Everything you need to know...
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What is the fee?
Home: £9,535 per year (£1,200 for placement year)
International/EU: £17,155 per year (£1,200 for placement year) -
How long will I study?
4/5 Years
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Where will I study?
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What are the entry requirements?
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What is the UCAS code?
A010
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When do I start?
September 2025
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Placement year available?
Yes
Come to an open day
Visit us to learn more about our gold-rated teaching and why we were awarded the highest possible rating in the Teaching Excellence Framework.
Course summary
- Explore innovative technologies and sustainable fashion design systems for the future
- Investigate current global fashion systems and create individual design responses
- Build confidence in a creative community and engage with real-world experiences beyond the University
- Direct your own personal growth and future with a hybrid of traditional and virtual tools
- Create a unique portfolio, take part in live projects and showcase your designs at industry-recognised events
If you don't meet the entry requirements for our BA (Hons) Fashion Design, or you’d like extra preparation before starting degree-level study, we recommend you join the foundation year – which has been designed to encourage exploration and experimentation.
This course gives you the skills and design acumen to thrive in the exciting world of fashion. Through practical and applied projects, you’ll experience a diverse range of sectors, before specialising in your own vocation.
This course also allows you to specialise in and receive a different named award – BA Fashion Design (Digital) – which includes emerging fields such as avatar and games design.
Creative UK membership
We are members of Creative UK, which means our art and design students are also members until they graduate. With 10,000 members in its network, Creative UK represents, champions and supports the UK’s creative industries, advocating on the issues that matter the most to creative communities.
View our students' work
View our gallery of student work and learn more about the exciting projects they've been working on this year.
How you learn
Our courses are designed with key principles of engaging you with the world, collaborating with others, challenging you to think in new ways, and providing a supportive environment where you can thrive.
This foundation course brings together students across all our art and design courses as one creative community. You’ll work and learn together in a dedicated studio space and have access to our top-class facilities.
Based in our bespoke studios, workshops, and digital spaces, you’ll become part of a dynamic and collaborative learning community. Together, you’ll undertake creative adventures, explore possibilities, and challenge conventions.
You learn through:
- Studio practice
- Workshops and lectures
- Technical demonstrations
- Group and individual tutorials
- Creative reviews
- Live briefs
- Guest talks
- External visits and field trips
We take a holistic and person-centred approach to assessment to support your creative growth while respecting the diverse ways people learn.
Key themes
Your foundation year will help you get to grips with University life as you study alongside a creative community of Art and Design students. Expect to be hands-on in the studio, learning through doing as you explore the creative process with collaborative projects, workshops and field trips.
Find out more about your foundation year.
Skills such as fashion illustration, construction and manufacturing methods, digital design and manufacturing are at the centre of the course. You’ll also learn advanced techniques to transform two-dimensional ideas into 3D and 4D designs.
You’ll explore all aspects of fashion design, learning core skills in a wide range of product areas from luxury and ready-to-wear fashion to sportwear and digital design. You’ll build essential knowledge in design theory, research and fashion concepts.
You’ll learn how to champion environmental and social issues through design, supply chain management and manufacturing processes – and you’ll discover how your work connects to global audiences and evolving trends which encourage diverse perspectives.
At the end of the course, you’ll have the option to transfer to BA Digital Fashion Design. This lets you specialise in emerging fashion vocations, including digital design and manufacturing, avatar and games design, for augmented and virtual reality platforms.
Whichever final year route you choose, we’ll help you flourish as a confident, individual and eminent designer, fully equipped for the future world of fashion.
Course support
We’re a dedicated, qualified, and highly experienced teaching team, with world-leading research and recognised professional creative reputations, who take the time to get to know you.
Throughout your learning journey, you’ll experience a range of dedicated personal, academic and career development support, such as:
- Access to our Skills Centre with one-to-ones and online resources to help with planning and structuring your assignments
- Access to office and studio space, expert workshops, freelancing opportunities and a vast business network to tap into
- Industry-specific employability activities and careers support for up to five years after you graduate
The course develops strategies of attention, empathy, imagination, courage and resilience in the face of an uncertain future. Our course prioritises care as a critical activity – care for global human contexts and for the more-than-human world.
Course leaders and tutors
Applied learning
Your course has been designed to embrace real-world challenges and provide you with the practical skills and knowledge to be successful.
We do this by developing your expertise in collaboration with the professional creative and cultural sectors – with commercial and creative practitioners, commissioners, clients and arts organisations.
Work placements
You’ll have the opportunity to undertake a year-long work placement (25 weeks minimum) or multiple placements before your final year. This gives you valuable work experience to prepare you for your future career and allows you to graduate with an Applied Professional Diploma to add to your CV.
Previously, students have worked with Alexander McQueen, Burberry, Reiss and ASOS. You may also be able to work or study abroad with the possibility of funding through the Turing Scheme.
Live projects
You’ll work on live briefs set by commercial organisations, presenting you with real-world challenges and giving you invaluable insights into industry life.
Previously, students have worked with teams at Ted Baker, Amanda Wakeley, Adidas and Vivienne Westwood, with awards including cash prizes or industry work placements.
Field trips
Study trips within the UK and abroad take you out of the studio and immerse you in new environments, from workshops and conferences to galleries and special collections.
There’s also the option to enhance your studies further with our optional field trips. Previous trips have included a visit to Burberry’s HQ, exclusive talks from global companies such as Tommy Hilfiger, and trips to leading fashion, textile and design museums.
Students can also apply for funding through the Turing Scheme to support a study exchange or placement outside of the UK.
Competitions and exhibitions
We support and encourage you to enter national and international competitions such as The Fashion Awards and the RSA Student Design Awards. Our students are regular finalists and winners of competitions, having an immediate and significant impact on their professional reputation.
Our students also often take part in high-profile events like the British Fashion Council and Graduate Fashion Week – superb opportunities to showcase your professional work and gain the industry’s attention.
At the end of your final year, you’ll have the opportunity to exhibit your work in our annual Future Now Festival of Creativity – to which we invite VIP guests, employers, businesses, influencers, friends and family, and the general public. The festival is widely attended and is hosted in the city centre. You’ll also be able to curate and exhibit your work on our online Gallery.
Future careers
This course prepares you for careers and future study in:
- Womenswear design
- Menswear design
- Category design
- Digital design
- Creative direction
- Creative pattern cutting
- Garment technology
- Product development
- Studio and production management
- Fashion illustration
- Styling
- Print design
- Academic research and teaching
- Fabric buying and development
Many of our graduates launch their own businesses, while others achieve roles with some of the fashion industry’s biggest brands, including:
- Adidas
- Burberry
- Boden
- H&M
- John Lewis
- Mackintosh
Where will I study?
You study at City Campus through a structured mix of lectures, seminars and practical sessions as well as access to digital and online resources to support your learning.
City Campus
City Campus is located in the heart of Sheffield, within minutes of the train and bus stations.
City Campus map | City Campus tour
Adsetts library
Adsetts Library is located on our City Campus. It's open 24 hours a day, every day.
Learn moreLearn more about your department
Art and Design facilities tour - fashion studios
Take a look around the fashion studios and shared workshops in the Department of Art & Design at Sheffield Hallam University.
Equipment and facilities
The ‘Studio’ is placed at the heart of the student journey, providing an incubator for collaboration, community and curiosity.
It’s a vibrant place where you can explore traditional crafts and experiment with progressive ways of making. Here you can engage with specialist tools and equipment, such as:
- Industry-standard computer hardware and software
- Lock stitch and overlock machines
- Cover stitch machines
- Industrial steamers
- Heavy-duty hand and roller press
- Binding, buttonhole, and range of hardware
- Digital and screen-printing facilities
- Ultrasonic welder and taping machine
- Dress forms and mannequins
- Digital pattern cutting technology, Optitex and CLO-3D
- And on-site store for borrowing and buying materials and equipment
You will also have access to a wide variety of facilities across the university campuses – including a 24-hour learning centre, Students’ Union, cafes and eateries, lecture theatres, exhibition spaces and more.
Media Gallery
Entry requirements
All students
UCAS points
- 80
This must include at least 32 points from at least one A level or equivalent BTEC National qualifications (to include a relevant subject, such as Art, Design and Technology, Textiles or Graphics). For example:
• CDD at A Level with a grade C in a relevant subject.
• MMP in BTEC Extended Diploma in a relevant subject.
• Pass overall from a T level qualification with C from core
• A combination of qualifications which must include an A level grade C or BTEC grade M in a relevant subject and may include AS levels, EPQ and general studies
• Access to HE Diploma from a QAA recognised Access to HE course. Normally we require 15 credits at level 2 and 45 at level 3. At least 15 level 3 credits must be at merit grade or above from a QAA-recognised Access to HE course, or an equivalent Access to HE certificate.
You can find information on making sense of UCAS tariff points here and use the UCAS tariff calculator to work out your points.
GCSE
• English Language or Literature at grade C or 4
We may also accept you, if you have limited qualifications but can show evidence of ability and a genuine commitment to studying Art and Design.
We treat the foundation year as part of the Art and Design degree programme. Offers made to students will be for four years of study (or five years of study including a placement). This is made up of the foundation year plus one of our Art and Design degrees.
If English is not your first language, you will need an IELTS score of 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in all skills or equivalent. If your English language skill is currently below IELTS 6.0 we recommend you consider the Sheffield Hallam University Pre-sessional English course which will enable you to achieve an equivalent English score.
Portfolio review
If your application is successful, you will receive an email inviting you to submit a link to your portfolio.
The portfolio helps us understand whether we are able to offer you a place on the course you’ve applied for. Your UCAS statement and portfolio provide you with the opportunity to demonstrate your creative experience, potential ability and enthusiasm for the course you’ve applied for. Visit our portfolio review guidance.
Additional information for EU/International students
If you are an International or non-UK European student, you can find out more about the country specific qualifications we accept on our international qualifications page.
For details of English language entry requirements (IELTS), please see the information for 'All students'.
Modules
Important notice: The structure of this course is periodically reviewed and enhanced to provide the best possible learning experience for our students and ensure ongoing compliance with any professional, statutory and regulatory body standards. Module structure, content, delivery and assessment may change, but we expect the focus of the course and the learning outcomes to remain as described above. Following any changes, updated module information will be published on this page.
You will be able to complete a placement year as part of this course. See the modules table below for further information.
Year 1
Compulsory modules
Foundation Projects — Developing Creative Practice
Foundation Skills & Methods
Year 2
Compulsory modules
Fashion Practice: Design Realisation & Portfolio
Fashion Practice: Research & Design Principles
Year 3
Compulsory modules
Advanced Fashion Practice & Production
Digital Fashion Futures
Future Now: Collaboration In Action
Elective modules
Study Abroad - Creative Industries
Year 4
Optional modules
Placement Year
Final year
Compulsory modules
Independent Fashion Project: Graduate Portfolio
Independent Fashion Project: Research & Design Ideation
Fees and funding
Home students
Our tuition fee for UK students on full-time undergraduate degree courses in 2025/26 is £9,535 per year. These fees are regulated by the UK government and therefore subject to change in future years. During your placement year you will pay a reduced fee of £1,200.
We are currently reviewing our tuition fees for the foundation year stage of this course following the Government announcement of fee changes for some foundation year courses and will confirm fees as soon as possible.
If you are studying an undergraduate course, postgraduate pre-registration course or postgraduate research course over more than one academic year then your tuition fees may increase in subsequent years in line with Government regulations or UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) published fees. More information can be found in our terms and conditions under student fees regulations.
International students
Our tuition fee for International/EU students starting full-time study in 2025/26 is £17,155 per year. During your placement year you will pay a reduced fee of £1,200.
Financial support for home/EU students
How tuition fees work, student loans and other financial support available.
Additional course costs
The links below allow you to view estimated general course additional costs, as well as costs associated with key activities on specific courses. These are estimates and are intended only as an indication of potential additional expenses. Actual costs can vary greatly depending on the choices you make during your course.
General course additional costs
Additional costs for Sheffield Creative Industries Institute (PDF, 153.7KB)Legal information
Any offer of a place to study is subject to your acceptance of the University’s Terms and Conditions and Student Regulations.
