COURSE CURRICULUM

The Fashion and Design History degree begins with a shared first year alongside Art History and Visual Culture students, offering a broad foundation in cross-cultural histories of art, fashion, and design. Students explore how global movements of people, materials, and ideas shape the production and use of fashion and design, studying themes such as material culture, creative processes, and the role of designers and consumers. Learning takes place in small groups through essays, presentations, projects, and exams. In the second year, students develop specialist knowledge through core modules on fashion and design history, research methods, and cultural politics, while choosing from diverse option modules, including creative and practical projects. Opportunities include a semester abroad at the University of Oslo and a 40-hour placement in museums, galleries, or archives such as Brighton Museum or the Design Archives, gaining professional experience in the field. The final year focuses on independent research and professional development, with students completing a dissertation, group display project, and a visual presentation for the graduate show. Core modules address sustainability, networks, and professional pathways, while optional topics allow exploration of areas such as vintage fashion, performance, and contemporary design in global contexts.