Logo close icon
Section navigation
Main Baner Image

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
Code
See how to apply
Start
October 2024
Duration
1 year
+ 3 years full-time
Attendance
Full-time
Fees
£9,250 (UK) *
£16,600 (INT) *
Course leader
Matt Ryalls

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

  • Prepare for your degree
    After successfully completing the foundation year, you will automatically be enrolled on one of our renowned fashion BA courses
  • Brilliant facilities
    Our facilities are among the best in the country and our small class sizes mean that you'll have more access than at other unis
  • Renowned alumni
    Graduates from our fashion courses include own-brand designers Martine Rose, Zoe Broach (Boudicca), Christopher Raeburn, and others working across for luxury labels and high street brands

Keep informed

Sign up to receive the latest information about studying at Middlesex University London.

Our communications are designed to support you in deciding your future and keep you up to date about student finance, employment opportunities and student activities available at Middlesex University.

What you will learn

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.

Modules

  • Core modules

    • Fashion: Creative London (30 credits) - Compulsory​

      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.

    • Fashion Skills (15 credits) - Compulsory​

      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.

    • Understanding Fashion (15 credits)

      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.

    • Fashion Construction & Communication (30 credits)

      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.

    • Fashion Realisation (30 credits)

      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.

See the course specification for more information about typical course content outside of the coronavirus outbreak:

Optional modules are usually available at levels 5 and 6, although optional modules are not offered on every course. Where optional modules are available, you will be asked to make your choice during the previous academic year. If we have insufficient numbers of students interested in an optional module, or there are staffing changes which affect the teaching, it may not be offered. If an optional module will not run, we will advise you after the module selection period when numbers are confirmed, or at the earliest time that the programme team make the decision not to run the module, and help you choose an alternative module.

To find out more about this course please download the Fashion Foundation Year specification (PDF).

  1. Teaching and independent learning
  2. Coursework and assessments
  1. UK entry
  2. International entry
  3. How to apply

Fees

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 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.

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.

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.

Matt Ryalls
Programme leader

Matt studied Fashion Design at Central St. Martins and has worked as a stylist and Fashion Editor for Arena, Dazed & Confused, Exit, Nylon, POPand The Face magazines. In addition he has collaborated with numerous designers on runway presentations internationally. Matt publishes various ‘zines that explore themes of identity, sexuality and gender that he exhibits internationally.

  • Faye Wong

    Foundation Year in Fashion BA

    I was able to progress onto the BA Fashion Design after my foundation year. The skills I've developed have focused on the different ways of layout for my portfolio as well as sewing techniques such as for different seams and pockets. The thing I enjoyed most was the space we had in our studio and the fashion tutors were very helpful throughout the whole course. And what I've most enjoyed about studying at Middlesex would be the overall environment because even though it is a place of study, it still makes me feel comfortable to be around.


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.

Other courses

Fashion Communication and Styling BA Honours

Start: September 2024, September 2025

Duration: 3 years full-time

Code: WF30

Back to top