Foundation Year in Fashion
Inspired by fashion but not ready for our three-year course? Our foundation year will help you prepare for a full degree
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Viewing course details for 2024 year of entry
- Attendance
- Full-time
- Start
- October 2024
- Fees
- £9,250 (UK) | £16,600 (INT)
- Duration
- 1 year full-time + 3 years full-time
- Course Leader
- Matt Ryalls
- Study mode
- On campus
- Location
- Hendon campus
- Entry Requirements
- 56-64 UCAS points
- School / Department
- School of Design
Why choose a Foundation Year in Fashion at Middlesex?
The Foundation Year in Fashion is offered as an entry route to a fashion degree for students who don't yet meet the entry requirements for degree-level study.
You'll gain essential technical skills while we prepare you for a stimulating career in the fashion industry, whether you want to be a designer, maker, stylist, or photographer. As well as technique, we will equip you with the confidence and independence you need to engage with the fashion world and move forward in your fashion education with us at Middlesex.
You will enrol on a four-year course which includes the one-year foundation year. The number of students who progress to degree study is very high. The Foundation Year in Fashion will be taught in a blended approach, including online learning and in our excellent studios and facilities at our Hendon campus by the same lecturing staff who teach our degree courses. You'll taught in small group seminars and workshops.
The Foundation Year is for you if:
- You do not have the right qualifications for a full degree
- You feel you are not yet ready for degree-level study
- You have limited or no technical experience, and wish to gain confidence in technical areas of study
- You are returning to study and feel you need some help to get up to speed with the demands of learning before embarking on a degree.
What you will gain
By joining us on this one-year foundation course, you'll have the opportunity to:
- Gain essential technical skills while we prepare you for a stimulating career in the fashion industry
- Build the confidence and independence you need to engage with the fashion world and move forward in your fashion education
- Benefit from a blended approach to learning, which includes a combination of online learning and access to our excellent studios and facilities at our Hendon campus
- Learn from expert tutors who can offer extensive knowledge and experience of the fashion industry.
What you will learn
This specialist course has been designed to give you all the essential technical skills you need in order to move on to degree-level study in fashion. After completing the foundation year, the majority of students progress to a degree.
As well as technique, we'll equip you with the confidence and independence you need to engage with the fashion world and move forward in your fashion education with us at Middlesex. You'll then be able to access an array of exciting career choices, such as designer, maker, stylist, or photographer.
3 great reasons to pick this course
About your course
The first year of the course is an intensive experience which will enhance your creative and communication skills as they apply to the broad and exciting world of the fashion industry. Your learning will focus on making and learning specialist techniques, developing a creative portfolio, and developing skills in fashion-specific research and writing. At the end of your first year, you will have developed a strong portfolio that will showcase your skills and reflect your future professional direction.
This module aims to give students an insight into the resources and cultural reference points that inform London’s fashion and creative industries and how they can respond to these creatively. Students will develop confidence and competence in acquiring and using academic English language skills within the specific context of the creative and cultural industries. Students will become familiar with fundamental academic research skills.
This module aims to build on the research skills acquired whilst studying the Understanding Fashion Module to develop an understanding of self-identity as a fashion creative.
Through experimentation with textile and fashion design skills, students will have the opportunity to develop a design idea towards fully realised 3D outcomes.
Skills needed to present the technical and development processes needed to produce creative work will be introduced to allow students to reflect on experimentation and decision making within design.
This module aims to introduce students to the global fashion communication industry through identifying and researching appropriate sources. A wide range of resources will be introduced, such as The Sheppard Library, Materials Room and special collections and how to use them.
A range of fashion communication skills such as photography, image making, and presentation will be introduced to allow students to create images and media that responds to their choice of platform and responds to a set brief.
This module aims to consolidate previous learning into the full design process, bringing together research, design development, outcome and reflection. Foundational skills of construction will be further developed to realise a fully functional 3-Dimensional garment, exploring various techniques used for garment design. Students will be introduced to technical drawing and design plans and the process of toile making.
This module aims to consolidate previous learning into the full design process, bringing together research, design development, outcome and reflection. Foundational skills of construction will be further developed to realise a fully functional 3-Dimensional garment, exploring various techniques used for garment design. Students will be introduced to technical drawing and design plans and the process of toile making.
For more information, please download the Fashion Foundation Year course specification (PDF).
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Teaching
You'll be taught by an experienced teaching team with a wide range of expertise and professional experience. You will learn by attending lectures, seminars and practical workshops. Seminars and workshops are a great opportunity to discuss what you have learnt in lectures and through independent study with your peers and tutors. Work is divided into credits of approximately 10 hours of study time. You will need to complete 120 credits per year, which are broken down into modules of typically 30 credits.
Whether you are studying full or part-time – your course timetable will balance your study commitments on campus with time for work, life commitments and independent study.
We aim to make timetables available to students at least 2 weeks before the start of term. Some weeks are different due to how we schedule classes and arrange on-campus sessions.
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 and presentations.
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.
Your learning will be assessed regularly and is made up of 100% coursework
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.
Learn moreFacilities and support
Our Sheppard Library provides a wide range of resources and support to help you to succeed in your studies.
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Over 1,000 study spaces including rooms for group study and over 500 computers available.
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We have one of London's biggest and best university campuses with everything you need in one place.
Our facilitiesStudent 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
How can the Foundation Year in Fashion support your career?
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 university for producing CEOs – Novuana, 2023.
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
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.
Qualifications
- 56–64 UCAS points
- empty col
- A-Levels
- DEE/CD - DDE/CC
- BTEC
- MPP
- Access requirements
- Overall pass: must include 45 credits at level 3
- Combinations
- A combination of A-Level, BTEC and other accepted qualifications that total 56 -64 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.
We accept students with a wide range of qualifications, including combinations of qualifications. Our entry requirements page outlines how we make offers where we have given a range (for example - BBB – BBC in A levels), and how we’ll make you an offer if you are studying a combination of qualifications (for example BTEC and A level).
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Mature students (over 21)
We welcome applications from mature candidates, including those without formal qualifications if 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 courses.
If you have relevant qualifications or work experience, we may be able to count this towards your entry requirements.
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
56–64 UCAS points
We accept a wide range of international qualifications such as A level and International Baccalaureate. You can find out more on your country's support page. If you need help with your application, please contact your nearest regional office.
English language
You'll need good English language skills to study with us. That's usually an IELTS 6.0 qualification (with a minimum of 5.5 in all sections). And, if you need help, we offer an intensive pre-sessional English course.
Visas
To study with us in the UK, you will need a student route visa.
Please apply via UCAS using one of the below UCAS codes.
- BA Fashion Design with Foundation Year - W23R
- BA Fashion Textiles with Foundation Year - W23S
- BA Fashion Communication and Styling with Foundation Year - W23V.
Fees & funding
The fees below are for the 2023/24 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.
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 fees 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.
Speak directly with one of our Unibuddy student ambassadors
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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.