Full Time Foundation Degree Fashion Design, Pattern Cutting and Construction

MODE OF STUDY FT
HE LEVEL 4
DURATION 2 years
START DATE(S) September 2010
DAY(S)/TIME(S) OFFERED To be advised
NUMBER OF TEACHING HOURS As a guide only 18 hours per week
TOTAL FEE 2,315 per academic year with a cash back bursary of 1050.00*
TOTAL OVERSEAS FEE 4,750
ADDITIONAL COSTS You are advised to budget for materials and equipment costs normally associated with Art, Design and Media programmes of study.
AWARDING/VALIDATION BODY London Metropolitan University
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
Applicants will have met the following entry requirements:

60 UCAS points; or
A relevant Access to HE qualification; or
NVQ 3 qualification; or
Other recognised UK/overseas related equivalent Level 3 qualifications.

and

Pass in English Language at GCSE at grade C or above; or
Level 2 communications in key skills; or
IELTS test at band 5.5 or above with a minimum score of 5.0 in each component; or
TOEFL with a score of 550 or above with at least 4.0 in the test of written English or 213 in the computer based test; or
A pass in the University's English language test (EASE) or equivalent.

alternatively

Non standard entry will be considered on merit by the Programme Leader under the principles of Accreditation for Prior or Experiential Learning.

*Bursary information
Our fee for BA courses is 2,315 per year, but with a cashback bursary of 1,050* per year payable to full time, home (UK) and EU students. This is subject to attendance requirements.

The Student Loans Company offers all full time students a low interest loan to cover the cost of fees and living expenses. This does not become repayable until you have finished your course and even then repayments are spread over many years.
Over and above this many students are also entitled to means tested grants to help with living expenses. These are non repayable and can be up to 2,765 per year.

For independent information on student finance please see the direct.gov website.


PROGRAMME CONTENT/STRUCTURE
What can I expect on the course?The Foundation Degree is a two year course on a full time basis. It offers a period of assessed work based learning, where you will be given the opportunity to foster links with the industry to prepare for future employment possibilities.

This is the right course for you if you are interested in working in the exciting fashion industry. You will be creative, stylish and ambitious. You will be aware of trends on the high street, look at or refer to fashion constantly and simply love clothing. You will be aware of a creative potential to translate cloth into exciting three dimensional shapes.

You may have been on a creative arts course or already studying fashion design at further education level. Alternatively you could be working in an area unrelated to fashion but thinking of switching careers. The course will help you develop a creative design portfolio, using CAD and hand rendered illustrations; as well as the ability to pattern cut and manufacture garments to Industry standard. You will be introduced to Gerber CAD systems for plotting patterns and lays. You must be hardworking and willing to experiment with new ideas.

The programme is designed to offer a vocationally orientated experience within a creative and supportive environment. Students will learn to develop their own ideas and reflect on their practical work in relation to the needs of the fashion industry. Whilst on the programme students will develop 'core' and 'discrete' skills, which are supported by specialist techniques and their applications including the use of ICT.

Learning opportunities will be provided through individual and group project work, small group critiques, workshops, tutorials, educational visits both at home and abroad, formal lectures and seminars.

All students gain knowledge and experience of the methodology of professional design practice. Students can be as creative or as main stream as they wish, given that the outcome can be placed within the context of the fashion industry. Outcomes produced may be 'one off' designs or alternatively students may pursue outcomes that demand knowledge of the 'mass markets'. All fashion students will work through the process of design conception through to finished design solutions, which have potential business outcomes and demonstrate the critical and contextual knowledge that informs the design process. These practical design solutions utilising a range of transferable, core and specialist skills can maximise your creative business potential, finalising in the students producing a small capsule collection for the College Fashion Show.

This course provides a realistic opportunity to develop your skills alongside industry practice. During the second year of the course a period of assessed work experience is undertaken.

How is the course structured?

There are two levels of study at undergraduate level; Certificate and Intermediate. Each academic year consists
of two semesters that are 15 weeks in duration. Each year or level consists of a series of modules which are attached
to a number of credits. Upon successful completion these credits are recorded as part of your achievement.The work
experience module is a mandatory element of the Foundation Degree. Those following successful completion of the
course may also apply for the final year of the BA (Hons) Degree course.

How will I be assessed?
The department uses a range of assessment methods including the use of visual and verbal presentations, critiques and student creative work, reports and essays. Formative assessment provides
you with information on your ongoing performance in a module and enables you to reflect and adapt to aid personal development. Summative assessment takes place more formally at the end of a
module; the results are formally recorded on your transcript.
PROGRESSION/CAREERS OPPORTUNITIES
On successful completion of this course you will have the opportunity to progress onto a career in the Fashion Industry or progress onto the BA (Hons)Fashion Business course.

Relevant areas of industry include:
Designer - freelance or designer
Pattern Cutter,
Sample Machinist,
Creative Design

Students have found work with Topshop, Ted Baker and Burberry's.
ASSESSMENT STRUCTURE The department uses a range of assessment methods including the use of visual and verbal presentations, critiques, creative work, reports and essays. Formative assessment provides you with information on your ongoing performance in a module and enables you to reflect and adapt to aid personal development. Summative assessment takes place more formally at the end of a module and is formally recorded on your transcript.
Please note that this programme is offered subject to validation.