BA Fashion Design: New Practice with Foundation Year
About this course
BA (Hons) Fashion Design: New Practice with Foundation Year is a four-year undergraduate degree centred on contemporary fashion design, business practices, and technical garment creation. Core topics include Research Methods, Marketing, Critical & Analytical Thinking, and Entrepreneurship. The programme includes a compulsory foundation year designed to build academic and practical skills before progression into the main degree. The first year covers introductory media and design concepts through modules such as Contextual Studies in Media and Design, Creative Sectors in Media and Design, Personalised Learning, and Creative Research in Media and Design. Year two explores sustainable practices and industry roles with compulsory study in Conscientious Practice 1: Understanding Sustainability, Conscientious Practice 2: Item Through Identity, Fashion Business and the Consumer, and Fashion Futures/Roles and Forecasting. The third year advances professional awareness through Professional Development and Industry Practice, Design Construction: Introduction to Outerwear, Practice Vision, and Fashion Collaborative Practice, alongside optional choices like Textiles Craft: Print or Knit and Design Technology. The final year culminates in advanced collection realization and brand strategy via Fashion Artefact or Craft Redefined, Fashion Entrepreneurship and Brand Vision, Global Fashion Vision, Major Project: Realisation, and Portfolio and Personal Positioning.
Written by AI from the university's course page and module list. It can get details wrong, so check the official course page before you rely on it.
Entry requirements
72 UCAS points required from level 3 qualifications. These can include: A-Levels at grades B and C (if you have two A-Levels) or grades D, D and D (if you have three), or above BTEC Extended Diploma with Merit, Merit, Pass Access to HE Diploma T-Levels You also need GCSE English and Maths (grade 9-4 / A*-C) or Level 2 equivalents.
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What students say
Based on about 51 final-year students who answered, across similar courses at this university
- Teaching on my course: 86%
- Learning opportunities: 86%
- Assessment and feedback: 85%
- Academic support: 89%
- Organisation and management: 68%
- Learning resources: 85%
- Student voice: 87%
Do students stay on the course?
Based on about 75 students who started, across similar courses at this university
- Continued on course: 66%
- Gained a higher qualification: 3%
- Left higher education: 31%
What graduates do next
Based on about 8 graduates who answered, across similar courses at this university (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Working: 85%
- Working and studying: 5%
Most common jobs
- Administrative occupations: 25%
- Web and Multimedia Design Professionals: 25%
- Business and public service associate professionals: 15%
- Skilled trades occupations: 10%
- Media Professionals: 10%
- Find their work meaningful: 55%
- Feel on track for their future plans: 40%
- Use what they learnt on the course: 50%
Where graduates work (5 years on)
Based on about 55 graduates, across similar courses at this university
- North West: 2%
- Yorkshire and the Humber: 4%
- East Midlands: 4%
- West Midlands: 6%
- East of England: 8%
- London: 58%
- South East: 15%
- South West: 4%
Who gets in
Based on about 70 students who started, across similar courses at this university
- A levels: 68%
- A degree: 3%
- Other HE qualification: 18%
- No formal qualifications: 11%
Accreditation & quality ratings
TEF 2023 (whole university): Silver overall, Gold for student experience, Bronze for student outcomes.
Modules
- Contextual Studies in Media and Design
- Creative Sectors in Media and Design
- Personalised Learning
- Creative Research in Media and Design
- Study Skills for Success
- Major Project (Foundation Year)
- Conscientious Practice 1: Understanding Sustainability
- Conscientious Practice 2: Item Through Identity
- Fashion Business and the Consumer
- Fashion Futures/Roles and Forecasting
- Fashion in Context One
- Fashion Research in Context
- Professional Development and Industry Practice
- Design Construction: Introduction to Outerwear
- Practice Vision
- Fashion Collaborative Practice
- Fashion Debate and Polemic
- Textiles Craft: Print or Knit
- Design Technology
- Fashion Artefact or Craft Redefined
- Fashion Entrepreneurship and Brand Vision
- Global Fashion Vision
- Major Project: Realisation
- Portfolio and Personal Positioning
Questions about this course
How much do graduates of BA Fashion Design: New Practice with Foundation Year at University of West London earn?
The median salary is £26,000 after 15 months, £20,000 after 3 years, £24,000 after 5 years. After five years the middle half of graduates earn between £19,000 and £29,000. The £24,000 median after five years is £2,000 less than the UK median for Design studies.
What do graduates of BA Fashion Design: New Practice with Foundation Year at University of West London do next?
85% were in work or further study 15 months after finishing (Graduate Outcomes 2023-24).
Are students happy with the teaching on BA Fashion Design: New Practice with Foundation Year at University of West London?
86% of final-year students were positive about the teaching in the National Student Survey 2025-26.
What grades do I need for BA Fashion Design: New Practice with Foundation Year at University of West London?
The typical offer is BC at A level. The average entrant had 97 UCAS points.
How many students continue on BA Fashion Design: New Practice with Foundation Year at University of West London?
66% of students continued into their second year, and 31% left higher education.