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Fashion Design (with Footwear) Higher National Diploma
Fashion Design (with Footwear) Higher National Diploma
Course Overview
Course Code
P00299
Start Date
22/09/2025
Study Hours
Full Time
Duration
2 years
Campus
St Margaret's Campus
Level
Level 5
Our Higher National Diploma (HND) in Fashion and Footwear Design is a creative and vocationally relevant course equivalent to the first two years of a BA (Hons) degree. It prepares you for a design and manufacturing career across the fashion and footwear industries, whilst developing your skills and, offering opportunities for research and analysis in related specialist subjects. Our lecturers will work closely with several leading fashion retailers and footwear manufacturers to provide their insight into this industry. Networking and liaising with industry contacts are an integral part of the course which will benefit you once you have graduated. Design briefs offer creative challenges through developing illustration skills, graphic presentation, and 3D manufacturing. You will explore specialist garment production and footwear manufacturing sector skills, gaining an insight into tailoring, garment/shoe pattern cutting, and garment/shoe construction. You can expect approximately 12 to 14 hours of timetabled sessions per week with additional directed time in our specialist workshops allowing access for over 18 hours. You will also become part of a community of approx. 400 undergraduates across several creative disciplines.
In the first year of the course, you will share specialisms on a joint fashion and footwear based provision. On successful completion of the year students can be awarded a Higher National Certificate (HNC) in Fashion and Textiles. Year 1 level 4 HNC units include: Unit 1 Professional development Unit 2 Contextual studies Unit 3 Individual project Unit 4 Techniques and process Unit 7 Computer-Aided design Unit 8 Pattern cutting and garment making Unit Footwear making and manufacture Unit 9 Fashion and textiles Our professional industry workshops and trained supervision team allow you access to specialist fashion and footwear production methods. Our Higher Education hub, digital design suites, and art rooms provide you with the spaces and resources to get creative on campus.
In year 2, students will undertake all core units' students will then have the opportunity to choose one 30 credit option which will focus on a specialist discipline in either fashion or footwear On successful completion of the two years, students will be awarded either an Higher National Diploma (HND) in Fashion and Textiles or a Higher National Diploma (HND) in Footwear. Year 2 level 5 HND units include: Unit 32 Professional practice Unit 33 Applied practice coll project (30 Credit) Unit 42 Styling Unit 47 Branding and identity Unit 62 Trend forecasting Optional modules include: Advanced footwear studies (optional) (30 Credit) Advanced fashion studies (optional) (30 Credit)
Standard entry to this course requires a minimum of 32 UCAS points from a recognised level 3 qualification in a related subject (i.e. two A2s at grade D, extended diploma PPP, or an Access to HE). You are expected to hold GCSE English and maths at grade 4/C or equivalent. We welcome applicants who do not match standard entry requirements but who can demonstrate the ability to study this subject at university level and who can evidence relevant experience. You will need a portfolio of your work. Following receipt of this work, an interview by phone will be conducted. A minimum IELTS score of 5.5 is required for non-native English speakers.
Units are assessed through the completion of either practical or written assignments that are set in a contemporary, work-related context. The final stages of the course involve the production of a professional portfolio. The work you undertake is negotiable and will reflect your individual strengths and career aspirations. Assessment is continuous throughout both years for each module. All assessment is summative and contributes to progression and achievement. Design assignments are coursework based, through sketchbooks, presentations, final garment production with accompanied evaluative evidence. Extended writing skills are assessed in contextual studies in addition to the creation of a personal fashion blog. An assessment submission schedule is issued when the course commences. Upon successful completion, HND students are awarded either pass, merit, or distinction.
Educational trips are not compulsory but encouraged as part of your experience. Previous students have paid up to £450 for an overseas trip (Previous excursions include Paris, Milan and London) You should expect to spend approximately £100 per year on art materials and printing costs for the presentation of work as part of your portfolio.
Applications to our full-time undergraduate courses made through UCAS at ucas.com using the course code WJ24, institution code L36. If you haven’t started a UCAS application yet, and only want to apply to Leicester College, you can apply directly to us using our direct application form via the College Website and we will process a UCAS application on your behalf. Due to the nature of this programme, you may also be invited to attend an interview, or where necessary, other means of interview (i.e. telephone, web-based, Microsoft Teams) can be arranged. You may also be asked to submit a portfolio of work.
Course Overview
Course Code
P00299
Start Date
22/09/2025
Study Hours
Full Time
Duration
2 years
Campus
St Margaret's Campus
Level
Level 5