Studying fashion in the UK is not just about theoretical knowledge of fashion. The UK universities prepare their students for the highly competitive and fast-paced global fashion Industry. Students get a chance to explore cultural, economic, social, and ethical aspects of the industry along with an opportunity to create their own products.

Studying fashion in the UK will involve the design, production, and marketing of clothing, which can range from industrial to leisure goods across various sectors.

A Fashion Design degree from a UK university requires students who possess innovative thinking, creativity, and competence. Students will be offered a broad introduction and understanding of the overall design process while learning to review and appraise their own creative design style in regard to fashion and creative industries. Fashion is undoubtedly a competitive field and because of that many courses in the UK offer internships and work placements, along with regular industry visits.

 A Glance: Fashion Designing in the UK 

Why study Fashion Designing in the UK?

Students who earn a fashion design degree from a UK university can learn all there is to know about the global fashion industry. The creation, marketing, and sale of apparel as well as a variety of other products ranging from industrial to recreational items are all covered in UK fashion design programmes. Students who wish to enrol in fashion design programmes in the UK must be capable, imaginative, and original thinkers. More reasons for studying fashion design in the UK include:

1. Because the fashion industry heavily relies on networking, location is crucial when it comes to fashion design. The student's selection of location for fashion courses in the UK is therefore very important.
2. You can choose from a variety of fashion courses if you want to concentrate on the business and managerial side of the industry, costume design, or textiles.
3. Best-ranked Universities The UK fashion design courses are offered by some top QS ranked universities. These institutions guarantee top-notch instruction across the board.

Top Universities in the UK for Fashion Design

Top colleges in the UK offer fashion design programmes to overseas students who want a top-notch education and hands-on experience. Among them are:

• Loughborough University
• University of Central Lancashire
• Kingston University
• London Metropolitan University
• Staffordshire University

Let's go over each university's fashion design program in depth one by one:

Loughborough University

Fashion design is offered as a course at Loughborough University, and it is taught by a dedicated group of academics and industry professionals. The course will provide students with a wealth of priceless experiences that can aid in clarifying their ideas and approaches to clothing design. Being around by other creatives who share your interests throughout the School of Design and Creative Arts will also motivate you to attempt new things and research cutting-edge concepts.

Central University of Lancashire

The top university in the UK that offers a degree in fashion design is the University of Central Lancashire. The institute has strong partnerships with more than 150 global companies. The close relationship facilitates faculty hiring by illustrious fashion firms. You have the option of doing a work experience in the third year or moving on to the final year and earning your degree in three years. The best aspect is that you'll have the opportunity to work on briefs whose results are relevant to your professional aspirations and build a good portfolio.

Kingston College

The oldest university is Kingston University. It provides a fashion design education of the highest caliber. The course has a strong emphasis on radical transformation and design development. You will discover how cultural, social, critical, and historical studies affect design throughout the course. Kingston School of Art offers frequent workshops and specialized fashion design studios where you can practise sketching, 2D to 3D conversion, knitting, and other techniques.

 London Metropolitan College

Students at London Metropolitan University have the opportunity to receive instruction from fashion experts in real fashion studios. You will gain the information and skills necessary to start a career in fashion through the program, which covers everything from pattern-making and design to consulting and research. This fascinating degree explores the ever-evolving topic of fashion through visual study, design media, pattern cutting, draping, and sewing.

Staffordshire College

One of the top colleges that offers degrees in fashion design is Staffordshire University, which guarantees that its students acquire knowledge and proficiency in a range of subjects, including communication, fashion technology, and the fundamentals of the fashion industry. Following that, students can choose to specialise in a field that will affect their future. Collaborations, placements, and live projects are extensively emphasised in the fashion designing course to aid in the development of our students' fashion abilities.

Fashion Designing Program Overview and Course Curriculum in the UK

In the UK, there are master's and bachelor's degree opportunities for those interested in fashion design. Courses give students a thorough understanding of creative cutting, clothing fabrication, design, and other topics. Additionally, they will learn about marketing and customer awareness.

Courses Offered under Fashion Designing Course in UK

• BA (Hons) in Fashion Design - 3 years
• MA in Fashion Marketing and Management- 1 year
• MA in Fashion Design- 1 year
• BA (Hons) in Fashion Textiles - 3 years

Subjects Covered under Fashion Design Course

• Garment Construction and Technology
• Research Strategy
• Principles of Fashion Marketing and Merchandising
• International Trade Operations and Documentation

What students must look for in a fashion school?

The best-fit fashion university for some students might not essentially be a best-fit for the other one. Students must consider the below pointers while narrowing down the options.

 

• Location - The student's choice of location to study fashion courses in the UK is critical because this industry runs on networking. Studying fashion in London will put students in direct contact with the fashion and glamour world. Graduate Fashion Week provides international exposure to fashion graduates. The show aims to bridge the gap between education and employment.
  
   
• Available fashion courses - Do you want to focus on the business and management part of the business or do you want to specialize in a particular area like costume design or textiles. Make sure the choice, of course, fits the long-term objective of the student.
  
   
• Industry connections - mainly students must look for universities that offer industry placements with the known fashion brands or big corporates where students can work in the future.
  
   
• Global ranking - A globally recognized university and a vast alumni network can be a great asset for the students. This can clearly give the added advantage to students who are looking to apply for jobs and even starting their own brand.

Job prospects for a Fashion graduate in the UK?

The fashion industry keeps upgrading with more new faces and ideas showcased globally. Every country has its glamour industry offering better careers to aspirants and the United Kingdom is one of them. More and more students pursue fashion designing courses in UK where they get complete insight about the industry works and career scope ahead for them.

When it comes to the fashion design degree in UK, students learn about the design, production, and marketing of clothing. Students who want to study fashion design at a UK university must be competent, creative, and imaginative thinkers.

Fashion degrees teach transferable skills such as communication, presentation, and research as well as how to be creative with raw materials and how to succeed in a hyper-competitive environment.

Talking about particular job roles apart from being a fashion designer, the fashion graduates can also work as merchandisers, textile technologists, fashion journalists,s and even PR managers.

Several companies in the UK offer graduate schemes in particularly in fashion-related courses.

How much do the Fashion graduates earn in the UK?

82% of the fashion graduates in the UK find employment within a few months after their graduation. The rest of them either start their entrepreneur journey or sign up for the higher degree courses within the Fashion domain.

An average salary of a fashion graduate in the UK varies between £16K - £35K/month.

Entry requirements to study fashion courses in the UK.

Usually, high academic scores are not required in any specific subject to study fashion courses. However, a minimum score of 6 is required for IELTS. Students must also submit a portfolio of their designs and ideas along with a CV, Cover letter, and original mark sheets. Some top universities might also take interviews to decide on the fitment of the applicant for a particular course.

Students must meet specific eligibility requirements in order to enrol in fashion design courses in the UK. Several of these are listed below.

• Educational Qualification
• English Language Proficiency Test Scores
• Work Experience
• Passport & Student Visa

Here is a thorough analysis of them:

Requirements For Bachelors Degree

• Students need to have a high school diploma from an accredited institution with a grade point average of 3.0 and a 10+2 passing certificate. 
• For GCSE (SL equivalent) and A level (HL equivalent) Math requirements, certain institutions may additionally accept Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches (AA) and Mathematics: Applications and Interpretation (AI) as subjects.

Requirements For Masters Degree

• Students must provide an honors degree or certificate in a related field of study with 60-70%
• Students may ask to provide their digital portfolio having the evidence of skills required for this course.
   

1.   English Language Proficiency Test Scores

For the fashion design degree in the UK, international students must submit their TOEFL, IELTS, or comparable English language exam scores. The minimum test score needed to study in the UK for the English language is:

• IELTS- 6.0
• TOEFL- 93-101
• PTE- 62

2.   Work Experience

For master’s or undergraduate courses, universities may ask for work experience. So having 2-3 years of work experience in the fashion industry will work.

3.   Passport & Student Visa

Obtaining a visa and passport are a must for international students who want to secure admission to any foreign institution. To study at UK universities, you must have a UK student visa for application. Make sure you can apply for the visa at least three months before traveling to the country.

4. Documents Required for Fashion Designing in the UK

The following are important document specifications required for fashion designing courses in the UK:

• Academic Transcripts
• Institutional Certificates Original
• Scorecards of ELP and GRE or GMAT
• Statement of Purpose (300 - 500 words)
• Two or three letters of recommendation
• Resume or CV with any voluntary experience
• A valid copy of your passport
• Proof of Financial Resources
• Proof of living and study expenses

Scholarships to study Fashion courses in the UK

To ease the financial burden, you can apply for one of the scholarships for studying fashion in the UK. All the scholarships are given based on merit, academic record, and other skills. Apart from scholarships, student loans to study in the UK can play a significant role in easing financial stress.

There are also a number of undergraduate scholarships for international students to study in the UK. Majorly, there are three types of scholarships in the UK for international students-

• a. Global scholarships
• b. Country-specific scholarships
• c. University scholarships

What degree options are available in fashion courses?

The undergraduate degree is mostly of 3 -4 years and below are the degree options offered by the UK university.

• BA Fashion Marketing
• BA Fashion with Journalism
• BA Fashion Technology
• BA Fashion

The postgraduate degree options in the Fashion domain include;

• MA in Fashion
• MA Fashion Journalism
• MA Creative Entrepreneurship
• MA in Textiles
• Fashion Management and Marketing
• Fashion Media Production
• Fashion Photography

How much does it cost?

The tuition fee for studying for an undergraduate fashion degree from a UK university will range something between £17K to £20K/year. Postgraduate tuition fee ranges between £20K- £25K.

Best universities to study fashion courses in the UK:

• Central Saint Martins
• De Montfort University
• Kingston University
• London College of Fashion
• The University of Salford.

Apart from the tuition fees for an international student, the monthly cost of living for an international student in the UK can broadly be divided into 5 categories: Tuition fee, accommodation, food, transport and miscellaneous which is around £800-£1000/month.

Admission Procedure for Fashion Design Schools in the UK 

Students interested in fashion design programs in the UK must adhere to the following admissions requirements:

1. Visit the official website and look for the universities in the UK that offer fashion design programs.
2. Complete the online application and send in the needed payment after being selected.
3. Verify all the documents you'll need for the application process before the deadline, then upload them online.
4. If your application for master's in marketing programs at the colleges you've applied to is approved, you'll get an email from those institutions.
5. Get ready for the rounds of university interviews.
6. You will receive an acceptance letter from the school you applied to, and you must submit the confirmation letter within the deadline.

Living expenses

In the UK, the typical annual cost of living for students is about 2,500 GBP (INR 2, 39,163). The cost of living is influenced by the area and the total number of years you are enrolled in classes.

Other popular universities in the UK for fashion courses are;
 

• Trinity Saint David
• University of Edinburgh
• University of Staffordshire
• Loughborough University
• Bucks New University
• University of Central Lancashire
• Nottingham Trent University
• University of Dundee

Tier4 UK Student VISA

To apply for a UK student visa, check the documents listed below for a seamless process.

• letter of acceptance from the university you have been accepted to (CAS)
• Proof of funds.
• A valid passport and recent photographs.
• Details of your university and accommodation.
• Report of your health checkup
• A valid passport. (keep a page blank for the visa)
• Original mark sheets/transcripts

After collecting all the documents, Follow the steps below to apply for a UK student’s Visa.

• Sign up and submit your visa application form online. It is advisable to check the online appointment calendar to book an appointment. After submission, you will get an email with an application number.
• After receiving the email, Pay the fees, and collect the receipt.
• Now appear for the visa interview as per the scheduled appointment and submit the necessary biometrics, photograph, application, and other documents.

You will get your tier 4 student visa in 6 weeks time.

Frequently Asked Questions 

Ques 1. What credentials are required to work as a fashion designer in the UK?

Ans. In the UK, you need a bachelor's or master's degree from a reputable university to work as a fashion designer.

Ques 2. Is fashion design in the UK a field with enough potential?

Ans. Graduates in the fashion industry can choose from a variety of careers, including design, illustrator, textile design, buyer, and others.

Ques 3. Are there enough scholarships available to cover fashion design courses in UK?

Ans. Yes, many universities offer scholarships or grants for students pursuing fashion design courses in the UK.

Ques 4. Why is the UK so apt for fashion?

Ans. The spirit of UK fashion is distinctive and inspires people all around the world. The UK is known for its innovative trailblazers and expert workmanship from its top designers.

Ques 5. Is GMAT/GRE score compulsory for fashion design in the UK?

Ans. Not all universities demand GRE scores, but GMAT for masters is compulsory.

Zoom Abroad is a great platform that can help you find the best fashion program for you in the UK. Register here and create your profile today to get matched with the best-fit fashion programs offered by the top UK universities. Book a 30 mins FREE consultation with an expert advisor today. Other than Fashion there are a variety of STEM courses available in the UK. You can choose from Engineering, Medicine and, even Management to figure out which one is the most suitable based on your profile and long term goals.