Fashion (Top-Up) - BA (Hons)

More about this course

We'll invite major brands to share their knowledge with you. These invaluable networking opportunities will help you secure future internship roles and employment with industry leaders.

Throughout the year, you’ll study at the School of Art, Architecture and Design – our renowned art and design centre situated in the heart of London. Here, you’ll experience a multi-disciplinary studio environment where fashion, textiles and jewellery work in close proximity. This not only recreates the dynamic environment of haute-couture fashion houses, it also exposes you to the broader industry and the inspiring influence of these related disciplines. You'll benefit from regular feedback through one-to-one and group tutorials, seminars and critiques.

There are opportunities to collaborate with fellow students as well as ongoing live projects, international industry competitions and the chance to visit and participate in industry fashion events. 

As a final year student, you will have the opportunity to carry out an in-depth exploration of a topic of your choice in your dissertation. Our dissertation students all belong to a themed dissertation studio, which offers a supportive group context for planning and writing your dissertation, and specific academic tutoring about how to manage the project.

Assessment

You will be assessed via a portfolio of project work and written work. There are no examinations on the course. 

Entry requirements

In addition to the University's standard entry requirements, you should have one of the following:

• 240 credits from a Higher National Diploma (HND), Foundation Degree (FdA/ FdSc) or equivalent international qualification in a relevant subject
• 240 credits from years 1 and 2 of an undergraduate degree (BA/BSc) in a relevant subject at a different institution
• a portfolio interview

Suitable applicants living in the UK will be invited to a portfolio interview.

Applicants living outside the UK will be required to submit a portfolio of work via email.

We encourage applications from international/EU students with equivalent qualifications and also accept mature students with diverse backgrounds and experiences.

Portfolios and interviews

Your portfolio should be selective but have enough work to show the range of your interests and talents. We're interested in seeing how you develop a project from beginning to end, not only finished work.

Physical portfolio

If you are coming in person to your interview we strongly suggest bringing a physical portfolio of work.

Things to bring:

• Sketchbooks – we love to see your sketchbooks with ideas and notes, even if they are messy
• Examples of the development of a project from start to finish and the final outcome
• Some work that you are really proud of and want to talk about
• Some work that shows you experimenting with different processes

Digital Portfolio

If you are submitting an online application, please follow these guidelines.

Things to include:

• Scans or photographs demonstrating items from the list above
• Storyboarding for motion-based work
• Scans of sketchbook pages showing development
• Be sure to check the resolution and overall quality of your image to ensure submissions are not pixelated

Accreditation of Prior Learning

Any university-level qualifications or relevant experience you gain prior to starting university could count towards your course at London Met. Find out more about applying for Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL).

English language requirements

To study a degree at London Met, you must be able to demonstrate proficiency in the English language. If you require a Student visa you may need to provide the results of a Secure English Language Test (SELT) such as Academic IELTS. This course requires you to meet our standard requirements

If you need (or wish) to improve your English before starting your degree, the University offers a Pre-sessional Academic English course to help you build your confidence and reach the level of English you require.

Modular structure

The modules listed below are for the academic year 2022/23 and represent the course modules at this time. Modules and module details (including, but not limited to, location and time) are subject to change over time.

Year 3 modules include:

3D Project Design & Development (core, 30 credits)

This module currently runs:

• all year (September start) - Friday morning
• all year (September start) - Tuesday afternoon
• all year (September start) - Tuesday morning
• all year (September start) - Friday afternoon

Together with the Major Project Realisation module, this module is intended to prepare 3D Design students for independent practice, entry into the professional work-place, or for higher studies.

Through synthesis of knowledge of processes and principles, using an appropriate range of intellectual, creative and practical skills, students will design and develop self-directed projects. These will require negotiated and approved project proposals. Students will undertake in-depth research, well constructed design and making strategies and the exercise of thinking skills resulting in a significant body of creative work for exhibition. Using creative exploration and experimentation, students will undertake research, idea generation, concept development, material investigation, sampling, modelling or prototyping and visualisations that lead towards the project proposals.

The module will require students to critique and reflect upon their own work, adopt the professional standards of their disciplines and their positions in their creative sectors. The module emphasises self-direction and personal focus whilst acknowledging external and professional expectations and constraints.
Through the projects students will affirm their creative identities as they prepare to enter their professional fields and evidence their understanding of their future direction and position including in the context of professional responsibility and ethics.

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Critical & Contextual Studies 3: Dissertation (3D) (core, 30 credits)

This module currently runs:

• all year (September start) - Wednesday afternoon
• all year (September start) - Wednesday morning

Critical and Contextual Studies (CCS) Level 6 results in an independent dissertation. It builds on two years of undergraduate study that critically engages students in the history and theory of their discipline, its extent and conventions, and its broader social and material context in culture and contemporary practice.

Students undertake an enquiry into a topic of their own choice and, based on this enquiry, develop a sustained critical study building on techniques and knowledge developed in previous years. This study demonstrates the student’s ability to research a topic thoroughly, use appropriate methods of investigation, and work in a methodical and organised way to develop a coherent argument. It affords a sophisticated instrument for interrogating, testing and presenting ideas, and encourages the student to deploy and develop a variety of skills to show how well they can conduct and present a critical investigation.

The module rewards criticality and innovation and provides a platform for ambitious, independent work. To this end, it offers individual supervision designed to support the student’s learning. The subject-matter of the dissertation can be theoretical, technical, or historical. In terms of format, the dissertation may be envisaged in different ways and can include visual, technical or other non-written material which may form the subject of the enquiry and comprise an integral part of the whole.

The dissertation may be practice-based and include field-work and primary research in its methodology; or it might be theoretical in its outlook and draw predominantly on secondary sources. Its form and approach can reflect a broad range of discipline-specific approaches based on discussion and agreement with the supervisor and/or course leader.

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Major Project Realisation: Fashion (core, 30 credits)

This module currently runs:

• all year (September start) - Friday morning
• all year (September start) - Tuesday afternoon
• all year (September start) - Tuesday morning
• all year (September start) - Friday afternoon

This Major Project module enables fashion students to prepare for independent practice in the workplace or to progress onto higher studies. It is the opportunity to synthesise specialist knowledge and skills and effectively communicate these.

Students will exercise and communicate their abilities in selecting, analysing and applying knowledge, skills and understanding to a fully researched project in order to properly understand their strengths, interests and position in your field, and the potential for future professional development. A negotiated and approved proposal will confirm individual projects and direction.

Students will show an understanding of the complex and changing nature of problems in the professional sector and will devise and apply realistic strategies for constructing, applying and managing a process designed to provide solutions.

A professional standard of realisation, contextualisation and presentation will be expected, providing the elements for a portfolio of practice with which students may enter the field of employment, self-employment or further studies.

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World of Work (core, 30 credits)

This module currently runs:

• all year (September start) - Wednesday afternoon
• all year (September start) - Friday afternoon

This module requires students to develop the skills and knowledge required to undertake a researched, targeted exhibition or competition entry, or competitive submission for a commission, presenting the work they have developed within the major project in a professional manner. Students will apply understanding of the codes and conventions of competition, exhibition or commissioned work, contemporary curatorial practice, editorial and competitor approaches within a public exhibition. This will represent their independent critical position in relation to academic learning and professional practices.

The module demands a creative and disciplined approach to collaboration with relevant stakeholders and external partners. Within the module, students will experience work-related learning through live exhibition set up and realisation, submission for commission, competition or placement. Students will refine a range of transferable skills in communication, management, research and analysis and are encouraged to reflect and report on the work-relevant skills they develop throughout. Action planning, contribution to professional meetings, goal setting, negotiating, networking, project management, self-appraisal, team working are core to this module.
In the realisation of the exhibition/competition/commission students will develop and provide personal self-promotion outcomes to a professional standard, while negotiating the research aims of the brief and demonstrating mature creative practice.
The submission should reflect professional, creative and intellectual identity in preparation for entry to the workplace.

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What our students say

"The difference between London Met and many other universities is that the focus is on post-graduation employment. There is a great focus on practical skills for the workplace and the importance of workshops and hands on experience. Art and design based modules run alongside business studies to help us up-and-coming designers understand the real working-world."

Kate Woodhead, fashion graduate

Where this course can take you

If you want a career in fashion or you’re keen to undertake a Fashion MA, this is the perfect degree for you. Designed to help widen your opportunities and skill set and advance your career in fashion, the course focuses on the professional presentation of project ideas.

Following graduation, you could enter any number of roles ranging from working for a well-known brand at a junior level to becoming a freelance designer or even setting up your own label.

Other career paths include becoming a retail buyer, stylist, technologist, fashion writer or design journalist.

Important information about this course

We're committed to continuously improving our degree courses to ensure our students receive the best possible learning experience. Many of the courses in our School of Art, Architecture and Design are currently under review for 2023-24 entry. We encourage you to apply as outlined in the how to apply section of this page and if there are any changes to your course we will contact you. All universities review their courses regularly and this year we are strengthening our social sciences and professions courses to better reflect the needs of employers and ensure you're well-equipped for your future career.

Collaborative and international links

We have established links with international companies including Celine, Louis Vuitton and Marks & Spencer.

Additional costs

Please note, in addition to the tuition fee there may be additional costs for things like equipment, materials, printing, textbooks, trips or professional body fees.

Additionally, there may be other activities that are not formally part of your course and not required to complete your course, but which you may find helpful (for example, optional field trips). The costs of these are additional to your tuition fee and the fees set out above and will be notified when the activity is being arranged.

The School of Art, Architecture and Design Fashion Book

We have our own fashion publication that you can choose to be involved with. Our School of Art, Architecture and Design's fashion book showcases students' work and provides a space for students to reflect. 

Stay up to date

Follow our School of Art, Architecture and Design on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram to stay up to date with everything that's happening in our creative community.

When to apply

The University and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) accepts applications for full-time courses starting in September from one year before the start of the course. Our UCAS institution code is L68.

If you will be applying direct to the University you are advised to apply as early as possible as we will only be able to consider your application if there are places available on the course.