Fashion Design (BA)

Please contact our enquiries team if you're not sure that you have the right experience or qualifications to get onto this course.

Email: [email protected]
Tel: +44(0)23 8059 5000

Throughout the fashion design course you’ll focus on applying what you learn through practical projects in the studio or other creative settings.

In the first year of your programme, we’ll work together to determine your strengths and interests by exploring different areas of fashion design. In your second year, a selection of optional modules will allow you to develop your talents further. Your final year will focus on communicating your ideas through creating and presenting a fashion collection and professional portfolio.

Want more detail? See all the modules in the course.

The learning activities for this course include the following:

• classes and tutorials
• coursework
• individual and group projects
• independent learning (studying on your own)

Course leader

Sharon Williams is the course leader.

With unrivalled exposure to industry, expert advice from the staff team and a portfolio that showcases your design, research and technical skills, you’ll be well prepared to secure a role in the fashion industry. You can choose to work for a niche brand, a major high street group, or establish your own label. Or you could go into fashion buying, trend forecasting or fashion PR. 

Our alumni work at places like:

• Alexander McQueen
• Burberry
• Stella McCartney
• Vivienne Westwood
• Urban Outfitters
• Topshop
• Net-A-Porter

We focus on your employability throughout your studies by offering:

• ongoing advice from tutors with extensive fashion industry experience 
• careers events to introduce you to potential employers
• creative opportunities with a range of companies and organisations

We are a top 20 UK university for employability (QS Graduate Employability Rankings 2022). Our Careers, Employability and Student Enterprise team will support you. This support includes:

• work experience schemes
• CV and interview skills and workshops
• networking events
• careers fairs attended by top employers
• a wealth of volunteering opportunities
• study abroad and summer school opportunities

We have a vibrant entrepreneurship culture and our dedicated start-up supporter, Futureworlds, is open to every student.

Our in-house Studio 3015 provides paid design and marketing internships for our graduates.

Through our network of institutional, professional and industry contacts, you’ll work on ‘live’ projects to build a wide-ranging, professional portfolio to show employers.

What your fees pay for

Your tuition fees pay for the full cost of tuition and standard exams.

Find out how to:

• pay your tuition fees
• calculate your student finances

Accommodation and living costs, such as travel and food, are not included in your tuition fees. There may also be extra costs for retake and professional exams.

Explore:

• accommodation costs
• living costs
• budgeting advice
• fees, charges, and expenses regulations 

If you're a UK or EU student and your household income is under £25,000 a year, you may be able to get a University of Southampton bursary to help with your living costs. Find out about bursaries and other funding we offer at Southampton.

If you're a care leaver or estranged from your parents, you may be able to get a specific bursary.

Get in touch for advice about student money matters.

You may be able to get a scholarship or grant to help fund your studies.

We award scholarships and grants for travel, academic excellence, or to students from under-represented backgrounds.

The Student Hub offers support and advice on money to students. You may be able to access our Student Support fund and other sources of financial support during your course.

Funding for EU and international students

Find out about funding you could get as an international student.

When you apply use:

• UCAS course code: FD23
• UCAS institution code: S27

Apply for this course

We will assess your application on the strength of your:

• predicted grades
• academic achievements
• personal statement
• academic reference

We'll aim to process your application within 2 to 6 weeks, but this will depend on when it is submitted. Applications submitted in January, particularly near to the UCAS equal consideration deadline, might take substantially longer to be processed due to the high volume received at that time.

We treat and select everyone in line with our Equality and Diversity Statement.

Please contact our enquiries team if you're not sure that you have the right experience or qualifications to get onto this course.

Email: [email protected]
Tel: +44(0)23 8059 5000