Fashion BA (Hons)

Outside the scheduled learning and teaching hours, you will learn independently through self-study which will involve reading articles and books, working on projects, undertaking research, preparing for and completing your work for assessments. Some independent study work may need to be completed on-campus, as you may need to access campus-based facilities such as studios and labs.

Our academic support team here at Kingston University provides help in a range of areas.

When you arrive, we'll introduce you to your personal tutor. This is the member of academic staff who will provide academic guidance, be a support throughout your time at Kingston and show you how to make the best use of all the help and resources that we offer at Kingston University.

A course is made up of modules, and each module is worth a number of credits. You must pass a given number of credits in order to achieve the award you registered on, for example 360 credits for a typical undergraduate course or 180 credits for a typical postgraduate course. The number of credits you need for your award is detailed in the programme specification which you can access from the link at the bottom of this page.

One credit equates to 10 hours of study. Therefore 120 credits across a year (typical for an undergraduate course) would equate to 1,200 notional hours. These hours are split into scheduled and guided. On this course, the percentage of that time that will be scheduled learning and teaching activities is shown below for each year of study. The remainder is made up of guided independent study.

• Year 1: 41% scheduled learning and teaching
• Year 2: 32% scheduled learning and teaching
• Year 3: 26% scheduled learning and teaching

The exact balance between scheduled learning and teaching and guided independent study will be informed by the modules you take.

Your course will primarily be delivered in person. It may include delivery of some activities online, either in real time or recorded.

Types of assessment

• Year 1: Coursework 100%
• Year 2: Coursework 100%
• Year 3: Coursework 100%

Please note: the above breakdowns are a guide calculated on core modules only. If your course includes optional modules, this breakdown may change to reflect the modules chosen.

We aim to provide feedback on assessments within 20 working days.

Your individualised timetable is normally available to students within 48 hours of enrolment. Whilst we make every effort to ensure timetables are as student-friendly as possible, scheduled learning and teaching can take place on any day of the week between 9am and 6pm. For undergraduate students, Wednesday afternoons are normally reserved for sports and cultural activities, but there may be occasions when this is not possible. Timetables for part-time students will depend on the modules selected.

To give you an indication of class sizes, this course normally attracts 1,300 applicants for 104 places so is highly selective. Year group sizes start around 100 but are taught in the studio in groups of 13–26 for pattern cutting classes and workshops. These include individual and group tutorials of 6–10 students within the studio and seminar room. Lectures for the whole year group are delivered weekly alongside smaller seminar groups and tutorials. However this can vary by module and academic year.

For this course you will be involved in the process of making as a means of exploration, experimentation and understanding your practice. You will be using a diverse range of media and materials, many of which are provided by the department or sponsored by industry.

You will be given an equipment list during Induction Week to buy essential items at a discounted price that should last you throughout the course and beyond, these include:

• pattern cutting scissors
• cloth scissors
• metre rules
• bobbins

Specialist items for knitwear and sewing are provided on loan within the department. You may be required to produce toiles and finished garments for assessment. Fabric and yarns are sponsored and calico can be purchased in the department shop.

You may also wish to purchase your own chosen art materials, which could cost between £50 and £500.

Our libraries have an extensive collection of books and journals, as well as open-access computers and laptops available to rent. However, you may want to buy your own computer or personal copies of key textbooks. Textbooks may range from £50 to £250 per year. And a personal computer can range from £100 to £3,000 depending on your course requirements.

While most coursework is submitted online, some modules may require printed copies. You may want to allocate up to £100 per year for hard-copies of your coursework. It’s worth noting that 3D printing is never compulsory. So if you choose to use our 3D printers, you’ll need to pay for the material. This ranges from 3p per gram to 40p per gram.

Kingston University will pay for all compulsory field trips. You will be required to participate in mandatory study visits, subsidised by the department. Field trips will range from £15 to £75.

There may be costs for participating in external shows and exhibitions. For example, you could incur travel costs, which will vary according to the location. There is a sponsored graduate fashion show and exhibition in London for selected students. There is also a subsidised student show for all graduates.

Your tuition fees don’t cover travel costs. To save on travel costs, you can use our free intersite bus service. This route links the campuses and halls of residence with local train stations - Surbiton, Kingston upon Thames, and Norbiton.

Courses involving placements or direct work with vulnerable groups may require a DBS check or other security checks.

If you choose to do a placement year, travel costs will vary depending on your location. Sponsored projects in Level 5 may lead to paid internships, including flights and accommodation in the US and Europe.

Some courses may require professional memberships or subscriptions.