Curious about studying Fashion Design - BA (Hons)at Bucks New University? We've gathered all the key details—entry requirements, modules, fees, and more. Hear from real students by checking out reviews, or take the next step by booking an open day to explore it for yourself.
Bachelor of Arts (with Honours) - BA (Hons)
High Wycombe Campus
Full Time
Sep 2027
3 Year
You will master materials, both through traditional methods and using digital software. This includes an in-house fabric and yarn store, screen printing facilities, a dye laboratory and sewing and garment production facilities.In our professional-working studio you’ll have you own workspace which you’ll be able to turn into your own personal area, where you can bring your designs to life and surround yourself with inspiration.We also have specialist technicians and demonstrators on site to support and share their knowledge with you, when and if you need it.As well as this you may also have the chance to access to our photography studios where you’ll be able to work collaboratively with photography and hair and make-up students to build your portfolio, and network like you would in the industry.
Taught by industryLed by a dedicated and experienced course team, you’ll benefit from their industry knowledge and the industry links they bring to the course. You’ll get direct access to guest lectures, who are specialists in the sector, and can benefit from live project briefs, master classes, and networking opportunities. As part of the Art, Design and Performance School at BNU, you’ll benefit from a practiced-based course, supported by contextual studies. You’ll also have the opportunity to work collaboratively across the school with other courses, ensuring during your studies you are building a varied network, like you would in the real world.
ConnectionsYou could also benefit from masterclasses and industry brief opportunities, where you’ll gain an insight and feedback from current industry-leaders. For previous projects, we've collaborated with Alexander McQueen Studio, Chittleborough and Morgan, Mackintosh, Mint Velvet, New Star, British Fashion Council, UKFT and many more.
Top-rankedOur fashion and textiles programmes are ranked 3rd best in the UK (The Guardian University Guide 2023).Our students and graduates are also highly rated. Some of our student success includes winning a British Fashion Council scholarship, being shortlisted for Real Leather. Stay Different. International Design Competition, being a runner up for New Designers collaboration award with OPPO and being shortlisted for the Artsthread /Gucci award.
What will I study?On our BA (Hons) in Fashion Design degree programme, you’ll explore the many twists and turns of fashion, as well as how to research and develop ideas to produce exciting and innovative fashion. The course cultivates new ways of making and thinking.Creativity, innovation, holistic thinking and the development of your unique style are at the core of this fashion degree programme. The course aims to develop your knowledge and skills in fashion design on both an artistic and professional level. You will be encouraged to research, interpret and develop your own appreciation of the use of traditional techniques, new technologies, materials and innovative design solutions.During your time with us, you’ll learn approaches that will enable you to understand the design process from concept, through design to production and product placement. You’ll delve into the core fundamentals, including 2D and 3D, advanced pattern cutting, manufacturing processes, illustration and processes and materials workshops. Upon graduating from this fashion design degree you’ll have developed your aesthetic style, which will then lead on to the completion of a final capsule collection, and an industry ready portfolio and promotion package. This course is also offered as a four-year programme, including an initial Foundation Year. The Foundation Year will allow you to develop your academic study skills and build confidence in your abilities, identifying your own strengths and development needs for progression onto an undergraduate programme.
This module will continue to extend your application of visual research methodologies, alongside a series of practical workshops with the aim of enabling you to produce innovative and original ideas, which will form the basis of your design project.
This module will introduce you to a range of pattern cutting and construction techniques that will enable you to learn the technical skills required to create garments for the fashion and costume sectors. Gaining an understanding of how weight, drape or composition of materials can influence your choice of construction method and enhance the style of a design.
This module will extend your awareness and ability to consider fabric weight, drape and composition when designing and making a garment. Whether it is from a historic or future design perspective these key attributes will inform individual experimentation, choice of construction and pattern cutting.
The focus of this module is to help you develop the skills and knowledge of how to present your work within a professional context. This will enable you to develop a creative identity as a designer-maker and develop your understanding of the relationship between your external profiles and employability opportunities within the fashion sector.
In this module, you’ll be introduced to a range of theories, contexts and cultural themes associated with fashion, clothing textiles and costume design. You’ll develop academic and theoretical approaches towards the history of fashion, clothing textiles and costume design and the contemporary fashion, textiles, and costume design for film.
On this module you’ll be presented with key global debates which impact our lives and could influence your creative practice and positions as creatives in ever-changing professional industries. Through research and critical reflection, you’ll explore these issues which may be related to sustainability, politics and other ecological or socio- economic factors, and respond to them creatively using your chosen discipline-specific practice.
This module seeks to extend your knowledge of professional ways of working and frameworks within the fashion industry for a contemporary global fashion brand. By learning how to interpret themes, analyze macro and micro data relating to trends, contemporary society and external influences, you’ll design a cohesive collection for a specific market.
This module seeks to extend your knowledge of professional ways of working when designing for a high street brand. Gaining an understanding of current and emerging regulations relating to sustainable and ethical ways of working throughout the supply chain and widening understanding of how these influence design outcomes.
The industry brief will provide a framework which introduces you to the wider macro and micro factors which influence product development and ways of working within their sector. This will provide you with an opportunity to extend their knowledge and awareness of the complexity of factors such as ethics and sustainability regulations, politics and social environments which will in turn influence your design practice.
This module aims to support your employability by encouraging you to consider and evaluate your design practice within a professional context and further your unique personal identity. You will be guided in the development of your identity as a fashion and textile designer.
The Research Strategies module is designed to introduce you to preparing and planning for your practice-based report in Year 3. Through a series of thematic lectures and seminars, the module provides a framework for you to understand and explore cultural knowledge, concepts in fashion, textiles, costume design and the broader field of art and design and popular culture.
The aim of this module is for you to complete a proposal for your final major project, evidencing how it will be developed in response to substantial research on the sector and reflection on your previous practical outcomes.
This module develops your research practice from the contextual foundation established in previous modules. You are provided with an opportunity to sustain the creative dialogue between their research and subject-based practice, enabling you to establish your professional and creative identity through a self-directed brief/proposal.
This module will enhance your understanding and appreciation of the roles, relationships, and responsibilities that can play a major part in progressing and sustaining your professional practice. You’ll be encouraged to undertake commissions and other work-related learning opportunities such as engaging with industry briefs.
In this you’ll develop in-depth knowledge of your chosen field of practice, which will support the critical appraisal process and inform the social and professional context for your work. You’ll also begin to develop self-promotional material and your understanding of key aspects relevant to business.
Through workshops, seminars, and one-to-one supervision tutorials, this module provides learners with the support required for writing their contextual report on practice. This self-directed theoretical/critical and evaluative piece of written work consists of a detailed account of the critical references surrounding your final major project.
4.4Bucks New University (BNU) is a student-focused university based in High Wycombe, with over 130 years of educational his...
