Fashion Studies Top Up BA (Hons)

This course is in clearing

Why study at UEL?

Top 40 UK university

Guardian University Guide 2026

1st in England

Overall Positivity*, National Student Survey 2026

Fastest Rising in England for graduate employability

Graduate Outcomes Survey 2025

Overview

Course modules

You will start with a combination of classes introducing you to the world of fashion including Introduction to Fashion Business and Marketing, Fashion Portfolio and Theoretical Identity. For your Final Major Project, you can choose to enter the practice route of your fashion career aspirations through the development of a relevant portfolio website.

NOTE: Modules are subject to change. For those studying part time courses the modules may vary.

Download course specification

Entry requirements

Degree:

Higher National Diploma (HND), Foundation degree or Advanced Diploma or equivalent in a fashion/textiles relevant subject.

Recognition of prior learning (RPL)

Your previous qualifications, uncompleted study or industry experience may mean you can start your studies at a later point in the course and influence your eligibility for entry

What makes this course different

Industry experience and career development

Gain industry experience through live projects, internships and networking. Develop skills, build your portfolio, and prepare for careers in fashion, freelancing, entrpreneurship or further study.

Fashion trips and travel opportunities

Explore global fashion capitals through optional international trips, industry visits and events. Discover leading brands, attend Fashion Weeks and exhibitions, and grow your industry network.

Creative collaboration and digital innovation

Explore digital innovation in fashion through new technologies, branding and creative tools. Build creative and commercial skills, collaborate on projects, grow confidence and expand your network.

Ranked 9th nationally

Our fashion and textiles courses ranked 9th nationally for 'satisfied with teaching' in The Guardian University Guide 2025.

The Guardian University Guide 2025

Connecting Creativity

Discover career-focussed, practice-based, collaborative art education at East London Arts. Through degrees, community projects and industry partnerships, we shape the next generation of creative talent in East London and beyond.

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Course options

Select year

Degree

UCAS code: W236

Fashion Studies Top Up BA (Hons), home applicant, full time

  • Home Applicant ,
  • This course is in Clearing,
  • Full time, 1 year
  • £ 9,790 per year. Subject to change, see fees, funding and additional costs below

Fashion Studies Top Up BA (Hons), international applicant, full time

  • International Applicant
  • Full time, 1 year
  • £ 16020 per year
Applications for September 2027 open soon

Degree

UCAS code: W236

Fashion Studies Top Up BA (Hons), home applicant, full time

  • Home Applicant ,
  • Full time, 1 year
  • £ 10,050 per year. Subject to change, see Fees, Funding and Additional Costs below.

Careers Guarantee

The UEL Careers Guarantee is the University’s commitment to supporting you with your career development during your studies and after you graduate. It brings together careers guidance, employability support and opportunities designed to help you prepare for work or further study.

What can I do with this degree?

This top-up degree opens routes across the full breadth of the fashion industry. Graduates have gone on to work at organisations including ASOS, and past fashion students at UEL have worked as buyers, campaign manager assistants, fashion journalists and PR managers at employers including Marks and Spencer, Alexander McQueen, Free People and Adidas.

Typical roles include fashion designer, brand manager, creative director, stylist, marketing executive, content creator, retail store owner or manager, buying and merchandising specialist, and trend forecaster.

If you wish to undertake further creative study you could do: an MA Creative Enterprise (which will help you develop your fashion business) MBA Fashion Entrepreneurship (which could help you become a fashion entrepreneur) MA Fashion or MA International Fashion Business, all at UEL.

How you'll learn

Our ethos is "learning by doing" - you learn more through practice. Both luxury and marketing modules will be run with input from fashion industry professionals. Our fashion students have worked in roles such as buyers, assistants to campaign managers, fashion magazine journalists and PR managers. Their employers have included clothing and footwear companies like Marks & Spencer, Topshop, Alexander McQueen, Free People, and Adidas.

You'll study in our beautiful, waterside Docklands campus. Situated in east London's creative heartland, with its pop-up artistic stores and design trade fairs, it's a fashion hotspot guaranteed to inspire you.

Guided independent study

When not attending timetabled lectures or workshops, you will be expected to continue learning independently through self-study. This will typically involve skills development through online study, reading journal articles and fashion books, working on individual and group projects and preparing coursework assignments and presentations. Your independent learning is supported by a range of excellent facilities including online resources, and specialist facilities, such as game labs, the library, the full Microsoft Office software, including MS Teams, and Moodle: our Virtual Learning Environment.

Academic support

Our academic support team provides help in a range of areas - including learning and disability support.

Dedicated personal tutor

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

Workload

Students can expect around 300 hours of scheduled learning and teaching activities each academic year. These include lectures, seminars, workshops, and tutorials, delivered both individually and in groups. Independent study plays a significant role, with dedicated time for reading, research, and project development. During this period, students will also engage with industry fashion experts and professionals, gaining valuable insight into current market practices and entrepreneurial trends.

Our Fashion and Textiles department organises overseas trips every year. You'll be able to participate in a study trip to Paris during Premier Vision Week, giving you an insight into new fashion trends and technology.

Your timetable

The course structure includes lectures, seminars, workshops, and tutorials, delivered both individually and in groups. Independent study plays a significant role, with dedicated time for reading, research, and project development. During this period, students will also engage with industry fashion experts and professionals, gaining valuable insight into current market practices and entrepreneurial trends.

Students enrolled in the BA Fashion Studies Top-Up programme have the opportunity to attend various fashion events and experiences, enhancing their learning and industry exposure. Additionally, there is the option to join an international fashion trip, providing firsthand insight into global fashion markets and practices. These experiences, combined with the university's modern fashion studios and business facilities, create an inspiring environment where creativity and entrepreneurship converge. 

Graduates of the programme are well-equipped to pursue careers in various sectors of the fashion industry or continue to Postgraduate studies, leveraging the skills and knowledge gained during their studies.

How you'll be assessed

Students are typically evaluated through coursework, project work, case studies, group assignments, presentations, and reflective portfolios. Each module carries its own weighting, but overall, a balanced mix of written and practical assessments ensures that students demonstrate both strategic understanding and entrepreneurial application. 

There are no formal written exams, only coursework and assessments. The MBA award is conferred upon successful completion of all assessed components across six modules, split across three terms.

Campus and facilities

Who teaches this course

This course is delivered by the School of Arts and Creative Industries.

The teaching team includes qualified academics, practitioners and industry experts as guest speakers. Full details of the academics will be provided in the student handbook and module guides.

What our students and staff say

Fashion
I enjoyed my time at UEL. I learned so much about the world of fashion from theories to practice during my industry experience. Our tutors were knowledgeable and approachable and had many connections which benefited our studies further. I had the opportunity to have my PR placement at Alexander McQueen and another one in New York. The tutors pushed us to work hard but it’s all worth it in the end."

Lucy Davies

BA (Hons) Fashion Marketing, graduate

Fashion Studies Top Up FAQs