BA (Hons) Critical Practice in Fashion Media
University of the Arts London
About this program
BA (Hons) Critical Practice in Fashion Media
BA Critical Practice in Fashion Media is an experimental, inter-disciplinary and practice-led course that positions fashion media and communication as a potent tool through which to critically engage, confront and intervene in the most pressing issues facing us today.
At the heart of this critical practice course is the challenge of the climate crisis. The world in which we live, communicate and interact with each other is becoming increasingly unstable. Accordingly, the course understands critical practice to mean a practice that actively integrates itself in the world in order to transform it. As change-makers of the future, you will develop new forms of critical, creative, and technical skills, enabling you to not only navigate this uncertain terrain but also identify and implement emergent opportunities so as to bring about meaningful change.
In the first year of the course, you will be introduced to the core skills of critical practice: storytelling and collaboration. The second-year builds on these core skills by inviting you to situate them within an applied context: strategic thinking and speculative design, designing of spatial experiences, and the mobilising and communicating of climate activism. The third-year consolidates these skills and expands them further by enabling you to identify, develop, and realise your own critical practice through an extended practice-led, research-driven project. Finally, you will bring your body of work together as you build your own portfolio.
Working with internal and external partners, the course is delivered through workshops, seminars, lectures and live projects. You will experiment with established and emerging disciplines and media including moving image, photography, writing, AR/VR, audio, strategic and speculative design, spatial and experiential design, collaborative practice, and activism.
Through this integrated, experimental, and inter-disciplinary approach you will develop your own critical and creative voice that you will be used to push boundaries, and opening up new possibilities for the future of fashion media and communication.
Admission requirements
All classes are conducted in English. The level required by the University for this course is IELTS 6.5 with a minimum of 5.5 in reading, writing, listening and speaking.
One or a combination of the following accepted full level 3 qualifications.
- 112 UCAS tariff points from two or more A Levels (preferred subjects include English, a foreign language and Media Studies);
- Distinction at Foundation Diploma in Art and Design;
- Distinction, Merit, Merit at BTEC Extended Diploma (preferred subjects Art & Design);
- Merit at UAL Extended Diploma;
- Access Diploma or 112 new UCAS tariff points from the Access to HE Diploma;
- 112 new UCAS tariff points from a combination of the above qualifications or an equivalent full Level 3 qualification;
- or equivalent EU or non-EU qualifications such as International Baccalaureate Diploma at 25 points minimum;
- and Five GCSE passes at grade A*-C or grade 9-4, with grade C (grade 4) or above in English.
Exceptionally, applicants who do not meet these course entry requirements may still be considered if the course team judges the application demonstrates additional strengths and alternative evidence. This might, for example, be demonstrated by: related academic or work experience; the quality of the personal statement; a strong academic or other professional reference; or a combination of these factors.
For more information about admission requirements, please visit the university website.
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Program content
Stage 1 (Level 4)
The units you will study in Year 1, Stage 1, Level 4 are as follows:
- Introduction to Fashion Communication
- Hybrid Narratives
- Fashion Cultures and Histories
- Better Lives
- Critical Collaboration
Stage 2 (Level 5)
The units you will study in Year 1, Stage 1, Level 4 are as follows:
- Critical Issues in Fashion Research
- Speculative Futures
- Inside the Industry
- Situating Your Practice
- Critical Climate
- Spaces of Experience
Stage 3 (Level 6)
The units you will study in Year 3, Stage 3, Level 6 are as follows:
- Research and Development for Critical Practice
- Cultural and Historical Studies Dissertation
- Critical Practice
- Portfolio
Scholarships & funding
Several scholarship options are available. Please check the university website for more information.
Tuition
- Tuition fees for Home students are £9,250*
- Tuition fees for International students are £23,610*
*This fee is correct for 2022/23 entry and is subject to change for 2023/24 entry. Tuition fees may increase in future years for new and continuing students.
Qualification
The assessment program is designed to follow the learning and teaching methods which are employed to support the integrated achievement of the course outcomes:
- Demonstrations, workshop practices;
- Technical workshops;
- Lectures;
- Group discussions and team working;
- Self‐directed study simulations and work study placements;
- Group and individual tutorials;
- Seminars;
- Critiques;
- Panel discussions
Career paths
All of our undergraduate courses offer career development, so that you become a creative thinker, making effective contributions to your relevant sector of the fashion industry.
LCF offers students the opportunity to develop Personal and Professional Development (PPD) skills while studying through:
- An on-course work experience or placement year. Please note, this is not available on every course; please see the Course Details section for information about work placement opportunities.
- Access to to speaker programs and events featuring alumni and industry.
- Access to careers activities, such as CV clinics and one-to-one advice sessions.
- Access to a graduate careers service
- Access to a live jobsboard for all years.
- Advice on setting up your own brand or company.
Message the school
About this institute
University of the Arts London
University of the Arts London (UAL) is ranked 2nd in the world for Art and Design according to the 2023 QS World University Rankings®, for the fifth year in a row. It has an international reputation in art, design, communication,...
Why study at University of the Arts London
With multiple sites across London, UAL offers endless opportunities to draw inspiration from this global creative hub.
- UAL has a track record for launching and furthering careers across the creative industries and beyond.
- Graduates are frequently shortlisted for national and global awards ranging from the Turner Prize to the Oscars.
- UAL is home to more than 2,400 postgraduate students.
- The university offers a wide range of theoretical and practice-based research programmes leading to a PhD or MPhil.
- UAL is ranked among the UK’s top research universities, with 83% of research conducted by UAL students and staff graded as world-leading.
- UAL has a diverse student community, with students drawn from over 130 countries across the globe.
- Students are encouraged to draw inspiration from London’s world-famous art galleries, museums and theatres.
- UAL’s dedicated support service offers useful advice for international students including guidance on funding, visa applications and accommodation.
Contact info
University of the Arts London
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