Graduating soon? Find out about the benefits for LCF graduates and alumni
- Written byLondon College of Fashion
- Published date 10 May 2023
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Being part of our global alumni community provides an opportunity to celebrate, collaborate and connect with our extraordinary cohort of creative graduates.
Even as London College of Fashion, UAL moves to our new East Bank campus on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in Stratford this September, LCF welcomes our graduates and alumni to benefit from our new home in east London.
At East Bank, our graduates will have the chance to connect, build their ideas and access support, opportunities, events and an unmissable annual programme of exhibitions.
We've outlined all the benefits and support for our graduates to find out how to reconnect, discover job and research opportunities and access UAL's world-class facilities.
First things first, connect with our growing global network by joining UAL's Alumni and Friends
- Sign up and update your details to keep in touch with alumni news, events and special opportunities.
- UAL Alumni ID number is a unique 6-digit number that gets sent to you after you graduate. You can use it to book visits to the UAL Libraries and get 10% discount on our short courses. Find your alumni ID in the top right-hand corner of our monthly alumni newsletter. If you don't know your alumni ID, email: alumni@arts.ac.uk.
- You can also find out more about planning a reunion, career support for alumni, alumni groups, volunteering and mentoring, and much more.
Access to facilities:
Access to LCF’s East Bank campus
The first three floors of our new East Bank campus will be open to the public and on these floors, you will be able to access the Café and Gallery. By appointment only or signing up to our bookable events, you can access the Library, LCF Archives, Graduate Futures and the programmed Cultural Programme of events including; LCF Weekenders and Lates, pop-ups and festivals that represent the breadth of learning at LCF.
Alongside LCF’s new building you can also access our partner facilities on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park such as V&A East Storehouse. This new archive venue, located at Here East and opening in 2024, is where you will be able to explore the exceptional archive of legend David Bowie. Read more on LCF Stories.
General use of studios and equipment is reserved for current LCF students completing their course. However, through some of the bookable events you will be able to study objects from LCF’s Archives or get demonstrations on the latest technology with the Digital Learning Lab. Keep up to date with all our events on What’s On.
Book Library appointments for reference work
UAL alumni can book access to the UAL libraries, including LCF’s new library at our East Bank campus. To plan your visit:
- Book at least 48 hours before you would like to visit.
- Take your confirmation email with you as you need this to book into the College.
- Find out more about visiting the UAL libraries, archives and special collections.
- You can also access these online resources.
Continuing your studies:
Postgraduate progression discount
For undergraduate students who are considering furthering their education, UAL alumni can get a 20% tuition fee discount on a taught Masters course at UAL. Find out more.
Joint funded PhDs
We encourage final year students to keep in touch with us when you graduate and we will let you know about any opportunities in joint funded PhDs, such as Kami Anderson who explored hip hop culture through fashion and dance. Read more on UAL’s website.
Paid opportunities and student memberships:
Access to Arts Temps
All UAL alumni have access to the job opportunities on Arts Temps, regardless of when they graduated. The roles offer flexible hours and a great way to gain industry experience and build skills.
Become a Graduate Futures Alumni Ambassador
This is your chance to 'give back' and support the next generation of talented creatives setting out on their journey. Alumni Ambassadors receive a range of benefits and exclusive access to showcasing, events and activities designed especially for our LCF Alumni community. By joining you will have opportunities to share your insights through paid work as a guest speaker, grow your skills and knowledge and build your connectivity with other LCF alum, UAL staff, students and industry guests.
If you're interested in joining the LCF Alumni Ambassadors, please email graduate.futures@fashion.arts.ac.uk
Free student membership with Textile Institute
LCF is a Corporate Member of the Textile Institute, which means you can join as a student member for free. Student membership also free for one year after graduation and costs £10 for all other student members. Sign up today.
UKFT benefits for LCF graduates
LCF is a member with UK Fashion & Textile Association (UKFT), the largest network for fashion and textile companies in the UK who brings together designers, manufacturers, suppliers, agents and retailers to promote their businesses and industry, both in the UK and throughout the world. UKFT offers students and graduates many benefits including; discounted rates for UKFT training, free access to all UKFT seminars on a range of specific industry topics, events and networking, all of which Graduate Futures promote through their channels. You can also sign up to the UKFT newsletter at ukft.org.
Support from LCF Graduate Futures:
Whether you want to start your own business, freelance or start your career in an organisation, Graduate Futures provides current students and alumni with focused careers and enterprise advice. At our new home on East Bank, this support will continue to offer graduates and alumni sustainable business support within a community of innovators.
We encourage all final years to sign up to Graduate Futures alumni newsletter and follow LCF Graduate Futures on LinkedIn before they leave, to stay up to date on all the support and opportunities including the below.
Graduate leavers pack
Studying at LCF gives you access to all the latest services and resources from the Graduate Futures team - even after you have graduated! Whether you want to start your own business, freelance, or get a job, we can give you careers and enterprise advice through our Graduate Leavers Pack. This is updated with new content every term, so always provides a wealth of information.
LCF Founders Club
LCF’s Founders Club is a community of practice of LCF graduates who have started a business or become a freelancer. We now have more than 300 members who offer a wide range of products and services; spanning from clothing brands, fashion tech and wearables to photography and even patisserie.
Graduate Futures supports the growth of these businesses via coaching, industry mentoring and access to our networking events which seek to debate a hot topic of the day relevant to the community for peer exchange with industry and functional specialists and our SME community. Members also continue to benefit from LCF’s extensive industry connections.
Showcase your work on Graduate Showcase
The UAL Graduate Showcase is an innovative online platform for graduates to present their work. Sign up to Portfolio, create your profile and upload your work before you graduate this summer 2023. We strongly advise that you upload your work as soon as possible to ensure that it’s ready for launch. The earlier you submit, the sooner teams can review your submission.
Take a look at the 2022 UAL Graduate Showcase for ideas and inspiration, and watch our ‘how to upload your work’ video. Please also read our guides on how to prepare, promote and sell your work. Read the UAL Graduate Showcase terms and conditions (PDF 137KB) before you start uploading your work. Read more on Graduate Showcase.
Fashion District
Fashion District is a cluster of ambitious businesses, academic institutions and investors aiming to drive economic and social transformation and position London as the global hub of fashion innovation. Backed by the Mayor of London, it was set up by LCF alongside industry partners including UK Fashion and Textiles, British Fashion Council, The Trampery, Poplar HARCA, LLDC, and Westfield Stratford City.
An innovation hub based in east London; it supports start-up fashion businesses across design, manufacturing and retail by creating networks and connections. It promotes programmes to bring sustainable innovations to industry, provides more affordable work spaces, and encourages investment through a network of investors.
Students and alumni can gain access to industry and develop valuable connections with professionals, innovative start-ups and leading brands through Fashion District events and opportunities. Keep an eye on the Fashion District website for details of the Fashion District Festival in July 2023. Read more at fashion-district.co.uk.
Help to Grow: Management Programme
For LCF's more experienced alumni who are senior managers of small and medium-sized businesses looking to reach the next level, increasing productivity and growing revenue, the Help to Grow programme could be for you. Backed by the government, this 12-week course is delivered by LCF’s award-winning Fashion Business School in partnership with the Small Business Charter. Find out more on LCF's website.
SEEDED residency programme
In the summer of 2022, East Bank partners - V&A East, LCF, BBC, Sadlers Wells and UCL launched East Bank SEEDED: a five-month residency programme for east London-based creatives, communities and collectives who want to innovate, experiment, and develop new practice while pushing conventional boundaries of form and structure. We recently announced the recipients of this residency programme on LCF Stories.
Access to LCF events
We value our graduates and alumni and encourage you to come back and attend our events, or to talk to our new cohort of students about your experiences of being a fashion student or working in industry. To keep up to date with the range of events available throughout the year, see LCF’s events listed on LCF’s website.
Stay in touch
Finally, follow us on our main College social media channels where we will also share news and updates so you’re always in the know what’s happening at LCF. As your UAL student account will deactivate three months after you graduate, it’s important you update your details with LCF Graduate Futures and UAL Alumni so that we can keep in touch on the opportunities.