Contemporary Fashion Design BA (Hons)
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UCAS Code: Combined honours only - please see Combinations tab|Duration: 3|Full Time|Creative Campus
UCAS Campus Code: L46
Work placement opportunities|International students can apply
About the course
Fashion at Liverpool Hope University is all about creativity, experimentation and developing your own unique style. Based in Liverpool, a city known for its bold fashion identity and thriving creative scene, you’ll explore hands-on design processes from day one. You’ll work across constructed textiles, fashion image making and styling, print for fashion, drawing development, and creative textile construction, building a strong technical toolkit that blends digital and handcrafted techniques such as laser cutting and screen printing.
The course ethos is sustainability, encouraging you to experiment with ethical materials and innovative approaches to contemporary fashion. You’ll grow your confidence through live industry projects, portfolio development and personalised support from practising designers and technicians.
With access to specialist studios and opportunities to collaborate across the creative arts, you’ll develop the skills needed to thrive in today’s fast moving fashion world. Whether you’re interested in design, styling, production or trend forecasting, this degree helps you build the foundations for a future in the UK’s vibrant fashion and creative industries.
Follow us on Instagram: @liverpoolhopefashioncraft
Course structure
Teaching on this degree includes lectures, practical seminars, technical masterclasses and weekly group tutorials.
In addition to formal teaching, you are expected to spend a number of hours each week studying independently: researching and practising your technical skills.
Access to studios and facilities outside of taught contact time is provided to enhance individual and flexible independent study.
Assessment and feedback
Throughout your three years of study, you will have informal and formal assessments where you will be given written and verbal feedback on your work.
Formal assessments are normally held at the end of each academic year and you are required to complete a series of assessment tasks. These typically include a portfolio of creative work, accompanied by contextual documentation. In your final year, you are also required to complete a research project/dissertation.
You will have the opportunity to discuss your work during regular one-to-one tutorials.
Curriculum overview
During year one, students will build an introductory understanding of contemporary fashion design. Quick paced thematic projects take students through a series of styling, drawing, and material workshops to explore varied approaches.
During year two, students will further develop their fashion practice skills through a live project harnessing our partnership links within the vibrant city of Liverpool. This project is supported by a series of professional development workshops.
The final year of the programme enables students to define their professional fashion practice and personal approaches, selecting a specific project area. The culmination of an independent project will result in an end of year fashion showcase of outcomes.
Year One
Contemporary Fashion: Fundamentals
Working within the studio, you will be introduced to the fundamentals of expanded fashion concepts through exploring a range of making skills, relevant machinery and processes. The diagnostic year will focus on textiles for fashion, fashion accessories and image making and styling. The emphasis will be on experimentation and learning the basics through material-led investigation.
Tutorial
The weekly student-led tutorial will provide time to come together as a group to share practice, develop study skills and connect to the wider university network.
Design Development and Fashion Illustration
In this element, you will be developing core design and illustration skills which underpin your practical work. The sessions will focus on areas including image making, fashion photography and digital explorations.
Visual Culture
The Visual Culture lectures will introduce contemporary themes, artists and designers within the field. Each lecture will highlight research materials and theoretical approaches, which will shape and direct your practice.
Year Two
Contemporary Fashion: Directions
In year two, you will be focused on working on a live brief with one of our Liverpool partners. Projects initiated by the programme will have an emphasis on sustainable and ethical practices and community engagement. Collaborations with local organisations, communities and practitioners will enable new experiences and directions for practice.
Professional Development
This element will focus on core professional skills which will support your practice and direction within the industry. These sessions support your live project work, focusing on team-work, project planning, communication and presentation. In the final semester, you will also identify an appropriate work experience placement.
Tutorial
The weekly student-led tutorial will provide time to come together as a group to share practice, develop study skills and connect to the wider university network.
Visual Culture
The Visual Culture lectures will continue to highlight a series of contemporary work, supported by external visits. Each lecture will highlight research materials and theoretical approaches, which will shape and direct your practice.
Year Three
Contemporary Fashion: Futures
The final major project at year three, enables you to define your fashion practice and personal approaches. A series of masterclasses and guidance throughout the year will support you in the realisation of a fashion focused collection of work. Your practice-based research could take a variety of forms that might include concept or garment design, styling, print and accessories. You will have the opportunity to exhibit your work within the Cornerstone Gallery at the Creative Campus. Year three also provides the opportunity to bring together your combined subjects as a possible source of inspiration and output.
Professional Development
In this final year, your professional development research will enable you to clarify and define your personal ambitions. You will experience a broad range of workshops, including careers mapping, online presence, advanced digital application and professional engagement tools.
Tutorial
The weekly student-led tutorial will provide time to come together as a group to share practice, engage in group critiques and develop study skills and connect to the wider university network.
Visual Culture
The Visual Culture lectures will continue to highlight a series of contemporary work, supported by external visits. Each session will highlight research materials and theoretical approaches, which will shape and direct your practice.
Entry requirements
| A-Levels | BBC |
|---|---|
| UCAS Tariff Points | 112 |
| BTEC | DMM |
| Access to HE | 112 Tariff Points |
| IB | 28 |
| Irish Leaving Certificate | 112 |
| Welsh Baccalaureate | This qualification can only be accepted in conjunction with other relevant qualifications. |
| T-Levels | Merit |
| Subject Requirements | All applicants are required to submit a digital portfolio of your work. |
International entry requirements
| Specific Country Requirements | Select your country |
|---|---|
| IELTS | 6.0 overall (with reading and writing at 6.0) and no individual score lower than 5.5. We also accept a wide range of International Qualifications. For more information, please visit our English Language Requirements page. |
Careers
BA Fashion in Liverpool places you at the heart of a region known for its creative energy and growing fashion industry. This degree prepares you for a wide range of roles, including designer maker, garment technologist, fashion buyer, trend forecaster, studio assistant, sourcing specialist, fashion stylist, costume design assistant, and roles in business, media and retail. Graduates also succeed in tech and production, creative textile construction, and digital fashion processes.
Real world experience is built into the course through live industry projects and professional development planning. Students have secured exciting opportunities, including prestigious internships such as the Fashion Snoops and the AFF Internship at Liverpool Hope. Others have progressed into millinery, marketing and creative studio roles across the North West.
You’ll also be well prepared for postgraduate study. Popular routes include MA or MFA Fashion, MA Fine Art Textiles, MA Textiles, PGCE Art & Design, MBA for creative industries, and MRes/PhD practice‑led research.
Whether you want to launch your own brand, work in a design studio, or move into creative leadership, this degree gives you the skills, confidence and industry insight to make your mark.
Enhancement opportunities
Work Placement Opportunities
All students will be encouraged to uptake work-placements with an appropriate company/design studio.
SALA
The Service and Leadership Award (SALA) is offered as an extra-curricular programme involving service-based experiences, development of leadership potential and equipping you for a career in a rapidly changing world. It enhances your degree, it is something which is complimentary but different and which has a distinct ‘value-added’ component. Find out more on our Service and Leadership Award page.
Study Abroad
As part of your degree, you can choose to spend either a semester or a full year of study at one of our partner universities as part of our Study Abroad programme. Find out more on our Study Abroad page.
Tuition fees
The tuition fees for the 2026/27 academic year are £9,790 for full-time undergraduate courses.*
If you are a student from the Isle of Man or the Channel Islands, your tuition fees will also be £9,790.
The tuition fees for the 2027/28 academic year will be £10,050 for full-time undergraduate courses.*
If you are a student from the Isle of Man or the Channel Islands, your tuition fees will also be £10,050
The University reserves the right to increase Home and EU Undergraduate and PGCE tuition fees in line with any inflationary or other increase authorised by the Secretary of State for future years of study.
Home students (UK)
*Tuition fees are subject to inflation-linked increases in line with government policy. Updated fees will be confirmed in line with the maximum fee cap set by the Government or the Office for Students (OfS) for each academic year. This means your fee may increase for each academic year of study, but only up to the maximum amount permitted for that year.
Eligible UK students can apply to the Government for a tuition loan, which is paid direct to the University. This has a low interest-rate which is charged from the time the first part of the loan is paid to the University until you have repaid it.
Scholarships
We have a range of scholarships to help with the cost of your studies. Visit our scholarships page to find out more.
International tuition fees
The International Tuition fees for 2026/27 are £15,225.
The International Tuition fees for 2027/28 are £16,000
Visit our International fees page for more information.
Course combinations
This course is also available as a Combined Honours degree with the following subjects:
| Degree Title |
|---|
| Contemporary Fashion Design and Acting |
| Contemporary Fashion Design and Art History |
| Contemporary Fashion Design and Contemporary Craft |
| Contemporary Fashion Design and Digital Marketing |
Course Enquiry
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