Study Fashion Design — Womenswear and Menswear in Europe

This 7-semester program provides a comprehensive foundation in textile science, fashion technology, and design. Students study core subjects like fiber science, spinning, weaving, sewing, CAD, and garment construction. They also explore areas such as textronics, eco-design, nanotechnology in textiles, and smart textiles. The final year includes a diploma thesis, industry internship, and practical prototype development for both fashion and technical textiles.

Applicants must have completed secondary school with mathematics and English (advanced level with at least 60%, or 30% at bilingual level). A second foreign language and one of the following subjects are also required: physics, chemistry, or a vocational diploma in relevant fields such as textile technician, fashion industry technician, or styling technician.

This program in Fashion Studies offers two specialization tracks: Communication Strategies for Fashion Design and Strategic Management for the Fashion System. The communication track focuses on fashion media, visual culture, and fashion photography, with optional courses in ethics, fashion curation, and immersive technologies. The management track emphasizes data science, global marketing, corporate finance, and cultural industries, with a practical approach to the fashion business environment. Both tracks include internships, interdisciplinary electives, and flexible final examination paths that may integrate internships or study abroad opportunities.

Admission requires a degree in fields such as cultural heritage, visual arts, humanities, business, communication, economics, sociology, design, architecture, or computer science. Candidates must have earned at least 50 credits across at least two of five disciplinary areas, including literary studies, arts, performing arts and design, communication and social sciences, and economics. English language proficiency at B2 level is mandatory, and non-native Italian speakers must demonstrate or acquire adequate Italian language skills during the program. Students yet to graduate may apply if they complete their degree by the end of the calendar year. EU students typically pay around €1,200/year based on family income. Non-EU students usually pay a fixed fee of about €1,400/year. Check with the university for your exact fee.

This bachelor's program explores the entire design process behind fashion, from initial idea through to finished product, treating fashion design as a way of reflecting and shaping how people live, act, and behave. Students learn to design the functions and expressions of clothing and body-related objects, working across perspectives ranging from social and cultural diversity and freedom of expression to the development of garments that support specific human activities, such as sports, outdoor pursuits, or work.

The program develops students' artistic, technical, theoretical, and reflective capacities in parallel, training them to demonstrate skill as designers, artistic proficiency, and the ability to critically reflect on both their own work and that of others within the wider field of design. Teaching is organized around three recurring course strands, Basic Design, Design Methodology, and Design Aesthetics, alongside a progressively developing sequence of design projects that build toward the concluding degree project.

In the first year, students build a foundation in textile and fiber materials and their properties, the textile value chain, and sustainable production practices, alongside design work exploring the relationship between body and structure, illustration and visualization methods for design development, the historical development of clothing and fashion, and processes such as dyeing, textile printing, and finishing. A project introducing digital design tools and a further project in knitwear technique and expression round out the year.

The second year turns to the interaction between the body, clothing, and nature through activewear and outdoor-focused design work, alongside pattern and graphic design, portfolio and visual presentation skills, an elective course chosen in consultation with the program coordinator, and a course applying sustainable materials and textile manipulation techniques. Students also complete a specialization project and study broader design aesthetics and sustainability in textiles and fashion.

In the third year, students undertake a substantial design project carried out either as a commission for an external company or organization or as applied design work placed within one, deepening their understanding of design practice in relation to sustainability, artistic considerations, and economic factors. They also study design research methodology and exhibition and display techniques, before choosing an area of technical specialization, such as knitting, printing and preparation technology, 3D construction, or digital tools, for further in-depth study leading into the degree project, an independent, interpretive design investigation presented together with a reflective account of its methods and outcomes. Students may also have the opportunity to spend an exchange semester at another institution during the program.

Sustainability is woven throughout the curriculum, from the earliest study of textile materials and production to a dedicated course on sustainability in textiles and fashion and its integration into later design and research work. The program prepares students to work independently and collaboratively, including with external companies, institutions, and organizations, and is designed to lead either into a professional design career at a high artistic level or into further study at the master's level in design.

Beyond general admission requirements, applicants must demonstrate artistic design ability, including the capacity to work, experiment, illustrate, and realize textile and other elements expressively in order to communicate ideas clearly, along with technical ability in textile techniques such as weaving, printing, sewing, embroidery, knitting, or other textile construction methods, and a degree of critical theoretical knowledge of the field of textiles and design. Applicants must also verify English proficiency at a level corresponding to English 6 (English level 2) in the Swedish upper secondary school system.

Eligibility and selection are assessed on artistic grounds through an application portfolio, an assessment day, and interviews. The portfolio is first evaluated for artistic interpretive ability, technical skill in textile techniques, and critical-theoretical understanding of textiles and design, with particular attention to the ability to develop ideas from visual and material research into finished, technically skilled work. Candidates who pass this stage are invited to an assessment day, where their artistic and technical abilities are tested directly and their qualifications and experience are discussed in interviews; final admission is based on a ranking of applicants according to their demonstrated abilities across the portfolio, assessment tasks, and interviews, with relevant experience in fashion, design, or art potentially considered as a tiebreaker among otherwise equally matched candidates.

This Bachelor of Fine Arts program focuses on design development, textile materials, and the exploration of both traditional and contemporary textile techniques. Students engage with current research in materials and fibers, using this knowledge to experiment with how textiles can be designed and applied across a range of projects, with sustainability integrated as a core value throughout every stage of the design process.

The program develops students' artistic, technical, theoretical, and reflective capacities in parallel, aiming to train them to demonstrate skill and ability as textile designers, artistic proficiency, and the capacity to critically reflect on both their own work and that of others within the wider field of design. Critical reflection is built into coursework connecting historical design analysis and design theory to a range of applications, from individual projects to collaborations with companies and organizations, developing students' ability to identify and solve design problems and to evaluate and critique both their own work and that of others.

Teaching is organized around recurring strands in design methodology, design aesthetics, and design projects, following a structured progression toward the concluding degree project. In the first year, students build core knowledge of textile design processes through coursework in form, color, materials, and expression, alongside foundational techniques in weaving, knitting, and textile printing; students choose their own progression through these techniques, developing advanced skill in one or two areas of their choosing through dedicated design projects. The first year also introduces the textile value chain, textile materials, and processes of dyeing, finishing, and manufacturing, along with a historical perspective on textile production and an early introduction to sustainable development in textiles and fashion.

The second year deepens these design methodologies with a focus on textiles as a material for both expression and function, as well as for communication, including an advanced design project developed in a chosen technique and a course applying experimental and collaborative design methods, design strategy, and sustainable design practice. This year also includes a dedicated course on sustainability in textiles and fashion, along with coursework in critical self-reflection on design work and in planning and communicating textile exhibitions. Students may also have the opportunity to spend an exchange semester at another institution, or take an elective course, to deepen or broaden their knowledge in an area relevant to their chosen focus.

In the third year, students undertake a substantial design project carried out either as a commission for an external company or organization or as an internship placed within one, deepening their understanding of design practice in relation to sustainability, artistic considerations, and economic factors. They also study design research methods, using this work to define a relevant area of focus and formulate the basis for their degree project, and develop exploratory design work based on their own design concept, from initial idea through to design proposals. The program concludes with a degree project in which students apply their artistic, theoretical, and practical knowledge through an independent design investigation, documenting, justifying, and critically reflecting on their own design process.

Throughout the program, students access dedicated studios, workshops, laboratories, and libraries, and work alongside peers and teachers from diverse cultural backgrounds, as well as students from related programs in fashion design, textile management, and textile engineering. Graduates go on to work across fields such as fashion and clothing, interior design, product design, and the automotive industry, as independent designers, or continue their studies at the master's level.

Beyond general admission requirements, applicants must demonstrate artistic and creative ability to work, experiment, illustrate, and realize textiles and other elements expressively in order to clearly communicate an intended idea, along with technical skill in textile techniques such as weaving, printing, sewing, embroidery, knitting, or other textile construction methods, and some critical-theoretical knowledge of the textile and design field. Applicants must also verify English proficiency at a level corresponding to English 6 (English level 2) in the Swedish upper secondary school system.

Eligibility and selection are assessed on artistic grounds through an application portfolio, including a specific application assignment, an assessment day, and an interview. The portfolio is first evaluated for demonstrated artistic and technical ability and critical-theoretical knowledge, with particular emphasis on the applicant's ability to develop ideas from visual research into finished work of artistic quality.

Candidates who pass this stage are invited to an assessment day, where their artistic and technical skills are tested directly and their qualifications and other merits are discussed in an interview. Final admission is based on a ranking of applicants according to their demonstrated abilities across the portfolio, assessment tasks, and interview, with relevant experience in fashion, design, or art potentially considered as a tiebreaker among otherwise equally matched candidates.

At its core, this master's degree treats fashion design in its broadest sense, as a practice that explores, expresses, and shapes individuals, communities, bodies, and human-cultural interactions. Students specializing in fashion design investigate expressions centered on the human body from environmental, technical, economic, and political perspectives, all situated within a cultural context, building on an undergraduate foundation in design to develop artistic, technical, theoretical, and reflective skills at an advanced level.

The program is organized around a series of major design projects, supported by shared coursework in design methodology and artistic development, along with design seminars that run alongside other courses throughout the two years. Each student's individual study plan grows out of the project proposed in their application, and a dedicated supervisor follows each student through all of their design projects, ensuring continuity across the program. Teaching takes place in a multidisciplinary environment, drawing on instructors from various backgrounds together with guest lecturers and external supervisors, which gives students the chance to build a professional network during their studies; mentoring, seminars, and workshop activities form the core teaching approach, and documented reflection on both process and results is embedded in every design project.

In the first year, students deepen their theoretical understanding of design methodology while developing their individual artistic practice in relation to current trends in art and design. They also develop their initial application project into a fuller design program and further advance that work either through a project that may involve collaboration with a company or organization, or through a practical placement within one, both with attention to sustainability in the fashion and textile industries. Students can also take elective courses in specific textile techniques, such as dyeing, textile printing, weaving, knitting, or construction, to deepen their technical skills.

The second year continues this trajectory through further study of design history and critical reflection, a research project exploring materials, design, and function in relation to fashion and textiles, and the concluding master's degree project, in which students bring together a final collection for exhibition. Throughout the program, students gain practical experience through internships, and take part in workshops, seminars, and guest lectures led by researchers and industry professionals, along with opportunities to present their work on national and international platforms.

Graduates go on to a range of career paths, including working as fashion designers for established companies, launching their own textile or fashion-related businesses or design studios, collaborating with organizations focused on sustainable and socially responsible practices in the fashion industry, or pursuing doctoral studies and further research.

Applicants must hold an undergraduate degree comprising at least 180 credits in design, or an equivalent qualification, along with a demonstrated ability to conduct experimental, investigative work and engage in critical reflection. Applicants must also demonstrate English proficiency equivalent to English 6 (English level 2) in the Swedish upper secondary school system. Students with a bachelor's degree specifically in textile and fashion design are eligible to apply, as are those from other design-related disciplines or with equivalent skills to a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Design, provided they meet the program's admission criteria.

Applicants apply for the fashion design specialization specifically and must submit a portfolio containing work samples and a CV, along with an application project describing their intended focus during the master's program. Eligibility and selection are assessed on artistic grounds in stages: the portfolio is first evaluated for artistic interpretive ability, experimental work, technical skill, and reflective capacity, after which selected applicants are invited to an interview, followed by a final ranking of eligible candidates for admission.

This master's degree specializes in textile design, providing a forward-looking environment for rethinking and creating textiles within an expanded field encompassing textile craft, new materiality, innovation, and digital approaches to design. Students build on undergraduate design knowledge to deepen their artistic, technical, theoretical, and reflective skills, working with textiles across a range of contexts while placing sustainable design practice at the center of their studies.

The program is organized around a series of major design projects, supported by shared coursework in design methodology and artistic development, along with design seminars that run alongside other courses throughout the two years. Each student's individual study plan grows out of the project proposed in their application, and a dedicated supervisor follows each student through all of their design projects, ensuring continuity across the program. Teaching takes place in a multidisciplinary environment, drawing on instructors from various backgrounds together with guest lecturers and external supervisors, which gives students the chance to build a professional network during their studies; mentoring, seminars, and workshop activities form the core teaching approach, and documented reflection on both process and results is embedded in every design project.

In the first year, students deepen their theoretical understanding of design methodology while developing their individual artistic practice in relation to current trends in art and design. They also develop their initial application project into a fuller design program and further advance that work either through a project that may involve collaboration with a textile or fashion company or organization, or through a practical placement within one, both with attention to sustainability in the textile industry. Students can also take elective courses in specific textile techniques, such as dyeing, textile printing, weaving, knitting, or construction, to deepen their technical skills.

The second year continues this trajectory through further study of design history and critical reflection, a research project exploring materials, design, and function in relation to fashion and textiles, and the concluding master's degree project, in which students bring together a final collection for exhibition. Throughout the program, students gain practical experience through internships, and take part in workshops, seminars, and guest lectures led by researchers and industry professionals, along with opportunities to present their work on national and international platforms.

Graduates go on to a range of career paths, including working as textile designers for companies across sectors such as furniture, automotive, and interiors, launching their own textile or fashion-related businesses or design studios, collaborating with organizations focused on sustainable and socially responsible practices in the textile industry, or pursuing doctoral studies and further research.

Applicants must hold an undergraduate degree comprising at least 180 credits in design, or an equivalent qualification, along with a demonstrated ability to conduct experimental, investigative work and engage in critical reflection. Applicants must also demonstrate English proficiency equivalent to English 6 (English level 2) in the Swedish upper secondary school system. Students with a bachelor's degree specifically in textile and fashion design are eligible to apply, as are those from other design-related disciplines or with equivalent skills to a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Design, provided they meet the program's admission criteria.

Applicants apply for the textile design specialization specifically and must submit a portfolio containing work samples and a CV, along with an application project describing their intended focus during the master's program. Eligibility and selection are assessed on artistic grounds in stages: the portfolio is first evaluated for artistic interpretive ability, experimental work, technical skill, and reflective capacity, after which selected applicants are invited to an interview, followed by a final ranking of eligible candidates for admission.