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“I am so grateful for Solent, I don’t think I would be where I am without the uni, course or lectures”
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Make your cutting-edge designs ready for the catwalk. This degree will nurture your creativity through practical experience from tailoring to streetwear in our specialist fashion studios.
Throughout the course you will be supported to gain an in-depth knowledge of the fashion design process from initial concept, research and design development, through to the realisation of final design outcomes. With the freedom to explore both menswear and womenswear, you are encouraged to include print design and textiles into fashion design projects.
The academic team have a real focus on getting to know each student individually, and with a wide range of design briefs, from the highly creative to live commercial projects, you will be encouraged to push your creative design skills and develop your individual design identity - gaining an understanding of where you fit best in the industry.
You will study a wide range of advanced technical skills such as creative pattern-cutting, garment manufacturing and digital print design in our industry-standard facilities. Our facilities include specialist machine rooms, digital and sublimation printers and a range of laser cutters.
Emphasis is also placed on developing professional visual communication skills, including fashion illustration, technical drawing and mood board presentation, enabling you to build an exciting and industry-ready portfolio of design work.
To complement your studies and gain professional industry experience, you will be required to do a work placement. Past students have gained internships at House of Holland, Timberland, Alexander McQueen, Ted Baker and Marks & Spencer amongst many others.
Work from our final year students across our fashion-related degrees is showcased at Graduate Fashion Week (GFW). In 2023, seven students have been shortlisted by the Graduate Fashion Foundation across a number of different categories at the GFW23 awards. Read more about the students and their work.
Contact international admissions
Email: admissions.international@solent.ac.ukCall: +44 (0)23 8201 5066Member of:
Our creative degrees allow our students to develop a critical eye for design with a knowledge of different design approaches and problem solving techniques. Take a look at some of the great work they produce.
You have the opportunity to obtain a professional membership as part of this degree
This course has access to specialist facilities
If you have an appropriate Level 5 qualification, you can top it up to a degree in just a year
If you're not quite ready for a full undergraduate degree, there's alternative entry through one of our foundation years
After successfully completing your studies, there's an opportunity to continue your studies at Solent
You have the opportunity to study abroad in one of our partner universities for a semester on this course
Solent’s BA (Hons) Fashion Design degree is for students who are passionate about fashion design; who are keen to advance their creative design ability, knowledge of fashion industry practice and develop advanced creative technical skills.
Applicants should have previously studied a creative art and design subject, and have a portfolio of design work that demonstrates their skills and love of the subject area.
This course primarily prepares students for design and studio assistant roles in menswear and womenswear, for a wide range of market levels from the high street to high-end.
Graduates also have the relevant skills to go into print and textile design roles. Graduates have also entered into roles such as; assistant buyer, production assistant, pattern-cutter and trend forecaster.
Hear from Solent alumni about where their careers have taken them and how studying at Solent prepared them for their future.
Read more stories“I am so grateful for Solent, I don’t think I would be where I am without the uni, course or lectures”
The University cannot guarantee any particular members of staff will teach specific aspects of the course in the future, but will endeavour to ensure the teaching team maintains their balance of experience and qualifications.
Students are taught in specialist studios with a range of industrial machines for garment production and pattern-cutting equipment. Access is also available to digital and sublimation printers and a laser-cutter, and photographic equipment and studios. In the third year, each student also has their own designated studio space.
Away from studying, why not try out the gyms, fitness studios and sports halls in our £28 million Sports Complex, or watch a blockbuster film at our student-run cinema with Dolby Atmos audio.
Broaden your horizons by adding an international dimension to your CV – essential to achieving success in today’s fast-changing, global environment.
Studying, working or volunteering in another country could be the experience of a lifetime. Enhance your degree by developing important global skills such as knowledge of other countries, language skills, intercultural awareness, adaptability and confidence.
For more information, please email international.mobility@solent.ac.uk.
You will participate in workshops to gain skills in drawing figures, faces, poses, fabrics and garments. A variety of media techniques such as collage and mixing media will be explored. Technical drawing of garments for production will also be covered.
You will gain a broader understanding of how to research in depth, evaluate and respond to your findings with personal creative ideas. You will be able to select, edit and creatively record inspirational material. Particular insights will be gained in analysing and forecasting trends.
This module will introduce you to the sequential processes relevant to the fashion design industry, following this process from concept to consumer. Exploring areas such as conception, design and production of fashion.
A key focus of the module will be on the presentation and communication of key historical time periods and the social, cultural and political factors behind the creation, production and communication of the fashion design industry.
On this module you will learn to design fashion products for specific markets by researching an influential Ready to Wear brand you would like to creatively collaborate with. Identifying trends and concepts that will appeal to the brand’s core customer, then translating these ideas into garment designs.
On this module you will consolidate your illustrative, research, fashion and textile design, pattern cutting, production and digital skills. Gaining an understanding of how to design for a specific market level and brand within the fashion industry and how to produce a garment to a professional level using industrial processes and machinery.
Solent’s curriculum framework builds on our unique, creative and applied approach to teaching. The transformation of students’ lives is at the heart of our mission as a university, and our curriculum – informed by the latest theory – reflects this shared educational vision.
Find out moreThe student achievement team are on hand to help you succeed during your studies at Solent. They aim to contact you at key times during your time here with personalised information, advice and guidance, by email or phone.
Access Solent provides information, advice and guidance for disabled students.
All students can access Succeed@Solent, Solent's online guide to getting better grades. It offers extensive, practical information and advice on topics such as academic writing, research and presentations.
A recent UKFT report shows that the UK fashion and textiles industry is one of the largest sectors in the country, supporting 1.3 million jobs and contributing £62bn to the UK economy. The industry also supported 197,000 jobs for people under the age of 25 in 2021.
To help prepare you for the industry, and thanks to the course team's close industry links, you'll have the opportunity to take part in live commercial projects in all three years of study.
You'll also be encouraged to collaborate with students from other fashion courses including fashion photography, make-up and hair design and fashion styling, providing excellent networking opportunities.
We take an active part in Graduate Fashion Week, with a number of our students showing on the catwalk each year. In 2019, one of our students was selected for the Gala Show and two students were offered internships at Givenchy. For the past three years, our students’ work has also been selected to promote Graduate Fashion Week and has been featured in Vogue.co.uk, Elle.co.uk and Drapers.
Associate lecturers are also currently working in the fashion industry, and play a crucial role in teaching on the course.
Starting salary £16,000 to £18,000
Junior designers could earn around £25,000 a year. Senior designers or creative directors can range from £42,000 to in excess of £85,000.
Starting salary: £15,000 to £20,000
A junior designer with one to two years' experience could earn between £22,000 and £25,000. Salaries for senior designers or design directors can be around £30,000 to over £40,000.
Starting salary (employed junior stylist): £23,000 to £30,000
Freelancing is very common - an assistant stylist could earn between £50 to £150 per day (£7.70 to £8.20 per hour).
The stated salaries are published on prospects.ac.uk. Income figures are intended as a guide only.
Hear from Solent alumni about where their careers have taken them and how studying at Solent prepared them for their future.
Read more stories“I am so grateful for Solent, I don’t think I would be where I am without the uni, course or lectures”
The Solent Futures team is committed to getting students into great careers.
While you are studying, the team can help you with finding work experience or placements, link you with a mentor, check your CV, or offer one-to-one guidance.
If you're in your final year, we also have graduate job opportunities just for Solent graduates.
6th
UK uni for sustained employment
Longitudinal Educational Outcomes, 2022
Member of:
Thinking about studying further than an undergraduate degree? Alumni can get 20% off their postgraduate study.
Take charge and lead a wealth of fashion and beauty brands to success with your innovative and creative vision on this practice-based master's degree.
Explore the rapidly evolving field of designing for future bodies, beauty cultures and creature design using speculative design strategies and augmented realities
The tuition fees for the 2024/25 academic year are:
For further information, please visit our tuition fees page.
While most course costs are covered by your tuition fees, some essential resources and optional extras may need to be paid for separately. These additional costs are listed below. For advice on budgeting and managing your money, please contact student.funding@solent.ac.uk.
The 2024/25 other costs are:
Compulsory costs:
Optional costs:
Solent University offers a range of bursaries and scholarships that provide financial assistance or waive fees for tuition or accommodation. Each bursary or scholarship has specific eligibility criteria. Check out our bursaries and scholarships pages to find out more.
Cost of living support
At Solent, we understand that the cost of living crisis may be of some concern. To help, we've put together some detailed information to show what support is available and how to make your money go further.
There is no charge to attend graduation, but you will be required to pay for the rental of your academic gown (approximately £45 per graduate, depending on your award). You may also wish to purchase official photography packages, which range in price from £15 to £200+. Graduation is not compulsory, so if you prefer to have your award sent to you, there is no cost. Extra guest tickets will go on sale after results publication and will be sold on a first-come-first-served basis. The cost per ticket is currently £15. Please note, we do not guarantee there will be any extra tickets available to purchase.
Please select an option below:
As a general guide, we look for qualifications that are equivalent to the British high school A-levels.
Applicants from outside the UK will be required to submit an electronic portfolio for consideration.
If you are applying from outside the UK, find information about entry requirements, visas and agents for your country here.
For further information about EU qualifications, please contact admissions.
For international students who do not meet the direct entry requirements for this undergraduate degree, our trusted partner, QA Higher Education offers the following pathway programme designed to develop your academic and English language skills:
As a general guide, we look for qualifications that are equivalent to the British high school A-levels.
Applicants from outside the UK will be required to submit an electronic portfolio for consideration.
If you are applying from outside the UK, find information about entry requirements, visas and agents for your country here.
For further information about UK, EU and international qualifications, please contact admissions.
For international students who do not meet the direct entry requirements for this undergraduate degree, our trusted partner, QA Higher Education offers the following pathway programme designed to develop your academic and English language skills:
All international applicants need to be aware that the English language requirements to attend Solent University, and the English language requirements to obtain a visa from the Home Office, may be different. This means that if you meet the Solent University language requirement to gain a place on the course, you may still have to meet additional requirements to be granted with a visa by the Home Office.
We strongly advise all applicants to visit the Home Office website which outlines all the requirements for a successful visa application and to take a look at our 2023 course entry statement document.
Contact international admissions
Email: admissions.international@solent.ac.ukCall: +44 (0)23 8201 5066Full-time
Any student applying for the first year of a full-time/sandwich undergraduate course must apply through UCAS (University and Colleges Admissions Service). This includes mature, overseas and EU students.
Nearly all schools and colleges offer their students the facility of applying electronically through the UCAS website using 'Apply'; it may also be used by those applying independently in the UK and overseas. This facility and all course information can be found on the UCAS website: www.ucas.com.
Your application should reach UCAS by 31 January if you hope to enter a course the following autumn. Early application is advised for the most popular subject areas. Late applications may be made until the end of June. The UCAS Code for the University is S30, code name SOLNT.
Find out what happens after you apply
Contextual offers
Solent endeavours to offer learning opportunities to students from all backgrounds. When we receive and review an application, we take into consideration the context and personal circumstances of applicants when making a decision, which means our advertised entry tariff could be reduced.
Top-up route:
We welcome applications from students currently studying a Foundation Degree, DipHE, HNC, HND or modules of an undergraduate degree course at another university, who wish to enter directly into Years 2 or 3 of one of our undergraduate degree courses. Please contact our admissions team for more information: contact us
Applicants who do not have English as their first language will be required to demonstrate an approved level of proficiency in the use of the English language. The agreed minimum requirements for this course are:
Qualifications are checked before enrolment, and international students must bring their original certificates or certified copies when coming to study at the University.
Pre-Sessional English programme
The University also offers a pre-sessional English programme for international students who wish to improve their level of English before starting a degree course.