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Fashion Design Innovation

  • 3 Study options
  • Undergraduate
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2026-20272027-2028
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Course summary

Make your mark as you embrace cutting-edge fashion technology and fully realise your creativity to solve the biggest challenges facing the fashion industry today.

The fashion world is fraught with issues around ethics, sustainability, economic upheaval and the global supply chain. Explore how to tackle them by gaining a deeper understanding of the latest developments in fashion and textile design.

You’ll draw from the latest research and studies, investigating fashion and textile design, diverse fashion markets and sustainability. You’ll balance this with creative experimentation as you hone your virtual and physical design craft. Then, gain the confidence to produce innovative solutions that weave your practical skills with the latest digital technologies.

You’ll be supported to practice your handiwork independently within our creative spaces, such as our sculpture, fashion design, and knit and weave studios. Our digital print, laser cutting and 3D print, and printmaking workshops are also on hand for you to test your skills and bounce new ideas off your peers.

Global pollution and waste, shifting consumer habits, economic upheaval and the labour exploitation mean the fashion world lives in provocative times. But you’ll champion forward-thinking social, ethical and sustainable fashion design, and upon graduation, you’ll be ready and prepared to build a better fashion industry.

Student profile: Laurence Moreton Burt

''The campus was very appealing, and the School of Design was housed in a beautiful building. The staff and students were friendly and had answers to all my questions. It was a much more positive experience than I’d had at other open days. The chance to do a year in industry also helped me to choose this course over others.''

Laurence Moreton Burt, School of Design graduate

Why study at Leeds

  • Be at the forefront of fashion technology: Engage with the latest developments in fashion and textiles to discover material innovations and technological breakthroughs.

  • Specialist facilities: Put your skills to the test with our laser cutting and 3D print workshop, XLab for Immersive Technologies and other practical studios.

  • Access to experts: Glean insights from industry-recognised visiting speakers from across the world.

  • Professional membership: As a Fashion Design Innovation student, gain membership to the Association of Suppliers to the British Clothing Industry.

Rankings and awards

  • 6th in the UK for Art and Design, Complete University Guide 2026

  • 53rd in the world for Arts and Humanities, QS World Rankings by Subject 2026

Where this degree could take you

Our graduates have pursued a rich variety of careers in the fashion industry, including; design, pattern cutting, garment technology, buying, trend forecasting, PR and journalism. They’ve gone on to work for companies like:

  • Abercrombie & Fitch

  • Puma

  • Cos

  • All Saints

  • Next

  • Jenny Packman

  • Burberry

  • New Look

  • Next

  • River Island

  • Ted Baker

  • Tommy Hilfiger

  • Warehouse

  • French Connection

  • H&M

  • Christopher Kane

  • Hobbs

  • Mint Velvet

  • Victoria Beckham

  • Marks and Spencer

  • Oliver Bonas

  • Whistles

  • Superdry

  • Urban Outfitters

  • Paul Smith

Careers support

Top 10 most targeted for 10+ years by the UK's leading employers, The Graduate Market 2026, High Fliers Research

At Leeds, we help you to prepare for your future from day one.

Our Careers Service has the global expertise and sector-spanning industry partnerships that, combined, go way beyond simply helping you get a job. They provide you with the resources you need to upskill and achieve the future you aspire towards – even in the face of lightning-paced change.

Ways to study this course

Campuses

  • Main Site

Study options

  • Bachelor of Arts (with Honours) • Full-Time • Time abroad (mandatory) • 4 Years
  • Bachelor of Arts (with Honours) • Full-Time • Placement (mandatory) • 4 Years
  • Bachelor of Arts (with Honours) • Full-Time • 3 Years

Start dates

Application codes

Institution code:
L23

University of Leeds has participated in the Teaching Excellence Framework. These ratings were awarded in 2023, for four years.

See why these ratings were awarded
What does this TEF outcome mean?

How to apply

Application codes

Institution code:
L23

This course may be available at alternative locations, please check if other course options are available.

Course options

Open days

Entry requirements

Typical qualification requirements

A level ABB

including art/design subject or media. Excluding General Studies and Critical Thinking.

If you don’t have an art or design-related subject but you are taking Media Studies A-level, we may also consider your application based on a high grade at GCSE in Art/Design and a portfolio of recent and relevant work.

T Level

Might be accepted as in combination with other qualifications, please contact admissions teams for further advice & guidance.

Scottish Higher

BB in Advanced Highers and AABBB in Highers OR B in Advanced Highers and AAABB in Highers OR AABBBB in Highers.

Access to HE Diploma

Pass diploma with 60 credits overall, including at least 45 credits at level 3, of which 30 credits must be at Distinction and 15 credits at Merit or higher. An interview and a piece of written work may be required.

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016) DDM

including Art/Design.

GCSE/National 4/National 5

at least 5 at Grade 4 (C) or above including English

Cambridge International Pre-U Certificate - Principal M1M1M2

including art/design or media.

Welsh Baccalaureate - Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate (first teaching September 2015)

The Welsh Baccalaureate Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate (SCC) / Advanced Skills Baccalaureate Wales is acceptable in place of an A level. Applicants must achieve a grade B alongside AB at A level (excluding General Studies and Critical Thinking).

Other

Irish Leaving Certificate (higher Level)

H2, H2, H2, H3, H3, H3 including art/design or media.

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme

34 points overall with 16 at Higher Level including 5 in Visual Arts and 4 in English.

https://courses.leeds.ac.uk/202223/j389/fashion-design-innovation-ba#section3

Additional entry requirements

Other
Alternative entry We’re committed to identifying the best possible applicants, regardless of personal circumstances or background. Access to Leeds is a contextual admissions scheme which accepts applications from individuals who might be from low income households, in the first generation of their immediate family to apply to higher education, or have had their studies disrupted. If you live in a neighbourhood where there is low participation in higher education, we may be able to give priority to your application. Find out more about Access to Leeds and contextual admissions. Arts and Humanities with Foundation Year This course is designed for students whose backgrounds mean they are less likely to attend university (also known as widening participation backgrounds) and who do not currently meet admissions criteria for direct entry to a degree. The course will give you the opportunity to be taught by academic staff and provides intensive support to enable your development of academic skills and knowledge. On successful completion of your foundation year, you will progress to your chosen degree course. Find out more about the Arts and Humanities with Foundation Year Alternative Entry Scheme for Mature Students If you are a mature applicant (over 21) and you don’t have the required A Levels or GCSE English and maths qualifications, you can complete our Alternative Entry Scheme (subject to meeting the eligibility criteria for the scheme). As part of this, you may be asked to take tests in English and maths and to write an essay. Contact the Lifelong Learning Centre for more information.

English language requirements

TestGradeAdditional details
IELTS (Academic)6with no less than 5.5 in each component of listening, reading, speaking and writing Improve your English If you're an international student and you don't meet the English language requirements for this programme, you may be able to study our undergraduate pre-sessional English course, to help improve your English language level.
TOEFL (iBT)87with no less than 20 in listening, 20 in reading, 22 in speaking and 21 in writing
PTE Academic60with no less than 56 in each component of listening, reading, speaking and writing

Contextual admissions

Universities and colleges consider more than grades when assessing applications and may make offers based on a range of criteria. Learn more about contextual offers.

If the most common grade accepted is higher than our entry requirements, this is due to the attainment of our applicants. If you have been made an offer and you meet or exceed the grades of your offer, you will be accepted.

If grades lower than our entry requirements have been accepted, in most cases this is because we operate contextual admissions as part of our decision making, which considers factors beyond grades. For more information about contextual admissions, please visit our website.

Learn more on the University of Leeds website

International entry requirements

International
We also accept a wide variety of international qualifications, please visit our international equivalencies page to find out more about entry requirements for your region.

International Foundation Year
International students who do not meet the academic requirements for undergraduate study may be able to study the University of Leeds International Foundation Year. This gives you the opportunity to study on campus, be taught by University of Leeds academics and progress onto a wide range of Leeds undergraduate courses. Find out more about International Foundation Year programmes.

Historical entry grades data

This section shows the range of grades that students who received offers were previously accepted on to this course with (learn more).

It is designed to support your research but does not guarantee whether you will or won't get a place.

Admissions teams consider various factors, including interviews, subject requirements, and entrance tests. Check all course entry requirements for eligibility.

This course may have Historical entry grades data available, please select a course option to view.

Course options

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

No fee information has been provided for this course

Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website.

Additional fee information

For further information please see http://www.leeds.ac.uk/undergraduatefees

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