Bachelor of Fashion (Design)
Quick facts
Student type:
Quick facts
-
Entry score
-
Duration
Full-time 3 years -
Location
Brunswick -
Fees
Next intake
February, JulyEntry score
Range of criteria
Duration
Full-time 3 yearsLocation
BrunswickFees
AU$37,440 (2021 annual)
Next intake
February
Overview
In this practical and creative degree, you'll be exposed to different areas of design and design methods, you'll refine your practice, and you'll learn to apply your skills to garments, communication material, artefacts, and more.
Covering diverse and contemporary global practice, you’ll learn about commercial, niche, luxury and emerging markets, and cross-disciplinary areas of practice. You will also be able to select a minor specialisation in textile design, enterprise or sustainable innovation, allowing you to customise your studies according to your interests and career goals.
As a student, you’ll be encouraged to create ethical design propositions and use cross-disciplinary strategies to drive global and competitive practice. As a graduate, you will have comprehensive knowledge in fashion design, preparing you for a wide range of existing and new industry contexts, jobs of the future, or further study.
RMIT students and graduates receive national design awards, scholarships, and invitations to participate in national and international showcases, events and exhibitions, including:
- Virgin Australia Melbourne Fashion Festival (VAMFF) National Graduate Showcase
- Melbourne Fashion Week (M/FW) Student Collections Runway
- Graduate Fashion Week (GFW) London International Catwalk
- iD Dunedin Emerging Designer Award
- Design Institute of Australia (DIA) Graduate of the Year Award (GOTYA)
The RMIT School of Fashion and Textiles is globally recognised, and ranked among the Business of Fashion’s The Best Fashion Schools in the World, Undergraduate Fashion Design Programs in 2019.
Details
As a student of fashion design, you'll be taught by experts within a creative community of peers and likeminded practitioners. You will learn about the skills and techniques involved in fashion garments and accessories, products, artefacts, materials, communication, and experiences for the body.
Our graduates create independent and niche practices, work in leading contemporary brands, and go on to establish independent and collaborative and research practices and enterprises.
Year 1 orientation, World Onesie Making Day.
In this degree, you will learn through studio practice in a range of practical, theoretical and technical classes, engineered to build your skills and knowledge in fashion design.
With a focus on industry, related fields and emerging markets, RMIT is known for producing well-regarded and unique fashion design practitioners.
Throughout your studies, you will work directly with industry and external partners, with an emphasis on sustainable and ethical design. You will refine your portfolio and communication skills to best demonstrate fashion design knowledge, capability and thinking to industry.
You will learn through workshops, guest seminars and industry feedback on your work.
In addition to completing core foundational studies, you can choose to specialise in one or more areas to complement your knowledge and skills through developing a minor in textile design, sustainable innovation or fashion enterprise.
Your teachers are industry practitioners, and ensure the course maintains strong links with design sectors and communities. You will collaborate with industry and community partners in a range of activities, including projects, placements, virtual studios and case studies that ensure you are immersed in current industry practices, techniques and strategies.
Recent industry partnered projects include:
- Outland Denim
- Melbourne & Olympic Park Trust
- Cheap Monday
- Diesel
- Kevin Murphy
Students and graduates have undertaken placements and/or design roles in a range of enterprises, including luxury brands like Louis Vuitton, Alexander McQueen and The Row, contemporary brands including H&M, Vetements and Acne, and local powerhouses like Zimmermann, Country Road Group, and Dion Lee.
Many alumni who have gone on to establish independent design practices remain connected with RMIT. These practices include:
- PAM
- Toni Maticevski
- Verner
- Dress Up
- Nixi Killick
The School’s Industry Advisory Groups consists of high-profile industry representatives from across the sector. The advisory group ensures that the degree's links with industry standards and practices remain current and valid.
The School has strong relationships across a range of disciplines and community partners. You will engage with industry in a variety of different ways, work with industry partners, and explore different discipline context and markets for your practice.
Your Work Integrated Learning (WIL) activity and engagement also occurs through the academic and professional staff members who are practitioners in the field. International and local guests will also present, critique and give feedback on your work, as well as lead real-world project briefs that you will work on.
You will have opportunities to undertake study tours or exchange programs outside Australia.
RMIT supports students to undertake global work, exchange and study experiences with over 165 partner universities worldwide.
- Dr Ricarda Bigolin, Associate Dean, Fashion and Textile Design
- Dr Denise Sprynskyj, Program Manager
Choose a program structure
| Title | Location | Duration | Plan code | CRICOS | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor of Fashion (Design) | Brunswick Campus |
3 years full time
|
3 years full time
|
BP328 | 0100709 |
Choose a program structure
Program code: BP328
Career
As a graduate of this degree, you’ll be qualified for a range of professional roles in fashion and design related industries.
There are roles available across commercial practice, niche fashion areas, emerging design markets, contemporary luxury industries, and cross disciplinary subsectors of the fashion world.
This qualification can lead to careers including:
- fashion, accessories, costume, material or colour designer
- digital content creator
- creative pattern-maker
- creative director
- stylist
- fashion strategist
- product developer
- brand strategist
- communications manager
- fashion events producer
Admissions
You must have successfully completed an Australian Year 12 (or equivalent qualification).
Prerequisites
Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) units 3 and 4: a study score of at least 30 in English (EAL) or at least 25 in English other than EAL, or equivalent studies.
Rankings and adjustment factors
Entry to this program is competitive. Applicants are ranked and selected in order of merit based on the assessment of their selection task.
Selection task
Semester 1, 2021
You must complete and submit the Fashion Design selection task.
- VTAC applicants must register and submit the selection task.
- All tasks must be submitted by the dates noted below for each VTAC round:
- Early round (Non year 12 only): 30 September 2020
- Main round (All applicants): 6 November 2020
- All subsequent rounds (if places are available): 12 February 2021
- All tasks must be submitted by the dates noted below for each VTAC round:
- RMIT current or recent students please click the apply button to submit your direct application. The link to submit your selection task will appear on the applicant dashboard after you have submitted your application.
- All tasks must be submitted by 26 February 2021. Tasks will be assessed in the order they are received until this date unless places are filled prior.
- All tasks must be submitted by 26 February 2021. Tasks will be assessed in the order they are received until this date unless places are filled prior.
If further information is needed to make a selection decision, you will be invited via email to attend an interview.
Advisory letters will be sent in late October (Early round) and mid December (Main round).
The selection task requires you to:
- briefly outline your career plans and explain how the Bachelor of Fashion (Design) will help you to achieve them (Maximum 100 words)
- outline how you believe your current skills and capabilities and/or past experience will support you in this fashion program (Maximum 100 words)
- identify a fashion designer/brand that inspires you and explain why (Maximum 100 words)
- submit a folio:
- Your folio must comprise 6 - 10 pages of your work demonstrating your interests and creative and conceptual thinking. It should reflect your design, problem solving and technical skills in some or all of the following:
- Research for design ideas
- Sketching, drawing
- Exploration of materials
- Exploration of methods of making design objects
- Your folio should include evidence of how ideas were developed as well as finished work. Please include work that shows how you document your ideas and creative thinking and any work that demonstrates your potential to follow a design process. You can include work from secondary school, previous study and personal or work-related design experience (including sketchbooks), and the work can come from a variety of discipline areas (e.g. fashion, design, art, photography).
- Your folio should be a single PDF (maximum size 10MB). Under each page, please provide a brief explanation, including the purpose and background of the work (maximum 50 words). Please ensure to include the page number, your full name and your VTAC ID/application number on each page.
- Alternatively, you can provide a URL to your folio. Please provide the username and/or password (if applicable). All images must be contained and visible on one webpage. Provide a brief explanation for each image, including the purpose and background of the work (maximum 50 words).
- Your folio must comprise 6 - 10 pages of your work demonstrating your interests and creative and conceptual thinking. It should reflect your design, problem solving and technical skills in some or all of the following:
Selection criteria by applicant type
Please select the highest level of education you have or will be completing in order to find out the selection criteria that applies to you:
Adjustment factors available only to applicants currently studying Year 12
School Network Access Program (SNAP)
- The SNAP access scheme is designed to increase tertiary participation by giving priority access to RMIT diploma and degree programs to eligible applicants currently studying Year 12 at a SNAP partner school.
Adjustment factors available only to applicants currently studying Year 12 or whose highest qualification is a completed Year 12.
Equity access schemes
- Equity access schemes take into account personal information and location, difficult circumstances, disadvantaged financial background and disability or medical condition that may have impacted on an applicant’s most recent academic performance.
- This program has been recognised as being under-represented by female applicants. Additional adjustment factors may apply to those applying to category 1 of the Special Entry Access Scheme or RMIT access application.
- Find out more about the eligibility requirements for each Special Entry Access Scheme and RMIT access categories.
- If you are applying through VTAC you should apply for the Special Entry Access Scheme.
- If you are applying directly to RMIT you should apply for RMIT Access. The system will prompt you to do this during your application.
Elite Athlete Program
- The RMIT Elite Athlete Program supports eligible elite and emerging athletes to achieve sporting and academic excellence, allowing students to balance the demands of both their studies and their athletic responsibilities.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
- The Indigenous Access Program supports your application to RMIT through an informal interview process where you will receive help from the Ngarara Willim Centre. Additional consideration will be given if you have relevant life, work, education or training experience.
Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT)
You may satisfy the academic requirements by completing the STAT multiple choice.
If you are applying to RMIT as an applicant with vocational education training, you may sit the STAT multiple choice if you:
are 19 years of age or over as of 1 January in the year in which you will start your studies and
have not been enrolled in secondary studies for at least two years and
have no prior secondary school (Year 12), VET studies, HE studies or relevant work experience that can be considered for entry, or these do not meet the minimum academic requirements for the program
STAT results are valid for two years prior to the commencement of study and can be used to meet Year 12 English prerequisites. You are still required to meet all other program prerequisites or equivalents.
Learn more about RMIT STAT results including minimum STAT scores required to meet prerequisites.
You may be eligible for the following adjustment factors:
Equity access schemes
- Equity access schemes take into account personal information and location, difficult circumstances, disadvantaged financial background and disability or medical condition that may have impacted on an applicant’s most recent academic performance.
- Find out more about the eligibility requirements for each Special Entry Access Scheme and RMIT access categories.
- If you are applying through VTAC you should apply for the Special Entry Access Scheme.
- If you are applying directly to RMIT you should apply for RMIT Access. The system will prompt you to do this during your application.
Elite Athlete Program
- The RMIT Elite Athlete Program supports eligible elite and emerging athletes to achieve sporting and academic excellence, allowing students to balance the demands of both their studies and their athletic responsibilities.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
- The Indigenous Access Program supports your application to RMIT through an informal interview process where you will receive help from the Ngarara Willim Centre. Additional consideration will be given if you have relevant life, work, education or training experience.
Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT)
You may satisfy the academic requirements by completing the STAT multiple choice. If you are applying to RMIT as an applicant with higher education study, you may sit the STAT multiple choice if you:
are 19 years of age or over as of 1 January in the year in which you will start your studies and
have not been enrolled in secondary studies for at least two years and
have no prior secondary school (Year 12), VET studies, HE studies or relevant work experience that can be considered for entry, or these do not meet the minimum academic requirements for the program
STAT results are valid for two years prior to the commencement of study and can be used to meet Year 12 English prerequisites. You are still required to meet all other program prerequisites or equivalents.
Learn more about RMIT STAT results including minimum STAT scores required to meet prerequisites.
You may be eligible for the following adjustment factors:
Equity access schemes
- Equity access schemes take into account personal information and location, difficult circumstances, disadvantaged financial background and disability or medical condition that may have impacted on an applicant’s most recent academic performance.
- Find out more about the eligibility requirements for each Special Entry Access Scheme and RMIT access categories.
- If you are applying through VTAC you should apply for the Special Entry Access Scheme.
- If you are applying directly to RMIT you should apply for RMIT Access. The system will prompt you to do this during your application.
Elite Athlete Program
- The RMIT Elite Athlete Program supports eligible elite and emerging athletes to achieve sporting and academic excellence, allowing students to balance the demands of both their studies and their athletic responsibilities.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
- The Indigenous Access Program supports your application to RMIT through an informal interview process where you will receive help from the Ngarara Willim Centre. Additional consideration will be given if you have relevant life, work, education or training experience.
Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT)
You may satisfy the academic requirements by completing the STAT multiple choice. If you are applying to RMIT as an applicant with work or life experience, you may sit the STAT multiple choice if you:
are 19 years of age or over as of 1 January in the year in which you will start your studies and
have not been enrolled in secondary studies for at least two years and
have no prior secondary school (Year 12), VET studies, HE studies or relevant work experience that can be considered for entry, or these do not meet the minimum academic requirements for the program
STAT results are valid for two years prior to the commencement of study and can be used to meet Year 12 English prerequisites. You are still required to meet all other program prerequisites or equivalents.
Learn more about RMIT STAT results including minimum STAT scores required to meet prerequisites.
You may be eligible for the following adjustment factors:
Equity access schemes
- Equity access schemes take into account personal information and location, difficult circumstances, disadvantaged financial background and disability or medical condition that may have impacted on an applicant’s most recent academic performance.
- Find out more about the eligibility requirements for each Special Entry Access Scheme and RMIT access categories.
- If you are applying through VTAC you should apply for the Special Entry Access Scheme.
- If you are applying directly to RMIT you should apply for RMIT Access. The system will prompt you to do this during your application.
Elite Athlete Program
- The RMIT Elite Athlete Program supports eligible elite and emerging athletes to achieve sporting and academic excellence, allowing students to balance the demands of both their studies and their athletic responsibilities.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
- The Indigenous Access Program supports your application to RMIT through an informal interview process where you will receive help from the Ngarara Willim Centre. Additional consideration will be given if you have relevant life, work, education or training experience.
Additional information
*ATAR refers to the lowest selection rank to which an offer was made (including consideration of any adjustments) for current and recent Year 12 applicants.
RMIT is committed to providing transparency to the admissions process. In line with this commitment, we provide you with information that will help in making informed choices about your undergraduate study options. Find out more about RMIT’s commitment to admissions transparency.
You must have successfully completed an Australian Year 12 (or equivalent senior secondary school qualification) with a minimum 65% average (check calculator below).
Equivalent qualifications may also include completion of the RMIT Foundation Studies program or a recognised post-secondary diploma in the relevant discipline with the required grades.
Meeting the minimum academic requirements does not guarantee entry. Your application will still need to be assessed and accepted.
You must complete a pre-selection kit (PDF 117kb) which includes a folio and personal statement.
Folio: You must supply evidence of your creativity in the form of a folio that contains a variety of your personal work in art, design or media relevant to the program/s you are applying for. The folio should demonstrate your interests and creative thinking as well as your conceptual, design, problem solving and technical skills. You should include evidence of how ideas were developed as well as finished works.
Examples of work to include in your folio are drawings, paintings, graphic designs, photographs, digital images, models, sculpture, video, scripting, short stories, and/or 2D and 3D Flash animation.
We recommend you explain each work to help the Selection Officer understand the purpose and background of that work.
Folios should be submitted electronically with files in PDF, JPEG, SWF, DCR or QuickTime format suitable to be read on Mac OSX or later, unless otherwise specified. Each electronic file should be no larger than 10MB.
You must present your folio at an assessment session (if you are living outside Melbourne, this can be conducted via email, phone or video call).
To study this program you will need to complete one of the following English proficiency tests:
- IELTS (Academic): minimum overall band of 6.5 (with no individual band below 6.0)
- TOEFL (Internet Based Test - IBT): minimum overall score of 79 (with minimum of 13 in Reading, 12 in Listening, 18 in Speaking and 21 in Writing)
- Pearson Test of English (Academic) (PTE (A)): minimum score of 58 (with no communication band less than 50)
- Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE): minimum of 176 with no less than 169 in any component.
For detailed information on English language requirements and other proficiency tests recognised by RMIT, visit English language requirements and equivalency information.
Don't meet the English language test scores? Complete an English for Academic Purposes (EAP) Advanced Plus Certificate at RMIT English Worldwide.
Pathways
Even though there are no formal pathways into this course, there are often other ways you can gain entry.
Depending on the course, this may include completing a certificate, diploma, advanced diploma or associate degree or undertaking recognised professional experience.
For more information, use our Pathways finder or contact Study@RMIT to discuss your options.
Credit and recognition of prior learning
Credit, recognition of prior learning, professional experience and accreditation from a professional body can reduce the duration of your study by acknowledging your earlier, relevant experience. Find out if you might be eligible.
If you successfully complete the Bachelor of Fashion (Design) with an overall Grade Point Average (GPA) of at least 3.0 out of 4.0, you will be guaranteed a place in the Bachelor of Fashion (Design) (Honours). If your GPA is less than 3.0 you may apply for entry and will be assessed on merit based on GPA and the selection task including folio.
If you successfully complete the Bachelor of Fashion (Design) with an overall Grade Point Average (GPA) of at least 3.0 out of 4.0 you will be guaranteed a place in the MC246 Master of Fashion (Design). If your GPA is less than 3.0 you may apply for entry and will be assessed on merit based on GPA and the selection task including folio.
When you successfully complete this program, you are guaranteed entry into the following RMIT programs:
- Bachelor of Fashion (Design) (Honours) - when you achieve a minimum GPA of 2.0 (out of 4.0) and a minimum GPA of 3.0 (out of 4.0) in your final year. If you achieve a minimum overall GPA of 2.0 (out of 4.0) and a GPA below 3.0 (out of 4.0) in your final year, you may still apply with submission of a selection task (applicant statement and folio). Assessment is on a case-by-case basis.
- Master of Fashion (Design) - when you achieve a minimum GPA of 3.0 (out of 4.0). If you achieve a GPA between 2.0 - 2.9 (out of 4.0) and a minimum GPA 3.0 (out of 4.0) in your final year, you may still apply with submission of a selection task (applicant statement and folio). Assessment is on a case-by-case basis.
Alternatively, you may be eligible for entry into another RMIT honours or postgraduate program.
Fees
2021 indicative fees
In 2021, the annual student contribution amount (tuition fee) you will pay for a standard year of full-time study is between AU$3,700 to AU$14,500*.
Additional expenses
- Student services and amenities fee (SSAF): AU$313 maximum fee for 2021.
- Other items related to your program, including field trips, textbooks and equipment.
Annual fee adjustment
Amounts quoted are indicative fees per annum, and are based on a standard year of full-time study (96 credit points). A proportionate fee applies for more or less than the full-time study load.
Fees are adjusted on an annual basis and these fees should only be used as a guide.
Defer your payment
You may be eligible to apply for a HECS-HELP loan, which can be used to defer payment of up to the full amount of your student contribution fees. You may also be eligible to apply to defer payment of your SSAF through the SA-HELP loan scheme.
Learn more about fees for undergraduate study.
Paying your fees and applying for refunds
For information on how to pay your fees or how to apply for a refund, please see Paying your fees and applying for refunds.
All undergraduate and honours degrees have Commonwealth supported places (CSP) available.
In a CSP, your tuition fees are subsidised by the Australian Government. Your share of the fee (student contribution) is set each year by the Australian Government and is determined by the discipline areas (bands) of the courses in which you enrol, not the overall program.
How much can I expect to pay for my Commonwealth supported place?
The Australian Government has announced amendments to university funding and student contribution fees under its Job-ready Graduates Package.
The fees in the table below apply to students commencing their program in 2021 and are subject to the passage of legislation. Fees for continuing students are available at fees for Commonwealth supported students.
Each course (subject) falls into a band. The band determines the student contribution amount for the course.
Amounts listed in the table below are based on a standard, full-time study load (96 credit points per year) with all courses in the same band. A proportionate fee applies for more or less than the full-time study load or for enrolment in courses (subjects) from a combination of bands.
You can learn how to calculate your exact tuition fees for units from different bands at fees for Commonwealth supported students.
Maximum student contribution amount for Commonwealth supported places in 2021
Student contribution band by course (subject) |
Maximum annual student contribution amount in 2021 |
Agriculture, english, languages, mathematics, nursing, postgraduate clinical psychology, teaching |
$3,700 per standard year $462 per standard (12 credit point) course |
Architecture, creative arts, engineering, environmental studies, health, information technology, science |
$7,700 per standard year |
Dental, medical and veterinary science |
$11,300 per standard year |
Arts, commerce, communications, economics, humanities (excluding languages), law, management |
$14,500 per standard year |
HECS-HELP Loans
The Australian Government provides financial assistance via the HECS-HELP loan scheme, which allows eligible students (such as Australian citizens or holders of an Australian permanent humanitarian visa) to defer payment of up to the full amount of their student contribution.
SA-HELP Loans
You may be eligible to apply to defer payment of the Student services and amenities fee (SSAF) through the SA-HELP loan scheme. If you use SA-HELP, the amount will be added to your accumulated HELP debt.
How does a HELP loan work?
If your FEE-HELP and/or SA-HELP loan application is successful, the Australian Government will pay RMIT, on your behalf, up to 100% of your fees. This amount will become part of your accumulated HELP debt.
You only start repaying your accumulated HELP debt to the Australian Government once you earn above the minimum income threshold for repayment, which is set each year by the Australian Government (this also applies if you are still studying). The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) will calculate your compulsory repayment for the year and include this on your income tax notice.
For more information about loan repayment options see Commonwealth assistance (HELP loans) or Study Assist.
In addition to tuition fees, you will be charged an annual student services and amenities fee (SSAF), which is used to maintain and enhance services and amenities that improve your experience as an RMIT student.
The SSAF is calculated based on your enrolment load and the maximum fee for 2021 is $313.
For more information about calculating your actual SSAF see Paying SSAF.
You may also be required to purchase other items related to your program, including field trips, textbooks and equipment. These additional fees and expenses vary from program to program.
The annual tuition fee for 2021 is AU$37,440.
The total indicative tuition fee for 2021 commencement is AU$120,000.
In addition to tuition fees you also need to pay for:
- Student services and amenities fee (SSAF) in each calendar year.
- Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) - Student visa holders must have cover for the total duration of their visa.
- Some programs incur additional expenses.
You also need to account for your living expenses. Estimate the cost of living in Melbourne.
Applying for refunds
Find information on how to apply for a refund as a continuing international student.
Looking for answers or more general infomation?
For frequently asked questions or how to find more information regarding applications and enrolments, fees, student support services, university policies and more, please visit our Frequently Asked Questions.