Please note there are no vacancies on this course for September 2024
Page last updated 23 September 2024
BA(Hons) Fashion Communication was developed alongside industry experts and has produced Graduate Fashion Week award-winners across several categories. This interdisciplinary, practice-led course enables you to explore how we communicate fashion through different creative media.
The fashion industry employs over 400,000 people in the UK alone, and engages and inspires global audiences through diverse media. Fashion brands use a range of platforms and techniques to speak to existing and new customers.
To do this, they need professionals with a solid understanding of contemporary culture and fashion. Studying fashion communication will introduce you to a variety of roles and specialisms.
The knowledge and network you'll develop will open the door to many careers paths in the fashion industry and beyond, from fashion film and photography to marketing, advertising, and event management.
BA(Hons) Fashion Communication is a creative interdisciplinary course based at Arnolfini, one of Europe's leading centres for the contemporary arts. As a member of Graduate Fashion Week, the course has produced previous award winners and offers opportunities for you to showcase your work nationally and overseas.
Our staff are experts in their field and have strong relationships with the fashion industry, so you'll benefit from regular input from professionals in practice. Working closely with specialists enables us to keep the curriculum current and relevant.
Where possible, participate in live briefs and collaborative projects with industry experts and attend sector events and workplace visits. Gain valuable experience through professional practice and internships, where you'll see the fashion industry in action.
Fashion communication can take you in many directions, opening doors to many careers. Thanks to our blend of traditional and hands-on learning, you'll gain real-world knowledge and experience, standing you in good stead for your professional career.
As a fashion communication graduate, you'll be equipped with the hands-on skills needed to become a photographer, stylist, trend forecaster, fashion editor, digital marketer or visual merchandiser.
The above image shows the fantastic work from one of our students (Nell Gransden, Fashion Communication student).
Throughout your studies, you'll have the chance to specialise in diverse areas of fashion communication, including creative direction, image making, styling, branding and marketing.
The College is currently reviewing the curriculum for this course, so the final course structure and module titles may be subject to change, as they go through university approval.
You will study:
You will study:
Plus (if appropriate for your credit requirement):
Plus:
Plus, optional modules* (choice depending on your credit requirement) from:
*for International Exchange students only.
You will study:
This structure is for full-time students only. Part-time students study the same modules but the delivery pattern will be different.
The University continually enhances our offer by responding to feedback from our students and other stakeholders, ensuring the curriculum is kept up to date and our graduates are equipped with the knowledge and skills they need for the real world. This may result in changes to the course. If changes to your course are approved, we will inform you.
Develop your professional and creative strengths through practice-led teaching and fast-paced experimental projects. Learn through a mix of taught, independent and collaborative learning, including lectures, seminars, technical workshops, tutorials, presentations, critiques and external visits.
Our strong industry links will offer you a range of professional opportunities, such as attending talks from guest speakers. Past speakers include GUT Magazine, LN-CC, JJ Marshal Associates and Warner Music. We also deliver live projects in association with experts from Lazy Oaf, TANK magazine and BRICKS magazine.
Showcase your work to talent scouts and potential employers at the final year Degree Show or at exhibitions in London. We've also previously taken part in national and international design competitions, such as DA&D's New Blood exhibition.
See our full glossary of learning and teaching terms.
Approximate percentage of time you'll spend in different learning activities*:
| Year | Scheduled learning and teaching study | Independent study | Placement study |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 54% | 46% | 0% |
| 2 | 45% | 55% | 0% |
| 3 | 20% | 80% | 0% |
*Calculated from compulsory and optional modules (where applicable) each year.
You can expect to be taught for a minimum of three days each week.
You'll have access to the studios based at Arnolfini and the photographic studios at Bower Ashton campus. In your final year, you'll have evening access to the studios and workshops.
We use various methods of assessment so you can develop a range of critical, creative and practical skills.
The majority of the assessments are coursework. Assessment types include portfolio assessments, presentations and exhibitions. You're also required to engage in peer assessment as part of the formative assessment process.
You'll receive written and verbal feedback on all the work you submit.
Learn more about assessments.
Approximate percentage of marks awarded by each assessment method*:
| Year | Written exam assessment | Coursework assessment | Practical exam assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0% | 100% | 0% |
| 2 | 0% | 100% | 0% |
| 3 | 0% | 100% | 0% |
*Calculated from compulsory and optional modules (where applicable) each year.
Students who undertake work experience tend to graduate with better degrees. Work experience hones your skills, industry knowledge and professional network, making you a sought-after graduate.
The role of practical experience in the success of our graduates is unquestionable. Past students have worked with iconic brands such as: Gucci, Italian Vogue, London/Paris Fashion Week, Toni & Guy, Moschino, Burberry and Getty Images.
You'll also study professional practice and work experience modules, tailored to your career ambitions.
Get help to find your placement and support throughout from College staff and our award-winning careers service.
Grow your personal and professional network, and develop specialist subject knowledge by spending a semester at one of our fantastic partner universities abroad. Explore our study abroad pages to find out more.
Increase your confidence and intercultural communication skills and boost your employability.
Go behind the scenes of the fashion industry at trips to agencies, factories and events. We also arrange an optional visit to Tokyo, Copenhagen or Stockholm, as well as regular visits to exhibitions in London, where possible.
Fashion Communication is based at Arnolfini contemporary arts centre at City Campus, a creative powerhouse that spans the city of Bristol. Our location connects your teaching and learning with some of the best creative and cultural organisations in Bristol.
Exceptional fashion facilities and resources include industry-standard digital media studios, plus production and fabrication workshops offer a combination of traditional tools and the latest technology.
You'll also study at Bower Ashton, home to the main creative and cultural industries library and support services for students.
Learn more about UWE Bristol's facilities and resources.
Take a virtual tour of the Fashion facilities and see what's on offer here for you.
An excellent range of options for all of the Bristol campuses and the city centre.
A stunning city for student living with all the qualities to make you want to stay.
There is more to your experience here than study. Choose to make the most of it and try new things.
We provide support in the way you need it.
Discover our campuses and the wealth of facilities provided for our students.
Throughout your course, you'll shape your studies towards your chosen career path through your modules and assessments. Study and apply branding, market analysis and PR to your creative work and investigate digital marketing strategies, future trends and technology's role in fashion.
Discover approaches towards communicating and promoting fashion and apply new ideas through developing projects, such as online marketing campaigns, promotional films or publications. In your final year, you'll have the chance to demonstrate your creativity and fashion knowledge through an extended independent design project.
Focusing on the avenues that most interest you, you'll graduate with an impressive portfolio of work and skills, ready to take your place in the fashion industry. From the outset, you'll develop strong research skills to help you engage with contemporary and historical debates in fashion communication. Working with practitioners on live projects provides a unique opportunity for you to gain enterprise skills too.
You'll also hone your soft skills, such as interpersonal skills, teamwork, organisational skills and student conduct. We'll encourage you to use these skills to share your work online and offline throughout the course. See some of our students' exhibits on Instagram.
As a fashion communication graduate, you could go into a variety of professions across the fashion industry. These include art direction, fashion film, social media, advertising, marketing, copywriting, photography, event management, styling, social media, branding and more.
Past graduates have gone on to work in various positions at companies such as: Burberry, Gucci, Levi's, Garage Magazine, Getty Images, Stella McCartney, Disney, adidas, Vice, Oxfam, ASOS, Nike, Monsoon, Accessorize, LUSH Cosmetics, COS, Pandora Jewellery, Universal Music, Sony Music Entertainment, Ted Baker, Urban Outfitters and Superdry.
Our award-winning careers service will develop your employment potential through career coaching and find you graduate jobs, placements and global opportunities.
We can also help find local volunteering and community opportunities, provide support for entrepreneurial activity and get you access to employer events.
Visit our employability pages to learn more about careers, employers and what our students are doing six months after graduating.
Your overall entitlement to funding is based on how long the course is that you're registered on.
Standard funding is allocated based on the standard number of years that your course lasts, plus one additional year.
You'll apply for funding each year that you study and Student Finance will take into account how long the course is in each year that you apply. So if you register for the six year course and then transfer to the three year course, the number of years you can apply for funding will change. Student Finance will reassess your funding based on how many years you have been in study, not just those years for which you received student finance.
Always seek advice before taking any action that may have implications for your funding.
This refers to items you could need during your studies that aren't covered by the standard tuition fee.
These could be materials, textbooks, travel, clothing, software or printing.
International and EU applicants are required to have a minimum overall IELTS (Academic) score of 6.0 with 5.5 in each component (or approved equivalent*).
*The university accepts a large number of UK and International Qualifications in place of IELTS. You can find details of acceptable tests and the required grades you will need in our English Language section. Please visit our English language requirements page.
For information on required Guided Learning Hours please see our minimum entry requirements page.
If you don't meet the entry requirements, you may be eligible for BA(Hons) Fashion Communication (with Foundation Year).
For country specific entry requirements please find your country on the country information pages. If you are an international student and do not meet the academic requirements to study this course, you can qualify by completing one of our Art and Design foundation programmes.
If you are applying to study at UWE Bristol and require additional support to meet our English language requirements, you may be able to attend one of our pre-sessional English courses. Read more about our Pre-Sessional English Programme.
Applicants will be required to submit a digital portfolio for review within 21 days of their application being received.
For more details on the process, please visit our selection page.
Read more about entry requirements.
Read more about undergraduate applications.
Read more about international applications and key international deadline dates.
UK applicants
Admissions@uwe.ac.uk
International/EU applicants
International@uwe.ac.uk
UK applicants
+44 (0)117 32 83333
International/EU applicants
+44 (0)117 32 86644