Fashion BTEC HND

To begin this course, you will need a Higher National Certificate (HNC) in Fashion and Textiles.

We welcome mature students to apply, providing they have a relevant industry or creative background (please contact us for more details).

Entry is subject to a successful interview, where you will be asked to bring along a portfolio of your existing work.

During this course you will study the following units:

• Professional Development
• Contextual Studies
• Individual Project (theme set by Pearson)
• Techniques and Processes for Fashion & Textiles
• Computer-Aided Design (CAD)
• Fashion & Textiles Practices
• Pattern Cutting & Garment making
• Fashion Collection

You will work with a range of specialist lecturers, including practising designers, in well-equipped studios and workshops. Project briefs are set for each assignment, and you are encouraged to develop a personal response to each task. All activities are supported through one-to-one tutorials and group discussions to inform you of personal progress and to aid assessment. Assessment is continuous throughout the course, with assignments graded at the end of each task.

You will gain:

• Pearson BTEC Level 5 Higher National Diploma in Art and Design (Fashion)

On successful completion of the HND, you will have the option to top up the qualification to a full Bachelor’s degree at university or enter employment. Roles in the industry include fashion/textile buyer, costume designer, dressmaker, fashion designer, freelance designer/maker, production manager, sales manager, textile designer, or wardrobe supervisor.

Our dedicated and experienced staff work closely with you in small groups or on a one-to-one basis whilst nurturing and fostering your confidence to allow for autonomy. Our staff are all practising designers and makers with a variety of fashion and textiles industry experience. They have worked closely with fashion houses such as Christian Lacroix, Jasper Conran, Nina Ricci, Ungaro, Chanel and produced collections for celebrities such as Alexandra Burke and many West End shows.

Our award-winning course will provide you with the opportunity to develop your own industry network through internships and national and international competitions. Each year, students have the opportunity to enter live competitions and many of our students have been shortlisted and won prestigious awards.

Project 20/20 and beyond was part of the Professional Clothing Awards “Industry Recognised Category” for 2017, which looked at recognising emerging talents and design innovation in our industry from fashion students of leading fashion and textiles universities around the country. Hundreds of entries were submitted nationally and Bedford College students Abby Simpson, Sarah Davis, and Megan Schneider, and took 1st, 2nd and 3rd prize with Bedford College taking the prize for overall winning university.

You will have the opportunity to visit galleries, trade shows such and trend forecasting events at home and abroad for example in London, Florence, Milan, Paris, Madrid, Amsterdam, New York, and Berlin. Our students also take part in a yearly fashion show and exhibit their work at the South Bank Arts Centre.

Additional costs

• Provision of basic fashion and textiles equipment such as sketchbooks, drawing equipment, hand sewing needles, quality scissors and any additional consumable materials such as fabrics and specialist threads, demanded by personal project requirements.
• Resource fee of £150 to cover: printing binders, specialist procion dyes, specialist printing pigments, screen emulsion and A1 cartridge paper.
• Train fares for visits by train to London (normally up to two a year).
• A digital camera and portable external hard drive/USB stick would be advantageous but are not essential.