Fashion Design - UAL Level 3 Extended Diploma in Creative Practice

Many of our fashion students have gained national and international recognition through success in competitions. Projects that you will be working on will give you a broad range of experiences including womenswear, menswear, sportswear, theatrical costume and accessories.

You will learn how to take a design from concept through to a completed garment. At the end of each year your final project will give you the chance to design your own creation which will be displayed at the end of Year Art Show.

The fashion course is challenging and reflects the demands of the industry. Although you will be timetabled across three days it requires a full-time commitment and you will need to complete work outside of lessons for the equivalent of at least one day a week. You will also need to purchase a kit of equipment at a cost of approximately £160. You may be eligible for learner support funding to help with the cost of this.

The course has the equivalent value of 3 full A-levels and is recognised by universities and employers. You can achieve a Pass, Merit or Distinction for your overall final grade. The course is taught through combined core and specialist teaching that builds on a wide range of creative skills dealing with materials techniques and processes to equip students to progress to either higher education degree programmes in their specialism or to apprenticeships and employment in the creative industries.

You will study:

• Research Skills & Design Development
• Pattern Cutting & Garment Construction
• Fashion Illustration
• Materials, Processes & Technical Skills
• Preparation for Progression

At the end of both Year One and Year Two, work is exhibited at the annual Art Show where your creative work is viewed by the public, press, family and friends.

You will need:

• 5 or more GCSEs at grade 4 or higher, including English, maths and a relevant creative-based subject

Or:

• A relevant Level 2 qualification(Merit grade or higher) studied at CWA or another further education provider
• GCSE English or maths at Grade 4 or higher.

If you are aged 19 or older, relevant industry experience may be accepted.

Please note that applicants do not need to have any previous experience of sewing or Fashion/Textiles to apply.

You will be invited to an informal interview to help ensure the course is right for you. You will need to bring a portfolio of your creative work for the course team to look at. This is to showcase your creative flair, visual research, ideas and technical skills and can consist of a range of work from different medias such as drawing, painting, photography or 3D design. We really like to see sketchbooks however work can also be presented through photographs.

How long is this course?

2 years

When does this course start?

02/09/2025

How many hours / days per week is this course?

Full-time courses at CWA are generally 3 - 4 days per week (though you may be in for an extra day if you are resitting English and / or Maths). The college day is typically longer than a day at school and students will need to plan their individual study in their free time (including individual study hours which are recorded at college in the Learning Resource Centre or other study areas). Work experience will be a key component of your course and most students will complete a minimum of 60 hours per academic year (on top of their college hours), depending on the course they are studying. CWA has a dedicated team of work placement co-ordinators to support you with this.

* Some of our courses may have additional costs to cover trips, unform and equipment. These costs will be confirmed to you at enrolment.

Fee information

Though this course is free for those aged 16-18, there may be additional costs related to the programme, such as additional equipment and uniform, educational trips and work placement costs. Full details will be sent to applicants before enrolment.

Find all the information you need about course fees and financial help below.

Information on Fees and Financial Help

What qualification will I achieve?

University of the Arts London (UAL) Diploma in Fashion (Level 3)

This qualification is awarded by University of the Arts London (UAL), the only specialist creative arts awarding organisation in England.

How is my course assessed?

The work on the course is project/assignment based, and assessment is continuous throughout the course. Some units will be subject to external assessment. The units in the first two terms are assessed at pass grade only. The final unit is awarded a grade of pass, merit or distinction. This unit is achieved through a personal proposal and exhibition and decides the overall grade for the qualification. This is a two-year programme and has two achievement points. You will work towards the Diploma qualification in the first year of the course and the Extended Diploma in the second year.

How many UCAS points will I achieve on this course?

Our level 3 vocational courses qualify for UCAS tariff points to apply for university in the same way as A-Levels. This course is an UAL extended diploma which is delivered over two years and you could achieve up to 168 UCAS points (which is equivalent to three A* grades at A-Level).

UAL extended diplomas are graded as a pass, merit or distinction (with distinction being the highest grade).

The following table gives some examples on the amount of UCAS points you can achieve on a UAL extended diploma:

You can find more details and examples on the UCAS tariff points calculator here.