Applications open for 2019/20 entry.
This unique fashion sportswear degree asks students to redefine how sportswear is perceived and teaches creative, strategic and practical skills.
BA (Hons) Fashion Sportswear teaches how to design and produce activewear and sportswear, from functional to fashion-focused. You will consider how sport, science, new technologies, fashion trends and cultural contexts influence clothing fashion retail.
This course is based at Curtain Road in Shoreditch. Find out about the local area, including Hoxton, Shoreditch and Dalston, in our local area guides on the Student Life pages.
LCFBA17 Teaser Film
LCF BA (Hons) Fashion Sportswear - meet the students
Jake Baker-Cliff just started his BA (Hons) Fashion Sportswear degree at LCF, after globally renowned Italian sportswear brand Sergio Tacchini awarded him with a scholarship that covers his entire three […]
Last Month students from LCF’s BA (Hons) Fashion Sportswear course and the MDes International Fashion Production Management came together in Dalston, to celebrate the relaunch of the Circle Collective store. The evening […]
LCFBA16 season kicked off earlier this week with the annual catwalk show, featuring 17 collections by 35 designers from across several design courses. Apart from being a celebration of this year’s graduating cohort, […]
As you may have seen on our livestream and on our Instagram, Twitter and Snapchat, the LCFBA16 catwalk show that took place on Monday, was a huge success and a massive delight for any […]
London College of Fashion officially launched its LCFBA16 series of events last night with a catwalk show in Shoreditch that highlighted sixteen collections of the most innovative and creative collaborations from […]
Three BA Fashion Sportswear students took part in an ISPO masterclass in Munich where design students and graduates from around the world presented projects to a panel of judges lead by Daniel […]
Take a tour of LCF's world renowned fashion library, ideal for research and study.
Take a tour of Curtain Road's design, sewing and pattern-cutting facilities along with facilities at JPS and Lime Grove.
Explore our social spaces, for collaborative study and breaks, across our six sites in London.
BA (Hons) Fashion Sportswear will challenge you to design garments that are a fusion of individual contemporary style and function. It is one of a group of fashion product courses, all of which are designed and delivered to prepare you for employment in the relevant industry.
To this end you will study a range of units that will equip you with the relevant professional, communication and business skills, and undertake live projects set by industry where there will be presentations to and from the companies involved. For example, the course has collaborated with Canterbury rugby and Rapha cycling.
You will have the option of doing a placement year between the second and final year of the course. Successful completion of this year will give you an additional qualification, and you will have the opportunity to make contacts and build relationships within the industry before the end of your studies. This course focuses on producing graduates who are encouraged to make an innovative and visionary contribution to the sportswear sector of the fashion industry.
The academic year for this course is divided into Block 1 and Block 2.
Block 1 is of 15 weeks’ duration from late September to February. In accordance with the University timetable, there will be a four week holiday in December.
Block 2 is also of 15 weeks’ duration from mid-February to the end of June with a four week holiday for Easter.
Students on this course might be invited to participate in study trips. This may involve, for example, visits to key areas of capital cities, factories, stores and museums. Attendance on these trips is not compulsory but recommended. Details regarding timings and costs will be issued closer to the relevant trips.
Introduction to Fashion Sportswear aims to introduce you to your course and its subject specialism as well as to effective learning and studentship at undergraduate level. It will orientate you to the practices and knowledge base needed to understand your discipline and help you to develop your skills for independent and collaborative learning, reflection and your own self development. Students come from many diverse educational backgrounds and a part of this unit will enable to reflect on your own background and how that shapes the way you approach your course. This unit has three core purposes:
Emphasis is placed on the skills needed to locate, navigate and communicate information and ideas effectively and appropriately. You will be introduced to resources that support your studies. We will also discuss studentship, the importance of being an engaged and participatory member of the group and your own personal and professional development.
Product Technologies will introduce you to core creative and technical skills required for the design, development and production of products within your specialised area of study. Workshop demonstrations and self-directed practice will help you learn about materials, definitions and terminology, along with research, initial ideas, design development and design selection. Principles and techniques of pattern cutting, construction methods, production techniques and prototyping skills will aid your understanding of creative product development. You will be inducted into health and safety requirements within the workshop. You will also be introduced to key consideration such as sustainability, ethics and inclusivity within design. Presentation and communication of your ideas is vital in this area, and you will develop both written and visual articulation and confidence throughout this unit. You will also be introduced to designing with consumers in mind.
Creative Product Development
A successful product designer understands the market they are designing for. In order to develop a truly desirable end product it is essential to have a comprehensive understanding of the industry, fashion trends, market levels, consumer behaviour, competitors and relevant ethical, social and environmental issues. This unit will consolidate and progress prior learning from Block 1. You will explore and practice skills through answering a complete research, design and development brief for your area of product specialism. In this unit, you will be introduced to team working and collaboration. Collaboration will encourage intercultural experiences, inform discussion through diverse perspectives and use the collective community knowledge as a learning resource.
Better Lives
London College of Fashion, UAL (LCF) is a leader in fashion design, media and business education. We have been nurturing creative talent for over a century, offering courses in all things fashion. We encourage students to examine the past and challenge the present. To have inventive, assertive ideas that challenge social and political agendas. We give students the skills, opportunities – and above all, the freedom – to put those ideas into practice. By leading the way in fashion design, business, and the media, we influence culture, economics and our society. This unit will provide you with a solid understanding of LCF’ core values and how they connect to your practice. As part of this unit you will explore diversity, social responsibility and sustainability, themes which you will then apply to a selected project. At this stage the emphasis is on how you apply your thinking across these important themes to your practice. Your thinking is more important than a finished piece of work at this point. Fashion can change lives. Through teaching, specialist research, and collaborative work, this unit will get you thinking differently. We want you to use fashion to examine the past, build a sustainable future and improve the way we live. That’s why we call this unit ‘Better Lives’.
Introduction to Cultural and Historical Studies provides a broad overview of the subject and introduces key concepts and ways of thinking that will form the basis of subsequent study. It will also inform decisions regarding the Cultural and Historical Studies unit that is chosen for future study.
Professional Practice Initiation acquaints you with the wider context of the fashion industry in relation to your design approach for a specified market, with a real and authentic industry challenge. You will explore areas that will affect the development of a product and give consideration to the environments in which the product will be consumed. You will further develop your critical thinking around more complex design and technology for your specialist area, which will allow you to engage within an industrial context, through forward thinking creative responses and outcomes to an industry-set project brief. You will expand ways of developing and originating research and methodologies for realising research relating to your subject specialism. Focusing on the globalisation of the industry and the diversity of the consumer and market, you will further develop your understanding of industry’s design and technical requirements.
You will be able to study a Cultural and Historical Studies unit of your choice that will broaden or deepen your learning of areas relating to your interests in your chosen field. You will have the opportunity to participate in lectures, seminars and workshops with students from other courses within your School, and will read relevant academic texts and complete a formal academic essay for assessment. Further information on the options available will be provided during Year 1 of your studies.
Fashion Sportswear Industry Project will test and broaden your multi-disciplinary skillset and the ability to develop an effective outcome to the industry brief, through critical thinking and creative problem solving. This unit further develops creative, strategic and practical skills in order to professionally communicate strong visual and written responses. You will use critical judgement to develop appropriate solutions and evaluate and justify your actions throughout the development process. You will consolidate your understanding of research methodologies in relation to international industry-led challenges. This unit will see you fuse creative, practical, entrepreneurial and intellectual skills within an industry context, enhancing your knowledge and professional understanding of marketing and branding, alongside the design and product development process. You will have opportunities to explore and expand your awareness of financial considerations, to form an innovative individual response to the wider social, ethical and sustainability issues within the wider context of the fashion industry. Preparation and planning to enable a focused, professional presentation to summarise your findings will further enhance your skills.
Fashion Sportswear Future Technologies will expand your awareness of innovations in sportswear. You will explore new technologies, ergonomics, digital design and the evolving subject of sports to develop a speculative concept proposal. You will be encouraged to think creatively about enterprise, the development of new markets and emergent trends. Discussion of sustainable futures will be embedded within this unit. New alternatives to current production methods and footprints will be touched upon, such as: sustainable approaches, zero waste, efficiency of the supply chain and innovative manufacturing techniques. This unit will also engage with modern technologies as a way of presenting and communicating work to either peers or industry partners. You will acquire the ability to demonstrate, explain and experiment with ideas and theories using new technologies, which will enhance employment flexibility within the specialism of sportswear.
The Diploma in Professional Studies (the Diploma) is a University of the Arts London Award for a period of professional placement of at least 30 weeks duration. The placement is undertaken after successful completion of stage 2 of the four-year Bachelor’s degree or a five-year integrated Master’s degree. The 30 weeks must be completed in full.
The Diploma in Professional Studies aims to:
There is flexibility to combine a placement in industry either in the United Kingdom or overseas (of at least 20 weeks) with a period of studying abroad (of at least 10 weeks). It is recommended that the placement in industry be with one organisation for a minimum of 30 weeks (if you are not undertaking a period of studying abroad) to benefit fully from your placement experience. In exceptional circumstances more than one placement in industry can occur to meet the minimum requirements for the award of the Diploma. During the placement, your academic studies continue through the compilation of a written report and reflection, which focuses on the opportunities and challenges relating to the professional placement. This not only continues the development of your study skills but also allows the ongoing development of your research, analytical and evaluative skills.
To begin you will undertake the Concept Development unit. Your creative vision will provide a platform from which you will be able to formulate an innovative and enterprising, self-initiated concept and strategy to underpin the rest of your final year of study. This will enable you to embody knowledge, creative thinking and experience gained and present a major piece of product design and development work which is intellectually explored, a viable industry proposition, and informed by appropriate theory, research and development.
Contextualising Your Practice allows you to build on your historical and theoretical understanding of fashion through a research-led extended essay. You will identify a topic, related to your field of practice that you will investigate through design-led research methods and significant cultural and critical theories. It is an opportunity for you to undertake a substantial piece of structured research that examines fashion practice in context and it will build on the critical debates and concerns raised through your course.
The Product Design and Realisation unit utilises concept development outcomes to inform, broaden and deepen your design and development opportunities within your specified market. The unit will enable you to identify research and develop your personal vision in the form of an extended project via an individually negotiated format. It will highlight the breadth and synthesis of innovative activities within the design and product development process. Your research and experimentation will result in the production of fully realised outcomes. This exploration should evidence full engagement with your responsibilities as a designer/product developer including the identification of your chosen progression. You will present your work using appropriate professional techniques.
All students are advised to set up a profile on portfolio.arts.ac.uk, UAL’s new portfolio platform, which can be done at any point during your time at LCF and will last for up to 12 months after graduation. This platform is often used to source student work for promotional use on the website, social media and for print and can be a great way of getting your work seen. You may also be asked to have a portfolio profile for the selection process when it comes to degree shows.
We are committed to making university education an achievable option for a wider range of people and to supporting all of our students in achieving their potential both during and after their courses.
We welcome applications from people with disabilities. If you have a disability (e.g. mobility difficulties, sensory impairments, medical or mental health conditions or Asperger’s syndrome) we strongly encourage you to contact us on disability@arts.ac.uk or +44 (0)20 7514 6156 so that we can plan the right support for you. All enquiries are treated confidentially. To find out more, visit our Disability & Dyslexia webpages.
The standard minimum entry requirements for this course are:
One or a combination of the following accepted full level 3 qualifications.
Entry to this course will also be determined by assessment of your portfolio.
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:
Each application will be considered on its own merit but we cannot guarantee an offer in each case.
IELTS level 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in reading, writing, listening and speaking. Please check our main English Language Requirements
The course team seeks to recruit students who can demonstrate:
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.
This section includes all the information you need on how to apply and how your application is considered, and what happens next.
Your application form is reviewed when you apply to the University. If you have achieved or expect to achieve the standard entry requirements we will invite you to submit a mini portfolio. The mini portfolio is assessed by Academic Reviewers who will select applicants to attend an interview. Please note that not all applicants are invited to attend interview. When you have attended your interview we will advise you of your outcome through UCAS Track.
You should apply though UCAS – Universities and Colleges Admissions Service – and you will need the following information:
University code: U65
UCAS Code: W232
We do not consider applications for Year 2 and Year 3 Entry for this course.
London College of Fashion does not accept applications for deferred entry. You should therefore apply in the year you wish to study.
We recommend you apply by 15th January for equal consideration. However this course will consider applications after that date, subject to places being available.
All application forms, personal statements and references are read and considered by the course team against the selection criteria listed in the Entry Requirements and Selection Criteria sections.
Depending on the quality of your application, you may be asked to submit a number of images of your work. For this course your portfolio should show evidence of: ability to present ideas through visual communication; a level of research, experimentation and development; technical and practical abilities; and effective presentation techniques.
If the course team wish to consider your application further, you will be invited to our interview week (18th to 22nd February 2019) where the course team will look at your portfolio and ask you questions to establish your suitability for the course. Applicants will be expected to demonstrate the following at interview: an awareness of contemporary fashion and culture; an understanding of research, design, design development and product realisation; a motivation for working in the fashion sportswear industry; and a motivation to succeed on the course.
If you are successful at the interview stage you will be offered a place. Applicants are not guaranteed to be asked to upload work, nor are they guaranteed an interview.
Please note that if you are unable to attend, the College may not be able to re-schedule.
If you applied through UCAS the result of your application will be communicated to you via UCAS through UCAS Track. You will only receive further communication directly from the College if your application has been successful. This will be in the form of a full offer pack including details of accommodation, fees, and other important information.
This section includes all the information you need on how to apply and how your application is considered, and what happens next.
Your application form is reviewed when you apply to the University. If you have achieved or expect to achieve the standard entry requirements you will be invited to submit a portfolio of no more than 45 images. Your portfolio is assessed by our academic team who will select applicants to attend an interview. Please note that not all applicants are invited to attend interview. When you have attended your interview we will advise you of your outcome.
There are three ways international students can apply to an undergraduate course at London College of Fashion:
You should apply though UCAS – Universities and Colleges Admissions Service – and you will need the following information:
University code: U65
UCAS Code: W232
You can only apply to the same course once per year whether you are applying via UCAS, UAL Representative or using the UAL online application system. Any duplicate application will be withdrawn.
For further advice on how to apply please visit the UAL International Application page.
We do not consider applications for Year 2 and Year 3 Entry for this course.
London College of Fashion does not accept applications for deferred entry. You should therefore apply in the year you wish to study.
We recommend you apply by 15th January for equal consideration. However this course will consider applications after that date, subject to places being available.
Whether you are applying online via UCAS or through a UAL representative or direct application you will need to complete an Immigration History Check to identify whether you are eligible to study at UAL. Do be aware, if you do not complete the Immigration History Check we will not be able to proceed with your application.
All application forms, personal statements and references are read and considered by the course team against the selection criteria listed in the Entry Requirements and Selection Criteria sections.
Depending on the quality of your application, you may be asked to submit a number of images of your work. For this course your portfolio should show evidence of: ability to present ideas through visual communication; a level of research, experimentation and development; technical and practical abilities; and effective presentation techniques.
If the academic team wish to consider your application further, you will be invited to attend an interview either in person or via telephone where an international academic will look at your portfolio and ask questions to establish your suitability for the course. Applicants will be expected to demonstrate the following at interview: an awareness of contemporary fashion and culture; an understanding of research, design, design development and product realisation; a motivation for working in the fashion sportswear industry; and a motivation to succeed on the course.
If you are successful at the interview stage you will be offered a place. Applicants are not guaranteed to be asked to upload work, nor are they guaranteed an interview.
Please note that if you are unable to attend, the College may not be able to re-schedule.
If you applied through UCAS the result of your application will be communicated to you via UCAS through UCAS Track. If you have applied directly or through an agent, we will notify you through the UAL portal. You will only receive further communication directly from the College if your application has been successful. This will be in the form of a full offer pack including details of accommodation, fees, and other important information.
After you’ve submitted your application, you’ll receive a confirmation email providing you with your login details for the UAL Portal. We’ll use this Portal to contact you to request any additional information, including inviting you to upload documents or book an interview, so please check it regularly.
Once we’ve reviewed and assessed your application, we’ll contact you via UCAS Track or the UAL Portal to let you know whether your application has been successful
Please note: the information outlined is an indicative structure of the course. Whilst we will aim to deliver the course as described on this page, there may be situations where it is desirable or necessary for the University to make changes in course provision, for example because of regulatory requirements or operational efficiencies, before or after enrolment. If this occurs, we will communicate all major changes to all applicants and students who have either applied or enrolled on the course. Please note that due to staff research agreements or availability, not all of the optional modules listed may be available every year. In addition, the provision of course options which depend upon the availability of specialist teaching, or on a placement at another institution, cannot be guaranteed. Please check this element of the course with the course team before making a decision to apply.
We will update this webpage from time to time with new information as it becomes available. In the meantime, if you have any questions, please use the register your interest form above.
£9,250
This applies for the 2019/20 academic year.
Tuition fees for undergraduate degree courses have been set at £9,250 per year for full-time study. This applies from the 2017/18 academic year, subject to changes in the law. Tuition fees may increase in future years for new and continuing students, in line with an inflationary amount determined by government. Please visit our Undergraduate tuition fees page for more information.
£19,890
This applies for the 2019/20 academic year.
In addition to tuition fees you are very likely to incur additional costs such as travel expenses and the cost of materials. Please read the information on our additional costs page.
Find out about the accommodation options available and how much they will cost.
There are a number of scholarships and awards available to students on this course. Use our search tool to find out more information.
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.
Many graduates prefer to seek employment as soon as they have completed their undergraduate studies. Recent graduates have gone on to work as designers for technical sports brands and lifestyle sportswear brands- Adidas, Puma, Altura technical bikewear, Crewroom specialist rowing brand, Korda specialist angling brand, Aitor Throup, Fila, DKNY to name a few.
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