Viewing course details for 2024 year of entry

How to apply
Code
WF30
Attendance
Full-time
Start
September 2024, September 2025
Fees
£9,250 (UK) | £16,600 (INT)
Duration
3 years full-time
Course Leader
Lucy Fine
Study mode
On campus
Location
Hendon campus
Entry Requirements
112-128 UCAS points
Placement year
No
School / Department
School of Design
Course overview

Why choose Fashion Communication and Styling BA Honours at Middlesex?

We pride ourselves on being part of one of the most innovative and exciting fashion courses in London.

You'll be able to build valuable skills on placement before London Fashion Week. You'll also be able to take part in the Degree Show, showcasing your work and increasing your professional network.

What you will gain

You’ll get the opportunity to work with a wide range of media and visual communication methods that are central to the fashion industry.

We take an innovative approach to the subject and you’ll be encouraged to consider and develop your own personal style and direction.

Besides a theoretical and practical foundation, you’ll also gain essential abilities that will enhance your employability even beyond the fashion industry.

What you will learn

Ours is one of the most exciting fashion courses in London - we’re proud to be ranked fourth in London for Fashion (Guardian University Guide 2019).

You’ll explore fashion’s past and future developments and take part in the Degree Show, showcasing your work and building your professional network.

You’ll work with a wide range of media and visual communication methods that are central to the fashion industry, all the while developing your own personal style and direction.

The course will give you essential skills that will enhance your employability in the fashion industry and beyond.

Our Fashion Communication and Styling BA will offer you the chance to:

  • Showcase your work and develop your professional networks through our Degree Show
  • Prepare for the modern world of work through exposure to live briefs set by industry experts, and through work placements within your chosen area of fashion
  • Receive support from personal tutors, Graduate Academic Assistants and specialised technicians, who are also experienced professionals in their respective fields
  • Gain insight into the latest professional practices in media and visual communications to prepare yourself for the constantly evolving fashion industry

3 great reasons to pick this course

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Excellent facilities

Our fashion and photography studios are among the best in the country. Students can also study technologies such as green screen and video editing

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Placements at London Fashion Week

Students take part in a six-week placement during London Fashion Week. We also offer a four-year 'Thick Sandwich' course, with the option of a year-long placement in the third year

hub

Develop your employability skills and make industry connections

with a range of work placements and internship opportunities. Our links with industry partners give you access to live briefs, guest lecturers, and potential employers.

About your course

About your course

Our course will help you gain insight into both contemporary fashion and the wider field of visual communication. You'll engage with a broad range of professional skills and acquire first-hand experience of current industry practice, through work experience and collaboration.

In your first year, you'll learn a broad range of skills and get the opportunity to apply these skills through live and collaborative projects. You'll cover topics such as styling, photography, graphic design and art direction, film and magazine production.

Taking place in the first term, this module will encourage the exploration of individual style, identity and abilities through a series of introductory projects covering specialist fields of fashion communication. It will provide induction sessions in appropriate workshops within the Faculty and a basic level of training in associated skills. We will give an overview of the range of roles, tasks and creative responsibilities within the fields of fashion communication.

During term 2, you will be given the opportunity to apply the skills you gained in the first term, in relation to the production of fashion communication outcomes. We encourage you to consider your own role within the field of fashion communication, how this role interacts within a wider collaborative network and how project requirements reflect client and audience needs. As the title suggests, the programme of study will typically include a mixture of collaborative and individual projects.

Throughout this year-long module, you will explore a range of visual research methods relating to fields of fashion communication and styling. We will introduce you to networks of communities and their currency and influence on contemporary fashion design, communication and promotion and related audience and markets. We will also investigate cultural and sub-cultural belonging and how this influences and translates into identity and style. You will gather, organise, edit and display a range of personal, original and inspiring research material.

Throughout this year long module, we will introduce to you to different ways of looking at and thinking about fashion, providing an introduction to historical sources and narratives as well as key cultural and contextual theories. You will be encouraged to draw connections between fashions from the past and the present to encourage you to understand the rich cultural and social meanings of clothing and adornment in Western traditions. We cover a broad range of visual and material research methodologies, enabling you to be resourceful and explore different archives and historical collections in a hands-on way.

Your second year is industry-focused with a six-week industry placement during London Fashion Week and a live industry brief. In previous years this project has run in collaboration with Buffalozine, The Face and Dust Magazine.

This term 1 project will enable you to hone skills appropriate to a specific role, ideally reflecting your choice of career pathway. It will engender a developed awareness of fashion communication industry practice through the adoption of a specialism, typically styling, photography and film or art direction, in relation to self-generated themes. We will provide a range of industry-focused project opportunities appropriate to this specialist role.

This module will enable you to undertake a period of work experience within a field of the fashion communication at the beginning of the second term. We support you in identifying possible career networks and areas of employment. The project provides the opportunity for you to apply the specialist and transferable skills you have acquired so far in a professional setting.

When you return from your internship in term 2, this module will build on your awareness of fashion communication industry practice in relation to market and audience. You will further hone your skills in a particular field, as a stylist, photographer or art director, considering how your own creative practice demonstrates awareness of professional standards and client expectations. You will further explore your personal style and direction through the production of a self-directed project aimed at an appropriate market, outlet or platform.

This OPTIONAL module allow you to undertake a year-long internship in the fashion industry, returning to undertake take your final year as a fourth year of study. You will utilise an employment experience to provide an insight into the work methods and operation of a fashion business or freelance role in a field of fashion design and production. You will carefully document the experience, engendering an understanding of the principles of reflective practice and their application in a professional context.

This final year is self-directed, supported by one-to-one tutorials and workshops. You'll work towards the production of a professional portfolio showcasing your specialist skills and a written dissertation.

This project will allow you to engage with the identification, organisation and development of a substantial, in-depth, self-directed dissertation with a clear and sustained critical argument. We encourage the pursuit of a research topic related to issues explored in your own practice in any area of fashion. You will further develop critical awareness and self-reflection of historical and/or contemporary contexts of your discipline and research topic, building on primary and secondary research skills embedded in Years One and Two, and developing your ability to identify, analyse and critically evaluate appropriate sources and research methods.

This is your final major project. The year-long module will provide the opportunity for you to research, develop and produce a series of self-directed projects that reflect your understanding of industry standards within a chosen field of fashion communication, demonstrate a clear personal style and direction and show awareness of current and innovative practice. The aim is to produce a graduate portfolio of creative output appropriate to a specific role or field of fashion communication.

To find out more about this highly regarded course, please download the Fashion Communication and Styling BA Honours specification (PDF).

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Teaching and learning

Teaching

You'll be taught by an experienced teaching team who have a wide range of expertise and professional experience. The team includes academics, professional practitioners, and technical staff. Graduate teaching assistants or trained postgraduate research students may also have input into your teaching under the supervision of the module leader. You will learn your subject by attending lectures, seminars, practical workshops, demonstrations and tutorials Seminars and workshops are a great opportunity to discuss what you have learnt in lectures and through independent study with your peers and tutors. Most seminar groups have about 25-30 students. A programme of masterclasses and industry speaker sessions runs through all three years of study. You will work on projects, practical assignments, critical essays and presentations, all of which you will supplement with your own independent research.

During your first year, your weekly timetable will typically consist of:

  • 1 hour of lectures
  • 1 hour of seminars
  • 7 hours of practical classes or workshops
  • 6 hours of group or one-to-one tutorials
  • 10 hours of open studio access.

Outside of teaching hours, you’ll learn independently through self-study which will involve reading articles and books, working on projects, undertaking research, and preparing for assessments including coursework, presentations and exams.

Teaching vs independent learning

Here is an indication of how you will split your time:

Year 1

Percentage Hours Typical activity
37% 438 Teaching, learning and assessment
63% 762 Independent learning

Year 2

Percentage Hours Typical activity
32% 388 Teaching, learning and assessment
54% 642 Independent learning
14% 170 Placement/practice-based learning

Year 3

Percentage Hours Typical activity
46% 550 Teaching, learning and assessment
54% 650 Independent learning

Our excellent teaching and support teams will help you develop your skills, from research and practical skills to critical thinking. Our Sheppard Library is open 24 hours a day during term time. And we offer free 24-hour laptop loans with full desktop software, free printing and Wi-Fi to use on or off campus.

There are no exams but your coursework practical and written coursework, reports, portfolio presentations, group assignments, and one-to-one tutorials will be assessed. Your attendance at and participation in practical sessions will also count.

Assessments

We'll test your understanding and progress with informal and formal tests.

The informal tests usually take place at least once per module, from which you’ll receive feedback from your tutor. The grades from these tests don’t count towards your final marks.

There are formal assessments for each module, usually at the end, which will count towards your module and your final marks.

Assessments are reviewed annually and may be updated based on student feedback or feedback from an external examiner.

To help you achieve the best results, we will provide regular feedback.

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North London campus

Our north London campus is 23 minutes away by underground train, travelling from London Kings Cross.

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Facilities and support

Student Support

We offer lots of support to help you while you're studying including financial advice, wellbeing, mental health, and disability support.

Additional needs

We'll support you if you have additional needs such as sensory impairment or dyslexia. And if you want to find out whether Middlesex is the right place for you before you apply, get in touch with our Disability and Dyslexia team.

Wellness

Our specialist teams will support your mental health. We have free individual counselling sessions, workshops, support groups and useful guides.

Work while you study

Our Middlesex Unitemps branch will help you find work that fits around uni and your other commitments. We have hundreds of student jobs on campus that pay the London Living Wage and above. Visit the Middlesex Unitemps page.

Financial support

You can apply for scholarships and bursaries and our MDX Student Starter Kit to help with up to £1,000 of goods, including a new laptop or iPad.

We have also reduced the costs of studying with free laptop loans, free learning resources and discounts to save money on everyday things. Check out our guide to student life on a budget.

Careers

Careers

How can the BA Fashion Communication and Styling support your career?

This degree leads to a diverse range of fashion media roles including stylist, photographer, fashion editor, art director, casting agent, graphic designer and PR consultant.

Year after year our students produce outstanding industry-standard work and leave the course with an impressive portfolio to launch their careers. 

Success stories

Graduates from the fashion courses at Middlesex include internationally known illustrator and art director Richard Gray, menswear designer Martine Rose and Richard Sloan, stylist and art director who has worked with Kylie Minogue and Lily Allen.

Jared Behl

Jared is a fashion image maker and founder of @forservicezine who graduated in 2020. Jared has consulted for Balenciaga on their Summer 22 campaign.

Valeria Chrampani

Valeria is a fashion stylist and consultant who graduated in 2022 and has a cult following on Instagram with her @sushiandbaklava account. Vogue was celebrating her Y2K-focused Depop store pop-up at Selfridges before she even graduated. valeriachrampani.com

MDXworks

Our employability service, MDXworks will launch you into the world of work from the beginning of your course, with placements, projects and networking opportunities through our 1000+ links with industry and big-name employers in London and globally.

Our dedicated lifetime career support, like our business start-up support programme and funding for entrepreneurs, has put us in the top 10 UK universities for students who want to be CEOs and entrepreneurs (Hitachi, 2021).

MDXcelerator student start-up support

Want to be your own boss? You'll have the chance to pitch your business to gain mentoring and grants of up to £15,000.

Global network

You’ll study with students from 122 countries who’ll hopefully become part of your global network. And after you graduate, we'll still support you through our alumni network to help you progress in your chosen career.

Entry requirements

Entry requirements

Our entry requirements provide a guide to the qualifications that you’ll need to study our courses. We have a personalised admissions approach and we make fair but aspirational offers. We want you to aim high and achieve great results.

Qualifications

UCAS points
112–128 UCAS points
A-Level
BBC-BBB
BTEC
DMM-DDM
Access requirements
Overall pass: must include 45 credits at level 3, of which all 45 must be at Merit or higher
Combinations
A combination of A-Level, BTEC and other accepted qualifications that total 112 - 128 UCAS Tariff points

At Middlesex, we're proud of how we recognise the potential of future students like you. We make fair and aspirational offers because we want you to aim high, and we’ll support you all the way.

We’ll always be as flexible as possible and take into consideration any barriers you may have faced in your learning. And, if you don’t quite get the grades you hoped for, we’ll also look at more than your qualifications. Things like your work experience, other achievements and your personal statement.

Our general entry requirements page outlines how we make offers where we have given a range (e.g. BBB – BBC in A levels), and how you will be made an offer if you are studying a combination of qualifications (e.g. BTEC and A level). In both cases, we will base this on information you’ve provided on your application. Applications from mature candidates without formal qualifications are welcomed, provided they can demonstrate appropriate levels of relevant ability and experience.

We'll accept T Levels for entry onto our undergraduate degree courses (including our extended courses with a foundation year) with standard application of science requirements and GCSEs in line with UCAS tariff calculation.

Foundation year

If you don't meet the entry requirements, why not consider our Fashion Foundation course to help you prepare for the full degree?

Mature students (over 21)

We welcome applications from mature candidates, including those without formal qualifications, provided you can demonstrate relevant experience and ability.

Academic credit

If you have a qualification such as a foundation degree or HND or have gained credit at another university, you may be able to join us in year two or three. Find out how you can transfer.

If you have relevant qualifications or work experience, we may be able to count this towards your entry requirements.

Interviews

We invite applicants to interview for this course either virtually or on campus. Details of your subject specific interview will be emailed to you.

If you are unable to attend the interview, you can submit a portfolio instead.

Please view the Interviews and portfolio section for more information.

We welcome students from the UK, EU and all over the world. Join students from over 122 countries and discover why so many international students call our campus home:

  • Quality teaching with top facilities plus flexible online learning
  • Welcoming north London campus that's only 30 minutes from central London
  • Work placements and networking with top London employers
  • Career support to get you where you want to go after university
  • Global alumni network and connections

Qualifications

112-128 UCAS points

In addition to qualifications such as A level and International Baccalaureate, we accept a wide range of international qualifications.

Find out more on the relevant country support page. And if you are unsure about the suitability of your qualifications or would like help with your application, please contact your nearest regional office.

English language

You'll need good English language skills to study with us. The most common qualification we accept is the IELTS 6.0 (with minimum 5.5 in all sections). We also normally require Grade C GCSE or an equivalent qualification. Find out more about our English language requirements. And, don’t worry If you don't meet our minimum English language requirements, as we offer an intensive pre-sessional English course.

Visas

To study with us in the UK, you will need a student route visa.

Interviews

Interviews are not required for this course.

We will consider all applications on their individual merit; successful applicants should demonstrate suitability, dedication and fitness for their chosen programme of study. All candidates are asked to submit evidence of previous production and creative practice, normally presented as a portfolio.

Interviews

As far as possible, students are required to attend an interview. The interview will take approximately 15 minutes but you should allow one hour for the whole interview process as you will be offered the opportunity to view the facilities and meet appropriate staff and students. We use the interview to find out more about you, to better understand your aspirations and interests, and to explore why you want to study with us.

We have more tips and advice to help you prepare and do your best on the day.

Portfolio

You should also bring a full portfolio to the interview.

Please apply via UCAS using this UCAS code (WF30).

Need help with your application? Check out our  undergraduate application page.

Fees and funding

Fees & funding

The fees below are for the 2024/25 academic year:

UK students1

Full-time: £9,250

Part-time: £77 per taught credit

International students2

Full-time students: £16,600

Part-time students: £138 per taught credit

Additional costs

The following study tools are included in your fees:

  • Free laptop loans for up to 24 hours
  • Free access to the resources and learning materials
  • Free access to everything on your reading list
  • Free specialist software for your course
  • Free printing for academic paperwork
  • Free online training with LinkedIn Learning
  • Audio-visual equipment available for loan, including digital stills cameras, digital video recorders, digital audio recorders.

The following course-related costs are not included in the fees, and you may be required to purchase these to complete the course. The costs are approximate and may change due to changes in pricing at the retailer.

  • Optional field trips abroad (approximately £150 per student)
  • Additional books that you wish to purchase
  • Additional printing and finish for final projects (approximately £100 per student in Year 1 and 2, approximately £200 in Year 3)

Scholarships and bursaries

To help make uni affordable, we do everything we can to support you including our:

  • MDX Excellence Scholarship offers grants of up to £2,000 per year for UK students
  • Regional or International Merit Awards which reward International students with up to £2,000 towards course fees
  • Our MDX Student Starter Kit to help with up to £1,000 of goods, including a new laptop or iPad.

Find out more about undergraduate funding and all of our scholarships and bursaries.

Fees disclaimers

1. UK fees: The university reserves the right to increase undergraduate tuition fees in line with changes to legislation, regulation and any government guidance or decisions. The tuition fees for part-time UK study are subject to annual review and we reserve the right to increase the fees each academic year by no more than the level of inflation.

2. International fees: Tuition fees are subject to annual review and we reserve the right to increase the fees each academic year by no more than the level of inflation.

Any annual increase in tuition fees as provided for above will be notified to students at the earliest opportunity in advance of the academic year to which any applicable inflationary rise may apply.

Student testimonials

"I really like the diversity the course has offered me. I'd previously specialised in photography and I've been able to continue with this whilst improving my skills in other areas, such as graphics. The chance to take part in a six-week work placement was also a great experience and it allowed me to incorporate the theory I've learned into my practical work.

After I graduate I plan to stay in London and gain more experience in the industry to figure out what area of fashion I'd like to explore for a career. The guidance offered by my tutors has been a great help in figuring out my pathway post-graduation."

Kerry Francis

Fashion Communication and Styling BA student

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Unistats information

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Please select 'see course data' on the following course option to view the full Unistats data for Fashion Communication and Styling.

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We’ll carefully manage any future changes to courses, or the support and other services available to you, if these are necessary because of things like changes to government health and safety advice, or any changes to the law.

Any decisions will be taken in line with both external advice and the University’s Regulations which include information on this.

Our priority will always be to maintain academic standards and quality so that your learning outcomes are not affected by any adjustments that we may have to make.

At all times we’ll aim to keep you well informed of how we may need to respond to changing circumstances, and about support that we’ll provide to you.