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Introduction
Why choose this course?
Key features
 We are recognised as one of the country’s most sustainable fashion and textiles schools (Green Gown Awards, 2021) and one of the best fashion schools in the world for 2022 (CEOWORLD, 2022).
 Work on live industry projects with a focus on sustainability. Students have recently collaborated with research teams on zero waste pattern cutting and repurposing and have also worked on briefs set by the British Fashion Council, Burberry, Warehouse and New Look.
 Enter prestigious national and international competitions to boost your industry exposure. Previous graduates have won a number of accolades at Graduate Fashion Week and received coveted bursaries from historic livery companies.
 Talented graduates have recently showcased their collections as part of various fashion weeks and events across the UK and worldwide in destinations such as Shanghai, Dubai and Hong Kong.
 Gain valuable international experience as part of your studies with our DMU Global programme. Previous trips have taken students overseas to visit global brands including GAP, Burberry, Coach and Joules in New York.
 The award-winning Vijay Patel Building provides both the space and the facilities to foster creative thinking, where ideas can develop and flourish for all of our art and design students.
 Benefit from Education 2030, where a simplified ‘block learning’ timetable means you will study one subject at a time and have more time to engage with your learning, receive faster feedback and enjoy a better study-life balance.
Overview
On this course you can specialise in menswear, womenswear and or fashion knitwear, and will study a range of topics including fashion illustration, innovative concept development, pattern cutting and computer-aided design (CAD) for fashion and design development.
You will be introduced to the academic, professional, industrial and commercial challenges of design practice and gain skills such as tailoring and fashion prediction. The first year provides grounding in fashion and design through practical, creative and technical classes and projects, while the second year is more focused, with emphasis on experimentation, in-depth project research and 3D development. In the final year you will set your own briefs and create a final collection of work to showcase your unique vision and talent.
There are opportunities to work with leading brands on live projects, work placements and competition awards, thanks to the course’s unparalleled links with the UK and global apparel industry. We aim to prepare you for a career in a creative multibillion-pound industry where you will need to be innovative, adaptable and forward-thinking.
Modules
First year
• Block 1: Inquire: Creative Contexts and Fundamental Technologies
• Block 2: Connect: Application and Communication
• Block 3: Product: Creative Design and Technologies
• Block 4: Define: Digital Abilities and Design Cultures
Second year
• Block 1: Enhancing Expertise
• Block 2: Cultural Contexts and Realisation for Outerwear
• Block 3: Creative Collaborations
• Block 4: Surface Application and Promotion
Third year
• Block 1: Innovation and Investigation
• Block 2: Pre-Collection
• Block 3 and Block 4: Major Project with Design Cultures
Entry Criteria
ENTRY REQUIRED DOCUMENTS
Home Office Share Code
For EU students only.
IF no Qualification
Please provide CV with at least 2 years of work experience, and employee reference letter.
Entry criteria
Typical entry requirements
We welcome applicants from a range of backgrounds.
 Art and Design Foundation or
 104 points from at least 2 A levels
 BTEC Extended Diploma DMM
 International Baccalaureate: 26+ Points or
 T Levels Merit
Plus five GCSEs grades 9-4 including English Language or Literature at grade 4 or above.
 Pass Access with 30 Level 3 credits at Merit and GCSE English (Language or Literature) at grade 4 or above
We will normally require students to have had a break from full time education before undertaking the Access course.
 We also accept the BTEC First Diploma plus two GCSEs including English Language or Literature at grade 4 or above
English language requirements
If English is not your first language an IELTS score of 6.0 overall with 5.5 in each band (or equivalent) when you start the course is essential.
English language tuition, delivered by our British Council-accredited Centre for English Language Learning, is available both before and throughout the course if you need it.
Interview and portfolio
Interview required: Yes
Portfolio required: Yes
Assessment
ASSESSMENT METHODS
1. INTERNAL ENGLISH TEST if you don't have an English accredited certificate
2. Academic Interview
Teaching and assessments
Structure
The focus of your first year will be to ‘Investigate’ through a grounding in research, concept development, 2D illustration, basic technical skills and design development. After completing your first year you will have the opportunity to transfer from Fashion Design onto one of our specialist courses - Contour Fashion, Fashion Textile Design, Footwear Design or Textile Design. Taster sessions in each course will give you a flavour for the different avenues available to you within the global fashion and textiles industry. You can transfer onto one of these courses for your second year should you decide that that area of fashion and textiles is for you.
If you choose to remain on Fashion Design, the second year aims to ‘Develop’ your skills and knowledge, building on the foundation gained in the first year. Your third year will ‘Consolidate’ your learning by bringing together all the skills you have learnt into a final garment that reflects your chosen area of focus and individual design aesthetic.
Critical thinking and research skills related to contemporary issues in the global fashion and textiles industry are integrated in each year, alongside career development skills and opportunities. Project briefs will enable you to produce work to a professional standard that responds to current industry demands and you will develop a personal portfolio that can be used to launch your career after graduation.
The assessments are designed to build on each other as you progress in your studies and you will have opportunities to receive feedback on your work throughout your learning journey. Assessment can be varied, but generally will take the form of a visual presentation either as a catwalk, or digital display.
Contact hours
In your first year you will normally attend around 18 hours of timetabled taught sessions each week, and we expect you to undertake at least 18 further hours of independent study to complete project work and research.
Ranked as one of the best fashion schools in the world for 2022 (CEOWORLD, 2022) and in the top 10 in the UK for 'career after 15 months' (The Guardian University Guide 2022), our innovative and widely-respected courses help prepare students for fulfilling futures in this fast-paced industry.
Green Gown Award
The School of Fashion and Textiles won the Next Generation Learning and Skills Award in the Green Gowns Awards 2021 and received global recognition in the International Green Gown Awards 2022. These awards are the gold standard for sustainability in universities around the world and this puts DMU at the forefront of sustainable fashion and textiles education in the UK. Sustainability is at the heart of our curriculum and teaching, empowering our students to be agents of change within the industry.
UK Fashion and Textiles Association
We are members of the UK Fashion and Textile Association which ensures our teaching stays up to date with the latest developments in the sector and provides valuable industry links that enhance our courses.
Career Opportunities
Placements
This course gives you the option to enhance and build your professional skills to progress within your chosen career, through a placement. Our dedicated team offers a range of careers resources and opportunities so you can start planning your future.
Our students have completed a variety of work placements with high-end designers ranging from and including Peter Pilotto in London and Hugo Boss in the Netherlands, through to high street retailers such as ASOS.
Tara Dickson undertook placements with Hugo Boss in Germany and high-end fashion label Peter Pilotto in London.
DMU Global
This is our innovative international experience programme which aims to enrich your studies and expand your cultural horizons – helping you to become a global graduate, equipped to meet the needs of employers across the world.
Through DMU Global, we offer a wide range of opportunities including on-campus and UK activities, overseas study, internships, faculty-led field trips and volunteering, as well as Erasmus+ and international exchanges.
Students on this course have recently experienced the culture and beauty that Paris has to offer and gained inspiration for their own work. They visited the Première Vision Designs Trade Show and experienced the scale and nature of the international fashion market.
Graduate careers
Our graduates go on to careers in a variety of areas in the fashion and textile industry as fashion designers, illustrators, pattern cutters, stylists and trend forecasters. They are working for global brands including Burberry, River Island, Alexander McQueen, Nicole Farhi, Reiss and French Connection. Many also launch their own successful businesses.
Graduate Mariah Esa won the Shein People’s Choice Award at Graduate Fashion Week 2019 and last year launched her second collection with iconic fashion retailer Browns.
Graduate Sophie Kempner's love for the sport inspired her new French sportswear brand Maratona.
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