including Graduate Fashion Week and the British Fashion Council. The year will culminate in showcasing your collection/product and portfolio for a catwalk show or exhibition to a range of audiences and providing opportunities for your ongoing personal and professional development.
80 credits
The first week of each academic year is called Wayfinding week. It’s an opportunity get your bearings, establish new connections and, after your first year at Norwich, re-establish old ones. Your course team will talk you through the year ahead and explain the expectations for the year. We’ll help you navigate new encounters and identify areas to focus on as you progress through your course.
An important element of Wayfinding Week is taking part in our annual ‘Make it Manifest(o)’ project. Your course team will introduce the project in which we’ll ask you to consider your hopes and vision of the year ahead at Norwich and work with students in other year groups to bring your ideas to life. The project culminates in a celebratory display of work across the campus. The project will help you to develop your critical creativity through different approaches, concepts, and mediums. You’ll encounter diverse perspectives and build friendships and networks within our university community.
Interchange weeks are opportunities to step away from your disciplinary studies and engage in projects, workshops, visits and talks that extend your knowledge and understanding of the world. Whether you learn a new skill or take part in a global challenge project with students from other courses, you will come away with new insights to take back to your course. Interchange is part of the schedule for all Norwich students with sessions held across and beyond the campus led by university staff, visiting lecturers and students.
Careers Information
During the final year of the course, through practical and theoretical research, development, and outcomes, you’ll identify a personal strategy that sets you up for career success.
Our students gain industry recognition through success in competitions with British Fashion Council, Graduate Fashion Week, Anne Tyrrell Student Design Award, Golden Shears and the international Arts of Fashion awards.
Graduates have secured diverse fashion, design and manufacturing-related roles at H&M, Ted Baker, Victoria Beckham, Marks & Spencer, Outfit Arcadia Group, Blakely and Yarmouth Oilskins. Others have progressed to post graduate research, in areas such as bio-material research and creative health for art therapy. Some graduates secure education roles in school and post-16 providers while others establish their own businesses.
Typical career paths include
- Freelance Designer
- In-House Designer
- Bespoke Tailor
- Creative Pattern Cutter
- Buyer
- Design Consultant
- Fashion Illustrator
- Garment Technologist
- Visual Merchandiser
- Fashion Stylist
Other graduates have progressed to postgraduate research, in areas such as bio-material research and creative health for art therapy. Some graduates secure education roles in school and post-16 providers while others establish their own businesses.
You’ll also get specialist creative careers advice from our Business and Employability Team to help support you as you plan your career.
Molly Green
Tabbed Section
Typical UK offers
A / AS Levels – GCE
GCE A/AS Levels 3 A-level qualifications at grades BCC (104 UCAS Tariff points) or above. Where candidates are not taking 3 A-levels, Norwich University of the Arts will consider combinations of A-level/AS-level and other Level 3 qualifications.
BTEC Extended Diploma (QCF or RQF)
Distinction, Merit, Merit in an art, design or media related subject
BTEC Diploma (QCF or RQF)
Distinction*, Distinction* in an art, design or media related subject
T Levels
A T Level in any subject with overall grade Merit or above
UAL Extended Diploma
Merit
UAL Level 3 Foundation Diploma in Art and Design
Pass
UAL Level 4 Foundation Diploma in Art and Design
Pass
Foundation Diploma in Art and Design
Pass
Access to Higher Education Diploma (Art and Design)
Pass
International Baccalaureate Diploma
A minimum of 26 points
Norwich University of the Arts welcomes applicants of all ages from all backgrounds. Your application will be primarily assessed through your portfolio (if required), responses to questions asked and personal statement, so even if you have no formal qualifications or do not meet our typical offers it can still be worth applying.
If you are studying at the time of your application and your application is successful it is likely that you will receive a conditional offer.
If the qualification that you are studying is not shown, do not worry as we are able to accept other pre-entry qualifications as well as combinations of different qualifications. Please do contact our Student Recruitment Team if you have any queries.
International applications
We accept qualifications from all over the world. To find our entry requirements from a specific country, please check our dedicated international pages.
Most international students are required to hold an English language qualification. Applicants are required to have a minimum UKVI approved IELTS exam score of 6.0 overall, with a minimum of 5.5 in each section. Equivalent English language qualifications are acceptable such as, IB English language syllabus A or B/English Literature (Grade 4).
We also accept some alternative English qualifications. Learn more about our English entry requirements.
You can email us on international@norwichuni.ac.uk if you’d like to discuss your application individually.
BA (Hons) Fashion degree course portfolio guidance
Portfolios should show examples of your work — both finished and work in progress — that demonstrate your interests and skills. Your portfolio should be made up of work that reflects your creativity, personal interests and influences, as well as demonstrating your technical skills and ability. It doesn’t have to be perfect as we can assess your potential from your work in progress.
Your portfolio should be relevant to this course, but you can include a wide range of work that shows your creativity, technical competence, innovation and understanding of anatomy.
You may wish to include some of the following:
- Drawing – Life drawing or still life
- Painting, Illustration, Collage
- 3D work – accessories, garments, sculpture, fabric samples
- Fabric and colour work
- Garment or accessory designs
- Image making using Photography or Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, illustrator)
Further portfolio advice and tips
Get more advice on presentation formats, layouts and when to submit your portfolio in the application process.
2024/25 University fees for new entrants
Norwich University of the Arts will assess students’ tuition fee status using the guidance provided by the UK Council for International Student Affairs
Students from the UK or Ireland and EU students with ‘Settled’ or ‘Pre-Settled’ status will be charged ‘Home’ fees if they meet the relevant residency requirements. They will usually be eligible for a tuition fee loan from the UK government, meaning that they won’t have to pay Norwich University of the Arts’ tuition fees upfront.
Students who do not meet the necessary residency requirements will usually be charged ‘Overseas’ fees and will not be eligible for the UK government tuition fee loan. Since 2021/22, this includes new entrants from the EU, EEA, and Switzerland who do not have ‘Settled’ or ‘Pre-Settled’ status, because the UK has now formally left the EU.
| Fee status | Course | Annual fee |
|---|---|---|
| Home | Undergraduate degree (full-time three and four year degree) | £9,250 |
| Overseas | Undergraduate degree (full-time three and four year degree) | £18,000 |
Inflation in subsequent years
The rules for inflation on fees in subsequent years depend on the type of fee status and level.
- For Home undergraduate students starting in 2024, inflation may be applied to your fees in later years, if the UK government were to increase the fee cap beyond the current limit of £9,250 per year. If such an increase were to apply, we would confirm this in advance to you of each academic year, and we would limit the increase to the maximum allowed by the Office for Students.
- For Overseas undergraduate students starting in 2024, inflation will be applied to your fees in later years. We will confirm this in advance to you of each academic year, and we will limit the increase to no more than the Office for Students’ recommended inflationary measure, which is RPI-X. RPI-X is calculated by the Office for Budget Responsibility. In setting fees for the following year, we will use the Office for Budget Responsibility’s RPI-X forecast for quarter 3 of the relevant year.
For Home and overseas postgraduate degree students starting in 2024, fees will remain the same for each year of your course.
Financial support for UK students in 2024
Tuition fee loans and loans for living costs are usually available to UK and some EU students, as well as non-repayable Norwich University of the Arts bursaries based on family income. Find out more about applying for funding.
International students
We offer a range of scholarships for international students to support your studies with us.
- Group briefings
- Academic tutorials
- Group tutorials
- Lectures
- Workshops
- Critiques (crits)
- Seminars
- Finished pieces of work
- Presentations
- Written work
- Your research
- A reflective journal
Work-based Learning Opportunities
Between Years 2 and 3 of this course, you’ll have the opportunity to undertake one of the following additional qualifications:
Creative Professional Development (1 year, Level 5 Diploma)
Our Creative Professional Development Diploma gives you the chance to spend a year exploring your post-uni job options through a structured programme of input sessions and work-based learning. This year offers two much-sought-after industry placements – the first lasting six weeks, the second 12 weeks, and a group project or ‘hackathon’ exploring freelancing and business start-up.
Creative Computing (1 year, Level 5 Diploma)
Our Creative Computing Diploma introduces you to coding and computational skills that will advance and complement your creative practice. No prior experience of coding is needed, just a curiosity about creative computing and a desire to push your own practice into new realms. You’ll also develop a wider knowledge of the creative tech industries, available roles and opportunities.
Integrated Foundation Year – BA (Hons) Fashion
An Integrated Foundation Year offers students a chance to build on their experience within their undergraduate course of choice.
An Integrated Foundation Year will help to build confidence and develop subject specific practical, creative and conceptual skills – making full use of University studios and workshops.
Typical UK offers and entry requirements for Integrated Foundation Year entry
GCE A/AS Levels
2 A-level qualifications at grades CC or higher.
BTEC Extended Diploma (QCF or RQF)
Merit, Merit, Pass in an art, design or media related subject
BTEC Diploma (QCF or RQF)
Distinction, Merit in an art, design or media related subject
T Levels
Pass (D or E on the core)
UAL Extended Diploma
An overall Pass
UAL Level 3 Foundation Diploma in Art and Design
An overall Pass
Foundation Diploma in Art and Design
Pass
Access to Higher Education Diploma (Art and Design)
Pass
International Baccalaureate Diploma
A minimum of 24 points
Norwich University of the Arts welcomes applicants of all ages from all backgrounds. Your application will be primarily assessed through your portfolio, responses to questions asked and personal statement, so even if you have no formal qualifications or do not meet our typical offers it can still be worth applying.
If you are studying at the time of your application and your application is successful it is likely that you will receive a conditional offer.
Find out more about four year degrees at Norwich
Teaching Staff
News
@norwichuniarts
Norwich University of the Arts is proud to announce that it has been named the inaugural Arts University of the Year by the Daily Mail University Guide…
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Norwich wins at Graduate Fashion Week 2024
Congratulations to Norwich University of the Arts students Zara Tuck and Lillie Westgate for their awards at Graduate Fashion Week 2024 which took place at Truman Brewery, London.
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Body Matters AHRA International Conference
Thursday 21 November – Saturday 23 November 2024
The 21st Architectural Humanities Research Association International Conference is taking place at Norwich this November, with the theme ‘Body Matters’.
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In conversation with
May is a BA (Hons) Fashion student and student ambassador. In this blog they talk about their practice, goals for the future, and what it’s like to study Fashion at Norwich.
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