BA (Hons) Fashion with Integrated Foundation Year

During Year 1 you will focus on:

• 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

During Year 2, 3 and 4 of the course you will explore:

• Concept research
• Sustainability
• Sketchbook and 2D development
• Fabric knowledge and digital print & knit
• Computer aided design (CAD)
• Creative collaboration
• Portfolio development
• Live project briefs
• Industry guest speakers
• Draping
• Lectra 3D design and pattern cutting
• Avatar digital design Clo3D and Marvellous Designer
• 2D into 3D resolution
• Manufacture and production
• Fashion promotion and marketing
• Digital showcasing
• Enterprise and innovation
• Final collection.

The Integrated Foundation Year gives you the time and space to build confidence, strengthen your technical skills and discover the fashion pathway that suits you best. Through studio-based, project-led learning, it is designed to prepare you for Year 2 of the course.

You'll explore four key modules:

• Module 1: Diagnostic exploration – Experiment widely, test ideas and make informed choices about your direction.
• Module 2: Technical – Build practical skills and apply technical knowledge across fashion processes.
• Module 3: Specialist – Develop and innovate within an emerging area of interest.
• Module 4: Integration – Bring together your skills and creative thinking to form a coherent practice.

Students will build fundamental skills in textiles, digital design directives, and the most current industry software and technology.

There is an emphasis on understanding fashion with a focus on signature and direction.

We encourage students to start thinking about their contextual studies research throughout this year.

Modules:

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

Students will gain greater understanding of creative collaboration and start to build a skills based portfolio.

We support all our students to undertake a work placement in the final term. Students start to solidify ideas about their signature pieces and brand.

Modules:

• 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.

Students will bring their learning together in a self-directed design project, ready for show or exhibition at the degree show.

We ask students to show their contextual studies research and thinking in a long form dissertation.

Students will bring together their skills in an industry ready portfolio whilst at the same time being encouraged to enter external competitions.

Modules:

• 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.

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.

UK students

Simply select your chosen start date using the 'Apply now' dropdown at the top of this page, and you will be directed to the appropriate course page on the UCAS website.  The UCAS code for this course is located in the course overview bar at the top of this page. 

The UCAS website will guide you through the simple application process. You can also apply through your school or college using the UCAS system.

Learn more: how to apply for an undergraduate degree course

The entry requirements for this course can be found in the relevant section above.

International students

Simply select your chosen start date using the 'Apply now' dropdown at the top of this page, and you will be directed to the appropriate application form.

For information on study routes, visa requirements, studying in England,  language and entry requirements, application requirements and access to international agents, please visit our international section.

Quick links:

• How to apply
• International Education Agents
• Visas and immigration
• Student visa CAS deposit refund
• International student FAQs

As well as womenswear and menswear designers, the BA (Hons) Fashion with Integrated Foundation Year course can also allow you to find employment in the following roles:

Accessories designer, art director, academics and teachers, activewear designer, atelier manager, brand managers, buyer, curator, childrenswear designers, costume designer, denim designer, digital designer, digital operations, data analyst/insights, display designer, e-comms developer, fabric buyer/developer, factory sourcing, graders (pattern), homeware designer, influencer/talent management, interiors for retail, jewellery designer, knitwear technician, lingerie/intimates designer, merchandiser, pattern cutter, studio manager and trend forecaster.

Students have gone on to secure positions at brands such as ACNE, Alexander McQueen, Burberry, Chloe, Givenchy, Joseph, Louis Vuitton, Maison Margiela, Oscar De La Renta, Stella McCartney and Victoria Beckham.

Throughout the course, students work on industry-led design briefs and competitions. This is an opportunity to apply their creativity and design sensibility.

In the past, students have worked with some of the biggest brands in the world of denim - VF Corporation encompassing Timberland, Wrangler, Lee and North Face. Recently, a strong and exciting relationship has been established with Kingpins denim.

Students have also been exposed to industry briefs with international fashion brands such as Roksanda, Haider Ackermann, Christopher Kane, Palmer Harding to name a few.

A work-based learning opportunity is an integral part of the learning experience at Ravensbourne. Past students have secured opportunities at prestigious brands such as Givenchy, Viktor & Rolf, AF Vandevorst, Haider Ackermann, Ann Demeulemeester, Joseph, Mary Katrantzou, Craig Green, Peter Pilotto, Hussein Chalayan, Christopher Kane, Calvin Klein, among many world-leading brands.

Find out more about our tuition fees and whether you qualify for financial support during your studies. 

Key links:

• Undergraduate fees and funding
• Paying your fees
• Scholarships, bursaries and other discounts

If you have any questions, we'd love to hear from you. 

Get in touch with a member of our admissions team:

T: +44 (0) 20 3040 3998

E: [email protected]

If you have specific queries about being an international student, contact [email protected]

For general information, call +44 (0) 20 3040 3500

You can also chat to our students