UCA School of Fashion & Textiles Guide

by Maryana Lazarova

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At the School of Fashion & Textiles, we pride ourselves on great teaching, great industry links and opportunities, and ultimately helping students to realise their career ambitions.

We work with some of the biggest names and brands in creative business through competitions, live briefs and placement opportunities - here’s just a few!

Comme des Garçons

TikTok

Baker

Reiss

McQueen

Mouret

Marc Jacobs

Max Mara

Ben Sherman Design

Textiles

Linley

Dedar

Apparel Ltd

Jaeger

Lewis Design Studio

Ratti Spa Design Studio Italy

Sandersons UK Designer Fabric and Wallpaper

Zoffany Fabrics

Opera House

Textile and Fashion Museum

Peter Pilotto

Preen

Cite de la Dentelle et de la Mode Museum, Calais

Turner Contemporary Quex Park Museum

Success after graduation

And our fashion and textiles graduates go on to amazing things – here’s just some of the career paths they’ve taken:

Karen Millen MBE – Fashion Designer

Priya Ahluwalia – Fashion Designer

Rose Ayling-Ellis – Actress, Winner of Strictly Come Dancing

Dame Zandra Rhodes –Fashion and Textiles Designer

Mollie Ward – Founder (SoMonroe)

Tihara Smith – Accessories and Bespoke Fashion Designer

Aissata Ibrahima – Bespoke Tailoring Designer

Claire Yurika Davis – Founder (Hanger)

Clare Lewis – Former International Visual Merchandising Manager (Topshop), Founder (Retold)

– Laura Baverstock –Specialist Hand Embroiderer, Embroiderer for Film

Seyon Amosu – Creative Stylist for Magazine and Moving Image

Ranked

(The Guardian)

Course index

Course UCAS Code

BA (Hons) Fashion Design

BA (Hons) W233

BA (Hons) with Integrated Foundation Year W23F

BA (Hons) with International Foundation Year W23H

BA (Hons) with Professional Practice Year W238

BA (Hons) with Integrated Foundation Year AND Professional Practice Year W23G

BA (Hons) with International Foundation Year AND Professional Practice Year W23J

BA (Hons) Fashion Atelier & Tailoring

BA (Hons) W237

BA (Hons) with Integrated Foundation Year W23A

BA (Hons) with International Foundation Year W23C

BA (Hons) with Professional Practice Year W235

BA (Hons) with Integrated Foundation Year AND Professional Practice Year W23B

BA (Hons) with International Foundation Year AND Professional Practice Year W23D

BA (Hons) Fashion Image & Styling

BA (Hons) W239

BA (Hons) with Integrated Foundation Year W23K

BA (Hons) with International Foundation Year W23L

BA (Hons) with Professional Practice Year W241

BA (Hons) with Integrated Foundation Year AND Professional Practice Year W23M

BA (Hons) with International Foundation Year AND Professional Practice Year W23N

BA (Hons) Fashion Photography

BA (Hons) W645

BA (Hons) with Integrated Foundation Year W64A

BA (Hons) with International Foundation Year W64C

BA (Hons) with Professional Practice Year W646

BA (Hons) with Integrated Foundation Year AND Professional Practice Year W64B

BA (Hons) with International Foundation Year AND Professional Practice W64D

BA (Hons) Make-up & Hair Design

BA (Hons) W452

BA (Hons) with Integrated Foundation Year W45A

BA (Hons) with International Foundation Year W45C

BA (Hons) with Professional Practice Year W453

BA (Hons) with Integrated Foundation Year AND Professional Practice Year W45B

BA (Hons) with International Foundation Year AND Professional Practice Year W45D

BA (Hons) Textiles

BA (Hons) W234

BA (Hons) with Integrated Foundation Year W23T

BA (Hons) with International Foundation Year W23V

BA (Hons) with Professional Practice Year W228

BA (Hons) with Integrated Foundation Year AND Professional Practice Year W23U

BA (Hons) with International Foundation Year AND Professional Practice Year W23W

BA (Hons) Printed Fashion Textiles

BA (Hons) W231

BA (Hons) with Integrated Foundation Year W23P

BA (Hons) with International Foundation Year W23R

BA (Hons) with Professional Practice Year W229

BA (Hons) with Integrated Foundation Year AND Professional Practice Year W23Q

BA (Hons) with International Foundation Year AND Professional Practice Year W23S

BA (Hons) Studio Practice – Fashion Design

BA (Hons) W400

Course UCAS Code

Credit: Evie Francis

Credit: Reece King

When thinking about your career, there’s only one thing as important as your education – building industry experience.

At UCA, you’ll be able to get both at once, building hands-on experience while you study through a range of opportunities designed to help you enhance your CV. From live industry briefs and work placements through to optional Professional Practice Years, there’s an option to suit you.

Professional Practice Years

Many of our undergraduate courses come with the option of an additional Professional Practice Year. If you choose this route, you’ll take a study break between years 2 and 3 to go on a year-long placement related to your studies – in a fashion house, retail brand, magazine or cosmetics company, for example. Learn more on the course pages at uca.ac.uk

Guaranteed work placements

Preparing graduates for successful careers underpins everything we do, and all School of Fashion & Textiles students will be offered an industry placement anywhere between two weeks and a year in length, depending on their individual needs. We’ll draw on our wide range of contacts within the creative industries to ensure you’re offered opportunities that align with your interests and future career aspirations.

Live industry briefs

One of the most exciting features of UCA courses is the opportunity to take part in   live industry briefs and competitions. Students on our Fashion & Textiles courses will collaborate on designs, creative briefs, and proposals which will not only prepare you for the world of work but will support you in making lifelong professional connections.

A foot in the door

Our students say...

“I worked with Ahluwalia in my second year at UCA on a six-week work placement that I extended throughout the summer. The experience was amazing, and I got to see how the skills I learned during my studies are applied in the industry. Throughout my placement I got the chance to work across product ranges and learn about skills from print design through to collection production. This work placement later led to me being offered a role as a design assistant at Ahluwalia when I graduated and I couldn’t recommend it enough!”

“Learning at Jiaran furthered my study on weave and pushed me to know and use new materials. During the placement, Jiaran and I discussed different ways of stitching and designing on fan faces. I was moved not only by how passionate and delicate she has been with the fan art, but also how open minded she is with cultures and different views.”

Fashion graudate Melanie Eames did an internship at Priya Ahluwalia.

Textile student Heidi Lyu did an internship at the Jiaran Art Studio in Beijing.

Welcome to Epsom

Our Epsom campus is located just on the edge of the town centre of Epsom, where you’ll find everything you need – from shops, bars, cafés and restaurants to nights and days out.

Popular spots include Rosebery Park, opposite the university, for socialising and relaxing, and The Faraday pub where regular karaoke takes place, as well as bottomless brunches, live sport, weekly quizzes and an extensive vegan menu too.

For shopping, there’s the Ashley Centre shopping mall together with a large range of high street stores, and

if you want a bigger day out, you’re close by to Epsom Downs racecourse, and theme parks Thorpe Park and Chessington World of Adventures –and you’re only a short train ride from the centre of London.

There’s also the Epsom Playhouse, with regular touring shows, famous stand-up comedians and tribute acts on the bill for a night out with a difference.

Meet our school community

Ezinma Mbeledogu Senior Lecturer in Fashion

“The sense of community here is really special - we’re really one big happy family! Being part of a student’s creative journey is priceless and it’s always a joy to see confident final year students graduate. The School of Fashion & Textiles provides a great opportunity to collaborate and also create essential networks.”

Jamie Backshall Fashion Technician

“I think the best thing about working here is teaching the students. No two days are the same which I love, I get to constantly problem solve and work out ways to construct garments when students are working on their individual projects. As well as teaching them, the role has also taught me a great deal which then allows me to take that into my own work.”

“Working at UCA, despite only being here for a few months has been not only enjoyable, but also rewarding. Seeing the students thrive and progress has been a joy. Aiming to inspire the students, I often find myself being inspired by them and their creativity. The diverse talents that are displayed across the Hair and Makeup course are phenomenal.”

Amy Flynn Technical Tutor Make-up & Hair Design

Tim Dodd BA (Hons) Fashion Atelier

“I chose UCA and this course due to the uniqueness of the course and it being the only one of its kind in the UK. Choosing UCA felt correct to me as it had a familial feeling, and I enjoyed the atmosphere and small class sizes. The community at UCA is fabulous - meeting new people and making new friends was so easy and enjoyable - I have now made friends for life.”

Aissata Ibrahima BA (Hons) Fashion Design

“I always say UCA was one of my favourite periods of my life - final year being the highlight. It was the most intense but best time, I made lifelong friends and really came to understand what kind of designer I am, as well as picking up so many skills. We were always encouraged to go as far as we could with our research and the whole development of the design process, which was my favourite part. The tutors were great at seeing what worked for us individually as students and designers and steered us in the right direction.”

Grace Moore BA (Hons) Printed Fashion Textiles

“I chose to study at UCA as I love that it is a fully creative environment so everyone can work together and collaborate between the different courses, bringing together our strengths and specialisms. We have so many great spaces and facilities we can use from exhibition spaces to digital fabric printers, screen printing facilities, photography studios just to name a few! This means we can learn a range of skills and expand our knowledge from our own course to others as we can come together as a community to learn more about each other’s specialisms.”

Credit: Lidia Zakowska

Credit: Lizzie Fidler

Living at UCA

Moving away from home is a big moment. Wherever you’re staying while you   study – campus halls of residence or privately rented flats, houses or lodgings – you’re about to have your first taste of independence in a diverse and tight-knit creative community, and we want to make sure you feel settled and happy.

Epsom halls of residence

UCA Epsom has four halls of residence, two on-campus and two slightly further afield. Prices ranged from around £162 - £187 per week (these are subject to change, but this gives you a rough idea of what to expect).

Worple Road

Located on campus, there are eight flats housing 54 students, features include:

En-suite facilities in each room

Wilberforce Court

Located on campus, there are 12 self-catering flats with accommodation for 70 students in total. Features include:

Shared facilities – one shower room/toilet per three students

Single bed, bookcase, desk and chair, wardrobe in each room

A shared kitchen/communal area with cookers and fridge-freezers, and small appliances including kettles and microwaves

Warden/security nearby for overnight duty and weekends Internet access

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Single bed, bookcase, desk and chair, wardrobe in each room

A shared kitchen/communal area with cookers and fridge-freezers, and small appliances including kettles and microwaves

– Internet access

Warden/security nearby for overnight duty and weekends

Bradford House

Around ten minutes’ walk to campus, this new accommodation houses up to 99 students, with up to eight students per flat. Each room has en-suite facilities, with a shared kitchen and communal space, internet access and security nearby for overnight duty and weekends.

Crossways House

Around ten minutes’ walk from campus, Crossways House is home to up to 99 students and is purpose-built for student living. Each flat has up to eight en-suite bedrooms, with a shared kitchen and communal space, internet access and security nearby for overnight duty and weekends. It’s located close to the town centre and the Rainbow Leisure Centre.

Private accommodation

If the idea of halls isn’t for you, or you don’t get a place in our halls, private accommodation is the way to go. There is a bit more to consider if you take this route, so preparation is key, as well as research and budgeting. We’ll help you with the process and finding the information you need.

Accommodation Guarantee

We’re proud to offer all firstyear students a guaranteed accommodation offer – either through halls or privately – for 2023. To qualify, you must accept your offer from UCA by the UCAS deadline (usually mid-January). International students applying directly to UCA must apply by 30 April 2023 to qualify.

Here to help

You can find out more about our accommodation offering, our services, our contact details and more about our Accommodation Guarantee for first-year students, by scanning the QR code below.

Our facilities and resources

Every corridor’s a catwalk at UCA Epsom, and we’re expecting you to strut your stuff when you’re with us!

We’re going to give you the skills to create and manipulate fabrics, design clothes and paint faces – and you’ll be able to do it thanks to our suite of industry-standard facilities that’ll allow you to learn a broad

range of practical skills, grow in confidence and cement your individual style.

From traditional looms to our 3D Gerber Accumark software, space for make-up and hair, traditional and digital printing studios and design, pattern and sewing production studios, you’ll be able to create, construct and conceptualise with flair.

Facilities highlights

– A range of flexible teaching and learning environments with video conferencing and interactive AV resources

– IT environments configured for arts, technology and business study

A 250-seater auditorium with conference-standard facilities

Digital print studio with large and small format printing, bookbinding, guillotine, perfect binding, vinyl cutting and dry mounting

– A Gerber suite, a unique Computer-Aided Manufacturing (CAM) facility for fashion including the latest 3D Gerber Accumark software

A dedicated makeup and hair space

Design, pattern and sewing production studios

– State-of-the-art fashion textiles digital printing resources and traditional silkscreen printing

Dedicated area for large-format printing and hi-spec scanners

– Digital and traditional looms for woven textiles and associated dye facilities

Screen-print studio for traditional printing

Facilities for traditional oilbased print including intaglio, relief and hot metal letterpress equipment

Sound studio with fully equipped sound booth

Woodwork and plaster studios

Five fully equipped photographic studios

Laser cutter and 3D printing facilities

The story of the Windrush Generation inspired UCA graduate and designer Tihara Smith to produce a stunning final collection – and years later it is still shaping the way she designs and makes.

South London-based Tihara studied at UCA Epsom between 2015 and 2018, and when challenged to come up with a concept for her final project and collection, found the spark at an exhibition at Tate Britain, called Stan Firm Inna Inglan: Black Diaspora in London. This photographic exhibition with work by photographers like Neil Kenlock and Raphael Albert looked at Black society in London during the 1960s and 70s. These striking images, together with the experiences of her grandparents, arriving from the Caribbean 1950s and 60s, provided the backbone of her work.

As it happened, while she was working on her project, the Windrush scandal began to make news headlines.

“I wasn’t necessarily intending on it being ‘political’,” she said. “I was just excited to create work that reflected my heritage and identity and celebrated the Caribbean. Towards the middle of my third year, the

Windrush Scandal started to be reported on the news which added a political edge to my work, so I did want to make some statements in my work at that point with slogans like ‘Black and British’ and ‘You Called We Came’, in support of the Windrush Generation. But overall, I just wanted to create work that highlighted the positive contribution of the Windrush Generation, like my grandparents, and celebrate the islands of the Caribbean.”

For Tihara’s designs, she took inspiration from the clothing worn by people photographed in the exhibition, as well as family photographs. She also incorporated interior design choices into the collection, gaining insight from the book ‘The Front Room: Migrant Aesthetics in the Home,’ by Michael McMillan.

This book noted the use of strawembroidered souvenirs in home décor, and it was these designs and materials which provided the basis for much of her work, using raffia and embroidery throughout.

After graduation, Tihara entered the fashion industry gaining some exciting roles – a work experience programme with Better Bankside (where she gained an

Tihara’s fashion from history

event planning qualification), and then working for jewellery and accessories company Estella Bartlett, first as a Wholesale Assistant and then assisting with the buying and merchandising of products.

But the call of her graduation collection continued – she uploaded her work onto her Instagram account, had her collection photographed in collaboration with Kayleigh Pace, a student at Speos Photography School in London, and decided created some spin-off products – art prints, stationery, bags and pins – to sell on Etsy. That work was noticed by the organiser of a Windrush market for Windrush Day 2019, and she was invited to have a stand.

“From that point I really began to see the potential of what I was creating, so decided to invest more time and energy into it, keeping my social media up to date and taking part in other events such as Black Girl Festival 2019, Sample Christmas 2019 and Most Curious Wedding Fair 2020,” she said.

Things were going well – so well that she decided to leave her job to focus on her own

projects. Since doing that, she’s expanded her range into bridal accessories, greeting cards, more art prints, and a bespoke made-to-order service, and last year she was picked from hundreds of up-andcoming designers to open a pop-up shop in London’s Seven Dials district. “It’s been really exciting to see it grow and I’m excited about where it could go next,” she said.

Tihara’s advice for other students going into their final year and thinking about their graduate collections, is to find something that resonates.

“If you want to use fashion to make a statement, you should try to stick to something you’re passionate about, something that speaks to you personally. It means you’ll really enjoy working on creating your collection, and you’ll make something that’s genuine and authentic.

“I think some of the best collections are created from real stories and themes that are personal to you,” she added.

Read more student stories at uca.ac.uk/blogs

Kayleigh

Mollie’s start-up success

Her clothes are worn by the likes of Bella Hadid, Nicki Minaj and Nicole Scherzinger – and it all started with her UCA degree and a small start-up from her grandmother’s house. For Mollie Ward, founder of So Monroe, the sky’s the limit.

Mollie founded So Monroe – dubbed a luxury brand without a luxury price tagwhile she was studying at UCA in her first year, and has become a smash hit with more than 100,000 Instagram followers including a range of well-known celebrities.

We spoke to Mollie, who graduated in Fashion Journalism in 2017, about her time at UCA and her booming business.

Hi Mollie, congratulations with everything! Let’s start with your UCA experience – what did you take away from your time with us?

I took away a new-found confidence and skill set in the creative industry. From writing, to styling, creative direction and working within the digital landscape, it gave me an extensive repertoire that has assisted me ever since. Also, learning how to work to deadlines to create something like the final major project, has aided me in launches of collections and bringing everything together.

How did your degree help you with setting up So Monroe?

My degree was extremely creative, so I think this really got my ideas flowing which led to me taking the plunge to create a business. I just felt so inspired and full of ideas. The creative writing aspect of my degree definitely helped as I created t-shirts with catchy plays on words, just as I would with headlines for my articles.

So Monroe started in my first year of university, completely as a hobby away from uni deadlines and my part time job at the time, and I still utilise the skill set I learned on a daily basis today. From copywriting Instagram captions to styling e-commerce shoots, the degree was fundamental to my fashion career and the creation of So Monroe.

What was the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?

To always make the effort to network because you never know who you might meet and what they do. One time I asked someone for directions for the V&A and got chatting and it ended up being the legendary designer of BodyMap, David Holah, who I had actually been learning about the week before in a lecture!

Also: dream big - on a whim I tagged Paris Hilton in an image on Instagram and this is what led to my interview with her in my final major project.

So what’s next for So Monroe? Any big plans?

The bigger the better! I’m currently designing a new resort collection which I’m really excited about. We are dreaming of a collaboration with a retailer and will hopefully be spotted on more A-list celebs in the near future. I’m also looking to write a book. Nothing is off limits so watch this space!

What advice would you pass on to our current students, if they are thinking of setting up their own business?

Do it! The mantra I live by is if you never try you’ll never know. In the digital age we are in now with social media you can literally start a business, market it and run it by yourself with everything at your fingertips. The hardest part is not only having the confidence to take the plunge and attempting to convince others in your brand (I remember when I had 60 followers and now I’m on 105k and I know back then, no-one I knew personally thought it was going to ever be a ‘real’ business) but to carry on and not give up.

Lastly this business is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration so you have to be prepared to work hard.

Read more student stories at uca.ac.uk/blogs

Showing face

Great British Bake Off, Portrait Artist of the Year, The Great Pottery Throw Down – there’s been a whole host of amazing art and craft competitions on our TVs in recent years, and BBC Three’s Glow Up! is another one to add to an already impressive pile.

And we were delighted when one of our very own, Hannah Cunningham, starred in season 2 – and then came fourth, despite having never applied make-up to another person before! Hannah is a graduate from BA (Hons) Fashion Management and Marketing* who now works for MAC cosmetics, is also a DJ, and spends her spare time practicing special make-up effects and

making skin prosthetics, transforming herself into fantastical creatures to perfect her skills.

We caught up with her to find out how she went from studying the business of fashion, to starring in the hit make-up competition.

Hi Hannah, let’s begin with your time at UCA. You studied Fashion Management and Marketingwhat drew you to that course and what were your career ambitions when you joined?

At the time, I was extremely interested in the business behind fashion. I wanted to get into merchandising, I loved the idea of being able to influence business decisions and control money, while still being involved in a creative industry. I still am very driven by seeing results and data, and so the course was invaluable. What I learned has helped me expand the creative path I have chosen. I also wanted to have more business knowledge in general, I was very wary that if I just went straight for a creative course, I might lack the analytical skills needed to drive my own progression.

So how did you get into make up? Is this a new hobby for you, or have you always been into it?  I've definitely always been creative, but also have always been wary of it. I had this overwhelming feeling that going in to a creative career would leave me with no money (a belief instilled from secondary school).

UCA, and my course, definitely changed my opinion of that as I felt like I trusted in myself more to just make whatever career path I chose afterwards, work for me. When I was working in merchandising, I found that I needed a creative outlet. I started practising makeup and changing myself into this sort of otherworldly creature - it was my escape from the everyday normal. As my online channels expanded, and the better I got at it, the more I wanted to merge my professional path and my hobby. Having done my degree, I felt confident in navigating this, because I would always have that business and analytical skill to fall back on.

Being on a show like Glow Up! must have been amazing! Tell us about that experience, what were the highlights and what did you personally gain from it?

Glow Up! was the most valuable and terrifying thing I have ever done! I had never done make-up on anyone else prior to the show, so I really was put through my paces. I was extremely nervous at every

turn but looking back at the whole experience and I am so proud of what I achieved in the time there.

Being among people who loved being creative as much as me was amazing, and all the other contestants taught me something new. I learned how to work as an make-up artist in a professional setting, and learned lots of little tips and tricks from the pros. It led to me leaving my office job in November and joining MAC cosmetics to further my skills in glam and every day make-up - still both very valid and tricky styles. I usually gravitate towards more SFX based and alternative styles, so am not as used to glam.

We have a BA (Hons) Make-up & Hair Design course now – what would your advice be to those students about to start?

It may sound obvious, but practice on as many different skin tones and textures as you possibly can. That's something I've found really great about working in a retail cosmetics environment; I have been able to work with customers of all skin types and shades and just that repetition and practice has made me feel confident with any skin type. I would say also to document your work so you can see your progress. Even if it's a private instagram account just for you, to see what your skill level was this time last year is often a great confidence booster and motivator.

*BA (Hons) Fashion Management & Marketing is now BA/BSc (Hons) Fashion Business & Management.

Read more student stories at uca.ac.uk/blogs

At UCA, we understand that you might need to develop your portfolio and skills, or maybe you haven’t studied creative subjects at college. We don’t believe these things should stop you from achieving your dreams.

This is why we offer our Foundation Years to those students who need it. The Foundation Year is designed to bridge the gap from where you are now, to where you need to be so that you can begin your degree with confidence. All of our courses feature a foundation year if you need to take one – whether you’re a UK or international student.

Integrated Foundation Year

For UK students, the Integrated Foundation Year is designed to give you the skills you’ll need to start your

degree in the best possible way –with confidence, solid knowledge of creative practice, study skills and more. You’ll explore a range of creative techniques and develop your portfolio, with your chosen subject in mind. We’ll work with you throughout the year to ensure you’re on the right track and give you the tools to achieve your highest potential on your degree.

Integrated International Foundation Year

For our students coming from a nonUK educational background, your Integrated International Foundation Year is exactly the same as for our UK students – but with a few small changes to help you settle in and be the best you can be, including the English speaking and writing skills you’ll need to progress.

success

Our courses

BA (Hons) Fashion Atelier & Tailoring

If you’re looking to work at the highest level of the fashion industry, and you want to create bespoke, hand-crafted fashion, our BA (Hons) Fashion Atelier & Tailoring degree will help you achieve your ambitions.

You’ll learn draping, creative pattern-cutting, machine and hand-sewing techniques and the specific creative skills and expertise needed for bespoke tailoring, couture-inspired fashion and contemporary design for the modern wardrobe. We have industry-standard facilities to expand your skills and explore your craft, and support from a team of highly skilled staff and visiting practitioners who will help you develop a range of tangible and transferable skills with real industry value.

As well as practical learning, there will also be the opportunity to undertake a work placement that strengthens your CV and prepares you for your career after graduation.

Year 1

Straight from the start you’ll learn the specialist skills you’ll need for fine tailoring – from understanding the relationship between the fit, silhouette and balance of a finished sample garment, practicing basic boning and corsetry skills for a celebrity client, and creating a range of shirts and trousers. You’ll also explore methods used in the heritage sector by museum, costume and fashion professionals, to analyse objects.

Year 2

In your second year you’ll refine your skills in research, design and technical processes for contemporary bespoke tailoring, and focus on The Flou, the art of “soft sewing”, where traditionally crepe de chine, georgette, mousseline, lace and other fragile or unstructured fabrics are used. You’ll also choose an elective unit to suit your specialist interests, and undertake a four-week work placement, or complete an industry case study.

Year 3

Your final year is an opportunity to showcase your skills through engagement with in-depth design and product development processes as you complete your final major project.

Credit:

BA (Hons) Fashion Design

Credit:

Develop the advanced knowledge and skills required to become a confident fashion designer with a clear style identity on our BA (Hons) Fashion Design course.

With access to the latest technology, including a Gerber suite for computerised pattern development, you’ll master all the skills you need to come up with creative fashion visions and bring them to life.

We pride ourselves on having no specific house style, so you’ll have the freedom to establish your own design identity, supported by a community of like-minded peers and a team of professional staff with a wealth of industry experience.

As part of the course, you’ll tackle briefs from brands such as Reiss, Warehouse and Tommy Hilfiger, and be given the chance to show off your work at high-profile international events. You’ll also enter your work in competitions – previous students have achieved success at Graduate Fashion Week and many other national and international fashion design contests.

Credit:

Year 1

You’ll learn the skills and knowledge that form the foundation for the development of creative and effective design practice, investigating the work and techniques of specific designers as you develop your own style. Your knowledge and understanding of fashion will be expanded by exploring the industry in detail, including in-depth competitor and brand analysis.

Year 2

You’ll learn specialist techniques practiced in the high-end designer market, choose an exciting elective project, explore ethical, sustainable and innovative fashion design, and showcase your design identity in a portfolio design package. You’ll also undertake a four-week work placement, or complete an industry case study that’s specific to your professional interests.

Year 3

Your final year is the opportunity to show off your skills and design identity, through the development and execution of a professional portfolio, a precollection and final collection.

BA (Hons) Fashion Image & Styling

Our BA (Hons) Fashion Image & Styling degree will make you a key player in the industry. On this course, you’ll discover how to create looks and concepts for every scenario – from the movies and the red carpet to the High Street and magazines.

Taught by styling experts, you’ll learn everything you need to know, exploring the role of fashion image creators and how to tackle any brief. You’ll develop in-depth skills in styling, film and photography, image-making, event and show curation and even virtual concept-building. Our students have gone on to work in events and creative direction at M&S and Gucci, styling at i-D Magazine and Net-a-Porter, and hosting events in the world’s fashion capitals.

Year 1

You’ll jump straight into the action, investigating influences and inspirations to produce a series of fashion images designed for a specified brand, trend or product. You’ll also learn how stylists and creative directors use style in order to define and represent an identity through media.

Year 2

In your second year, you’ll begin working on how to work with clients. You’ll identify a client and then craft a short creative film for them, and create a digital content campaign that will promote a brand, product or service across a number of media platforms with a consistent message and tone appropriate to a client. And you’ll undertake a three-week (minimum) work placement.

Year 3

You’ll be challenged to identify and present new and innovative concepts, and propose an original idea to support a launch, a product, a reinvention of a product, or perhaps a narrative within a specific media arena. You’ll do this through three projects –a specialist outcome and presentation, a research document with Personal Development Planning career document, and your graduate portfolio and promotional showcase.

Credit: Chloe Silver

Credit: Erin Baxter

BA (Hons) Fashion Photography

There are fashion photographers - and then there are fashion photographers who have learned their trade at UCA. Our BA (Hons) Fashion Photography course gives you the skills you need to become a creative and experimental artist within the fashion industry.

You will explore established and expanded conventions within contemporary fashion photography and have the opportunity to produce highly creative original work using industry-standard facilities.

With industry commissions, strong professional connections and a visiting lecturer programme, you’ll also gain essential insights into the working environments of fashion photographers.

Year 1

Your first year is about learning core ideas and principles of making, and also learning to reinterpret images, and reflect upon publishing, dissemination and disruption within the industry. You’ll be introduced to analogue photography and essential studio skills, including controlled lighting, pose and performance.

Year 2

You’ll work on a series of briefs set by your unit leader exploring different approaches to visual and expanded media storytelling, and also explore the possibilities and frictions of creative work within commercial contexts. You’ll take part in an elective unit that enhances and broadens your skills, and undertake a four-week work placement, or complete an industry case study that’s specific to your professional interests.

Year 3

For your final year of study, you’ll develop a substantial and independently driven research project, which could take the form of a critical text, a zine, a video piece or an online project. You’ll also complete your Final Major Project where you’ll explore a major theme and create a resolved body of work that is both critically engaged and technically appropriate.

Credit: Alex Miguel Guero

Credit: Gina Riley

BA (Hons) Make-up & Hair Design

From timeless elegance to the edgiest of fashion editorials, you’ll be able to create beauty masterpieces on our innovative BA (Hons) Makeup & Hair Design course.

You’ll learn everything you need to know about the beauty industry, from products to publications, from collaborating with creative directors and advertisers to working with high-profile clients.

You’ll develop your in-depth industry knowledge, practical skills and individual signature style so that, by the time you graduate, you’ll have a rich portfolio of work to set you up in your career.

Year 1

You’ll examine the diversity of world leading makeup and hair professionals through colour textures and historical relevance and explore the world of body painting.

Year 2

You’ll further advance your skills in your second year, researching, analysing and exploring the way

in which the beauty industry collaborates with fashion film and performance. You’ll construct an art-directed publication that features wellresearched and developed content based on your topic of interest, and you’ll choose an exciting elective unit that will broaden your horizons. The year will finish with a placement lasting a minimum of three weeks.

Year 3

For your final project on the course, you’ll create a substantial project that focuses on your area of professional interest and showcases your specialist skills. This work may take a variety of forms, like a body of editorial work within a publication, a series of films; an exploration of digital media platforms; photography, product development, design, collage and illustration, retail or an installation concept.

Credit: Georgia Dyer

Credit: Danielle Kealey

BA (Hons) Textiles

If you enjoy working with colour and materials as well as researching and innovating, then our BA (Hons) Textiles degree course is a dynamic and timely choice as consumer appetite for sustainably made products continues to rise.

There are three main subjects to our course in sustainable textiles – Material Making/Biofabrication, Eco Dye, Print and Surface, and Constructed Textiles – all of which have the thread of sustainability, colour and materials running through. We’re also one of the few courses to teach with sustainable and natural dyes. Along the way, you can choose between gaining broad or specific skills – whatever you feel you need to do to gain the career you want.

Our graduates have gone on to work for Burberry, Paul Smith, Jaeger, Zoffany, David Linley, Primark, Alexander McQueen, Asos, Anthropologie, John Lewis, Sanderson and the Royal Opera House, while others have set up their own businesses and become designer-makers, textile artists, academics, researchers, production managers to name but a few.

Year 1

You’ll be introduced to the core principles in sustainability and circularity, undertaking research and learning relevant historic and contemporary global contexts. You’ll also learn develop making skills through experimental research in the three areas of textiles in material making - dye, print and surface and constructed textiles.

Year 2

The second year is an opportunity for you to explore your subject more in-depth as well as experiment, speculate and take creative risks. You’ll also enhance your understanding of sustainable culture within the industry. You’ll also undertake a work placement or an industry case study.

Year 3

Through your Final Major Project and portfolio, you’ll develop and express your own creative vision, producing an individual body of work that is unique, innovative and sustainable, ready to enter the world of work, or to progress onto further study.

Credit: April Sargant

Credit: Evie Francis

BA (Hons) Printed Fashion Textiles

Turn your passions of colour, texture and pattern into a career in fashion, with our BA (Hons) Printed Fashion Textiles degree course.

This course will give you the freedom to explore printed textiles through a wide range of design-led projects. It sets itself apart by giving you the skills to become not only an excellent fashion designer but also a specialist in print design, developing an indepth understanding of hand and digital techniques.

In our open studio environment, you’ll have plenty of space to develop the visual, creative and practical skills you need to work in contemporary textiles. Your printed designs could be realised as anything from a catwalk collection, a fabric design and accessories, to fashion-led interiors and textile art.

And there’ll be plenty of opportunities to show off your talents. You’ll get the chance to work on live industry projects and exhibit your work at shows including Graduate Fashion Week and the New Designers Exhibition and make the most of the department’s industry links with fashion brands such as Alexander McQueen, Peter Pilotto, Material Lab and Westcott Studios.

Year 1

Your first year is all about learning fundamental creative, practical and technical knowledge and skills required for printed textile design. You’ll generate samples and swatches, learn how to present your work in a professional context and how to translate handrendered drawings and paintings into digital formats.

Year 2

As you build upon your skills and your creative identity, you’ll create a body of samples, prints, fabric innovation samples, fabric manipulation and print swatches, inspired by a personal research topic. You’ll have the opportunity to work on a live project scenario, undertake an exciting elective unit that broadens your knowledge, and complete a four-week minimum self-initiated work placement that’s relevant to your potential career direction, or complete an industry case study.

Year 3

The culmination of your studies will see you complete a professional portfolio and a final major project, where you’ll properly present and showcase the work you’ve done across the course – transforming your designs into finished print collections, printed garments, accessories, fashion led interior/exterior applications or textile art.

Credit: Sally Mankee

Credit: Elizabeth Whibley

BA (Hons) Studio Practice (Fashion Design)

Our Studio Practice top-up course in Fashion Design will give you a fantastic fastpaced introduction to university education in the UK, and prepare you for a postgraduate fashion course.

The course is aligned with the final year of BA (Hons) Fashion, so you can progress to a Master’s in a streamlined way.

You’ll get right into the action from the start, undertaking research and practical projects, working on collaborative activities, building your portfolio skills, knowledge and confidence.

Credit: Lizzie Fidler

Credit: Cara Murphy

Next steps

1. Applying

For full time undergraduate courses, fill out an application form via ucas.com (deadline 25 January). The institution name is UCA, the institution code is C93, and campus codes are C, E, F and M (for Maidstone TV Studios).

OR

For Further Education or parttime undergraduate courses, fill out an application form directly with us using the ‘Apply now’ link on the course pages at uca.ac.uk

2. Your application

Once you’ve submitted your application, you’ll receive an email from us with your username and password for the UCA Applicant Portal.

3.

Create a portfolio

We really hope you’ve got all the information you need and are feeling excited about starting the next stage of your journey with us at UCA.

If you’d like to apply to become a student here, there are a few things you need to do. So we’ve put together this checklist of tasks for you to tick off as you go.

4.

Come to your applicant day

Depending on your course, you may need to create a portfolio of your work. Here are some tips (see page 50 for more):

Include 12-20 pieces of work, neatly presented

– Lead with your show-stopping pieces

– Show us how you thinkdocument your ideas in a sketchbook

– Present examples of your research that show idea development

– Let your personality shine through and tell us what or who inspires you

For some courses, we would love to see evidence of your 3D thinking through a garment, pattern cutting, textiles work, or other

Other course may ask for a piece of writing on an exhibition you have visited, or on a practitioner, or on someone who has inspired you

– And make sure your portfolio is organised – it’s got to clearly represent your artistic development.

You may be invited to an interview, where you’ll learn more about your course and meet the tutors.

5.

Read your offer email carefully

If your application is successful, you’ll receive an offer email from us that explains the full terms and conditions of your offer. You can also find details of your offer in your UCA Applicant Portal.

Accept your offer

For UCAS applications, accept by logging into UCAS Track

OR

For direct applications, accept using the task in your Applicant Portal.

International students: Pay your tuition fee deposit

Receive your CAS number

– Use your CAS number to apply for a visa.

7.

Apply for accommodation

As soon as you can apply for accommodation, we’ll contact you to let you know. This is usually in March for courses starting in September.

8.

Apply for a student loan

To apply, visit: gov.uk/student-finance

9.

Confirm your accommodation

For halls or local accommodation, make sure you’ve: Made your advance payment

– Confirmed your moving in date.

10.

Take your place at UCA Settle into your accommodation

Enrol on your course

– Meet your new friends

Enjoy your creative journey!

Portfolio advice

At UCA, we know you’re about more than just grades. To us, exams are only part of the picture – your creativity and what you can do are just as important. Which is why, when you apply to most of our courses, we ask to see a portfolio.

Your portfolio is a collection of your best work; you might want to show us sketches and paintings, digital art and design, photography, fabric swatches or patterns, sound work, musical compositions, short films, or even essays and creative writing.

At our Applicant Days (or in an online interview if you submitted your portfolio digitally), we’ll get the opportunity to meet you and learn more about you as a person. They usually take place between December and March, and are a fun, informal next step in the application process.

We want to see what inspires you, what you create and what makes you unique. And if your course doesn’t ask for a portfolio but you still want to show us your work, we’d love to see it anyway.

Portfolio tips

For courses within our School of Fashion & Textiles, we’ll ask for 12-20 examples of your current work which shows off your experience, interests, aspirations, and passion for the subject.

For Fashion Design, we’d like to see a sketchbook, completed design projects, your drawing skills, and where appropriate, we would love to see evidence of your 3D thinking. This can be through a garment, pattern cutting, textiles work, or other medium.

For Fashion Atelier & Tailoring, we’d like to see how you develop a project of idea. We would also love to see an exploration of drawing, and this can using non-conventional materials. The use of colour is important and we want to see experimentation and sensitivity. It would be great for your work to show an experimental approach to form and detail and potential to develop into contemporary fashion.

For Fashion Imaging & Styling, we want to see your ability to develop a project or idea. Further, it would be great if you can display

evidence of digital media. And we want to see a journey, of how you get from thought to ideation, to creation. Finally, we want to see how you write and this can be through analysis, reports, reviews and more.

For Fashion Photography, we hope to see one or two sketchbook and two pieces of written work, which would ideally include an essay. We don’t expect polished portfolios, and instead, we’re looking to see what your ideas are and that you’ve put some thought and effort into the making and presentation of your portfolio.

For Make Up & Hair Design, we want you to showcase your interest and skill through selected coursework. We like to see a well presented and edited selection of relevant course work that shows your visual ability and evidence of your own interests and inspirations.

In Textiles, what we look for is considered work that shows your individual art and design potential and expresses your creative self. We would love for you to include research and progression, drawing and sketched, photography, pattern work, and anything that displays a sustainable and circular approach.

In Printed Fashion Textiles, we need to see examples of two sketchbooks that demonstrate your development of ideas. We would also like to see lecture notes and one essay (200-500 words) on an exhibition you have visited or on a textile designer/practitioner, or on someone who has inspired you.

If it’s not practical to bring physical work, photograph it, add it to a memory stick or upload it online. When uploading any work digitally, remember that if it’s a password protected site, we will need access. Try to use a platform that doesn’t require a login.

More questions about your portfolio?

Scan to find out more.

Entry requirements

When looking at whether to offer you a place on one of our courses, we’ll consider your academic credentials alongside the creative talent shown in your portfolio. You can learn more about how to put a portfolio together on page 50.

Here’s a breakdown of the usual academic requirements for each of our courses.

Integrated Foundation Year of a BA/BSc (Hons) degree:

A-level results adding up to 64 UCAS tariff points

Or a Diploma in Art & Design –Foundation Studies (Level 3 or 4) with a Pass

– Or a BTEC Extended Diploma/ BTEC National Extended Diploma with Merit | Pass | Pass

Or a UAL Extended Diploma with a Pass

Or a combination of accepted Level 3 qualifications adding up to 64 UCAS tariff points

– Or an IB (International Baccalaureate) with a score of 24 or above

And: Four GCSE passes at grade 9 to 4 and/or A* to C, including English (or Functional Skills English/Key Skills Communication Level 2)

BA/BSc (Hons) degrees

–

–

A-level results adding up to 112 UCAS tariff points

Or a Diploma in Art & Design –Foundation Studies (Level 3 or 4) with a Pass

Or a BTEC Extended Diploma/ BTEC National Extended Diploma with Distinction | Merit | Merit

Or a UAL Extended Diploma with a Merit

Or an Access to Higher Education Diploma

– Or a combination of accepted Level 3 qualifications adding up to 112 UCAS tariff points

Or an IB (International Baccalaureate) with a score of 27–30 (at least 15 IB points at Higher Level)

And:

– Four GCSE passes at grade 9 to 4 and/or A* to C, including English (or Functional Skills English/Key Skills Communication Level 2)

International students

International students can view typical entry requirements by country on our website. If your first language is not English, you will be required to provide evidence of your English language ability –usually a total score of 6.0 on the IELTS for UKVI Academic or IELTS Academic tests, with no less than 5.5 in any component. More information on our English language entry requirements and other evidence we can accept is available at: uca.ac.uk

Other qualifications

We can consider other relevant and equivalent UK/EU/international qualifications on an individual basis.

Sometimes, we make offers with lower entry requirements to students who have faced difficulties that have affected their performance, and who were expected to achieve higher results.

Open Days

Coming to an Open Day - whether virtually or in person - is a great way to find out more about UCA, the courses we offer, and whether this is the right place for you.

Whether you visit us in person or attend our online events, you’ll get a feel for life in our creative community and a taste of how our courses can help you turn your passions into an exciting and impactful career.

In-person Open Days

If you decide to come to an in-person open day, you’ll need to book a place on our website. It’s easy and free to do, and you’ll be able to register for any talks you’d like to go along to at the same time – from course-specific presentations to more general ones about life at UCA and funding your studies.

There will also be campus and accommodation tours, and a subject exhibition where you can meet lecturers and chat to our student ambassadors about what life here is really like.

Chat to a student: uca.ac.uk/chat

Explore our online talks: uca.ac.uk/ events/future-students

UCA Open Days

2022/23

Saturday 26th November 2022

–

Wednesday 18th January 2023

Wednesday 26th April 2023

–

Saturday 17th June 2023

Saturday 1st July 2023

Book your place

UCA FarnhamUCA Farnham

Heathrow Airport

London Channel Tunnel

Maidstone Television Studios

UCA Canterbury Gatwick Airport

UCA Epsom

Heathrow Airport

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Join us at #UCAlive

run live Q&A sessions where you can ask us anything you like about what it’s like to live and study here at UCA. Visit our

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visit uca.ac.uk

and follow us on social media to find out about our next #UCAlive session.

you’re looking to find out more about student life at UCA, our Unibuddy scheme gives you the chance to chat with people who are studying here right now.

chat with a student in your subject area, visit: uca.ac.uk/chat