University of Technology Sydney

C10306v3 Bachelor of Design in Fashion and Textiles

Award(s): Bachelor of Design in Fashion and Textiles (BDesign)
UAC code: 602040 (Autumn session)
CRICOS code: 077334G
Commonwealth supported place?: Yes
Load credit points: 144
Course EFTSL: 3
Location: City campus

Overview
Course aims
Career options
Innovation and Transdisciplinary program
Course intended learning outcomes
Admission requirements
Inherent (essential) requirements
Applications
Assumed knowledge
Course duration and attendance
Course structure
Course completion requirements
Course diagram
Course program
Honours
Other information

Overview

The Bachelor of Design in Fashion and Textiles is an internationally recognised degree that gives students the start they need to pursue careers across all facets of the local and international fashion industry. The degree provides the conceptual knowledge and garment-making skills required to transform a creative vision into compelling fashion statements. Sustainability and social justice are threaded throughout the course.

While UTS recognises that a commercial framework is important, students are encouraged to become industry leaders through a focus on innovation, experimentation, systems thinking and futuring methodologies. They have full access to world-class textile and fashion workshops, working under the close supervision of expert staff. This experimental spirit is balanced by close industry ties. Students get the opportunity to work on real-world projects with brands such as Australian Wool Innovation, Liberty London, ISKO Denim and Swarovski.

UTS also understands that the fashion industry is as much about people as it is about garments: through studio work and subjects in Design Studies students gain the communication and teamwork skills to develop, articulate and present their ideas to peers and industry. Graduates are recognised globally and many have gone on to work or study overseas, including fashion capitals London, New York, Tokyo and Milan. Leading international designers employing UTS graduates include Alexander McQueen, Kenzo, Abercrombie and Fitch, and Helmut Lang.

Course aims

The course is designed to provide students with an outlook and ambition that extend beyond the University, cultivating a collaborative and global vision of design. Central to the course is the integration of theory and practice in relation to fashion and textile design. Students are expected to develop an understanding of the formation and application of their own individual design language and theoretical position in relation to historic and contemporary contexts. Design is presented as a potent agent in society and systems change.

The first year introduces design principles and design thinking. In the second year students have the opportunity to diversify according to their area of interest and strength, including innovation in material research, types of technologies, engaging with digital design, methods of construction, and approaches to either flat patternmaking or drape. The fashion and textile studio and professional practice subjects in third year have been designed to extend students' understanding of local and global fashion and textiles, and provide students with a choice of design projects and areas of specialisation.

Career options

Career options include fashion designer, textile designer, fashion producer, art/creative director, print designer, pattern cutter, fashion stylist and fashion forecaster. Some graduates start their own business, while others work in an established company locally or with larger international brands. Graduates can also work in fashion media, including marketing, public relations and journalism roles.

Innovation and Transdisciplinary program

Transdisciplinarity and Innovation at UTS

All UTS students have the opportunity to develop distinctive capabilities around transdisciplinary thinking and innovation through the TD School. Transdisciplinary education at UTS brings together great minds from different disciplines to explore ideas that improve the way we live and work in the world. These offerings are unique to UTS and directly translate to many existing and emerging roles and careers.

Diploma in Innovation

The Diploma in Innovation (C20060) teaches innovation, supports personal transformation and provides the hard skills needed to support the inventors and inventions of the future. Students come out of the Diploma in Innovation, with the hard skills to create and support sectoral and societal transformation. Graduates are able to fluently integrate ideas, across professional disciplines and are inventors of the future.

All UTS undergraduate students (with the exception of students concurrently enrolled in the Bachelor of Creative Intelligence and Innovation) can apply for the Diploma in Innovation upon admission in their chosen undergraduate degree. It is a complete degree program that runs in parallel to any undergraduate degree. The course is offered on a three-year, part-time basis, with subjects running in 3-week long intensive blocks in July, December and February sessions. More information including a link to apply is available at https://dipinn.uts.edu.au.

Transdisciplinary electives program

Transdisciplinary electives broaden students' horizons and supercharge their problem-solving skills, helping them to learn outside, beyond and across their degrees. Students enrolled in an undergraduate course that includes electives can choose to take a transdisciplinary subject (with the exception of students concurrently enrolled in the Bachelor of Creative Intelligence and Innovation). More information about the TD Electives program is available here.

Course intended learning outcomes

A.1 Recognise the importance of sustainability to fashion and textiles industries
A.2 Demonstrate an awareness of the social and ethical responsibilities of a fashion and textile designer
A.3 Demonstrated understanding of appropriate academic and professional practice in the acknowledgement of others' work and ideas
A.4 Acquire comprehensive knowledge of cultural, historic and contemporary contexts that influence the lives of Indigenous Australians including the diversity of Indigenous cultures in Australia
C.1 Ability to collaborate and work with others, including within diverse social and cultural contexts
C.2 Effectively communicate concepts in fashion and textiles in performative, oral, visual and written forms
C.3 Respond to constructive criticism and feedback
I.1 Develop an original aesthetic sensibility
I.2 Demonstrate an ability to speculate, experiment, challenge boundaries and take risks
I.3 Demonstrate an ability to adapt technology and materials creatively
P.1 Demonstrate self-directed learning and self-initiated problem-solving
P.2 Demonstrate the ability to acquire, use and integrate relevant technical skills into creative projects.
P.3 Understanding business and marketing relevant to the fashion and textile industry
P.4 Effectively manage time to complete projects with accuracy, rigour and care
P.5 Accuracy, rigour and care
P.6 Ability to critically evaluate ethical practices including the protection of Indigenous cultural and intellectual property rights across fashion and textile projects and industry
R.1 Analyse and synthesise knowledge in both visual and written forms to undertake in-depth research.
R.2 Ability to construct well-supported arguments and rationale
R.3 Ability to reflect on practice and research
R.4 Interpret complex ideas and connect them to fashion and textile practice.
R.5 Ability to apply ethical Indigenous practices and critically reflect on how this will influence future professional practice to work for and with Indigenous Australians across fashion and textile projects and industry

Admission requirements

Applicants must have completed an Australian Year 12 qualification, Australian Qualifications Framework Diploma, or equivalent Australian or overseas qualification at the required level.

UTS: Design, Architecture and Building may consider applications based on the results of the Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT) if students lack academic qualifications but have extensive professional experience. The STAT is conducted through the Universities Admissions Centre.

Students must refer to the inherent requirements for all degrees offered by Design and Architecture in the Faculty of Design, Architecture and Building.

Non-current school leavers are selected on the basis of academic merit or on the basis of portfolio and interview rank.

Students must refer to the portfolio eligibility for the faculty’s consideration in order to get a place.

The English proficiency requirement for international students or local applicants with international qualifications is: Academic IELTS: 6.5 overall with a writing score of 6.0; or TOEFL: paper based: 550-583 overall with TWE of 4.5, internet based: 79-93 overall with a writing score of 21; or AE5: Pass; or PTE: 58-64 with a writing score of 50; or C1A/C2P: 176-184 with a writing score of 169.

Eligibility for admission does not guarantee offer of a place.

International students

Visa requirement: To obtain a student visa to study in Australia, international students must enrol full time and on campus. Australian student visa regulations also require international students studying on student visas to complete the course within the standard full-time duration. Students can extend their courses only in exceptional circumstances.

Inherent (essential) requirements

Inherent (essential) requirements are academic and non-academic requirements that are essential to the successful completion of a course.

Prospective and current students should carefully read the Inherent (Essential) Requirements Statement below and consider whether they might experience challenges in successfully completing this course. This Statement should be read in conjunction with the UTS Student Rules.

Prospective or current student concerned about their ability to meet these requirements should discuss their concerns with the Academic Liaison Officer in their faculty or school and/or UTS Accessibility Service on 9514 1177 or at accessibility@uts.edu.au.

UTS will make reasonable adjustments to teaching and learning, assessment, professional experiences, course related work experience and other course activities to facilitate maximum participation by students with disabilities, carer responsibilities, and religious or cultural obligations in their courses.

For course specific information see the Faculty of Design, Architecture and Building Inherent (Essential) Requirements Statement.

Applications

International students

International students (excluding those studying in an Australian high school) must submit an application to UTS International (in person, by mail or online) or through an accredited UTS representative.

International students with an ATAR up to five points below the minimum cut-off must submit the following material:

  • a six-page digital portfolio in PDF format (landscape) of their work; this may include images, animation or video (max. size 5MB)
  • one of the pages must be a 150–200-word written submission that selects and identifies one of the submitted pieces of work, and addresses the aim of the work and why it succeeded (to enable this PDF to be easily viewed, text must be supplied in 16-point Helvetica font, with 1.5 line spacing).

The faculty reserves the right to request a portfolio from applicants.

Assumed knowledge

Any two units of English.

Design and Technology, Visual Arts are recommended.

Course duration and attendance

The course is offered on a three-year, full-time or part-time equivalent basis.

Course structure

Students must complete 144 credit points made up of 108 credit points of core subjects, 24 credit points of design studies and 12 credit points of electives.

Course completion requirements

STM91426 Core Subjects (Fashion and Textiles) 108cp
STM91882 Design Studies 18cp
STM91883 Electives Choice 18cp
Total 144cp

Course diagram

Course diagram: C10306

Course program

A typical program is shown below.

Autumn commencing, full time
Year 1
Autumn session
83119 Thinking Fashion   6cp
83621 Studio: Foundations in Patternmaking and Construction 1   6cp
83622 Visualising Fashion 1   6cp
85503 Thinking Through Design   6cp
Spring session
83231 Fashion Cultures   6cp
83882 Foundations in Patternmaking and Construction 2   6cp
83233 Visualising Fashion 2   6cp
85502 Researching Design Histories   6cp
Year 2
Autumn session
83724 Studio: Body Form   6cp
83341 Fashion Intersections   6cp
83723 Constructed Textiles   6cp
Select 6 credit points of options   6cp
Spring session
83722 Studio: Body Mapping   6cp
83000 Textiles: Digital and Screen Print Design   6cp
83721 Studio: Fashion Illustration Exploration   6cp
Select 6 credit points from the following:   6cp
85202 Design Futuring 6cp  
85001 The Bio Kitchen 6cp  
88015 Global Studio A 6cp  
Year 3
Autumn session
83821 Fashion and Textiles Major Studio 1   12cp
88834 Advanced Fashion Technologies   6cp
Select 6 credit points of options   6cp
Spring session
83822 Fashion and Textiles Major Studio 2   12cp
83823 Fashion and Textiles Professional Practice   6cp
Select 6 credit points of options   6cp

Honours

The Bachelor of Design (Honours) (C09131) is available to meritorious students with an additional one year of full-time study.

Applications are submitted via the UTS Study website.

Other information

Further information is available from the UTS Student Centre on:

telephone 1300 ask UTS (1300 275 887)
or +61 2 9514 1222
Ask UTS
UTS: Design, Architecture and Building