BA (Hons) Fashion (HE6 top-up)

Program Overview

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Course Details

We’ll support you to enhance your existing foundation degree or HND-level knowledge and skills, ready to achieve the status of BA (Hons) Fashion (Top-up) graduate. You can study key aspects of fashion and boost your employability.

At honours-level, we’ll focus on supporting the development of your personal studio-based practice, and helping you gain critical inquiry and research skills to inspire your work and enhance its quality and relevance. We’ll encourage you to explore the cultural, historical, theoretical and conceptual elements of fashion to enrich your knowledge and understanding of forecasted trends, fashion design history, commercial design and manufacturing processes, and material understanding.

Our experienced and dedicated staff will support you as you work to demonstrate your skills in pattern cutting, garment manufacture, fashion illustration and visualisation techniques, and the application of surface design and embellishment by creating a portfolio and sample garments to impress potential employers. We’ll encourage you to balance your individual creative expression with industry awareness for the production of innovative fashion outcomes.

We’ll also focus on helping you develop your visual display, promotion and fashion communication skills, to help give you the edge when giving professional pitches and succeed at interviews.

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Highlights

Our Art and Design courses are placed fourth in the UK and top in the North West of England for teaching quality by the Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2021.

Our team of highly knowledgeable and enthusiastic fashion lecturers offer face-to-face sessions and one-to-one support, ensuring you can access help and advice when you need it.

We’ll encourage you to enter national and international design competitions.

You’ll be exposed to fashion and fabric companies from the contemporary design world through our links to design groups, manufacturers and supporting agencies. You'll also have the chance to attend exhibitions and dedicated trade shows for fabric and sustainability issues in the UK and overseas.

You’ll have the chance to exhibit and showcase your work at national and international events, such as Graduate Fashion Week.

Guest lectures from specialists in different fashion fields ensure you have opportunities to learn about the industry directly from its current leaders.

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Key Features

You’ll have access to the latest technologies for design and visualisation, including Adobe Creative Suite, our Mimaki TX fabric printer, laser cutting equipment, and digital embroidery.

You’ll have the chance to develop transferable skills valuable for work in the wider fashion industry, as well as for related fields such as PR, events management, cultural policy and the media.

We offer opportunities to work on live briefs for established clients sourced from national and international trade events and professional bodies.

We’ll support you to explore innovations in fabrics and technology as you develop fundamental skills in fashion design, visualisation and garment manufacture and range building.

By choosing to study with us, you'll have the chance to enjoy Bolton's many shops, bars, restaurants and leisure facilities. Manchester, one of the UK's most multicultural and lively cities, is less than 20 minutes away by train. Not forgetting, the North West of England is renowned for its beautiful countryside, coastline and heritage. This makes Bolton an ideal base from which to explore some of the best cultural and outdoor activities the UK offers.

Program Outline

If you're excited at the thought of a career in fashion, one which shows off your creative flair and drive for contemporary design, this course could be the perfect stepping stone for you. As a BA (Hons) Fashion (Top-up) degree graduate, you’ll possess a range of practical and transferable skills such as technical drawing, pattern cutting, tailoring, sewing and the use of digital technology, as well as communication skills, self-promotion, creativity, commercial awareness and teamwork.

During your studies, you’ll be expected to spend time following and observing the latest fashion trends, consumer behaviour regarding buying fashion, brand awareness and ethical issues facing the industry. You’ll also be encouraged to develop a portfolio that will be crucial when you apply for employment.

Completing your honours-level studies should prove valuable in helping you achieve your career goals.

What can I do with this qualification?

There are many opportunities in the fashion industry in the UK and overseas. These range from top designers in well-established studios to high street retailers and manufacturing and supply companies. Employment opportunities vary and some of the typical roles you might consider include: fashion designer, CAD designer, pattern cutter, garment technologist, colourist and trend forecaster.

You could also study for a master’s qualification. Popular options at the University of Bolton include our MA (Specialist Title) via Creative Practice, MA Arts Management, MA Applied and Community Arts and MSc Entrepreneurship and Innovation.

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Alternative career options

Graduates can also use the qualification as a stepping-stone into a range of other careers. For some of these roles, relevant experience and postgraduate study may be required. These careers include:

Event management

Sales

Tailor

Costume design

Wardrobe management

Personal shopping

Fashion styling

Photography

Modelling

Jewellery design

Retail management

Textile design

Teaching and education

Research and development

Writing and illustration

Public relations

Self-employment