The university has international reputation for providing highly successful designers for industry. This course promotes innovative fashion design and encourages you to cultivate a high level of creative expertise, combined with an in-depth understanding of marketing and production. UoH offers you tremendous facilities and scope to be adventurous with excellent studio space, well equipped workshops and professional expertise. Companies are in regular contact to secure the students for industrial placement, sponsored projects and employment. UoH strongly recommends that you take the option of a placement year in industry. This year is invaluable as it builds confidence and also provides that vital element of relevant experience which is attractive to employers.

UoH students regularly enter and win national competitions. Success to date includes Worldskills, Fashion Idol and Euro Skills. There are also a number of optional visits to national and international places of industrial, commercial and cultural interest. These have included Singapore, Paris and Hong Kong.

Feedback from employers shows that they approve of the combination of design, marketing and production offered on this course. In short, you become more employable. Career opportunities are available in design, styling, merchandising, buying, selection, management, marketing, product development and manufacturing.

Specific requirements for this course are normally one of the following:

• Successful completion of a foundation course in Art and Design.
• 280 points gained at GCE awards or Advanced Vocational Certificate of Education (AVCE) A level or equivalent.
• An EdExcel / BTEC National Diploma with a distinction and merits in a relevant subject.
• Passes in GCSE Maths and English at grade C or above are also required.
• In addition to the above, strong emphasis will be placed on the quality of your portfolio and a satisfactory interview.

Year 1

• Provides a foundation and introduction to the primary principles of Visual Studies, Design, Sample Development, Marketing and Historical and Contextual Studies.

Year 2

• Focuses on Fashion Design, Womenswear or Menswear and Sample Development with Marketing. In addition, option modules are available in Fashion or further Visual Studies and Design Development.

Year 3 sandwich

• Optional Work Placement (UK or abroad)

Year 3 full-time/Year 4 sandwich

• The emphasis is upon a targeted fashion collection, which exemplifies innovative design concepts, advanced technical expertise and an in-depth market awareness and understanding. The Final Collection is supported by either Advanced Fashion Marketing or Fashion Manufacture.