![](/cms/media-library/images/solent-stories/cards/jo-joyce-course-card.x876595d1.jpg?w=600&h=350?w=3840&q=100&f=webp)
“The one-to-one tutor sessions give you great guidance and support when you need it.”
![Jo Joyce at a photoshoot](/cms/media-library/images/solent-stories/listing-card-image/jo-joyce-listing-card.x07ec3f37.jpg?w=3840&q=75&f=webp)
If you have an eye for style, make-up and content creation - this degree can help you turn your creativity into a fast-paced and exciting career.
Throughout the course you will acquire skills not only in styling, but also in make-up and hair, photography, retouching, trend forecasting and branding – making you a complete creative director with the skillset to become a distinctive and visionary voice within the fashion industry.
You will be supported to grow confidence in your understanding and use of independent learning and show an awareness of professional and personal development. And will be taught how to professionally apply the practical and technical skills developed throughout the studies for a diverse range of media and design platforms.
Crucial for this is collaboration and working as part of a creative team, with the ability to have an open and flexible approach to ideas. You will be encouraged to show initiative and demonstrate the ability to research and discuss sociocultural issues and perspectives that are related to the progression of visual design practice.
You will evaluate both contemporary, and historical fashion and lifestyle trends, for the formulation of creative and visual communication. And throughout this process, will practice self-reflection and critically challenge your own work and that of others, to develop a deeper understanding of your own development as a creative practitioner whilst being conscious and aware of how their work and research can impact on the wider community, both locally and globally.
Your learning is aided by free access to specialist hair and make-up studios. These studios include airbrush guns, studio lights and other industry-standard fixtures. Solent’s media academy boasts high-spec photography studios and IT facilities, as well as a range of the latest editing software.
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 5066If 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
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
You have the opportunity to study abroad in one of our partner universities for a semester on this course
The course can lead to a wide range of exciting career prospects in areas such as magazine publishing, studio directors, social media and e-commerce and PR.
Recent graduates have gained career opportunities at Vogue UK, ASOS, Fenwicks, Hungry Tiger Studios, Trendstop, COS, Graduate Fashion Foundation and Graduate Fashion Week. Our alumni also include those who have created their own career and business opportunities through freelance editorial styling, photography and journalism.
This course is suited to students who want to hone their creative skills, and learn how to channel these into the hands-on development of visual concepts.
Applicants should have a keen and broad interest in the creative industries, from fashion and design, to art and graphics, and will need to show a varied portfolio of both visual and written work upon application.
Hear from Solent alumni about where their careers have taken them and how studying at Solent prepared them for their future.
Read more stories“The one-to-one tutor sessions give you great guidance and support when you need it.”
The course teaching team maintain close links with the industry, giving students access to unique industry insight from a range of high-profile guest speakers.
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.
You’ll have access to a specialist make-up and hair studio with industry-standard airbrush guns and studio lighting; modern photography studios; a comprehensive media loans scheme; and a range of well-equipped IT labs.
Our vibrant campus brings state-of-the-art facilities to enhance your learning and elevate your student experience. Our award-winning teaching building, The Spark is centred around students and offers a stimulating study environment with flexible learning spaces. 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.
On this module you will be introduced to the practicalities of working as part of a team, and shooting in a studio environment. Discovering the relationship between lighting, model choice and direction, along with post-production, make-up/hair/fashion styling.
It is important to look at cultural and socio-economic phenomena with a critical eye, and this module will teach you how to do just that. You will practice how to analyse and discuss contemporary culture and its historical foundations, and understand how art can interpret and reflect the worries and desires of a particular society.
Through related technical sessions you will build a foundation of skills to aid the production of photoshoots and design-focused layouts. This will allow you to gain vital understanding of processes important to the publishing industry, and thinking how an image will be used, to give you a deeper understanding of design contexts.
You will learn the central skills required when capturing beauty image and moving media, the processes explored in seminar and through lectures will look at historical understanding of beauty and the contemporary industry imagery that informs trend led ideas and outcomes. This will introduce you to fundamental knowledge of how to link your technical photography and fashion research when creating beauty focused imagery for editorial and advertising purposes.
This module will provide you with an in-depth understanding of editorial fashion, target audiences and aesthetic principles. Understanding a broad range of aspects when it comes to magazine production and publishing, will equip you with the necessary knowledge needed to make well-informed creative decisions when creating work for any publication in industry.
This module will change the way you look at images. It will allow you to better understand the meaning of images and their place in the world. You’ll learn to read the content of images, going beyond the surface to the underlying message. You’ll also learn to look at images from a theoretical point of view and use this deeper understanding of images in the creation of your own written and practical work.
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.
The fashion industry is constantly developing and changing, thanks to the continuous advancement in technology and social and cultural trends in media and design. Gaining a solid foundation in the fundamental styling skills and ability needed to shoot successful visuals in a photography studio environment, along with the introduction and exploration of post-production techniques are key to preparing you for your creative development throughout your degree course. The skills delivered on this course go beyond producing editorial fashion shoots and stresses advertising campaigns, and experimental or commercial moving image.
Typical salary: £25,000 to £65,000
Many entrants to the profession start as assistants, where salaries can be set at the national minimum wage. In full-time employment, early career salaries are typically between £16,000 and £22,000. Salaries can increase to anywhere from £25,000 to £65,000. The top end of the scale is typically for those who have a strong reputation and are highly sought-after, which takes years of experience. As a freelance photographer, your earnings are linked to what you can charge and how much work you can secure.
Senior stylist: £23,000 to £30,000
Employed junior stylists can expect to earn in the region of £18,000 to £20,000. Senior stylists earn higher salaries of between £23,000 and £30,000. Being a freelancer is very common in this industry, and as a freelancer you'll be paid either a daily or hourly rate. An assistant stylist can earn anything from £50 to £150 per day, but if paid hourly, this is in the region of £7.70 to £8.20 per hour.
Per day: £275
Make-up artists working in fashion can earn £450 a day for an event like London Fashion Week, and around £275 for other events. For fashion editorial work head make-up artists earn £170 to £320 per day, depending on the designer. On major feature films, with budgets over £30million, a trainee make-up artist can earn £140 for a ten-hour day, while a key hair and make-up artist with several years' experience, will earn £410.
The stated salaries are published on prospects.ac.uk.
Hear from Solent alumni about where their careers have taken them and how studying at Solent prepared them for their future.
Read more stories“The one-to-one tutor sessions give you great guidance and support when you need it.”
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
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
Do you have an eye for design? Would you like to help influence the future of visual communications? Our MA Visual Communication degree is ideal for creatives keen to refine their practice, working as part of an interdisciplinary group of students.
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.