Fashion Technology BSc

  • UCAS Code JW42
  • Duration Up to 4 years
  • Delivery type Full Time
  • Study location
  • Scottish Borders
  • Number of places
  • 30

Overview

The Course

The programme combines a wide range of clothing and fashion-related studies, skills and practice to ensure the success and commerciality of products. The strong vocational focus provides a balance of creativity and product development knowledge through technology, production management and marketing. This provides the fundamental basis for a wide range of careers within the clothing and fashion industry. Industrial focused projects will develop a broad range of essential skills, whilst simultaneously developing a management, communication and analytical approach to provide a contemporary commercial awareness. An optional additional year in industry provides a diploma on completion of the Honours year.

Career Prospects

There are a wide range of career prospects including product design and development, buying, merchandising, management, garment technology, production, marketing, and retailing - with many leading companies such as, Paul Smith, Jasper Conran, Anna Sui, Oasis, Marks and Spencer, Next, Levi- Strauss, John Lewis, Berghaus, and Nike.

This course is taught at our Scottish Borders Campus in Galashiels.

Overview

The Course

The programme combines a wide range of clothing and fashion-related studies, skills and practice to ensure the success and commerciality of products. The strong vocational focus provides a balance of creativity and product development knowledge through technology, production management and marketing. This provides the fundamental basis for a wide range of careers within the clothing and fashion industry. Industrial focused projects will develop a broad range of essential skills, whilst simultaneously developing a management, communication and analytical approach to provide a contemporary commercial awareness. An optional additional year in industry provides a diploma on completion of the Honours year.

Career Prospects

There are a wide range of career prospects including product design and development, buying, merchandising, management, garment technology, production, marketing, and retailing - with many leading companies such as, Paul Smith, Jasper Conran, Anna Sui, Oasis, Marks and Spencer, Next, Levi- Strauss, John Lewis, Berghaus, and Nike.

This course is taught at our Scottish Borders Campus in Galashiels.

Programme content

Level 1

Lectures and practical classes provide a fundamental and practical knowledge of design, clothing and fashion product development, textiles, and management that underpin the clothing and fashion industry. Practical projects allow for individual creativity and personal development, whilst consolidating subject areas.

Level 2

Expands on the foundations of Level 1, and reinforces the commercial context, whilst further developing skills in design and development. The programme has links with fashion and clothing professionals who provide a range of support, from presenting lectures to providing work placements.

Level 3

Students develop independent learning through inter-linked projects that further develop their creative and problem solving skills, whilst extending technical expertise and embracing the reality of the commercial business. The projects strengthen critical analysis and evaluation skills and the professional presentation of their work.

Level 4

Each student determines and negotiates their individual Honours project that reflects the diverse, wide ranging and contemporary areas of clothing and fashion. This enables the students to demonstrate their broadening knowledge and apply theories and skills.

Laura Mackay Helen Finlayson Annika Arvidsson

Laura Mackay

Degree BA (Hons) in Design for Textiles (Fashion, Interior, Art)
Present Job Designer
Laura Mackay

I chose Heriot-Watt because of the reputation the School has for excellence in the field and links with
industry. After visiting, I loved the look of the print room and the facilities, not to mention the friendly
technicians!

I specialised in print and thoroughly enjoyed screenprinting and mixing up different dyes. I spent half of my time in the CAD lab and the other half in the print room combining digital prints with discharge, devore and foils. I was lucky enough to win a placement with Tigerprint and this helped me gain valuable work experience. I also spent my other two summers in work placements, Cath Kidston in London and John Robshaw in New York City.

I have now been at Cath Kidston for two years and have moved on to design prints specifically for our fashion range. I would highly recommend Heriot-Watt for anyone wishing to begin a career in the textile industry.

Helen Finlayson

Degree BSc (Hons) Fashion Technology
Present Job Owner of 'nelfin'

I decided the Fashion Technology course would be best suited to me. My initial interest was in design but I was keen to take advantage of the invaluable technical production and business skills that the course also offers. I feel this balanced outlook on fashion design has thoroughly equipped me for my chosen career path. I am now running my own bespoke fashion label, nelfin, in Glasgow, utilising the broad skillset gained at Heriot-Watt.

I design and produce all my garments from start to finish, which is my favourite part of the job. I also deal with the business and marketing side of things, which may not be quite so much fun but fortunately the Fashion Technology course has given me a good grounding. I hope to develop my label further into a respected design brand, as well a commercially viable business.

Annika Arvidsson

Degree BA (Hons) Fashion
Present Job Paul Smith, Knitwear Technical Design Assistant

The Fashion course gave me a good insight into what to expect in real working life. It was here that I discovered my passion for knitwear. There are quite a few textile businesses in the Scottish Borders, so I managed to get a job with a knitting studio where I learned a lot of skills and gained excellent work experience between study terms.

After graduating, I worked as a designer/assistant/sales person for 'Suttle Textiles' in Leicestershire. This gave me a lot of invaluable contacts and taught me more of the basics. With all these combined experiences, I was able to move into a really exciting role as a Knitwear Technical Design Assistant at Paul Smith in Nottingham. I have learnt that hard work and determination can take you anywhere you want!

Entry requirements

The University offers as its normal entry routes:

  • entry at Level 1, mainly for students with Scottish Highers (or similar)
  • entry at Level 2, mainly for students with A-levels (or similar).

There is nevertheless considerable flexibility, depending on the level of qualifications, for entrants with A-levels to opt to enter at Level 1 and for Scottish students to enter at Level 2. Direct entry into Level 3 is also possible for students who already have certain HE qualifications.

Level 1 entry

  • Scottish Highers minimum of ABBB including English. Mathematics is required at a minimum of Standard Grade
  • GCE A Level minimum of BBB including English and Mathematics at a minimum of GCSE
  • Int. Baccalaureate 28 points

Level 2 entry

  • SQA Higher National Cert A in graded unit. Suitable candidates will be considered for direct entry to Level 2, usually from articulated HNC/HND/BTEC courses. Each application is considered on its merits (dependent upon places available).

Level 3 entry

  • SQA Higher National Dip A in graded units. Suitable candidates will be considered for direct entry to Level 3, usually from articulated HND/BTEC courses. Each application is considered on its merits (dependent upon places available).

Tuition fees

Status* Scotland / EU** England / Northern Ireland / Wales International
Fee Paid by SAAS £9,000 £11,370

* Your residency 'status' is usually defined as the country where you have been ordinarily resident for the 3 years before the start of your programme. Find out more about tuition fees.

** European Union countries, not including England, Northern Ireland or Wales.

Scholarships & bursaries