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The world of fashion and textiles is a thriving global industry. From designers and product developers, to buyers and merchandisers, a degree in fashion has the scope to turn your passion into a rewarding and successful career.
Whether you dream of high-end fashion or want to make your mark on the high street, as a fashion graduate, a host of exciting opportunities await.
In this article we uncover the top universities in the UK to kickstart a successful career in fashion design.
Table of Contents
Why Study Fashion at Fashion Design Universities in the UK?
3. Central Saint Martins (University of Arts London)
6. University for the Creative Arts
7. University of Central Lancashire
8. Manchester Metropolitan University (Manchester Met)
10. London College of Fashion (University of Arts London)
Why Study at Fashion Design Universities in the UK?
When it comes to fashion design, the UK has produced some of the most revered fashion designers, and fashion brands, in the world. From Vivienne Westwood, Stella McCartney and Alexander McQueen, to Burberry, Barbour and Whistles, the list is extensive, and growing. This, along with its prestigious design institutes and universities, makes the UK an ideal destination for international students seeking advanced skills in fashion design.
From renowned London-based institutions like Central Saint Martins and the London College of Fashion, to exceptional regional universities such as Loughborough University and Glasgow School of Art, there are a host of universities offering a range of excellent programmes in fashion, meaning you’ll be sure to find one that is tailored to your interests. Studying in the UK will help you join the ranks of the fashion elite and make your mark in this exciting field.
1. Loughborough University
The Guardian Good University Guide currently ranks Loughborough 1st in the UK for Fashion and Textiles, and it is also ranked 3rd in the UK for Art and Design by the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025 and the Complete University Guide in 2025.
Image source: Loughborough University
Led by a dedicated team of industry specialists and academics, the Fashion Design and Technology BA at Loughborough is an industry-focused course, and the university’s employer connections feed directly into teaching and learning activities. The university benefits from state-of-the-art equipment which enables students to investigate the processes involved with textiles and garment manufacturing.
Image source: Yuangeng Zhang on Shutterstock
Location
Loughborough, Leicestershire (East Midlands of England)
Tuition and fees
Tuition and fees for Loughborough University’s BA in Fashion Design and Technology for 2025-26 are:
- UK: £9,535
- International: £23,950
2.Bucks New University
The Guardian Good University Guide currently ranks Bucks New University 13th in the UK for Fashion and Textiles. Just 30 minutes by train from London, students on the BA (Hons) degree in Fashion Design at the university have easy access to exhibitions and shows in one of the world’s fashion capitals.
Image source: Bucks New University
The University’s Fashion and Textile Studios is one of the best-equipped workshops in the country, offering industry-standard studios, technical machines and high-quality equipment.
Image source: Shutterstock
Location
High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire (Central England)
Tuition and fees
Tuition and fees for the 2025-26 academic year at Buckinghamshire University are:
- UK: £9,535 per year
- International: £15,150 per year
3. Central Saint Martins - (University of Arts, London)
Central Saint Martins is one of six colleges that make up the University of the Arts London (UAL). UAL is currently ranked second in the world for Art and Design (QS World University rankings 2024) and the Guardian University Guide 2025 ranks UAL 6th in the United Kingdom for Fashion and Textiles.
The BA Fashion Design programme at Central Saint Martins is known to be one of the most exclusive - and therefore competitive - fashion courses in the world.
Image source: Central Saint Martins
Some of the college’s most famous alumni include fashion designers Alexander McQueen, Christopher Kane, and Stella McCartney. Over half of the designers showing at London Fashion Week are Central Saint Martins graduates.
Central Saint Martin offers a number of Bachelor’s degrees in Fashion Design, including Fashion Design: Print, Fashion Design: Menswear, Fashion Design: Womenswear, Fashion Design: Knitwear, Fashion Design: Communication.
Image source: Shutterstock
Location
London, England
Tuition and fees
2025-26 fees haven't been confirmed yet but annual tuition and fees for Central Saint Martins for 2024-25 are:
- UK: £9,250
- International: £28,570
4. University of Edinburgh
The Guardian Good University Guide currently ranks the University of Edinburgh 3rd in the UK for Fashion and Textiles.
Image source: University of Edinburgh
The Edinburgh College of Art (ECA) is known for providing a cutting-edge fashion education that fosters personal creative freedom and design innovation, and for offering extensive tutor time.
The BA in Fashion takes place at the Edinburgh College of Art's Lauriston Place campus. Its array of outstanding technical facilities include industrial sewing machines and irons, pattern cutting workrooms, knitwear and embroidery machinery and laser cutting facilities.
Students have opportunities to participate in competitions and live briefs set by very established names in the fashion industry, including H&M, Dr Martens, Mackintosh, Sophie Halette.
Graduates of ECA have gone on to work for top design brands, including Balenciaga, H&M, Reiss, Cos, Stella McCartney, Alexander McQueen and Gucci.
Image source: Shutterstock
Location
Edinburgh, Scotland
Tuition and fees
Annual tuition and fees for University of Edinburgh for 2025-26 are:
- Scotland: £1,820
- Rest of UK: still need to be agreed
- International: £36,800
5. Kingston University
Kingston University’s Fashion BA (Hons) degree was ranked 4th for Fashion in The Guardian University Guide league table 2025 and was one of just a few institutions globally to be awarded four badges of excellence by the Business of Fashion (for Best Overall, Best in Global Influence, Best in Learning Experience and Best in Long-term Value).
Image source: Kingston University
Through the course, students develop their own signature style, experimenting across sketch work, 2D to 3D, knitwear and digital print in the university’s fashion design studios and workshops.
Fashion students benefit from strong industry links, and Kingston alumni have gained senior positions in global fashion companies including Burberry, Calvin Klein, Paul Smith, All Saints, and Alexander McQueen. Other graduates have set up their own labels including Sophie Hulme, Joshua Kane, and Charli Cohen.
Image Source: Brookgardener on Shutterstock
Location
Kingston, London
Tuition and fees
Annual tuition and fees for Kingston University for 2025-26 are:
- UK: £9,535
- International: Year 1 (2025/26): £19,500/ Year 2 (2026/27): £20,300/ Year 3 (2027/28): £21,100
6. University for the Creative Arts
The Guardian Good University Guide currently ranks the University for the Creative Arts 15th in the UK for Fashion and Textiles.
Image source: University for the Creative Arts
UCA’s fashion courses are run through the School of Fashion and Textiles at UCA Epsom. The school’s professional fashion and textiles facilities are being significantly upgraded, with a predicted total investment of £15m.
Fashion students at UCA have the chance to learn from academic and industry experts with opportunities to take part in competitions and live briefs that are designed to help them build valuable professional links.
Degree courses in Fashion include Fashion Design (BA Hons), Fashion Atelier & Tailoring BA (Hons), Fashion Photography BA (Hons) Fashion Image & Styling BA (Hons). There is also a pioneering MA in Digital Fashion for postgraduate students, offering the chance to design entirely virtual garments. It is the first of its kind in the world.
Location
Kent and Surrey, South East England (Fashion courses are at the Epsom, Surrey campus)
Tuition and fees
Annual tuition and fees for UCA for 2025-26 are:
- UK and EU: £9,535
- International: £17,500
7. University of Central Lancashire
The Guardian Good University Guide currently ranks UCLan 9th in the UK for Fashion and Textiles.
On the University’s BA Hons degree in Fashion Design, you can choose to complete the course in 3 years, or undertake a work placement in the third year, making it 4 years in total.
Image source: UCLan
The programme provides students with the opportunity to develop their skills in design, illustration, marketing, and more, all while getting hands-on experience with industry-standard equipment and software. With a faculty of experienced professionals and a curriculum that balances theory and practical application,
Location
Preston, Lancashire (North West England)
Tuition and fees
Tuition and fees for 2025/26 at the University of Central Lancashire are:
- UK: £9,535 per year (and an additional £1,575 if the sandwich year option is taken)
- International: £17,325 per year
8. Manchester Metropolitan University
The Guardian Good University Guide currently ranks Manchester Met 10th in the UK for Fashion and Textiles.
Image source: Manchester Metropolitan University
The BA (Hons) Fashion programme at Manchester Met has an excellent reputation for producing fashion graduates who are creative, original, versatile and professional. The programme focuses on contemporary fashion design and encourages students to be creative and experimental while challenging the conventions of fashion and textile design practices.
The university’s wide network spans all corners of the globe, and includes placements, collaborations and live briefs from partner universities, workshops and design studios in China, India, Japan, Norway, Australia, and France.
Graduates have gone on to work as designers for companies such as Gieves and Hawkes, Roland Mouret, Dolce and Gabbana, Donna Karan, Abercrombie and Fitch, Reebok and Rodier Paris.
Location
Manchester, North West England
Tuition and fees
Annual tuition and fees for University of Manchester for 2025-26 are:
- UK: £9,535
- International: between £21,000
9. The Glasgow School of Art
The Glasgow School of Art is one of Europe's leading higher education institutions for the education and research in the visual creative disciplines. It is currently ranked 15th in the UK for Art and Design in the Times Good University Guide 2025 and 13th in QS World University rankings for Art and Design 2024.
Image source: Glasgow School of Art
Glasgow School of Art’s BA in Fashion Design is just one of more than 15 degree programmes offered at the School. The Department of Fashion and Textiles is home to international community of around 150 students at both undergraduate and postgraduate level.
The four-year course aims to ‘create highly specialised subject experts in an expert amongst experts environment' which values the interactive, synergetic and ever evolving nature of Fashion Design.
All GSA degree programmes are validated by the University of Glasgow, a member of the prestigious Russell Group and the Times & Sunday Times Good University Guide's Scottish University of the Year in 2024.
Current graduate destinations include: Diesel, Alberta Ferretti, Diane Von Furstenberg, Cath Kidston, Speedo, Urban Outfitters, Ted Baker, and All Saints,
Image source: Shutterstock
Location
Glasgow, Scotland
Tuition and fees
Annual tuition and fees for The Glasgow School of Arts for 2025-26 are:
- Scotland: £1,820
- Rest of UK: TBC
- International: £24,350
10. London College of Fashion
Like Central Saint Martins, the London College of Fashion is part of the University of Arts London and a key player is the London creative scene. Its new campus on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park is part of London’s new East Bank development, known as the UK’s newest cultural quarter for creativity, innovation and learning.
The Guardian University Guide currently ranks UAL 6th in the UK for Fashion and Textiles.
Image source: London College of Fashion (UAL)
The college has significant research facilities and prioritises innovation and industry partnerships through its fashion programmes. The college also has established global links, which means students have access to host of study abroad programmes and internships.
BA (Hons) degrees in fashion that are currently offered include: fashion design and development, bespoke tailoring, cordwainers footwear, fashion sportswear, creative direction for fashion, fashion buying and merchandising, fashion contour, womenswear, menswear, fashion imaging and illustration, fashion jewellery, fashion journalism, fashion marketing and content creation, pattern cutting, fashion photography, fashion styling, textiles, fashion management, psychology of fashion and fashion communication and PR.
Location
London, England
Tuition and fees
2025-26 fees haven't been confirmed yet but annual tuition and fees for Central Saint Martins for 2024-25 are:
- UK: £9,250
- International: £28,570
Other top UK fashion universities
There are many outstanding universities for fashion and fashion design in the UK, the ten detailed above being just a small selection. Other widely respected institutes that also offer fashion-related programmes (and which Kings Art and Design students have progressed to) include:
- UWE Bristol
- Nottingham Trent University
- University of Manchester
- University of Westminster
- University of Southampton
- Southampton Solent University
- Royal College of Art
- University of Leeds
- Leeds Arts University
- Arts University Bournemouth
- De Montfort University
Find out more about Kings alumni success
How Kings can help you study fashion design at a top UK university
At Kings, we offer a host of qualifications and programmes to prepare students for progression to study a fashion design course at university. Our schools offer students high quality dedicated art and design spaces, and expert teachers with range of artistic specialisms.
From traditional Art and Design A-levels to specific Art Foundation programmes with embedded Fashion Design pathways, we can cater for all needs and requirements.
Our most recently added Art and Design programmes, the UAL Level 3 and 4 Diplomas in Art and Design (offered in Oxford, London and Brighton), prepare students for progression this outstanding university and are recognised by the leading art schools in London and throughout the UK.
Find out more about our programmes here
Next steps
We hope that this article has helped you understand more about the best universities for Fashion Design and related subjects in the UK. You can find more detailed information about studying Fashion Design, and a career as a fashion designer in the Subjects/Career Guides section of the Kings website.
You can also find detailed profiles of the top UK universities.
If you would like receive more detailed information about the Kings and our programmes, please get in touch with us at enquiries@kingseducation.com.
