7 fashion degrees you might not have heard of

Sponsored by London College of Fashion, UAL 

Across multiple industries, technological advances are responsible for a rapid pace of evolution which is increasing the demand from employers for graduates with a specialised skillset. The fashion industry is no different, with institutions responding by offering a range of courses that push the boundaries of a career in fashion. 

To learn more about how these specialist programmes are equipping fashion graduates with sought-after skills, improving their employability in a highly competitive industry, we spoke to London College of Fashion, UAL about the breadth of fashion degrees they offer to students.

Below are seven of our favourites, representing the many ways to pursue a career in fashion and how today’s students can combine their love of fashion with other interests, from science to psychology. 

BA (Hons) Critical Practice in Fashion Media 

The Critical Practice in Fashion Media course at London College of Fashion provides students with the opportunity to explore the world of fashion through the core skills of critical practice: storytelling and collaboration. 

Positioned as a course aiming to help solve the negative impact the fashion industry can have on our world, by enacting social change through networking and community outreach, this degree is ideal for anyone looking to work within visual communication, strategy, corporate social responsibility, education, policy or innovation. 

BA (Hons) Hair, Make-up and Prosthetics for Performance 

Image credit: BA (Hons) Hair, Make-up and Prosthetics for Performance, London College of Fashion, Julia Biay

Take one look at some of the unrecognisable physical transformations that have been rewarded with an Academy Award over the years and you’ll see exactly where this degree in Hair, Make-up and Prosthetics for Performance could take you. 

Graduates have gone on to work on billion-dollar movie franchises such as the Harry Potter films, for internationally acclaimed TV shows and award-winning theatre productions. LCF’s London location makes it ideally placed for students to gain work experience alongside the world’s best hair stylists, wig makers and prosthetics artists, at locations such as Pinewood Studios and the English National Opera. 

BA (Hons) Cordwainers Footwear 

Image credit: BA (Hons) Cordwainers Footwear, London College of Fashion, Seo Kyung An

Almost every major design company employs a cordwainer, a shoemaker who makes new shoes from new leather. This undergraduate course in Cordwainers Footwear therefore provides a unique employment opportunity, with no other footwear course in the world utilising cordwainers heritage within the curriculum. 

Learn how to make uniquely impressive shoes for global, visionary brands such as Kurt Geiger and Jimmy Choo, making use of London College of Fashion’s specialist facilities. 

BA (Hons) Cordwainers Fashion Bags and Accessories 

If shoes aren’t your thing, maybe this degree in Cordwainers Fashion Bags and Accessories is a better fit. Learn to research and develop designs from initial conception to a finished 3D prototype, while gaining the skills required to work as a product designer or developer. 

Undertake an optional placement year within this programme to apply your learnings in a real-world setting, enhancing your employability by offering valuable experience and contacts within the industry.  

BA (Hons) Fashion Sportswear 

Image credit: BA (Hons) Fashion Sportswear, London College of Fashion, Celia Cheung

Possibly one of the most interesting areas of growth within the fashion industry, a Fashion Sportswear degree will teach you how to design and produce activewear that’s both functional and fashionable. Learn the specific technical skills required for this area of fashion, which may not be covered by a more generalist degree. 

Undertake live projects set by industry, engaging with some of the key themes faced by the wider fashion world such as sustainability and inclusivity. Consider the impact of science, new technologies and cultural contexts influence the retail sector, collaborating with brands such as Adidas, Rapha and Musto. 

BSc (Hons) Psychology of Fashion 

No degree is a clearer articulation of the fact there’s more to fashion than design. Studying Psychology of Fashion applies psychological theories and concepts to the fashion industry, exploring how an evidence-based understanding of human behaviour can benefit the future evolution of fashion. 

The first and only undergraduate programme in applied psychology in fashion, this degree also provides you with membership of the British Psychological Society, enabling you to connect with psychology professionals at regular networking events, and other psychology students through their online platform. 

MSc Cosmetic Science 

Image credit: MSc Cosmetic Science laboratory, London College of Fashion

Including undergraduate and postgraduate education within a single degree, this Cosmetic Science course is aimed at students pursuing a career in the cosmetic and personal care industries. Learn about the scientific skills and knowledge which are at the heart of cosmetic science, enabling you to pursue a career within new product development, technical product management, regulatory affairs, product safety and more. 

Graduates have gone on to work for cosmetic and toiletry brands such as Procter and Gamble, The Body Shop and Boots.  

These seven degrees demonstrate just a few of the diverse pathways a career in fashion can offer. As career roles become more specialised across all industries, there’s real merit in considering specialised education where acquired skills can be easily transferred to wider roles and pursuits.  

Lead image: BA (Hons) Fashion Sportswear, London College of Fashion, Prima Jiraruangkiat