BA Hons Fashion Design with Foundation

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Regents University London

Program Overview

The BA (Hons) Fashion Design with Foundation at Regent's University London is designed for aspiring fashion designers who want an additional year of academic and creative preparation before developing specialist design expertise. The integrated Foundation Year builds essential study, research, and creative skills, while the degree equips students to design and produce marketable fashion collections through pattern cutting, garment construction, textile development, digital media, and branding, preparing them for careers in the global fashion industry.

Curriculum Structure

Foundation Year

The Foundation Year develops the creative confidence and academic skills needed for degree-level study through modules including Critical Thinking, Writing for Success at University, and The Creative Designer. Students strengthen their visual communication, research, and creative problem-solving abilities while exploring cultural understanding and design thinking, creating a strong foundation for specialist fashion studies.

Year 1

Students establish a strong technical and creative foundation through modules including Fashion Studio 1: Design and Realisation, Fashion Contexts, and Fashion Business. Working in professional studio environments, they learn pattern cutting, draping, garment construction, textile development, illustration, and digital media while developing their personal design identity through research and experimentation.

Year 2

The second year encourages students to refine their creative direction through modules such as Fashion Studio 2: Identity and Innovation, Fashion Futures, and Professional Practice. Students explore sustainability, circular design, ethical fashion, emerging technologies, and branding while gaining practical experience through live industry projects, optional placements, or study abroad opportunities.

Year 3

In the final year, students consolidate their professional skills through Fashion Studio 3: Final Collection, Major Project, and Professional Portfolio modules. They research, design, and produce a graduate collection, build an industry-ready portfolio, and develop branding and presentation strategies while showcasing their work to fashion professionals through Regent's graduate exhibition and fashion showcase.

Focus Areas (String)

Fashion design, Pattern cutting, Garment construction, Textile development, Fashion illustration, Digital fashion, Fashion branding, Creative direction, Sustainability, Circular fashion, Fashion business, Professional portfolio, Trend forecasting, Design innovation

Learning Outcomes (String)

Develop strong creative and technical fashion design skills, Design and construct market-ready fashion collections, Apply pattern cutting and garment construction techniques, Create innovative textile and fashion concepts, Integrate sustainability into fashion practice, Develop branding and storytelling strategies, Build professional presentation and portfolio skills, Apply digital media within fashion design, Conduct independent creative research, Prepare for careers in the global fashion industry

Professional Alignment (Accreditation)

The programme is industry-focused and developed in collaboration with fashion professionals, providing students with opportunities to work on live industry briefs, placements, professional showcases, and employer engagement throughout their studies. The curriculum reflects contemporary fashion practice, sustainability, innovation, and emerging technologies to prepare graduates for the evolving global fashion industry.

Reputation (Employability Rankings)

Students benefit from Regent's location in central London, one of the world's leading fashion capitals, with access to professional studios, industry-standard facilities, guest speakers, live projects, placements, and study abroad opportunities. Graduates have secured roles with internationally recognised brands including Fendi, Prada, Dior, COS, Louis Vuitton, Tommy Hilfiger, Vivienne Westwood, Ralph Lauren, Victoria Beckham, L'Oréal Group, and PANGAIA, demonstrating the programme's strong industry connections and graduate outcomes.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The BA (Hons) Fashion Design with Foundation provides an immersive studio-based learning experience where students develop creative, technical, and professional skills from the Foundation Year through to their final collection. Students work in specialist fashion studios and workshops, progressing from fundamental design techniques to creating market-ready collections while receiving guidance from experienced academics and industry professionals. Throughout the programme, they gain valuable exposure to the fashion industry through live briefs, exhibitions, fashion shows, networking opportunities, and collaborative projects. Practical learning opportunities include:

Foundation Year focused on developing creative thinking, visual communication, research methods, academic writing, and practical design skills, preparing students for degree-level fashion education.
Practical studio teaching covering fashion illustration, pattern cutting, draping, garment construction, textile development, digital media, and prototyping, enabling students to build technical expertise while developing their own design identity.
Opportunities to design and produce marketable fashion collections, combining customer research, creative experimentation, and contemporary fashion trends to create commercially viable garments.
Live industry projects that enable students to respond to professional design briefs, collaborate with external organisations, and gain practical insight into the fashion industry.
Industry workshops, masterclasses, mentoring sessions, and guest lectures delivered by fashion designers, creative directors, stylists, and industry professionals, providing direct insight into current industry practices.
Opportunities to participate in professional fashion shows, exhibitions, and graduate showcases, allowing students to present their collections to industry professionals, employers, media, and potential clients.
Collaborative group projects, design critiques, presentations, and portfolio reviews that strengthen teamwork, communication, creative problem-solving, and professional practice.
Independent Final Collection and professional portfolio development, enabling students to showcase their creative vision and technical abilities to employers or support the launch of their own fashion label.
Access to the Regent's University Library, offering specialist books, fashion journals, trend forecasting resources, digital databases, and design research materials supporting creative development.
Modern fashion studios, creative workshops, collaborative learning spaces, seminar rooms, and presentation facilities designed for design development, garment production, critiques, and exhibitions.
Support from Careers, Enterprise and Industry Services, including portfolio guidance, career coaching, employer networking, internship support, enterprise mentoring, and access to the Handshake careers platform for placements and graduate opportunities.
Opportunities to engage with London's global fashion industry through exhibitions, fashion events, designer talks, museums, luxury retailers, and Regent's extensive industry network, benefiting from the University's central London location.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Graduates of the BA (Hons) Fashion Design with Foundation develop the creative vision, technical expertise, and entrepreneurial mindset needed to succeed in the international fashion industry. The integrated Foundation Year builds academic and creative confidence before students progress to advanced fashion design studies, preparing them for careers such as Fashion Designer, Product Development Assistant, Creative Pattern Cutter, and Fashion Stylist/Illustrator. Through industry-focused projects and portfolio development, graduates are equipped to join leading fashion brands or establish their own creative businesses.

Dedicated Careers, Enterprise and Industry Services: Students receive personalised career coaching, portfolio and CV guidance, interview preparation, employer networking opportunities, enterprise mentoring, and access to the Handshake careers platform, connecting them with 650,000+ global employers for internships, placements, graduate roles, and industry events. Career support continues after graduation with lifelong access to guidance and resources.
Employment outcomes: While Regent's does not publish programme-specific salary data for this course, graduates have secured roles with internationally recognised brands including Fendi, COS, Vivienne Westwood, Ralph Lauren, Paul Costelloe, and Matthew Williamson. Alumni have also launched successful independent labels and gained international recognition through industry awards and major fashion publications.
University–industry partnerships: Students benefit from live industry projects, guest lectures, mentoring, networking events, professional fashion shows, and graduate showcases where collections are presented to employers and industry experts. The programme's central London location also provides valuable access to the UK's fashion and luxury industries.
Long-term professional value: Throughout the programme, students build a professional fashion portfolio, develop expertise in garment construction, pattern cutting, textile development, digital media, and creative research, while gaining the entrepreneurial skills needed to launch their own fashion brand or creative business.
Graduation outcomes: Graduates pursue careers in fashion design, product development, creative pattern cutting, fashion PR and marketing, styling, illustration, digital media, trend forecasting, and creative direction. They also join Regent's international alumni community spanning 170+ countries, creating valuable lifelong professional connections.

Further Academic Progression:

After completing this programme, graduates can progress directly to MA International Fashion Marketing at Regent's University London or pursue postgraduate study in fashion design, luxury brand management, fashion business, creative direction, textiles, or entrepreneurship. The professional portfolio and industry experience gained during the degree also provide an excellent foundation for joining fashion incubators, launching an independent label, or undertaking advanced specialist training within the global fashion industry.