Reply from Central Saint Martins

Dear Tiana

Thank you for contacting Central Saint Martins. You will first need to complete a one year Foundation Diploma in Art & Design after High School / A-levels / BTEC. We do not accept application to the BA Fashion course with only A-levels / BTEC qualifications. The Foundation course will develop your fashion skills, fashion portfolio and prepare you for a specific pathway on BA Fashion. The Foundation course is a set entry requirement.  

Ideally you need to have at least a minimum of one main art or design related subject and a portfolio when applying to the Foundation course. 

The Foundation Diploma in Art and Design at CSM offers six curriculum areas, each offering a range of pathway options. You need to apply to one of the following curriculum areas. The curriculum areas and their pathway options are: 

Diagnostic Studies 

Fashion, Textiles and Styling 

o Textiles 

o Fashion 

o Styling for Fashion & Textiles pathway 

Fine Art 

o Painting 

o Sculpture 

o Video and Photography 

o Fine Art Practice 

Graphic and Communication Design 

o Graphic Design 

o Graphics/Illustration 

o Graphics/Photography 

Performance Design and Practice 

Three Dimensional Design and Architecture 

o 3D Design 

o Fashion Jewellery and Accessories 

o Jewellery 

o Architecture and Spatial Design 

You can apply from mid October to the end of January each year, it is a direct application to CSM. Portfolio reviews will be after the application deadline and are from February to March each year. Please visit the links below for all the relevant information on this course, including the structure of the course, portfolio advise etc. 

http://www.arts.ac.uk/media/arts/colleges/csm/courses/foundation-diploma-in-art-and-design/documents/Foundation-Diploma-in-Art-and-Design-course-info_FINALv2.pdf 

http://www.arts.ac.uk/csm/courses/foundation/foundation-diploma-in-art-and-design/ 

Reply from Westminster

Dear Tiana

Thank you for emailing the University of Westminster. To meet the entry requirements of this course you will need to attain DDM in your Edexcel BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma. If you obtain work experience within the fashion sector could increase the strength of your application. We also offer Fashion Buying Management BA and  also Fashion Merchandise Management BA courses in addition to Fashion Design BA, which may be of interest to you. Our Fashion courses are very popular and in particular if you wish to apply for Fashion Design BA you should aim to submit your application by January 2015, for our September 2015 intake. The admissions officer for this course has been copied into this email and she will provide you with further information about the portfolio requirements for this course.

Your personal statement should explain your reasons for applying, your motivations, any relevant work experience and your future aspirations. For further information about student accommodation please contactstudentaccommodation@westminster.ac.uk
 If you are shortlisted in your application you will be asked to send 6 A4 pages of your portfolio along with a questionnaire about your knowledge and interest in Fashion Design. If your portfolio is considered suitable you will then  be invited for an interview.

We hold open days in the Autumn term for the Fashion Design course. If you can attend one it would be beneficial. The dates have not yet been confirmed but please see our website over the summer for updates.

Reply from London College of Fashion

Dear Tiana,

Thank you for your email.

In answer to your questions:

1. for a BTEC national diploma you would need a Merit overall as a condition to get into the course and you would not need to do a foundation year.
2. Applications numbers and targets vary every year. We usually receive around 700 to 900 applications for 50 places.
3. For this course you need a portfolio of work. Every year the level and quality of applications is different so it is not possible for me to say how could you increase your chances.
4. If you would not be accepted to the course that you want to do, if your portfolio of work is good the course team may refer it for consideration to other courses within LCF  that they think you may be suitable for.
5.For information on scholarships,  bursaries and loans please visit:http://www.arts.ac.uk/study-at-ual/scholarships-bursaries-and-loans/
6. It would be your responsibility to find accommodation and it is not guaranteed you would get a place in the university's halls of residence. http://www.arts.ac.uk/study-at-ual/accommodation/halls-of-residence/
7. That you are suitable for the course.
8. the deadline to apply is 15 January. We do not look at late applications.
9. It depends of the type of materials you use. I cannot confirm a figure.
10. 11. 12. Please visit http://www.arts.ac.uk/fashion/courses/undergraduate/ba-fashion-design-technology-womenswear/

I would recommend you to book a place in one of the LCF open days as it is a great opportunity to visit the University, meet staff and students and gain in-depth information on courses, fees, teaching and student life.

You can book yourself a place on the website: http://ual.force.com/eventpage?college=London+College+of+Fashion%3B&pg=1&types=Open+Day

Best wishes,

Bea

Reply from Paris College of Art

Thank you for your interest in Paris College of Art! I apologize for the delay in getting back to you, I was out of the office and am just catching up on my email! I would be happy to  answer your questions.

1) As we are an American university, we operate on a credit-based system. The first year of our program is at the undergraduate level (rather than preparatory level) so students need university-level credits to transfer out of Foundation.
2) Our school is very small (around 200 students) and our application numbers and acceptance rate fluctuates widely per year. We admit students based on their qualifications and talent, rather than a specific quota.
3)Craft your application carefully and prepare the best portfolio and personal essay that you can-make sure that clearly answers the prompt. Submit a thoughtful portfolio that shows both your creative potential and your technical skills, and highlights your best work in any media.
4) If your application is not accepted, you can be invited to reapply for another program, yes, depending on your interests and your profile.
5)Yes! We offer financial assistance based on both need and merit that can cover up to half the cost of tuition.
6)Students secure their own housing, working with the help of the student life  office and can choose from student residences, individual apartments, flatshares or homestays.
7)Your personal statement should be wel-written and answer the prompt and clearly state why you specifically want to study at Paris College of Art.
8)Yes! Getting your application in by the priority deadline assures that you will receive priority consideration.
9) It depends on your course schedule--some costs, such as printing, are covered by the school, but other material costs will vary per class and per project.
10)Put together your best and most daring work; show expressive work and have something to say about each piece; think about the order and narrative structure of your portfolio
11) Just be yourself! We are assessing motivation and fit more than anything else. Be prepared to speak about your academic history, your goals, and your portfolio and work in depth.
12) This is a big question--PCA is a truly unique institution: we combine academic rigor with a hands-on, people-centered approach in a very international environment. Our students and teachers come from over 40 countries, creating a very diverse and stimulating creative environment. We are closely connected to the art and design industry in Paris, and students begin interning and collaborating on company based projects from their first year. By graduation, students have developed a list of experience and contacts that enables them to launch creative careers in Paris and around the world.

Hope this helps! Looking forward to hearing from you.

All the best,
Sadie