BA (Hons) Fashion

• Research and concept development 
• Ethical and sustainability agendas 
• Creative collaboration 
• Sketchbook and portfolio development 
• Digital textile design: print, knit, embroidery 
• CAD: computer-aided design 
• Avatar digital design (including CLO3D and Marvelous Designer) 
• Live project briefs and competitions 
• Technical and creative pattern cutting and drape 
• Garment prototyping, manufacturing and production 
• Collections and product ranges 
• Enterprise and innovation 

If you are studying the BA (Hons) Fashion Design with Integrated Foundation Year version of this course, key topics of your integrated foundation year will include:

• Basics of fashion promotion, buying, and brand communications
• Conceptualisation and direction in fashion design
• Fashion illustration and life drawing techniques
• 3D draping and garment construction on the stand
• Techniques in fabric manipulation and digital printing
• Fashion styling and photography
• Brand identity management and creative leadership
• Prototyping, atelier practices, and digital tool usage
• Understanding industry trends and audience expectations

If you choose to add an Integrated Foundation Year on this course, you will be first introduced to the fundamental principles of fashion. Your foundation year gives you the time, space and support to explore your strengths, build confidence and prepare for the demands of project-based, industry-focused learning. Modules are as follows:

• Module 1: Diagnostic exploration - making informed choices
• Module 2: Technical - Technical knowledge in practice
• Module 3: Specialist - Innovating specialist practice
• Module 4: Integration - Integrated practice for progression to Higher Education

Please note: Students starting this course with the Integrated Foundation Year in September 2026/27 will study the 2027/28 approved modules in Years 1, 2 and 3.

Year 1

You’ll build fundamental skills in research, development and design for fashion and textiles. An introduction to new and emerging digital software stimulates ethical and sustainable debate, while contextual studies underpin fashion industry awareness. 

Modules include: 

• Concept 1: Research, Design and Portfolio 
• Form and Silhouette 1 
• Form and Silhouette 2
• Concept 2: Research, Design and Portfolio 
• Professional Life Practice: Developing your Practice 
• Professional Life Practice: Exploring your Practice

Year 2

Work-based learning options may include interdisciplinary projects, entrepreneurship opportunities and local or international placements and internships. 

Modules include: 

• Industry Project 1: Product Innovation 
• Industry Project 2: Innovation and Collaboration 
• Industry Project 3: Contemporary Tailoring 
• Professional Life Practice: Applying your Practice 
• Work-based learning 

Digital Technology for Fashion pathway modules: 

• Digital Industry Project 1: Product Innovation 
• Digital Industry Project 2: Innovation and Collaboration 
• Digital Industry Project 3: Contemporary Tailoring 
• Professional Life Practice: Applying your Practice 
• Work-based learning 

Year 3

Your learning culminates in a self-directed project ready for exhibition or showcase, alongside a personalised portfolio of work to take into industry. You’ll be encouraged to enter exclusive national and international awards to elevate your profile. Contextual studies continue to underpin your research and creative concepts throughout. 

Modules include: 

• Pre-collection: Concept Development and Prototyping 
• Professional Life Practice: Situating your Practice 
• Final Collection: Realisation 
• Portfolio 

Digital Technology for Fashion pathway modules: 

• Digital Pre-collection: Concept Development and Prototyping 
• Professional Life Practice: Situating your Practice 
• Digital Final Collection: Realisation 
• Digital Portfolio

Year 1

You'll build fundamental skills in research, development, and design for fashion and textiles. Emerging digital software opens up conversations around ethics and sustainability, while contextual studies ground your growing awareness of the fashion industry.

Modules may include: 

• Fashion Design & Realisation
• Fashion Fundamentals
• Fashion Inquiry
• Fashion Design & Materialisation
• Fashion Contexts 1
• Fashion Identity

Year 2

Work-based learning takes your practice into the real world. Opportunities span interdisciplinary projects, entrepreneurship, and local or international placements and internships - connecting your studies to genuine industry experience.

Modules may include: 

• Industry & Collaboration
• Fashion Contexts 2
• Career Catalyst
• Industry Practice Innovation
• Industry Identity
• Fashion Enterprise

Year 3

Your final year culminates in a self-directed project ready for exhibition or showcase, supported by a personalised portfolio built for industry. You'll be encouraged to enter prestigious national and international awards to raise your profile - with contextual studies continuing to underpin your research and creative thinking throughout.

Modules may include: 

• Capsule Collection
• Fashion Contexts 3
• Fashion Enterprise
• Major Project

All modules are subject to revalidation.

Graduates have gone on to secure positions at brands including ACNE, ASOS, Alexander McQueen, Bally, Burberry, Chloé, COS, Dolce & Gabbana, Erdem, Givenchy, Henry Poole, Huntsman, Jil Sander, Joseph, Junya Watanabe, JW Anderson, Louis Vuitton, Maison Margiela, Moschino, Oscar de la Renta, Paul Smith, Phoebe Philo, Prada, Reiss, Stella McCartney, Victoria Beckham and Vivienne Westwood - among many others. Others go on to launch their own independent brands. 

Career paths include:   

• Creative direction (own business) 
• Fashion design  
• CAD / digital design 
• Pattern Cutting 
• Garment technology & Quality control 
• Atelier / Studio management   
• Product Development 
• Fabric / material sourcing 
• Textile development (print / knit / embroidery) 
• Fashion Art Direction & Styling 
• Fashion Illustration

We accept a wide range of qualifications for entry onto our courses, whilst also considering the context in which they were achieved. For this course, we would usually require a GCSE Grade 4 or above in English in addition to any of the below;

• Two A Levels at grade CC or above
• BTEC Extended Diploma at grade MPP
• UAL Level 3 Extended Diploma
• T Level (pass or above)
• Access to Higher Education Diploma
• International Baccalaureate at grade 24 or above
• Other/Mixed qualifications equivalent to 64 UCAS Tariff points

At Ravensbourne we take a flexible approach to admissions, as we want you to know exactly what you need to achieve in your exams to guarantee a place on the course. We still think exams are important and look forward to hearing about your successes, but we place just as much importance on the work you will share with us as part of our interview and/or portfolio process.

Selection criteria:

Admission onto this course is also subject to successful completion of a portfolio (or showreel). 

We’ll need to see examples of your previous fashion design, textiles, new media and/or general art and design work. We understand your portfolio may still be a work in progress - please show the full breadth of your skills so we can evaluate your potential. We encourage you to include work from complementary disciplines or independent projects if they demonstrate your capabilities. 

Digital portfolios can be submitted as multipage documents or hosted via online platforms. Physical portfolios from A3 to A1 are welcome at in-person interviews, alongside sketchbooks of any size and garments. 

We’d like to see a variety of projects within your portfolio - ideally a minimum of two fashion concepts with around 8 to 10 pages each, plus additional supporting work demonstrating skills across art, design, textiles, photography and related areas. 

Examples may include: 

• Fashion projects showing primary and secondary research, development and final outcomes 
• Knowledge of the contemporary fashion industry: designer and brand awareness 
• Drawing and illustration skills relating to fashion 
• Observational drawing including life drawing and still life 
• Photographs of design development, prototypes and toiles on mannequins 
• Silhouette creation and pattern cutting - draping on the stand and/or flat pattern cutting 
• Photo shoots and look shoots of finished garments styled on models 
• Colour palette development, colour studies and colour theory 
• Textile experimentation and manipulation (print, knit, weave, embroidery) 
• Graphic layout and presentation techniques 
• Product design or engineering - for example accessories, footwear or non-fashion products 
• CAD skills for graphic layout and/or fashion illustration (such as Adobe Creative Suite, CLO3D) 
• Machinery and equipment knowledge, including use of sewing machines and commercial construction techniques 
• CAD and machinery skills are not essential - these will be developed further on the course using professional software and equipment.

At Ravensbourne we accept a wide range of qualifications for entry onto our courses, whilst also considering the context in which they were achieved. For this course, we would usually require a GCSE Grade 4 or above in English in addition to any of the below;

• Two A Levels at grade DD or above
• BTEC Extended Diploma at grade PPP
• Other/Mixed qualifications equivalent to 48 UCAS Tariff points

There are no interview or portfolio requirements for this course.