BA (Hons) Fashion Studies
THE COURSE
This innovative course reflects the way in which fashion
continuously redefines itself through processes of evolutionary and
radical change. The course is designed to stimulate curiosity in
fashion by enabling exploration and integration of the subject
strands of design and construction with fashion communication and
promotion and their application to new technologies as well as
historical and contextual frameworks. You will have the opportunity
to design not only garments but also accessories, fashion
jewellery, footwear and millinery. You will be encouraged to
realise your own potential and its appropriate expression across a
range of outcomes. Practical skills and the ability to think
conceptually, combined with commercial awareness, will enable you
to apply creativity and originality to your work and to be informed
by ethical and social issues. The course supports the development
of critical thinking, underpinned by effective research, and offers
our graduates a range of career opportunities that include
designing, buying, fashion PR and promotional activities,
contributing to magazines and publications or perhaps starting up
their own business. The course is structured through a series of
units that are designed to progressively challenge our students and
enable in-depth specialisation to take place.
RESOURCES
Our dedicated studios are equipped with a range of
industry-standard sewing and finishing machines as well as pressing
equipment, dress stands, cutting tables and up-to-date computers
with creative suite software. Our 3rd year students have their own
facilities to support final year projects, including an integrated
studio equipped with pattern cutting tables, industrial sewing
machines and computer suite.
We have a large studio and a seminar and theory room for lectures and audio visual presentations. You will also have access to a range of University College resources including the specialist library, which includes a unique collection of fashion and sub-culture magazines dating from the 1950s to the present day. The members of the course team are specialists in their subject areas of design, promotion and historical studies. Subject specialists and visiting practitioners complement the course team and offer a range of additional knowledge and experience. The course has close links with the UK and international fashion industry and has a unique ‘pledging system’ which involves professional mentoring and support to individual students.
YEAR 1
Year 1 provides a fundamental underpinning to this three year
course and will introduce you to the subject areas of fashion
design and fashion communication, supported by historical and
contextual issues and the development of practical and transferable
skills. First Year students are eligible to apply for a sponsored
Scholarship award, which awards £3000 for students to use to
enhance and develop their studies.
YEAR 2
Year 2 builds on the first year of
study and enables integration and consolidation of learning to take
place. You will be introduced to individual learning agreements
allowing greater depth of study aligned to your personal subject
interest and future career planning. The content of all second year
units supports personal and professional development.
YEAR 3
Year 3 will enable you to confirm
your individual creative interests and focus on your chosen subject
specialism in design and communication. Emphasis is placed on
preparing students for their intended careers in fashion or
progression to postgraduate education. An opportunity to take part
in external projects and competitions is also offered.
This course is likely to offer a ‘Year 0' option in 2011 – 2012
INTERVIEWS AND PORTFOLIOS
A commitment to and an enthusiasm for fashion are essential. Any
relevant work experience will be advantageous. Your previous
studies, experiences and portfolio of work will be unique and, as
part of the interview process, we invite you to show us your
portfolio and ask you to discuss your interest in the subject.
We’re always looking for creativity and originality, something that
will distinguish your work and reveal your personality.
WHAT WE LOOK FOR
We recognise that everyone has different skills, portfolios and
experiences, so what we look for is potential through a broad range
of work that expresses the scope of your creative experiences and
shows evidence of enquiry and experimentation. Previous sewing
experience might be useful but is not necessary as this will be
taught during the first year. We are looking for enthusiastic
students who are committed to pursuing a career in fashion. Even if
you have not studied fashion in a formal way before, we would
expect you to keep yourself up to date by visiting exhibitions,
reading books and magazines and visiting stores.
SKILLS AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT
We encourage work experience and although it is not a mandatory
requirement of the course, the added value it can bring to
determining career ambitions is recognised; hence we retain strong
links with the international fashion industry for internships. We
also offer ‘live’ projects to our students in association with the
course’s industrial contacts to extend the available learning
opportunities. The course traditionally exhibits at external events
such as Graduate Fashion Week and The Clothes Show Live where our
students’ work is represented in the catwalk fashion shows. Study
trips to centres of fashion that may include London, Paris and New
York are offered as well as study trips to relevant exhibitions and
museums; we believe this to be vital for research and the
development of a personal style. We aim to offer all our students
the opportunity of at least one international trip in their first
or second year.
Our graduates are now employed in many areas of the fashion industry both in the commercial and high fashion sectors. They take up a variety of creative positions across the fashion industry, spanning positions in design, buying, styling and promotional activities for companies that include: Alexander McQueen, Paul Smith, Monsoon, TopShop, Adams childrenswear, Alice Temperley, Animal clothing, Amelia’s Magazine, House of Fraser, John Lewis, Fat Face sportswear, New Look, Rebeka Minkoff (NY), Red Magazine, Siv Stoldal and Wallis. Other students have focused on establishing their own labels in the UK and overseas.
COURSE DETAILS
Mode of Study: Full-time
Course Duration: 3 years
Institution Code: A66
UCAS CODE
W230
Year 0: W234
COURSE LEADER
Ann Chaisty
CONTACT
Admissions
Tel: 01202 363228/363225
Email: admissions@aucb.ac.uk
