Fashion and Textiles – Level 3

Required qualifications

Students are required to have a minimum of 4 × GCSEs at grade 4 or above, Including maths and/or English and at least one of which should be in a creative arts subject (or the equivalent Level 2 qualification in an appropriate subject) and an art and design portfolio.

The UAL Level 3 Fashion & Textiles course is equivalent to 3 A levels and is delivered over two‑years of full‑time study.

What skills will I develop?

You will develop a wide range of fashion, textiles, design and visual communication skills, techniques and knowledge over the two year course. These include: figure drawing, fashion illustration, technical fashion drawing, CAD, surface design and printing, textile design and development, pattern drafting and cutting, sewing machine and overlocker skills, garment production, fashion styling and photography, fashion management and promotion, catwalk stage direction, fashion history and context, portfolio building and exhibition curation.

In addition to vocational skills, you will develop transferable skills including: independent and team working, creative and critical thinking, reflective learning, communication skills, self‑management and intuition, leadership, collaboration and external project management and professional industry practice, social responsibility, environmental awareness and sustainability, problem solving, numeracy & literacy.

Across the two years of study, the course will enable you to develop a wide ranging portfolio, which will showcase the skills you have learned and be used for university and job interviews within the creative industries, even standing them in good stead to begin their own custom business.

In addition, you will have access to the various work experience opportunities that the fashion department takes part in, working with live briefs and external clients. We include two annual public catwalk shows that showcase the talents and creativity of our students, and you will exhibit your work termly in the onsite public art gallery.

Careers

Graduating students from the course will be able to progress to a number routes including: Higher education courses (university), employment within the industry, apprenticeships and self employment.

Past students have gone on to study various fashion and textile pathways at universities across the country, including The London School of Fashion. Many of our students go on to have successful careers within the industry, including a past student now working at Tommy Hilfiger’s Amsterdam headquarters and some working as far afield as Barcelona.

The skills acquired during the course will equip you to progress into the industry, with a multitude of jobs including garment technologist, fashion designer, costume designer, retail buyer, fashion illustrator, merchandiser, fashion stylist, textile designer and fashion public relations.

Work experience

Our dedicated work experience team are here to help and support you in finding a meaningful work experience opportunity.

Recent studies have shown that employers consider work experience to be extremely desirable. Whilst qualifications are hugely important, employers also require candidates to have skills and experience necessary for the workplace.

Preparing you for the working world is very important to us, so that you may be successful in your next step.

Work experience placements provide you with the opportunity to develop your skills; have a better understanding of the industry you want to work in and give you an insight into what it is like to be employed. They can also be great fun and very rewarding and you may even be offered a great reference, a part–time job, holiday working hours, apprenticeships or full-time jobs.

Once you start your course you will be provided with further information about work experience programmes, but it is never too early for you to start thinking about work experience placements and finding an employer who will offer you an opportunity.

Work experience is an opportunity for you to gain experience in your chosen career path in order to develop relevant skills. Equally, it also helps you to acquire employability skills, attitudes and behaviours that are essential for future employment. There will be an opportunity for you to reflect on your performance during work experience and you will receive some form of reference/feedback from the employer.

English and maths

Students who have previously achieved GCSE maths and English at grade 4 or higher will benefit from working through ‘CENTURY which is an online brain training app designed to maintain and further develop English and maths skills through the colleges’ tutorial process.

New candidates who ONLY have either GCSE Maths, or English at grade 4 or higher, will benefit from having additional time allocated to their study programme in order to achieve the other GCSE subject to the national benchmark grade 4.

English and Maths skills development are also embedded within the core qualification.

Other important information

Study visits:

You will have the opportunity to take part in annual residential trips to fashion capitals such as Paris. There is also a varied trips and visits programme throughout the course of the year.

The Fashion and Art department recognises the importance and value of viewing art and design in the context of a ‘live’ catwalk, exhibition, museums and gallery visits and we encourage all of our students to independently take regular advantage of galleries and museums, for research, inspiration and the purposes of ‘keeping up’ with current trends taking place within the creative industries.

Equipment and materials kit list:

It is important that all students invest and equip themselves with a basic design kit. Most art and design equipment, materials and resources will be provided by the college, however it is the responsibility of each student to come to each session equipped and ready to learn. Fabrics will need to be purchased by students when undertaking individual projects.