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Undergraduate

BA (Hons) Fashion Design Technology: Womenswear

Black female wearing white shirt and gold chain.
Unique Moore | BA (Hons) Fashion Design Technology: Womenswear | London College of Fashion | University of Arts London
College
London College of Fashion
UCAS code
W291
Start date
September 2024
Course length
3 years

BA (Hons) Fashion Design Technology: Womenswear offers students the opportunity to develop a creative and experimental design process which is supported by a high level of technical skill and knowledge.  Students are encouraged to use their vision and skills to challenge and progress the industry at large.

Why choose this course at London College of Fashion

  • Collaborative working: the course offers students with the opportunity to collaborate with students within their own course, or with other courses across London College of Fashion.
  • Industry links: students will have access to a wide range of industry contacts. Recent student placements have included Marc Jacobs, Gareth Pugh, Giles Deacon, Peter Pilotto and Simone Rocha.
  • Sustainable working: the course promotes a conscious, responsible and sustainable approach to design and realisation and educates students in this philosophy.
  • Where graduates have gone on to work: recent graduates have worked at JW Anderson, Celine, Thom Browne, Chanel and Hussein Chalayan.

Open days

There are currently no Open Days scheduled for this course, please check back at a later date.

Scholarships, bursaries and awards

Course overview

Introduction 

BA (Hons) Fashion Design Technology: Womenswear provides graduates with the necessary combination of creative, technical, intellectual and communication skills needed to be successful within the competitive field of womenswear fashion design.  

What to expect 

  • A course structure that builds a strong foundation of core skills in design and realisation. A varied range of challenging projects will enable students to question, test and redefine their 2D and 3D approaches to develop a personalised way of working
  • Studio practice will be underpinned by a strong theoretical understanding so students are able to communicate concepts, motives and values that inform their work. This ensures work is intellectually rigorous and students can communicate in professional contexts 
  • To learn within a diverse community of staff and students
  • Access to range of industry standard machinery and technical support
  • Access to wide range of learning resources from including libraries and archives
  • To be supported by a dedicated Personal Tutor who will follow students’ progress throughout each year
  • Access to student services including disability service, academic support and language development
  • To be taught by staff who have industry experience and professional and compassionate approaches to teaching
  • To have access to a range of employability and enterprise services and resources that prepare students for professional life after graduation 

Mode of study 

BA (Hons) Design and Technology: Womenswear runs for 90 weeks in full time mode. It is divided into 3 stages over 3 academic years. Each stage lasts 30 weeks. 

Climate, Social and Racial Justice Statement

We are committed to ensuring that your skills are set within an ethical framework and are working to embed UAL’s Principles for Climate, Social and Racial Justice into the course. 

Course units

Stage 1

In Stage 1 you are required to complete 120 credits at level 4 in order to progress to Stage 2.

  • Introduction to Womenswear; 20 credits
  • Design and Realisation; 40 credits
  • Fashion Cultures and Histories; 20 credits
  • Transformative Futures; 40 credits

Stage 2

In Stage 2 you are required to complete 120 credits at level 5 to progress to Stage 3.

  • Critical Issues in Fashion Research; 20 credits
  • Professional Product Development; 20 credits
  • Work Experience; 40 credits
  • Aesthetics and Identity; 40 credits

Optional Diploma Year

CCI Creative Computing

Between years 2 and 3, you can undertake the year-long Diploma in Creative Computing. This will develop your skills in creative computing alongside your degree. After successfully completing the diploma and your undergraduate degree, you’ll graduate with an enhanced degree: BA (Hons) Fashion Design Technology: Womenswear (with Creative Computing).

CCI Apple Diploma 

Between years 2 and 3, you can undertake the year-long Diploma in Apple Development. This will give you an opportunity to become an accredited apple developer alongside your degree. After successfully completing the diploma and your undergraduate degree, you’ll graduate with an enhanced degree: BA (Hons) Fashion Design Technology: Womenswear (with Apple Development).

Stage 3

In Stage 3 you are required to complete 120 credits at level 6.

  • Contextualising Practice; 20 credits
  • Design Lab; 40 credits
  • Final Major Project; 60 credits

A 20-credit unit is approximately equivalent to 200 hours of learning time, which includes a mixture of taught time, independent study and assessment. 

Students will have a tailored programme of group and individual tutorials both pastoral and academic over three stages of the course and are entitled to an appropriate level of confidentiality.

Learning and teaching methods

The following teaching and learning methods are employed to support the integrated achievement of the course outcomes using a blended learning mode of delivery: 

  • Briefings
  • Lectures
  • Workshops and practical demonstrations
  • Supervised studio
  • Critiques (‘Crits’)
  • External visits
  • Industry engagement
  • Tutorials

Graduate Showcase

Explore work by our recent students on the UAL Showcase

  • LOST IN THE MARKET
    LOST IN THE MARKET, Ekinsu Ornek, 2023 BA (Hons) Fashion Design: Womenswear, London College of Fashion, UAL
  • TAKE A DEEP BREATH, BE HERE NOW
    TAKE A DEEP BREATH, BE HERE NOW, Yi Liu, 2023 BA (Hons) Fashion Design Technology: Womenswear, London College of Fashion, UAL
  • [P](re)imagined nostalgia
    [P](re)imagined nostalgia, Marius Veerag, 2023 BA (Hons) Fashion Design Technology: Womenswear, London College of Fashion, UAL
  • West Indian Nostalgia
    West Indian Nostalgia, Kerslyn Leo, 2023 BA (Hons) Fashion Design Technology: Womenswear, London College of Fashion, UAL
  • CO-CREATION
    CO-CREATION, Yiting Wei, 2023 BA (Hons) Fashion Design Technology: Womenswear, London College of Fashion, UAL
  • KARMA'S A WITCH
    KARMA'S A WITCH, Lena Meier, 2023 BA (Hons) Fashion Design Technology: Womenswear, London College of Fashion, UAL

Student and graduate work

  • Alexander-Hammarstrom.jpg
  • Fotini-Handra-Prints-by-Sarah-Forgie-model-KarolinaM-Simonas-Berukstis-MAU-So-Jeong-Kim.jpg
  • Jenny-lie.jpg
  • Madalyn-McCandless-1.jpg
  • Zaiga-Brutane.jpg

BA (Hons) Fashion Design Technology: Womenswear

Graduate work from the LCF summer series 2021

Latest news from this course

  • Backstage at LCF Undergraduate Class of 2023 Catwalk Show at Protein Studios. Photography by Ana Blumenkron.

    Behind the scenes at LCF Undergraduate Class of 2023

    We take a look behind the scenes and backstage at the LCF Undergraduate Class of 2023 show hosted at Protein Studios in east London

  • Hanan Tantush presenting at Mayor of London Entrepreneur Event | Image credit: Katwamba Mutale | Hanan Tantush 2023

    Intotum: Redefining Adaptive Fashion for a More Inclusive World

    We delve into the inspiring story behind BA (Hons) Fashion Design Technology: Womenswear student Hanan Tantush's brand Intotum; a groundbreaking fashion label that recently won the prestigious Mayor's Entrepreneur Award and is making a remarkable

  • Scan of Football collars tabard, with Irwin mini-clamp. 2022 | by Louis Mayhew - MA Fashion Design Technology (Womenswear) graduate 2023

    LCF23: Louis Mayhew 'Shortcuts'

    As we take a look at the Postgraduate Degree Show 2023, we interview Louis Mayhew from MA Fashion Design Technology (Womenswear) at London College of Fashion who talks us through his final collection called ‘Shortcuts’

  • ‘NOW, I AM ON GARMENTS’ header image with newspaper pockets | by Mo Xie - MA Fashion Design Technology (Menswear) graduate 2023

    LCF23: Mo Xie ‘NOW, I AM ON GARMENTS’

    Postgraduate Mo Xie from MA Fashion Design Technology (Menswear) focuses on magnifying the existence of objects and spaces that exist beyond human beings as part of his final collection ‘NOW, I AM ON GARMENTS’

Staff

Shee Fun Chan

Shee Fun Chan is the course leader. After graduating in BA Fashion and Textiles from Ravensbourne, she has worked a variety of roles in the industry over the past 15 years including accessory design/production and showroom sales for Ann-Sofie Back, with collections sold internationally in Opening Ceremony Korea, Ooga Booga NY and featured in publications including i-D, 10 and Vogue. After gaining a PG Cert in Innovative Pattern Cutting from Central Saint Martins she worked as a freelance pattern cutter for clients including Mulberry, Danielle Scutt and Antipodium. She has recently completed an MA in Academic Practice at UAL exploring Values in Design.

Keren Brat

A graduate from LCF Fashion Design and Technology: Womenswear BA, and coming from a fine art background, Keren has always been interested in using a variety of media to express her vision. After working with a range of London based designers, she opened her own Womenswear and Accessories label and exhibited bi-annually during London and Paris Fashion weeks. Keren has been teaching multidisciplinary subjects including traditional leatherwork, life drawing, ethics & sustainability, CAD, design and 3D realisation.  Her ongoing research in the Indian Himalayas is focusing on how Buddhist artistic practice has been changing the structure of the community.

Amber Brierley

Amber Brierley is an alumnus of Central Saint Martin’s MA Fashion course. She has worked within accessory design for the luxury market, as a stylist for commercial stock library content and more recently is developing a range of British made, sustainable, active wear. Working in higher education since 2003, with experience at numerous Higher Education Institutes, including both undergraduate and MA Level. Research interests include defining threshold concepts within the discipline of fashion design and developing inclusive teaching practices.

Xandra Drepaul

Xandra Drepaul graduated in BA Fashion Design at Ryerson University. She has worked in industry as a pattern cutter for brands such as COS and Gareth Pugh as well as freelancing for Mulberry, Christopher Kane and Alexa Chung. She has recently worked on a collaborative project with Stephen Jones from local business Cactus Leather with the aim of developing a sustainable future for this craft business.

Philippa Hino

Philippa Hino graduated from Manchester Metropolitan University in BA Hons in Fashion.  Her career in womenswear design spans over 15 years working with brands across the working as a multi-product designer across luxury, denim and commercial market, such as Gareth Pugh, Victoria Beckham, 7 For All Mankind and French Connection. Pipa co-founded concept store 3939shop, has worked on costume design for Theo Adams Company as well as collaborative design projects with Courtney Love.  She has also recently worked with sustainable online retailer Reve En Vert to develop their in-house collection.  Philippa is a Designer Lecture in FDT Womenswear and continues her work as a freelance consultant.

Marie Maisonneuve

Marie Maisonneuve is imaginative, experimental and passionate about the discipline of fashion design. Her identity as a designer was developed through a BA at Middlesex and an MA at the Royal College of Art. Marie’s work shows a strong commitment to experimental shapes and colour combinations, with importance given to texture. She also runs CONGREGATIONdesign which is an anonymous creative collective aimed to disrupt creation, production and sale processes to deliver a collection of things, thoughts and fun.

Joao Maraschin

Joao Maraschin graduated from the MA Womenswear course at London College of Fashion. He worked for Wales Bonner, JWAnderson and Lacoste before launching his eponymous business. His practice explores ways in which fashion can foster new relationships with people and environment, nurture intersections between craftsmanship and technology, and create bridges between local artisanal communities and the global industry landscape. Joao Maraschin was nominated one of the Circular Fashion Summit 2021 Honourees and won the Drapers Sustainable Award in 2021. He shows his work at London Fashion Week and has developed collections in collaboration with many suppliers and brands, one of the most recent being MCQ. Joao’s brand was also recently shortlisted for the semi-finals of the 2023 LVMH Prize.

Aimee Mclachlan

Aimee Mclachlan is an alumnus of Goldsmiths MA in Fashion, Expanded Design Practice . She began working as a women's wear designer for Coppernob, Duck and Cover and Red or Dead within the commercial market, within styling teams for LA stylist Jessica Pastor and Monique Bean for celebrity red carpet events, parties and photoshoots for film premier, campaigns (H&M), Neiman Marcus catalogue and bill board advertising, Illustrator for magazines(various) and print for textiles (Red or Dead). Working in higher education since 2008, with experience at numerous Higher Education Institutes, including both undergraduate and FE.   Research interests include the use of craft from familiar, domestic to a means of existing ethical practise as contemporary framework of slower fashion production.

Crimson O'Shea

Crimson O’Shea graduated from Central Saint Martins (BA) Hons Fashion: Fashion Design and Womenswear and went on to study MA Textile Design at the Royal College of Art.  She is a multi-disciplinary designer working across both womenswear and textiles.  As a designer she has experience of working in the studios of John Galliano and Diane von Furstenberg.  As a freelancer she has created and sold her original designs across luxury, sportswear, mid-market and formal wear to brands including Lululemon, Guy Larouche, Monsoon and Thomas Pink. She has an extensive portfolio in Fashion Design education.  She has taught internationally and is currently Year 1 Leader on BA Fashion Design Technology: Womenswear.

Cornelia Rudolph Sheehy

Cornelia Rudolph Sheehy has a background in tailoring – her creative pattern cutting skills were enhanced at Vivienne Westwood before she took up a position as Head of Atelier at Peter Pilotto. She has worked on in-house collections, show specials and made-to-measure garments. Conny has experience of setting up and managing the whole studio process; liaising with designers and creative directors and technical development teams, conducting design and technical fittings and leading on fit and finish standards. Conny is always eager to find creative ways to inspire confidence in students.

Jessica Saunders

Jessica Saunders is the programme director for the Fashion Design Programme, which includes BA (Hons) Fashion Design Technology: Menswear, BA (Hons) Fashion Design Technology: Womenswear and BA (Hons) Fashion Jewellery. Read Jessica Saunders' full profile here.

Rob Phillips

Rob Phillips is the creative director for the School of Design and Technology. Trained in fashion womenswear, surface textiles: print, menswear and illustration Rob went on to become the fashion editor for International Textiles magazine and consultant for fashion brands. Rob's broad skill set of fashion design, process, graphics, presentation, typography, advertising and communication led to his appointment as Creative Director of Fashion Forecast magazine, where his progressive work promoting young fashion talent garnered him much acclaim from industry. Rob continues to nurture talent at LCF across all courses within the School, teaching holistically about fashion, developing the students’ full potential so they can make their unique contribution to the fashion industry. He furthers the work of the College through many routes, including industry projects, collaborations and competitions. He also curates and directs the School’s events including fashion shows, films, photoshoots, publications and exhibitions. Rob continues to contribute to industry as a fashion commentator (BBC, The Guardian, SHOWstudio and more) and as creative consultant for fashion brands. Read Rob Phillips' full profile here.

Fees and funding

Home fee

£9,250 per year

This fee is correct for entry in autumn 2024 and is subject to change for entry in autumn 2025.

Tuition fees may increase in future years for new and continuing students.

Home fees are currently charged to UK nationals and UK residents who meet the rules. However, the rules are complex. Find out more about our tuition fees and determining your fee status.

International fee

£28,570 per year

This fee is correct for entry in autumn 2024 and is subject to change for entry in autumn 2025.

Tuition fees for international students may increase by up to 5% in each future year of your course.

Students from countries outside of the UK will generally be charged international fees. The rules are complex so read more about tuition fees and determining your fee status.

Scholarship search

Entry requirements

The standard minimum entry requirements for this course are:

One or a combination of the following accepted full level 3 qualifications.

  • 112 UCAS tariff points from two or more A Levels (preferred subjects include, Art, Design, English, Maths);
  • Distinction Foundation Diploma in Art and Design;
  • Distinction, Merit, Merit at BTEC Extended Diploma in Art & Design;
  • Merit at UAL Extended Diploma;
  • Access Diploma or 112 tariff points from the Access to HE Diploma;
  • 112 new UCAS tariff points from a combination of the above qualifications or an equivalent full Level 3 qualification;
  • or equivalent EU or non-EU qualifications such as International Baccalaureate Diploma at 25 points minimum;
  • and three GCSE passes at grade A*-C or grade 9-4.

Entry to this course will also be determined by assessment of your portfolio.

APEL (Accreditation of Prior (Experiential) Learning)

Applicants who do not meet these course entry requirements may still be considered in exceptional cases. The course team will consider each application that demonstrates additional strengths and alternative evidence. This might, for example, be demonstrated by:

  • Related academic or work experience
  • The quality of the personal statement
  • A strong academic or other professional reference
  • OR a combination of these factors

Each application will be considered on its own merit but we cannot guarantee an offer in each case.

English Language Requirements

IELTS level 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in reading, writing, listening and speaking. Please check our main English Language Requirements

Selection criteria

The course team seeks to recruit students who can demonstrate:

  • A strong interest in fashion, visual imagery and an awareness of technology
  • An understanding of the need for a critical and analytical approach to the area of study
  • An approach suited to the demands of the course and the projected career futures

Apply now

Application deadline

31 January 2024 at 18:00 (UK time)

If there are places available after this date, the course will remain open to applications until places have been filled.

Apply to UAL

Home students can apply to this course through UCAS with the following codes:

University code:

U65

UCAS code:

W291

Start your application

Apply now

Application deadline

31 January 2024 at 18:00 (UK time)

If there are places available after this date, the course will remain open to applications until places have been filled.

Apply to UAL

International students can apply to this course through UCAS with the following codes:

University code:

U65

UCAS code:

W291

Start your application
or

Apply with a UAL Representative

Based across the world, our local UAL representatives can support you with your application from your home country. Check to see if there is a representative available in your country currently.

Find your representative

How to apply

Follow this step-by-step guide to apply for this course

Step 1: Initial application

You will need to submit an initial application including your personal statement.

Personal statement advice

Your personal statement should be maximum 4,000 characters and cover the following:

  • Why have you chosen this course? What excites you about the subject?
  • How does your previous or current study relate to the course?
  • Have you got any work experience that might help you?
  • Have any life experiences influenced your decision to apply for this course?
  • What skills do you have that make you perfect for this course?
  • What plans and ambitions do you have for your future career?

Visit the UCAS advice page and our personal statement advice page for more support.

Step 2: Digital portfolio

We will review your initial application. If you have met the standard entry requirements, we will ask you to submit a digital portfolio.

You’ll need to submit this via PebblePad, our online portfolio tool.

Digital portfolio advice

Your portfolio should consist of recent work that reflects your creative strengths.

It should:

  • be maximum 30 pages
  • feature work that showcases your skills in technical drawing and construction
  • demonstrate your ability to think and work in 3D
  • illustrate your knowledge of different fabrics and materials
  • demonstrate your ability to effectively present ideas in a visual context
  • include work in progress to illustrate how you experiment and develop ideas from initial concepts to final outcomes
  • include research to highlight your knowledge and awareness of the cultural contexts behind the contemporary fashion industry.

For more support, see our Portfolio advice and PebblePad advice.

Step 3: Interview

You may be invited to an interview following our review of your application. All interviews are held online and last 15 to 20 minutes.

For top tips, see our Interview advice.

You also need to know

Communicating with you

Once you have submitted your initial application, we will email you with your login details for our Applicant portal.

Requests for supplementary documents like qualifications and English language tests will be made through the applicant portal. You can also use it to ask questions regarding your application. Visit our After you apply page for more information.

Visas and immigration history check

All non-UK nationals must complete an immigration history check. Your application may be considered by our course teams before this check takes place. This means that we may request your portfolio and/or video task before we identify any issues arising from your immigration history check. Sometimes your history may mean that we are not able to continue considering your application. Visit our Immigration and visas advice page for more information.

External student transfer policy

UAL accepts transfers from other institutions on a case-by-case basis. Read our Student transfer policy for more information.

Alternative offers

If your application is really strong, but we believe your strengths and skillset are better suited to a different course, we may make you an alternative offer. This means you will be offered a place on a different course or at a different UAL College.

Deferring your place

You must apply in the year that you intend to start your course. If you are made an offer and your circumstances change, you can submit a deferral request to defer your place by 1 academic year. You must have met your conditions by 31 August 2024. If you need an English language test in order to meet the entry requirements, the test must be valid on the deferred start date of your course. If not, you will need to reapply. Requests are granted on a first-come, first-served basis.

Contextual Admissions

This course is part of the Contextual Admissions scheme.

This scheme helps us better understand your personal circumstances so that we can assess your application fairly and in context. This ensures that your individual merit and creative potential can shine through, no matter what opportunities and experiences you have received.

Careers

All of our undergraduate courses offer career development, so that you become a creative thinker, making effective contributions to your relevant sector of the fashion industry.

LCF offers students the opportunity to develop Personal and Professional Development (PPD) skills while studying through:

  • An on-course work experience or placement year. Please note, this is not available on every course; please see the Course Details section for information about work placement opportunities.
  • Access to to speaker programmes and events featuring alumni and industry.
  • Access to careers activities, such as CV clinics and one-to-one advice sessions.
  • Access to a graduate careers service
  • Access to a live jobsboard for all years.
  • Advice on setting up your own brand or company.

Graduates who wish to continue their education at postgraduate level can progress to suitable courses within the College, the University or elsewhere.

Career paths

Many graduates prefer to seek employment as soon as they have completed their undergraduate studies. Recent Womenswear graduates from this course are working in many companies across the industry including Ashley Williams, Jil Sander, JW Anderson, Max Mara, Celine, Hillier Bartley,Tom Ford, Alexander McQueen, Tesco, Arcadia, Debenhams, Jaeger, All Saints and Burberry. Other graduates have gone on to set up and operate their own labels, showing their collections independently, being selected for Fashion East, or producing guest collections for H&M.