Fashion BA (Hons)

Programme information

Our Fashion programme confidently prepares students for a career within the fashion industry acquiring creative, critical and communication skills. As well as learning the fundamentals of Fashion Design students are also taught key elements of the fashion business to enable their success in the fashion industry.

First year

Is a broad common first year for all fashion students that gives a strong skills base for the fashion industry. As well as studying the specific pathways, students will examine Creative and Contemporary Studies to place their work into context. Subject areas include:

  • Marketing and Retailing
  • Fashion Communication
  • Consumer Behaviour
  • Textiles
  • Contemporary and Contextual Studies
  • Fashion Advertising and PR
  • CAD and Presentation Skills
  • Production and Assembly Knowledge

Second year

Students explore current ideas, issues and innovations related to fashion design and acquire further knowledge and skills base in their field. Fashion students engage in a higher level of production and assembly as well as design at this level. Presentation skills are enhanced with the use of CAD and a variety of medium exploration and website development via Digital Application. A higher level of market and consumer understanding are delivered through industrial projects and collaborations helping students to further understand the relevance of current and core trend analysis.

Third Year

Third Year is focused on students becoming more actively involved with the fashion industry through a variety of interdisciplinary projects. A further emphasis on contextualisation of fashion design practice is required at this level to help prepare students for their career in the fashion industry including courses in:

  • Buyers Specifications
  • Fashion Design in a Commercial Context
  • Fashion Journalism

Fourth year

Students devise and negotiate their own project, which forms the main body of work for their BA (Hons) degree. A full collection is designed, researched and produced alongside an academic report to complement the creative body of work that is aimed at a specific customer and market level to complete a higher level of understanding and knowledge for the fashion design field.

Career prospects

Upon graduation, students pursue a range of careers within the fashion industry and its related areas of design; including fashion design, production, product development, trend and colour analysis, quality and technical assurance and sourcing.

Entry requirements

First year entry

  • CBSE or equivalent Minimum of 60% in Grade 12 examinations.
  • American High School Diploma Pass plus SATs with an overall score of 1500.
  • International Baccalaureate 24 points or above.
  • GCE A-Level CCC or equivalent.
  • UAE Tawjihiyya Minimum of 80% plus IELTS 6.0, TOEFL 550/213/80.
  • Foundation Year Successful completion of Heriot-Watt University Degree Entry Programme Design Studies with a BBBB. Degree Entry Programme Management/Psychology will also be considered.

Second year entry

  • GCE A Levels BBB in relevant subjects
  • International Baccalaureate 27 points
  • CBSE Overall 85%+ (in relevant subjects)
  • Equivalent programme studied at another university for first year level. Please contact us to discuss further.
  • The final decision lies with the Programme Director for students applying for an advanced year entry as all aspects of an application need to be reviewed.

Third year entry

  • Successful completion of an HND in a related field of study. Please contact us to discuss further.

Fourth year entry

  • Successful completion of a BA Ordinary degree in a related field of study. Please contact us to discuss further.

Additional information

  • Where English was not the medium of instruction at secondary school, applicants must demonstrate English language proficiency equivalent to IELTS 6.0, TOEFL 550 (paper-based exam); 213 (computer-based exam); 80 (internet-based exam).