Part Time Foundation Degree Fashion Design, Pattern Cutting and Construction

MODE OF STUDY PT
HE LEVEL 4
DURATION 3 years
START DATE(S) September 2010
DAY(S)/TIME(S) OFFERED As a guide only 2 - 3 days per week
NUMBER OF TEACHING HOURS To be advised
TOTAL FEE 950.00 per academic year
TOTAL OVERSEAS FEE 3165.00 per year
ADDITIONAL COSTS You are advised to budget for materials and equipment costs normally associated with Art, Design and Media programmes.
AWARDING/VALIDATION BODY London Metropolitan University
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
80 UCAS points for the FdA Programme 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.

ALL CANDIDATES MUST BRING A PORTFOLIO OF RELEVANT FASHION, ART & DESIGN WORK TO INTERVIEW.


PROGRAMME CONTENT/STRUCTURE
The Foundation Degree is a three year course on a part 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.

PROGRESSION/CAREERS OPPORTUNITIES
Progress:
Potential Career Pathways
Students who have been through this programme have been successful in gaining employment within the creative industries. Recent graduates from the Fashion programmes have gone on to work in well known companies such as Burberry, Donna Karan and whilst on the programme students have collaborated with Top Shop. Students also have the opportunity to top up their Degree by completing the 3rd Year BA (Hons)Fashion Design with Business offered at Croydon HE College.


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.
EXCURSIONS / WORK EXPERIENCE All students undertake a total of 4 weeks work experience and a trip abroad to a Fashion Trade Fair is offered each year.
READING LISTS These are included in Module Handbook