Five reasons to study a fashion degree in September 2026

Fashion design is more than creating clothes. It’s about shaping culture, expressing identity and pushing boundaries in style and sustainability.

If you’ve ever dreamed of seeing your ideas come to life on the runway or influencing what people wear worldwide, a degree in fashion design could be your perfect starting point.

We've put together five reasons why studying fashion at UCA can set you apart.

Our fashion degrees

• Fashion Atelier BA (Hons)
• Fashion Design BA (Hons)
• Fashion Image & Styling BA (Hons)
• Make-Up & Hair Design BA (Hons)

Five reasons to study a fashion design course

Learn from fashion experts

Our fashion courses are taught by industry professionals with years of experience in fashion houses, design studios and global brands. You’ll gain insights that go beyond textbooks, preparing you for the realities of the fashion world.

Facilities to support boundless creativity

From pattern-cutting studios to digital design suites, you’ll have everything you need to experiment and refine your craft. Our facilities mirror industry standards, so you graduate ready to hit the ground running.

We recently opened a new building, The Wells, a centre dedicated to fashion that provides tailored teaching studios and spaces, workshops and break-out areas.

Create a standout fashion portfolio

Your portfolio is your passport to the fashion industry. At UCA, you’ll work on live briefs, collaborate with peers and create collections that showcase your unique vision.

Connect with the fashion industry

Through internships, guest lectures and networking events, you’ll meet the people who matter. Many of our students secure placements with leading brands, opening doors to exciting careers.

Explore diverse career paths

Fashion design isn’t just about becoming a designer. You could move into trend forecasting, styling, product development or even sustainable fashion innovation. Our fashion degrees gives you the flexibility to carve your own path.

What do our fashion students say?

One of our fashion students, Sky, recently shared their experience studying at UCA: 

Last year, Sky was looking to take her passion to somewhere that understood what the fashion industry was all about – not just a university that happened to have a fashion course.

Finding out about UCA, the decision to move 6,000 miles to join was an easy one, because:

“The difference is that everyone’s a creative here, on your course and every other course. That’s what sold it to me, it’s nice to work in an environment like that. Plus, everyone’s just so lovely too! It has really lived up to my expectations.”

Being surrounded by creatives of different disciplines created that sense of belonging, but it also gave Sky access to tools and techniques that you simply wouldn’t get at other institutions:

“What I liked about UCA is that fashion here is a lot more technical. It’s very hands-on – you’ve got all the facilities you need, or just have always wanted to try. I’m not an industrial designer, but I can still go and play with the laser cutter and understand how that works. It was pretty much only ever UCA for me.”

And after moving from Malaysia, Sky could have chosen a number of fashion capitals – Paris, New York, Milan. But UCA’s unique setting helped seal the deal:

“Being near London is HUGE. It’s great, we do a lot of our research there. All the major stores are here, we take the train, go all over the city, touch the fabrics, see the trends. But at the end of the day, we can escape and come home to the peace and the quiet of Epsom. This is the experience I wanted.”

It’s all the benefits of London, without the chaos. And with all that space to think and experiment at UCA, also comes staff with the time to care:

“I think what surprised me the most is just how much 1-on-1 time you get with your tutor. You don’t have to fight for their attention, they actually schedule this time and make space for you. They also arrange workshops, like screen printing, and bring in professionals from the industry. Your tutor actually cares about your development, it’s so nice.”

But that doesn’t mean it’s a walk in the park. Fashion is a fast and tough industry. You’ll be prepared for that during your course:

“Graduate Fashion Week is a whole thing. You prepare your collections, enter competitions, try to win awards. It’s a real taste of the industry. I’m currently working on a submission for Liberty – for a chance to use their famous fabric in my work. It’s so exciting, everything about UCA is exciting.”

Apply to study fashion in 2026 

If you’re interested in discovering more about studying fashion at the University for the Creative Arts, join us for our next Open Day on Saturday 10 January. 

You can also book onto our upcoming fashion webinar on Wednesday 7 January

The UCAS deadline for this concept art degree is 14 January. Ready to begin your creative journey? Start application now to study fashion at UCA in September.