Expression. Innovation. Production.

The BA (Hons) Fashion course at Northumbria offers you the opportunity to explore craftsmanship, aesthetics and the encapsulation of the body through a range of materials, pattern cutting and manufacturing processes, constructed knitwear and printed textiles for fashion.

This four-year sandwich course has an established reputation for producing directional designers with the creative vision and the commercial realism to begin a career within the Fashion sector.

This Fashion programme has successfully developed the professional identity of our graduates since 1955.

You will learn how to challenge the conventions of contemporary fashion through design research and critical reflection, set against the study of traditional values of high craftsmanship that underpin garment-making and textile construction; from haute couture collections and archival fashion, to emerging new designers sustainability and ethical fashion practice.

You will be supported in your journey by experienced academic and technical staff helping you to identify a personal fashion design philosophy, and develop your intellectual design practice and artisan craft skills. Moreover, you'll have the opportunity to explore our Fashion Masters program, which will keep you ahead in the constantly evolving fashion industry, allowing you to enhance your creative abilities and excel in this dynamic field.

Why study Fashion at Northumbria?

Top Department - Northumbria is ranked 12th in the UK for Fashion & Textiles (Guardian University League Table, 2024).

Research Powerhouse - Art and Design at Northumbria is ranked 4th in the UK for research power (REF, 2021). This is a rise of 6 places compared to 2014.

Graduate Prospects - Art & Design at Northumbria is ranked 9th in the UK for Graduate Prospects (Times Good University Guide, 2024).

Student Rated - 93% of students studying Design at Northumbria believed they had chance to explore ideas and concepts in depth (NSS, 2023).

You can check out our similar courses such as our Ethical Fashion Masters that is a conscious decision to combine your love for fashion with a commitment to social responsibility, as it offers the chance to explore innovative approaches to design and production that prioritize ethical sourcing, sustainability, and positive social impact.

See other similar courses you may be interested in, like BA (Hons) Fashion Communication, MA Fashion Design (Womenswear) and Mens Fashion Design.

How will I learn during my degree?

Learning and teaching centres around hands-on exploration of craftsmanship, technical skills, materials and processes enabling you to display evidence of your creative thinking. Activities in design studios and specialist workshop environments are integral to this process in all levels of your study, encouraging individual creative freedom in a collaborative design community.

We aim to nurture innovative designers through project-based teaching and learning strategies, integrating design practice, knowledge, intellectual and transferable skills.

Assessment principles on the Fashion course are planned to support your progression and use a wide range of projects and tasks that are reinforced through both formative and summative assessment.

• See all the Modules for this Fashion course

Where will I learn during my studies?

A studio-based and workshop-based learning environment is at the core of this course and you’ll find that the technical facilities at Northumbria are excellent. You’ll have access to a specialist Mac laboratory as well as several mobile laboratories that deliver IT facilities for creative working. The machine room is equipped to industry standards and you can use digitally-enabled textile printing, pattern-making and embroidery. Everything is supported by skilled technical staff who will help you make the best use of all the facilities that are available.

Technology is embedded throughout the course with tools such as the ‘Blackboard’ eLearning Portal and electronic reading lists that will guide your preparation for seminars and independent research. Electronic Submission and Feedback (eSAF) will facilitate feedback on your project work, while Turnitin will reinforce a critical approach to research and the development of your own ideas.

How is design research applied to teaching throughout my degree?

Fashion is a practice-based course driven by research and delivered by dynamic, industry-experienced and entrepreneurial staff who are research active. This energetic environment provides a framework that creates an enquiring, analytical and creative approach to complex design challenges.

Throughout your studies, you’ll undertake enquiry-based learning that involves self-initiated research, independent judgement and critical self-awareness. You’ll become an active participant in your learning as you tackle real-life challenges, integrating fashion design practice with research, academic and intellectual skills.

In your first year (level 4) you’ll be introduced to research methodologies, studio and workshop activities, giving you the knowledge of industry standards and professional competencies to prepare you for industrial placement or study abroad.

During your second and third years (level 5) industrial placement, competitions and industrially linked ‘live’ projects allow you to contextualise your prior learning and further develop your practical competencies to work collaboratively to industry standards.

By your final year, your design practice will be informed by current critical debate, and a creative and exploratory approach to your own specialism.

How will my BA (Hons) Fashion degree provide me with the skills needed for my career?

This programme has successfully developed the professional identity of our graduates since 1955. Undergraduate and graduate portfolios contain creative projects, some set by external collaborators, enable you to build and curate a portfolio of your own work. This portfolio will be a central element in applications for work placements and employment.

This course is a creative platform with a track record in educating a significant number of respected designers.

At Northumbria you will be part of a culture fashion design established in in 1955, crucial in developing your professional identity.

Your creative projects, some set by external collaborators, will enable you to build and curate a portfolio of your own work. This portfolio will be a central element in applications for work placements and employment