Studio Practice (Fashion Design) (top-up) BA (Hons) | University for the Creative Arts

Location

Epsom

Start date

Sept 2026, Sept 2027

Duration

1 year full-time

UCAS codes

Course: W400
Institution: C93

Entry requirements

Check qualifications

Tuition fees

Check fees and funding options

Studio Practice (Fashion Design) (top-up) at UCA

Your voice. Your brand. One year to make it real. Our Studio Practice top-up course in Fashion Design at UCA Epsom will give you a fantastic fast-paced introduction to university education, and prepare you for a postgraduate fashion course.

Build on your existing knowledge

Ideal for international students and also suitable to UK students looking to build upon existing qualifications, this course is aligned with the final year of BA (Hons) Fashion Design, so you can progress to a Master's in a streamlined way, and provides the perfect opportunity for you to realise your 2D design sketches into 3D creations that show you at your best.

Fashion and textiles, together

This course integrates the opportunity to develop textile processes directly into your fashion design practice – from weaving and print to dye and biomaterials. It's a rare combination in UK fashion education, and it gives you a deeper understanding of materials, sustainability, and craft that sets your work apart.

Freedom and flexibility

The final major project is your centrepiece. You set the brief, the audience, and the creative direction – whether that's a three-look collection, a digital-first presentation, or something else altogether. The course supports you to succeed with the strengths you have, offering flexible creative directions rather than a single template for what a fashion outcome should look like.

Smaller campus. Bigger support

Epsom is compact, connected, and close to London's fashion industry – without the intensity that can come with studying in it. You'll know your tutors and they'll know your work. With several fashion courses on one campus, you'll share skills, collaborate across disciplines, and be part of a creative community that will stay with you for life.

The UCA Way

UCA courses are built around the things we know matter most to creative students:

Learn by making

Get practical and stuck in – spend most of your time in studios and workshops. Over 80% of our teaching spaces are studios, workshops, or labs.

See your place in the bigger picture

Understand history, culture and context to give your work depth. Our degrees were established by BAFTA and Oscar winners.

Find your people

Collaboration is built into the curriculum, where you’ll make friends and future creative partners. Our Shared modules link work from students from up to 15 courses. This module focuses on how you collaborate, not what you deliver. Setting you up for success in a creative community.

Gain career confidence for the long game

Build skills, resilience, and industry awareness that prepare you for a successful creative career. Our courses have been designed with industry, focussing on your professional pathway, you’ll learn about grant applications, self-employment, and how to nail creative job interviews.

Learn in a way that works for you

Inclusive assessment, synchronised deadlines, and a student experience built with real life in mind. Our courses are focussed on being inclusive. We listen to our students, and you learn and get feedback how you want it.

View our student work

We’re privileged to be able to share our graduates’ incredible work with the world, click on the work below to see more images and find out about the project.

Explore more student work

Success at GFW 2025

UCA fashion design graduates were celebrated their successes at Graduate Fashion Week 2025 (GFW25).

Design by Le Wan Tan. Image by Rory James

Le Wa Tan

Awarded winner of the GFW25 UCA Epsom solo catwalk show and was also selected to show at the Best of GFW25 Catwalk, going on to win Best of GFW25 Silver Award, judged by industry experts.

Eli Ng

Received the Highly Commended Award of the GFW25 UCA Epsom solo catwalk show and was shortlisted for the GFW25 Next Trend Forecasting Award.

Célian Dewasmes

Won The Zandra Rhodes Fashion Award, the award is named in honour of globally renowned print and fashion designer Dame Zandra Rhodes, a lifetime patron of the Graduate Fashion Foundation and UCA Chancellor Emerita.

Money Yee

Shortlisted for both the GFW25 Fashion Illustration Award and the GFW25 Pattern Cutting Award.

Temi Akinyede

Shortlisted for the GFW25 Culture & Heritage Design Award.

Prachi Dokania

Shortlisted for the GFW25 Fashion Portfolio Award.

Schenric Toh

Shortlisted for the GFW25 Sportswear & Leisurewear Award

What you'll study

The content of the course may be subject to change. Curriculum content is provided as a guide.

Year one (equivalent in level to year 3 of BA course)

As you join the course, you'll work alongside final year students, meaning you'll jump straight into the action with practical and research-based projects. You'll complete these units:

Portfolio & Career: 30 credits
The Portfolio & Career unit consolidates all the design communication, presentation and professional skills learned throughout the course. The vehicle for you to showcase your design expertise and career aspirations is the final Portfolio. You will be encouraged to develop an individual approach to the development of your portfolio both to demonstrate your strengths and to allow you to focus it toward your career direction.

Pre-Collection: 30 credits
You’ll concentrate on market analysis, concept research and development and the design and toiling process in preparation for your final collection in this unit. As well as market and concept research, you’ll need to undertake an in-depth exploration and experimentation with silhouette, textiles, cutting, colour, design, detail, and finish are required to achieve innovative design solutions.

Collection & Portfolio: 60 credits
The Collection & Portfolio unit focuses on producing an innovative, resolved and accomplished design collection and an accompanying professional portfolio. For the Collection, you are required to review, evaluate, and apply the research, design and development work conducted in the Pre-Collection unit to achieve a resolved design package. For the Portfolio, you are required to review the design projects and the approach taken in term 1 to create a focused and innovative final portfolio presentation that encapsulates your individual design aesthetic

Expected learning hours

Year three

Independent study: 65%
Scheduled teaching: 35%
Maximum percentage of scheduled delivered online: 0%

Please note: these details are for 2026 entry and could be subject to change for other years of entry.

Course specifications

Please note, syllabus content indicated is provided as a guide. The content of the course may be subject to change in line with our Student Terms and Conditions for example, as required by external professional bodies or to improve the quality of the course.

Upcoming webinars

We offer a range of webinars throughout the year that you may be interested in.

You can also view recordings of all previous sessions through the UCA webinar archive.

15 Apr 2026

A Guide to Student Finance & Budgeting at University

Want to know more about student finance and budgeting at university? We understand everyone’s financial situations are different, and at UCA we try to support you as much as possible throughout your time with us. Book now: A Guide to Student Finance & Budgeting at University

24 Apr 2026

Living at Home while at Uni

Want to know what its like to be a student who commutes? Join us on Friday 24th April to speak to our panel of commuter students, and find out how to still obtain the most from student life while having all the comforts of home. Book now: Living at Home while at Uni

27 Apr 2026

Putting together your Portfolio

At UCA, we offer a range of postgraduate options at both Master's and PhD level that will help you further your skills, ready for a career within the creative industries. Book now: Putting together your Portfolio

13 May 2026

Student Support & Life on Campus

Are you wondering what it’s like to be a student at UCA? We’re here to talk through everything you need to know about student support and life on campus. Book now: Student Support & Life on Campus

16 Jun 2026

Putting together your Portfolio

At UCA, we offer a range of postgraduate options at both Master's and PhD level that will help you further your skills, ready for a career within the creative industries. Book now: Putting together your Portfolio

6 Aug 2026

What is Clearing and How Does it Work?

What is Clearing? What courses are available? What does Clearing mean for you? There are so many questions to ask around Clearing and what it means for you. We're here to help answer all your questions, explain the process of Clearing and how you could join UCA this September. Book now: What is Clearing and How Does it Work?

Fees & financial support

Tuition fees - 2026/27

BA (top-up) course: £9,790

Government guidance indicates that tuition‑fee caps will rise annually with inflation from 2026, subject to legislation, so tuition fees are likely to increase each year of study.

Tuition fees - 2026/27

BA (top-up) course: £9,790 (see fee discount information)

Government guidance indicates that tuition‑fee caps will rise annually with inflation from 2026, subject to legislation, so tuition fees are likely to increase each year of study.

Tuition fees - 2026/27

BA (top-up) course: £18,000

The fees listed here are correct for the stated academic year only, for details of previous years please see the full fee schedules.

UCA scholarships and fee discounts

At UCA we have a number of scholarships and fee discounts available to assist you with the cost of your studies.

Financial support

There are lots of ways you can access additional financial support to help you fund your studies - both from UCA and from external sources. Discover what support you might qualify for please see our financial support information.

Additional course costs

In addition to the tuition fees there may be other costs for your course. The things that you are likely to need to budget for to get the most out of a creative arts education will include books, printing costs, occasional or optional study trips and/or project materials.

These costs will vary according to the nature of your project work and the individual choices that you make. Please see the Additional Course Costs section of the Course Information Document for more details of the costs you may incur.

Find out what's included in your tuition fees.

Fashion facilities & equipment

At UCA Epsom there are design, pattern and production studios. There is also specialist sewing areas with technical assistance. There are also campus screen printing facilities and photographic studios with professional quality lighting rigs.