| The award | How you will study | Study duration | Course start | Domestic course fees | International course fees |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BA | Full-time | 3 years | find out | GBP 9250 per year | GBP 18500 per year |
This unique degree will give you a broad understanding of how technology supports and empowers the fashion industry, linking the design process with product development, supply chain dynamics, fashion management and sustainability.
Developed in consultation with employers and shaped by our close links with the industry, this degree will show you how design and fashion technology come together to turn a design idea into a physical, marketable product. You'll also learn about how products reach the market and explore the challenges of sustainability.
The course will give you a working knowledge of the fashion supply chain from cotton fields to the final garment, and even what happens to garments at the end of their lives. You'll know when and how to use different materials, fabrics and dyes, assess manufacturing processes and begin to plan the supply chain.
It's a fantastic opportunity to gain a wide range of skills for a challenging and vital role at the heart of the fashion industry.
We have excellent facilities to support you in your studies. The School of Design has access to technology from fibre and yarn manufacture, to knitting and weaving, nonwovens manufacturing, dyeing, printing and garment production and testing. The School has some of the latest technology used in the fashion industry such as digital printing and laser cutting facilities, clothing engineering and colour analysis/prediction labs, and a computer-aided design (CAD) suite with access to the latest design software.
We also have an impressive range of resources you can use for research. The University is home to the Yorkshire Fashion Archive, containing a huge variety of haute couture, fashion garments and everyday clothing bought and worn by Yorkshire locals throughout the 20th century - a great resource for your own research and design.
We house the M&S Company Archive including documents, advertising, photos, films, clothing and merchandise from throughout Marks & Spencer's history. ULITA, an archive of international textiles, is also housed on campus and collects, preserves and documents textiles and related areas from around the world. You can make appointments to view items, but it also has an online catalogue where you can explore the major collections.
Course content
From your first year, you'll build your knowledge of how fashion products are developed, exploring topics such as technology, colour, sustainability and design. Core modules will explore how fibres are converted through numerous processes into a finished product and how your decisions at each of these processing steps impact the look, functionality and sustainability of your product. They will also introduce you to the concepts of supply chain and testing as well as consumer behaviour and global trends, and how they shape - and are shaped by - the fashion industry.
Year 2 allows you to build on this foundation, by taking part in group project work to gain a wide range of skills as you develop your own product, as well as learning about the impact of the coloration and finishing processes on the performance of the final product. You'll also study recent developments in fashion technology, the impact of innovation and retail management to get a real sense of how different aspects of the industry come together.
In your final year, you'll demonstrate the skills and knowledge you've acquired when you focus on your own product development project. This gives you the opportunity to build the business case for a new fashion product, and then plan how this product is developed by considering the materials, dyes, fabrics and supply chain used to bring it to market - while thinking about sustainability at every stage. You'll also study how global trends and technological innovation will shape the future of the fashion industry.
Course structure
These are typical modules/components studied and may change from time to time. Read more in our Terms and conditions.
Year 1
Compulsory modules
Entry requirements, fees and applying
Entry requirements
A-level: ABB excluding General Studies or Critical Thinking, and preferably including at least one science/mathematics-related subject.
If you don't have this we may also consider your application if you have a high grade in a mathematics/science subject at GCSE level.
Career opportunities
This degree is designed to equip you with a wide range of skills that are highly desirable to employers in the fashion industry.
You'll have an understanding of the design process and be able to translate a design into a workable production process using the right materials. You'll be able to put all of this in the context of how the finished product will be marketed, purchased and used. As the fashion industry places increasing focus on sustainability, the course will equip you to meet these challenges head on.
This holistic knowledge of fashion technology, the supply chain and the industry will equip you to succeed in a range of different careers with clothing brands and retailers and their suppliers. These roles could include buying, product development, technology, retail and supply chain management among many others.
In addition, the understanding you'll gain of operational issues, manufacturing processes and project management could open doors for you in a range of other sectors.
Careers support
We encourage you to prepare for your career from day one. That's one of the reasons Leeds graduates are so sought after by employers.
Leeds for Life is our unique approach to helping you make the most of University by supporting your academic and personal development. Find out more at the Leeds for Life website.
The Careers Centre and staff in your faculty provide a range of help and advice to help you plan your career and make well-informed decisions along the way, even after you graduate. Find out more at the Careers website.
Study abroad and work placements
Study abroad
On this course you have the opportunity to apply to spend time abroad, usually as an extra academic year. The University has partnerships with more than 400 universities worldwide and popular destinations for our students include Europe, the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Hong Kong, South Africa and Latin America.
Find out more at the Study Abroad website.
Every Leeds student can spend a year working in industry after their second year of study. The industrial placement is great for your personal and professional development, and some students have even been offered permanent roles at their placement companies.
Read more about the Year in Industry
Contact University of Leeds to find course entry requirements.
Below are some suggested courses at other providers that you may also be interested in:
Innovative Business Design MDes
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University School of Design (PolyU Design)
Find out more
Consider a Foundation or Pathway course at University of Leeds to prepare for your chosen course:
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