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Subject · 172 verified programs

Fashion Design degrees

Degrees in designing and making clothing and accessories, from concept and pattern cutting to construction and collection development.

Also called: Fashion, Fashion and Apparel Design, Clothing Design, Fashion Design and Technology, Costume Design.

50 BA / BA (Hons) · 47 Other bachelor’s award · 24 BFA · 23 Other master’s award · 16 MA · 10 MFA · 1 BDes · 1 MDes · 13 official concentration, 8 named major, 150 dedicated degree, 1 documented pathway

172 programs

How results are ordered: alphabetically by institution, or by most recently checked when you choose that sort. There is no price ranking, because tuition in different currencies, fee categories and bases (per year, per credit, whole program) is not comparable. A program appears under a subject only through a verified link (dedicated degree, major, concentration or documented pathway). A value we could not verify is shown as “not published”, never as “no”. Items marked Sponsored are paid placements; they never change verification or order. Online programs are not counted as physically located in a state or city, and an institution’s location does not tell you whether it enrols students from your country.

About fashion design study

Fashion design is the creation of clothing and related accessories. Degree study usually covers design research, drawing and illustration, pattern cutting, garment construction, fabric knowledge and the development of collections. Students are also introduced to the history of dress and to wider cultural, social and environmental questions surrounding clothing.

Programs generally rely on a cycle of research, design, prototyping and critique. Students make toiles and finished garments, learn technical drawing and specification, and increasingly use digital tools for pattern making, three-dimensional simulation and presentation. Many courses address sustainability, ethical production and the structure of the fashion system, and some include placements or industry projects.

Fashion design sits next to textile design, which focuses on the cloth and surface itself, and to related fields such as fashion marketing or business, which are outside this directory’s subject list. It differs from industrial design, which concerns manufactured products, and from fine arts, though some programs encourage experimental or conceptual work. Specializations such as womenswear, menswear, knitwear or costume may be offered.

What study typically involves

  • Fashion drawing, illustration and design research
  • Pattern cutting and garment construction
  • Fabric properties and textiles knowledge
  • Digital pattern making and visualization in many programs
  • Collection development and presentation
  • History and theory of dress and fashion
  • Sustainability and professional practice

Award titles. Fashion design is commonly studied within BA, BA (Hons), BFA or BDes programs, and at postgraduate level within MA, MFA or MDes degrees. Research degrees, including practice-based PhDs, may exist in some countries. Award titles vary, so rely on the official program page.

Fashion design often appears as a major within a design or art degree, with specializations or pathways such as knitwear or menswear. The directory lists a program under this subject only with a verified dedicated degree, major, official concentration or documented pathway.

Portfolio and admissions guidance

Requirements differ for every program. Always check the official admissions page; this directory cannot guarantee acceptance.

Applicants to fashion design programs are commonly asked for a portfolio showing drawing, creative research and any making or sewing experience. Sketchbooks with development of ideas are often valued, and previous technical skills are frequently not required at entry level.

Requirements vary by country and program. Some ask for a design task, a sewing or pattern test, an interview or a written statement. Postgraduate programs usually expect a coherent body of work and evidence of research or a clear direction.

Check each program’s official admissions page for formats, limits and deadlines. Admission is never guaranteed, and this directory does not set a universal template.

See also the guide to preparing an art portfolio.

Funding and costs

At MFA and PhD level, some programs offer teaching assistantships, studio or workshop roles, tuition remission or competitive scholarships.

Terms vary by program, country and year, and many students receive partial or no support. Verify details directly with the program and funding bodies.

Costs beyond tuition. Fashion students often pay for fabrics, trims, toile materials, pattern paper, sewing equipment, printing and photography for showcase work, and sometimes software.