This four-year programme has been specifically designed to allow you to undertake additional level three study, to ensure you are successful on your chosen degree programme.
The foundation course is an exciting step towards your chosen degree. It encompasses elements of fashion design, fashion business and textile design degree routes and provides a platform for you to share with and learn from others. It will help you in building confidence and independence and we aim to excite, engage and challenge you, pushing you to develop into a capable student with a great fashion and textiles aesthetic as well as an enthusiasm to learn. Our stunning Parkside Building is a dynamic and creative open environment and our students thrive on the creative buzz of being based within the heart of Birmingham. After successful completion of the year, you will have the flexibility to switch (should you wish to change direction) onto a number of related undergraduate degree programmes within the School of Fashion and Textiles.
If you love the idea of using your creativity to build onto and into surfaces, working with a wide range of materials, progressing onto our Textile Design: Embroidery option will allow you to explore new possibilities in a subject with a rich and varied heritage. Alongside hand skills, including tambour beading and gold work, you become confident with using industry-standard specialist digital embroidery software and equipment. You might work onto substrates you have printed or created yourself, generating designs with rich surface qualities and dramatic compositions.
The skillset you will develop is highly desirable within the luxury fashion market, as well as in theatre, jewellery, interiors and illustration. Our graduates have gone on to work as Couture Embroiderers, Studio Designers, Designer Makers and Illustrators.
As a course we value diversity, nurture curiosity and place sustainability at the heart of decision making. Students develop their creativity, personal talents and professional awareness in a stimulating and supportive environment. All students are introduced to print, weave, embroidery and knit processes in the first year, enabling you to experiment with different methods to identify strengths and interests.
In second year, we teach in career-focused groups, reflecting the nature of contemporary employment needs within the industry. This provides you with further opportunity to tailor your learning experience and fulfil your own personal and professional aspirations. These reflect the breadth of professional paths that our graduates go on to pursue:
• Styling and Trend Forecasting
• Contemporary Culture and Craft
• Surface Pattern and Technologies
• Bespoke Fashion Textiles
• Retail and Promotion
You will be taught by passionate and experienced tutors and supported by highly skilled technicians; many of whom have their own practice in Textile Design. Guest speakers and visiting tutors enrich the learning experience and provide additional industry insights. Employability is at the heart of our course and collaborative work, live projects, competitions and work placements help you to develop professional experience. Students have undertaken work experience in the UK and abroad at companies such as Mary Katrantzou, John Lewis, Trend Bible and Zara. Our strong links with industries including trend agencies, design studios, museums and galleries, provide opportunities that equip students with the skills for increasingly diverse career paths.
Our final year students get the opportunity to showcase their collections via a range of platforms, including BCU’s ‘Inspired Festival’ and at New Designers in London. The diverse and innovative range of work on show exemplifies the unique identity of the course. Our aim is that you will graduate as a confident, industry-ready, independent and highly employable designer with a clear career ambition.
Course Details - Modules
Modules are not listed for this Course.
Course Details – Assessment Method
Assessment Methods are not listed for this Course.
Course Details – Professional Bodies
Professional Bodies are not listed for this Course.
How to Apply
26 January This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.
Application Codes
Course code:
1029
Institution code:
B25
Campus Name:
Parkside Building Campus
Campus code:
Points of Entry
The following entry points are available for this course:
Foundation
Entry Requirements for Advanced Entry (Year 2 and Beyond)
Entry Requirements for Advanced Entry are not listed for this Course.
International applicants
Standard Qualification Requirements
A maximum of 4 subjects are considered. These can be other A/S Levels (as long in a different subject) A-Levels or Level 3 equivalents.
Contextualised reduced tariff offer:
Please visit: https://www.bcu.ac.uk/student-info/offer-making-strategy for more information about contextual offers.
Achieve a minimum of 80 tariff points achieved in either five Highers or from a combination of two Advanced Highers plus two Highers.
Where only Highers have been taken a minimum of grades CDDDD is required. Where a combination of Highers and Advanced Highers have been taken you must achieve grades of DD in two Advanced Highers plus grades of DD in two Highers.
Considered with a maximum of 3 other Level 3 qualifications to obtain 80 pts
Considered with a maximum of 3 other Level 3 qualifications (AS Levels must be in different subject to A-Levels) to obtain 80 pts
Pass with 60 credits overall. At least 45 credits at Level 3.
Arts, Media and Publishing subjects preferred but other subjects also considered.
Considered with a maximum of 3 other Level 3 qualifications to obtain 80 pts
Achieve a minimum of 80 tariff points achieved in either three Advanced Highers or from a combination of two Advanced Highers plus two Highers.
Where three Advanced Highers have been taken achieve a minimum of grades DDD
Where a combination of Highers and Advanced Highers have been taken you must achieve (grades of DD in two Advanced Highers plus grades of DD in two Highers).
Considered with a maximum of 3 other Level 3 qualifications to obtain 80 pts
Considered with a maximum of 3 other Level 3 qualifications to obtain 80 pts
Considered with a maximum of 3 other Level 3 qualifications to obtain 80 pts
Must be in a topic related to the degree subject being applied for
Considered with a maximum of 3 other Level 3 qualifications to obtain 80 pts
Considered with a maximum of 3 other Level 3 qualifications to obtain 80 pts
Considered with a maximum of 3 other Level 3 qualifications to obtain 80 pts
Obtain a minimum of 24 points overall
For students who do not already hold a GCSE in English Language at Grade C/4 or above Standard Level English Language (not literature) English A - Grade 4 or above or English B - Grade 5 from the IB Diploma will be accepted
For students who do not already hold a GCSE in Mathematics at Grade C/4 or above Standard Level Maths, grade 5 or above from the IB Diploma will be accepted
Pass the Irish Leaving Certificate with a minimum of 88 tariff points, achieved in five Higher level subjects. This must include English Language and Maths taken at either Ordinary Level (minimum grade O1-O4 (or A-C/A1-C3)) or Higher level minimum grade H1/H7 (or A-D / A1-D3 up to and including 2016
Considered with a maximum of 3 other Level 3 qualifications to obtain 80 pts
See level 3 entry under Irish Leaving Certificate for full details
Considered with a maximum of 3 other Level 3 qualifications to obtain 80 pts
Considered with a maximum of 3 other Level 3 qualifications to obtain 80 pts
Considered with a maximum of 3 other Level 3 qualifications to obtain 80 pts
Considered with a maximum of 3 other Level 3 qualifications to obtain 80 pts
Considered with a maximum of 3 other Level 3 qualifications to obtain 80 pts
Considered with a maximum of 3 other Level 3 qualifications to obtain 80 pts
Please click the following link to find out more about qualification requirements for this course
Minimum Qualification Requirements
Minimum Further Information are not listed for this Course.
English language requirements
Test
Grade
AdditionalDetails
IELTS (Academic)
6.0
overall with no less than 5.5 in any level
English Language Entry Requirement Information are not listed for this Course.
Unistats information
Student satisfaction :
85%
Employment after 15 months (Most common jobs):
58%
Go onto work and study:
82%
Fees and funding
EU
9250.0
Year 1
England
9250.0
Year 1
Northern Ireland
9250.0
Year 1
Scotland
9250.0
Year 1
Wales
9250.0
Year 1
International
12000.0
Year 1
Additional Fee Information
Additional Fee Information are not listed for this Course.
Provider information
University House
15 Bartholomew Row
Address3 are not listed for this Course.
Birmingham
B5 5JU
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