Words by Chloe Gallacher
The decision to go to university is a big one, and choosing which course to study can be quite a daunting experience - especially with the amount of courses that are available and the cost taken into consideration. If you already know that you're interested in fashion, why not spend your uni years prepping for a future in the industry? We’ve done the research for you, narrowing down some of the best fashion courses in the UK.
We seriously can't overstate the importance of work experience in fashion, and a lot of courses are now offering the chance to take a year off to do just that. You'll be able to secure immersive placements within fashion companies and work for the year: a great way to expand your CV, network in the industry, and figure out what your interests are. Have a look at the options below and do a little research to see which one is best for you...
London College of Fashion
If you’re unsure of where to begin, London College of Fashion should be your first stop. With over 70 undergraduate courses, including a range of short courses and online options, this is an absolute must to consider. LCF offers concentrations in everything from bespoke tailoring to illustration, design, and merchandising.
If you're keen to see if the fashion industry is for you before you're university age, you can always try some introductory courses on offer, like this one in fashion photography.
Fashion Design
Fashion design courses are ideal for those that like the practical aspect of fashion. You’ll be taught units such as garment manufacturing and the process behind it, illustration and how to use the latest digital technologies. Watch your creative ideas come to life as the majority of courses require garment making.
Universities to consider when thinking of fashion design are Manchester Metropolitan, Falmouth, UCA and Portsmouth.
Fashion Buying and Merchandising
Buying and merchandising courses aim to prepare you for the business side of fashion: perfect for a head office based role within companies. You’ll learn the finances, product development and the project management side of things. Learning specialist areas of the industry will allow you to decide which path of fashion you want to pursue after your course is finished.
Have a browse through Southampton Solent and De Montfort course pages to see what they have to offer.
Fashion Marketing
Fashion marketing courses allow you to learn how to market and promote products, and you’ll be taught how to spot the upcoming trends. You’ll learn how to trend forecast and develop ideas for exciting new fashion products. One of the best universities for this course is Falmouth. They are accredited by the Chartered Institute of Marketing, teach you the Adobe Creative Suite and give you access to trend forecasting websites such as WGSN and LS:N Global.
Fashion Journalism
Fashion journalism courses aim to teach you all there is to know about the industry. From pitching to print, you’ll learn all about the media content side of things: ideal for those keen to produce fashion content from the editorial side. With technology on the rise, you will also learn about the digital side of publications.
When thinking about fashion journalism, definitely consider the University of Sunderland. It's the only fashion journalism course that is NCTJ accredited.
Online Fashion Courses
Online courses are designed so you can study at home at your own pace. With no time limit, it takes the pressure off of deadlines, and can work around your everyday life. Business of Fashion has started running some courses with plans for more, and LCF are planning to launch some soon too.