Fashion Design

Why study Fashion Design at ARU?

• Create your own fashion designs from Year 1, and launch your career with a professional portfolio and stand-out final collection at Graduate Fashion Week.
• Forge an identity as a designer, specialising in menswear or womenswear.
• Join a course whose alumni have gone on to establish their own labels, or work for fashion houses, well-known brands, and high profile clients including Beyoncé, Little Mix, Kylie Minogue, Nicki Minaj, Becky Hill, and Drag Race UK queens.
• Find placements and internships with high-profile fashion houses and contemporary designers, and make connections with smaller brands that do big things.
• Take part in live briefs with our partner organisations.
• Visit trade fairs, fashion shows, suppliers and brands.

You’ll be hands-on from day one, creating your own fashion designs and engaging with all aspects of the design process in our studios, including drawing, traditional and experimental pattern cutting, draping, textiles and digital media.

You’ll also learn about 3D digital fashion design and innovation, contemporary fashion styling and promotion, and art direction. We also integrate live industry projects across different market levels from Year 1, alongside knowledge and practice focused on circular fashion and sustainability that will help you to develop as a responsible industry professional.

You’ll work closely with students from across our creative community, including fashion students in other years, photographers, and filmmakers to create eye-catching content for your portfolio. Perhaps most importantly, you’ll get time, guidance, and support from our team, including technical staff, lecturers who are active in academic research and/or have worked with brands such as Chloe, Alexander McQueen, Warner Bros Records, London Records, and Heavy Jeans (Portugal).

Join a course that scored 90% for “Assessment and feedback”, “Learning resources”, and “Student Union representation” in the National Student Survey 2024.

Many of our students go on to establish their own labels or work for fashion houses and major brands.

Our BA (Hons) Fashion Design degree will help you develop your individual style as a designer, with a portfolio ready to present to fashion houses. Or you might pursue other roles, such as styling, buying, pattern cutting and trend forecasting.

If you’re a budding entrepreneur, you can explore the prospect of starting your own business – supported by the commercial know-how you’ll gain at ARU.

Graduation doesn’t need to be the end of your time with us. You might decide to stay at ARU and study for a Masters. Take advantage of our Alumni Scholarship and get 20% off your fees.

Employability and personal career development

Informed by employers, our courses support an integrated approach to employability. You’ll have opportunities to develop the skills and abilities they are looking for and gain a deeper understanding of how your academic learning relates to the world of work through Live Briefs and Ruskin Modules.

To amplify your career ambition, you will need to actively dedicate time outside of your studies, whether you choose to explore placements, internships or volunteering. Or you could make a social impact by collaborating with our partner organisations through our volunteer scheme Students at the Heart of Knowledge Exchange (SHoKE). These all give you an edge, providing you with experience that you will be able to evidence on your CV and talk about in interviews.

Our Employability and Careers Service offers a range of expert advice and support to build your unique professional profile, including tailored career appointments, advice on writing your CV, and help to complete job applications. You’ll have 24/7 access to the Careers Centre, our comprehensive online digital resource, which empowers you to start building a Personal Career Development Plan from the very start. Design your future at ARU.