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Summer Study Abroad - Fashion Design UAL and NABA
College
Central Saint Martins
Level
Beginner

This summer, immerse yourself in a transformative creative journey across two of the world’s design capitals – London and Milan. This exclusive programme offers experience within two internationally-renowned academic institutions: Central Saint Martins in London and NABA, Nuova Accademia di Belle Arti in Milan.

Summer School information

For the first 3 weeks, you will study at Central Saint Martins (CSM), part of University of the Arts London, which is ranked top 2 in the world for Art and Design (QS World University ® by Subject, Art & Design).

For the final 2 weeks, you will study at NABA, Nuova Accademia di Belle Arti, one of Italy’s leading creative universities. NABA was selected by the QS World University Rankings® by Subject Art & Design as the Best Academy of Fine Arts in Italy and among the top 100 universities in the world.

This collaboration stems from a shared vision: a learning-by-doing approach that combines theoretical lessons on the fashion system and major industry brands with practical workshops and field experiences. Both institutions merge diverse ways of thinking, designing, and creating, fostering a creative practice that blends the ability to imagine new futures with the skills to bring them to life.

Dates and fees

Fashion Design at Central Saint Martins

30 June 2025 - 17 July 2025

Application deadline: 12 May 2025

Cost: £2,500 for the 3-week session at UAL

Credits: 4 credits

Duration: 3 weeks (60 contact hours, Monday - Thursday) plus additional independent study

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Fashion Design at NABA

21 July – 1 August 2025

Cost: €2,000 for the 2-week session at NABA

Credits: 3 credits

Duration: 2 weeks (50 contact hours, Monday – Friday) plus additional independent study

Location: NABA campus, Milan

NABA course information

  • Tuition fees must be paid separately to both institutions.
  • To complete your application, you must apply to both schools and submit all necessary information and documents accordingly.

Entry requirements

English requirements

You should be proficient in written and spoken English and be able to participate in group discussions and make presentations. As a guideline we would expect you to have an English language level equivalent to IELTS score of 6.0.

More information on English language requirements and equivalencies.

Academic requirements

Students applying for this course are expected to be independent and highly motivated, preferably having completed one year at university (undergraduate-level study).

No portfolio is required.

Applicants must be 18+ on the first day of the course.

Course details

The programme is structured in two parts. The first one will take place in London at Central Saint Martins – University of the Arts London from 30 June to 17 July. Students will focus on research, design, and the development of a fashion project using mixed media, drawing, and 2D design techniques. In addition to classroom lessons, in London, students will engage in site visits to cultural landmarks and document their research through photography and sketches.

The second phase will be hosted at NABA campus in Milan from 21 July to 1 August. Here, students will deepen their creative processes by developing the research conducted in London, experimenting with textiles in NABA’s Fashion Design laboratories, and creating prototypes of a capsule collection. By the end of the programme, students will have gained a comprehensive overview of fashion design, culminating in a collection that includes moodboards, sketches, and prototypes created using draping techniques and enhanced by didactic museum visits in Milan. This process will culminate in the creation of prototypes for selected garments.

5-week summary

  • Week 1 Research: learning skills and techniques
  • Week 2 Development: applying skills, techniques and style
  • Week 3 Communication: refining outcomes, presentation, exhibition

Please take care of your work outcomes from the first three weeks (and document it well), as your project will need to travel safely to Milan with you to continue its development.

  • Week 4 Experimentation: redeveloping concepts, and techniques
  • Week 5 Realisation: fabrication, prototype, and presentation

At the end of the course students will have improved and enriched their technical and design skills and will be able to fully carry on a research activity with the aim of designing a collection.

During the presentation students will show their work that shall include: moodboards, a sketchbook, a portfolio of complete sketches and technical drawings, a prototype made by draping techniques.

This process will culminate in the creation of prototypes for selected garments.

Credits

  • The 3-week course at Central Saint Martins is the equivalent to 4 US style credits.
  • If you’re planning to claim credit towards your degree, be sure to check with your home institution before you apply.
  • You can check credits for the NABA course on their course page.

Tutor information

UAL Course Tutors

Anna-Nicole Ziesche

Anna graduated in BA and MA Fashion from Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design, UAL. Her shift towards film and performance began in the last year of her MA Fashion. Her film ‘Infinite Repetition’ (2000) was a radical departure for Anna-Nicole Ziesche and marked a turning point in fashion communication practice because it utilized the medium of film to unveil the continuously evolving designs and shapes of garments. Anna-Nicole Ziesche works as a Visual Artist and Pathway Leader on the BA (hons) Fashion Design Womenswear at Central Saint Martins, UAL (since 2015). She was a Research Fellow in Design for Performance at London College of Fashion, UAL (2009-2015).

Exhibitions include: RMIT Design Hub, Melbourne, Australia (2015), Centre Georges Pompidou, Paris, France (2013+2015); Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen, Rotterdam, The Netherlands (2009); Museum of the Moving Image, New York, USA (2007), V&A Fashion in Motion, London, UK (2001).

Heather Sproat

Graduating from BA fashion Womenswear at Central Saint Martins in 1993, Heather studied the unique Haute Couture tailoring techniques at the Christian Dior Haute couture atelier in Paris.
Heather went on to be appointed as a Designer at Louis Vuitton. She began her academic career teaching on the Womenswear course in 2000 at Central Saint Martins and is now joint pathway leader for the BA Fashion Womenswear course.

Amongst the graduates she has taught in the last 24 years are designers, @garethpughstudio, @zacposen, @kikokostadinov, @chopovalowena, @susanfangofficial, @charlesjeffreyloverboy, @walesbonner, @fredriktjaerandsen, @imongrindr, @gerrit_jacob, @kevingermanier

She has led collaborative student fashion design projects with external partners such as Louis Vuitton, Dior, Balenciaga Museum, Victoria&Albert museum, Nike, Penhaligons, Canada Goose and Bvlgari. Instagram: @h.sproat

NABA Lead Professor

Lorenzo Seghezzi

Milan-based designer, tailor and corset maker, and creative director of the brand Lorenzo Seghezzi. After graduating from NABA BA in Fashion Design, he founded the brand in 2020, aiming to serve as a social and political statement giving voice to queer identities through bespoke aesthetics. Check out Lorenzo's work.

More information on the NABA course can be found on the course page.

Visa information

As you will be studying in London and Milan, please check your visa status for the United Kingdom and Italy.
For the 3-week programme at UAL, please check the UAL Study Abroad visa page for information.
For the 2-week programme at NABA, please check the application form for information.

Materials

Please bring with you to the first session: 

  • Digital camera
  • Laptop
  • Sketchbook
  • A pair of tailoring scissors
  • Pencils, eraser, pencil sharpener, coloured pencils, speed squares and ruler

Note: materials to be used for finished works will be agreed with teachers during the collection development phases.

Summer Study Abroad Award

We offer a Summer Study Abroad Award for all of our 3-week Summer Study Abroad courses. This award would be for the UAL 3-week course only.

To be eligible, you must be 18 years or older, hold an offer to join one of our 3 week Summer Study Abroad courses, and be enrolled on an undergraduate degree programme outside the UK.

  • The award covers the tuition-fee only and depends on you successfully enrolling for the course. Our cancellation policy still applies.
  • Award winners will be asked to take part in promotional activities to promote Summer Study Abroad, including social media posts and takeovers, and blog writing.

Find out how to apply.

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Summer Study Abroad: Fashion Design

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    Image credit: Adam Razvi
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