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De Montfort University · Undergraduate
BA (Hons) Contour Fashion Bachelor's degree at De Montfort University
BA (Hons) Contour Fashion at De Montfort University. You'll study across core theory, research methods, applied practice and specialist options, culminating in an independent project.
BA (Hons)
Award
–
Years
Part-time
Study mode
On campus
Location
About this course
Widely regarded by industry experts as one of the best degrees in the world dedicated to the design of intimate apparel, this course combines heritage, innovation and technical excellence. From the provider’s course page.
BA (Hons) Contour Fashion is a Bachelor's degree (BA (Hons)) at De Montfort University. It is studied part-time; duration varies by route.
For the typical curriculum, specialisations, career paths and graduate earnings for Art & Design, see the sections below.
Course evidence score
The arithmetic mean of the official measures available for this course: NSS satisfaction, graduate activity and continuation.
9.0
/ 10
1 of 3 official measures
Student satisfaction
What students say in the National Student Survey
Exceptional90
Published threshold met NSS publication requires sufficient responses; small differences are not a rank. NSS mean of 7 published themes (Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Curriculum & modules
Real modules published for this course, grouped only where the source gives a year, stage or level.
Year 1 4 modules
- Contour IntroductionCore
Module details
Introduction to core skills and processes involved in developing and producing non-structured intimate apparel garments, such as soft lingerie, sleepwear and loungewear. Pattern cutting and construction skills, 2D/3D pattern creation, sampling, documentation and experimentation.
Assessment: 70% technical file and 30% sketchbook
- Contour CreativeCore
Module details
Development of visual investigation methodologies for gathering and developing information through research, questioning, drawing, sampling, documentation, experimentation and conceptual development. Technical design and visual communication skills.
Assessment: 70% sketchbook and 30% technical file
- Contour ConsolidationCore
Module details
Consolidation of learning from previous modules. Technical understanding and application of skills in successful production of non-structured intimate apparel outfit design. Adobe Creative Suite introduction. Theoretical content on design cultures, origins and influences, research methods, visual literacy and academic writing.
Assessment: 50% consolidation and 50% written assignment
- Contour CollaborationsCore
Module details
Research, designing and developing niche technical products applicable to fashion and intimate apparel market. Key factors and considerations in product development. Co-operation, collaboration and communication within a small working group. Creative approaches to presenting design concepts to professional standard. Industry specialist input.
Assessment: 50% group project and 50% reflective piece
Year 2 4 modules
- Technical InquiryCore
Module details
Extension of practical knowledge related to design, development and construction of contour-type products. Commercial method of product construction and pattern awareness. Holistic relationship between product aesthetic, pattern, construction, material selection, fit, grading and finish. CAD Modaris Lectra skills with product grading awareness.
Assessment: 60% technical development and 40% practical
- Contour FuturesCore
Module details
Extension of knowledge of key factors in design of contour products within the contour fashion industry. Commercial methods of product construction and pattern awareness. Wider base of contour product categories including swimwear, sports and niche. CAD Modaris Lectra skills. Design decision making factors including trend, colour, style, shape, fabric and detail. Consumer and cost considerations. Potential opportunity to work with external clients.
Assessment: 100% coursework
- Contour Exploration and CommunicationCore
Module details
Building of designed products from previous module research. Visual presentation of contour product concepts capturing design decision making and manufacturing processes. Primary research and secondary research progression. Historic development, brand awareness and design development. Garment fit and construction aesthetics. Self-driven project selection from lingerie, swimwear, corsetry, loungewear, nightwear, activewear and athleisure.
Assessment: 50% essay, 30% project one and 20% project two
- Consolidation projectCore
Module details
Design decision making factors covering colour, style, shape, fabric and detail with consumer directives and cost. Technical development and analysis. Choice of area of contour garments including swimwear, sports and niche products for both male and females. Building of designed product supported by previous learned elements. Industry specialist input.
Assessment: 55% creative construction and 45% technical file
Year 3 3 modules
- Creative PracticeCore
Module details
Employability and educational skills development. Research and professional practice studies. Professional practice sessions including guest speakers on presentation skills, marketing and promotion, social media usage, digital opportunities, global job search, starting a small business, website development, mock interviews and C.V. preparation. CAD tutorials. Creative brief commencement aligned to possible external client linked to industry. Design of range of outfits for International Intimates
Assessment: 55% professional practice and 45% sketchbook
- External ClientCore
Module details
Continuation of creative brief. 2D/3D resolution skills within context of commerciality aligned to possible external client linked to industry. Fabric selection and illustration of final range, pattern cutting, toile making, construction of final 'hero' garment outcome, fit and evaluation. Verbal and visual presentations. Advanced pattern cutting for bras and intimates, pattern drafting, garment evaluations, fit evaluations and product data management information development.
Assessment: 60% creative outcome and 45% technical file
- Major project with cultural contextCore
Module details
Personally negotiated body of work combining all acquired skills throughout studies. Primary and secondary research, design and product development, 2D to 3D experimentation. Technical skills focus, pattern drafting and cutting and fit methodologies. Garment/product manufacture, collections/products for showcasing via catwalk, digital, film and degree shows. Specialisation option in either Aesthetic design (innovation, creativity, fit and fabric applications for fashion forward solutions) or Tec
Source: provider course page. Modules can change; required/optional status, credits, descriptions and assessment are shown only when explicitly published.
Course in depth
What this course covers, who it suits and where it leads.
What you'll study
This course combines heritage, innovation and technical excellence in the design of intimate apparel. You'll begin with visual studies, materials and contextual practice, building a foundation in colour, composition and making across print, textiles and digital tools. In your second year, you'll develop sustained studio projects, explore digital and emerging media, and work on live briefs with real deadlines. From Year 3 onwards, you'll specialise deeply in areas such as graphic design, illustration, fine art, fashion and textiles, or UX and digital practice, culminating in a self-directed major project presented at a degree show. Throughout, you'll engage with art and design history, develop a personal creative direction, and prepare your portfolio for professional practice.
Who it's for
This course suits you if you're drawn to fashion design with a particular interest in intimate apparel, a niche sector requiring both creative vision and technical precision. You'll need strong problem-solving abilities and a methodical approach to garment construction and fit. You thrive when theory connects directly to making; you'll spend substantial time applying design principles through hands-on practice. If you're already working in retail, manufacturing or fashion, or planning to launch your own label, the part-time structure may suit your situation. Ideally, you've engaged with fashion or textiles before, though passion and commitment matter more than prior qualifications.
University & format
BA (Hons) Contour Fashion is studied part-time at De Montfort University, a public university in the United Kingdom. The course is delivered in English. De Montfort is a recognised UK degree-awarding body, and this degree is nationally recognised. The university holds a Bronze award for teaching quality in the Office for Students' TEF 2023 and is.
Student satisfaction
How students on this course answered the National Student Survey, by theme.
Share of students responding positively.
Published threshold met NSS publication requires sufficient responses; small differences are not a rank. NSS mean of 7 published themes (Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Applicant information
The next application dates for this course, followed by facts the provider publishes.
Published entryBBC typical offer
Provider-published requirement; check the linked course page before applying.
2027 entry deadlineApply directly to the provider
Part-time application dates vary by provider. UCAS dates
Contextual offersPublished by this provider
The provider publishes contextual-offer information. Eligibility and any reduced offer are applicant-specific.
PlacementPublished placement option
Optional placement year. Availability, selection and pay can vary.
Open daysOpen Days - Book your place
See and book current events. Dates can fill or change.
2026 entryLive availability check
Opened 2 July 2026; last choice 19 October 2026. Check vacancies now. A cached page never claims a place is still available.
Entry & how to get in
Typical offer (from the provider)The university’s course page lists a typical A-level offer of BBC. Always check the provider for the current offer and subject requirements.
Entry requirements are set by the universityGrades, subjects and contextual offers vary. Check De Montfort University's official course page for the current offer.
Entry & your chances
An honest read from the official entry data, plus your personal match.
Offer-based entry
Entry is set by the university and based on your offer. Use your predicted grades to see how you compare, then check the university's stated requirements.
How to apply
Undergraduate applications go through UCAS. Here’s what matters for this course, the right deadline, the grades to aim for, and the steps in order.
Apply byApply directly to the providerfor this course
UCAS codeW235quote this on your application
- 1Register on UCAS Hub
Create your UCAS application and add this course (code W235). One application covers up to five choices.
- 2Write your personal statement
A single statement covers all your choices, so keep it broad enough for similar courses while showing genuine interest in this subject.
- 3Submit by Apply directly to the provider
Part-time application dates vary by provider. Source: UCAS 2027 dates.
- 4Reply to your offers
When decisions are in, pick a firm (first) choice and an insurance (back-up) choice with slightly lower grades.
- 5Results day & confirmation
On results day (mid-August) your place is confirmed if you meet the offer. Just missed? Talk to the university, or find a place through Clearing.
💡 Many universities make a contextual (reduced-grade) offer, for example based on your school’s results, time in care, or where you live. Ask De Montfort University whether you’re eligible before you apply; it can lower the grades you need.
Fees & funding
What this course costs and how UK student finance covers it.
Tuition per year
Homeup to £9,790 / yr
Internationalset by the university
Standard capped home fee at English providers (2026/27); Scotland, Wales & NI differ.
Check fees at De Montfort University →For students who normally live in England
illustrative Maintenance Loan per year
Check providertuition used per year, no published course home fee, total not estimated
total borrowing, course length not published
2026/27 Student Finance England figures. Maintenance support is means-tested and this two-point view is not an entitlement calculator. The course total uses its published length and home fee where both are available; a missing full-time fee uses the clearly labelled England-cap scenario, while part-time fees and unknown lengths are never guessed. Use the official calculator. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland use separate systems: SAAS, Student Finance Wales, and Student Finance NI.
Starting on or after 1 January 2027?
The Lifelong Learning Entitlement is a separate system. A new learner’s tuition entitlement is currently stated as £39,160 (about 480 credits at 2026/27 fee levels), subject to prior study and eligibility. Check the official LLE guide.
Paying for it
- Tuition Fee Loan: can cover eligible tuition up to the applicable limit and is paid straight to the provider.
- Maintenance Loan: up to £10,830/yr away from home outside London (England, 2026/27), means-tested on household income.
- Repayment: 9% of income above £25,000, nothing below it; written off after 40 years.
- Earn alongside: most students work part-time in term, part-time roles on the StudySmarter job board.
England figures shown; Scotland, Wales & NI run their own schemes, check gov.uk.
Funding matched to this course
All De Montfort University funding →Scholarships & bursaries you could qualify for
Named awards published by the university. Compare the eligibility and application route before budgeting for one.
undergraduate students with household income £50,000 or less
Check eligibility →students with household income £50,000 or less
Check eligibility →Amounts, exclusions and deadlines can change. An award is not guaranteed unless the university confirms it.
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Career quizApplication walkthroughSalary & CV check
Careers & earnings
What Art & Design graduates actually earn, from real outcome data, 15 months, 3 years and 5 years after graduating.
- 1Graduate roleFirst role after the degree · 0–2 yrs
- 2Specialist / PractitionerWorking in art & design · 2–5 yrs
- 3Senior / LeadLeading work and people · 5–10 yrs
- 4Head of / ExpertSenior leadership or deep expertise · 10+ yrs
How pay grows: this course vs Art & Design nationally
Starting (15 months) HESA GO
£22,000 – £27,000
After 3 years LEO
£17,000 – £24,000
After 5 years LEO
£20,825 – £29,400
national rangeaxis £16,000 – £30,500
National figures for Art & Design graduates, HESA Graduate Outcomes (15 months) and the Longitudinal Education Outcomes (LEO) dataset (3 & 5 years). These are national, not university-specific; actual pay varies by employer, region, role and experience. Different cohorts, so the bars are not one group over time.
Work out your pay
Headline figures hide a lot. Calculate realistic take-home pay for this field by role, region and experience, then check your CV before you apply.
Job market & outlook
How Art & Design graduates fare in the labour market, and how AI is reshaping the work.
87%
in work or further study 15 months after graduating, across Art & Design courses nationally.
Graduate Outcomes55%
of working graduates are in highly skilled work or further study.
highly skilled85%
of students continue past their first year (still enrolled or completed).
continuationHow AI is changing the work
AI doesn't replace the profession, it shifts it: routine tasks get automated, while judgement, working with people and using AI well become more valuable.
What AI takes off your plate
- Routine information gathering
- First-draft writing and summaries
- Standard analysis and admin
- Repetitive processing tasks
More human than ever
- Judgement and original thinking
- Working with and leading people
- Owning and sense-checking AI output
- Ethics and accountability
The strongest graduates pair subject depth with the ability to use AI tools critically.
Roles & employers
Where Art & Design graduates typically go, indicative destinations from graduate career data. Each role links to live openings on the StudySmarter job board.
Roles graduates go into
Where they work
- Design studios & agencies
- In-house brand teams
- Games & media companies
- Freelance & self-employed
Jobs after this course
Current roles from the StudySmarter job board that suit Art & Design graduates.
Fine Art TechnicianFirst Choice StaffPharmacy Technician – Brand New State-of-the-Art HospitalCompass AssociatesArtificial Intelligence Engineering ManagerMBN SolutionsArtificial Intelligence EngineerExperis UKDelivery Driver (Part Time 24 hours) - AndoverOcado LogisticsCompliance Business PartnerNashrock Insurance RecruitmentLive from the StudySmarter job board · as of 2026-08-01.See all matching jobs
Is this course right for you?
The essentials UK applicants ask about: finance, outcomes, entry and quality.
💷
Student finance
For comparison, the standard full-time England tuition cap is up to £9,790 per year in 2026/27; the actual fee varies by course and provider. If you normally live in England, eligible students can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan, plus a Maintenance Loan for living costs. Under Plan 5 you repay 9% of income above £25,000, nothing below that, and the balance is written off after 40 years.
⭐
Official-data snapshot
Averaging the official measures published for it, this course scores 9.0 out of 10: NSS 90%.
Who studies here and in this subject?
Provider- and UK subject-level context.
De Montfort University
All students23,155
International31.8%
Aged 25+27.3%
Design, and creative and performing arts across the UK
Students178,755
Aged 25+15.7%
HESA student record 2024/25. Counts are rounded.
Local crime-data context
A neutral snapshot around the published teaching location.
Around De Montfort University
4,747 street-level reports returned within roughly one mile across 2026-04 to 2026-06.
Violent Crime 1557Public Order 619Anti Social Behaviour 570Shoplifting 499Criminal Damage Arson 362
Police.uk street-level API. Approximate locations, not confined to campus. England, Wales and Northern Ireland; not Scotland.
Is Art & Design right for you?
Tick what applies to you and see how good a fit it is.
International students
What applying to De Montfort University from outside the UK involves: fees, English, visa, funding and living costs.
Tuition fees
International tuition is set per course by De Montfort University; international fees are typically £12,000–£30,000/year for classroom subjects and higher for lab/clinical ones. You’re not eligible for UK Tuition Fee or Maintenance Loans, so plan for fees plus living costs upfront.
English language
Most UK undergraduate courses ask for around IELTS 6.0–6.5 (no band below 5.5–6.0), or an accepted equivalent. If you’re just short, most universities run a pre-sessional English course that counts towards the requirement.
Student visa
You’ll usually need a Student visa (Student Route). After you accept an offer the university issues a CAS; you then show funds for fees plus about £1,023–£1,334/month living costs and pay the Immigration Health Surcharge for NHS access.
Scholarships & funding
Many universities offer international/global scholarships (often £2,000–£6,000/yr), check De Montfort University’s funding pages.
Living costs
Budget roughly £1,100–£1,400/month outside London and £1,400–£1,800/month in London for rent, food and travel; the figure also matters for your visa.
Working while you study
A Student visa usually allows up to 20 hours/week in term time and full-time in holidays, useful alongside study, though not something to rely on for fees.
Visa rules and fees change. Always confirm the current requirements with De Montfort University and gov.uk before you apply.
Related courses
More at De Montfort University
Common questions
What are the entry requirements?
Set by De Montfort University. Check the university's course page for the exact offer.
What do graduates earn?
See the career and earnings data for Art & Design below (national Graduate Outcomes / LEO figures).
What will it cost me?
For comparison, the standard full-time England tuition cap is up to £9,790 per year in 2026/27; the actual fee varies by course and provider. If you normally live in England, eligible students can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan, plus a Maintenance Loan for living costs. Under Plan 5 you repay 9% of income above £25,000, nothing below that, and the balance is written off after 40 years. See Fees & funding on this page to work out your numbers.
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