A Fashion Design programme with a focus on Digital Fashion, Brand Development and Entrepreneurship.

The Amsterdam Fashion Academy BA (Hons) Fashion Design programme has been specifically designed to provide you with a greater understanding and experience of the creative processes and the knowledge and technical skills required to enter the fashion industry: you will graduate from Amsterdam Fashion Academy with a thorough grounding in what is needed to find employment in the world of fashion.

Whether you plan to work at a top international fashion house or start your own fashion label, our Fashion Design degree programme will help you realise your unique potential. Additionally, your internship with an actual brand will give you a taste of how the fashion industry really works and will prepare you to face your future with first-hand experience and confidence.

People often learn best by doing and our programme, with its ‘hands on’ approach, fits with this idea perfectly. Our Fashion Design programme encourages you to embrace entrepreneurship, diversity and a sustainable attitude to fashion. You will also be learning first-class digital skills: future-proofing your employment opportunities whilst simultaneously lessening your environmental impact on the world.

Additionally, all our fashion programmes are constantly reviewed and updated in conjunction with Amsterdam Fashion Academy’s industry board; ensuring our programme materials and practises remain cutting-edge and relevant in a fast-moving industry.

Being based in the capital of the Netherlands, the programme links closely with both global and smaller local creative industries and practitioners that embody Amsterdam’s reputation as a cool, creative and entrepreneurial city.

MODULES YEAR 1

Year 1 is about introducing you to new concepts, techniques, ways of working, idea generation and familiarising you with the typical structures within the fashion industry.

Portfolio 1 (FN432)

• Fashion Design — introducing you to the design process, how to build a concept, how to apply the concept to colour palette, fabric choice, silhouette, shapes etc.
• Illustration — learning how to express yourself through drawing whilst using new and experimental techniques.
• Basic Sewing — learning the basics of how to sew, thread the machines, basic seams, finishes and construction techniques.
• Digital Tools, Photoshop & Illustrator — using Photoshop tools to learn how to create digital mood boards, collages, trend analysis boards and digital portfolio pages. Practical exercises help to familiarise you with these industry-standard digital programs.

Materials & Processes (FN434)

• Flat Pattern Cutting — you will use pattern blocks to create your designs, employing appropriate techniques and methods.
• Draping — working directly on the mannequin to create 3-D shapes or designs.
• Textile Techniques — you will explore techniques such as knitting, weaving, print design and natural dying to gain an understanding of fabric and how it can be used in fashion design.

Historical & Contextual 1 (FN401)

• Historical & Contextual Theory — a study of the history of art and culture and how these subjects relate to and are manifested in the current fashion industry.
• Historical & Contextual Seminars — class-based activities and research based on each week’s topic.
• Academic Writing — guidance in how to write and research in an academic style, preparing you for writing essays, reports and anything else that requires a formal style of writing.

Business studies and entrepenuership (FN433)

• Clothing Technology — looking at the ‘science’ of fabric: fibres, characteristics and behaviour of specific fabrics and their application in the fashion industry.
• Product Development — building a clothing range for a brand, looking at trims, production, costing, fabric sourcing and even hangtags and packaging. Studying how to bring a collection to market post-design phase.
• Industry Job Roles — familiarising you with all the different job roles in the fashion industry and understanding the importance of each one.
• Personal Development — CV’s, motivation letters and interview techniques are studied to help you prepare for entering the fashion industry. Mental health discussions/awareness to ensure you feel supported and nurtured.

MODULES YEAR 2

Year 2 is about applying the knowledge you learnt in the first year. This year has more of an industry and market focus to help you prepare for your internship.

Portfolio 2 (FN532)

• Fashion Design — building on your first-year knowledge, you will work to industry standards, employing a more professional approach to design.
• Illustration — techniques are refined to better help you communicate design ideas to industry standards.
• Digital Tools: CLO3D — an introduction to cutting-edge 3-D digital software program CLO3D, used to create digital garments.

Design Realisation (FN533)

• Pattern Cutting & Construction — building on techniques learnt in Year 1 with the aim of creating more complex, technical garments.

Historical & Contextual 2 (FN501)

• Historical & Contextual Theory — continuing on from where Year 1 ended, up to the modern day.
• Fashion Theory — you will develop a profound insight about fashion within its cultural context and gain knowledge of the appropriate theories, themes and authors and be able to apply, discuss and argue the issues offered.

Industrial practise in a global context (FN531)

• Go-To-Market Project — you will learn how to effectively build a brand and market it appropriately.
• Business Plan — linked to the go-to-market project, you decide on an idea, begin to develop a business plan and see how it feels to be your own boss!
• Personal Development Plan for Internship — preparing for internship by learning how to apply to a company, interview techniques and how to conduct themselves on a personal level whilst completing an internship. Students maintain contact with their lecturers for the entirety of their internship, so they have support.
• Internship — from March onwards, you will go on your internship. You are supported throughout the first semester in preparation for your internship and your lecturer will also practise interview techniques with you and help with applications. We have a network for internships but of course, you are free to choose where you wish to complete your internship, including abroad. Internships last 3-5 months.

MODULES YEAR 3

Year 3 is all about innovation. The lecturers act as coaches to help bring your ideas to life in a professional, creative way. You will graduate with your own personal design collection portfolio and physical garments, academic research in the form of a dissertation to support your personal project as well as industry projects showing diversity within your graduate portfolio.

Final collection design (FN631)

• Research & Design — you design your final 15-oufit collection based on an original research topic used in your dissertation.
• Portfolio — you focus on completing your portfolio to professional fashion industry standards and how the contents demonstrate your personal creative language.
• Final Collection Realisation — you will physically create a collection of outfits from your portfolio using the techniques and knowledge acquired in Years 1 & 2.
• Final Runway & Exhibition — you exhibit your work to industry professionals, friends and family before graduating.

Contextual report (FN601)

• Research Methodology — you explore qualitative versus quantitative data collection, surveys and other industry-appropriate ways to gather research data.
• Consultation with Supervisor — based on your personal topic, you will have personal sessions with a lecturer specific to your field to guide you through the process of writing your final 8,000-word dissertation.

Professional practice (FN603)

• Live Industry Projects — you will create two industry projects for existing fashion brands to show how you are able to use your creative design skills in a real-world industry setting.

Year 1 tuition fee:

The Year 1 early bird tuition fee of € 16.000 is available for students who apply on or before the 3rd of April 2023 and enrol by the 28th of April 2023.

The tuition fee for students who apply after the 3rd of April 2023 is € 17.000.

Year 2 and 3 tuition fees:

The tuition fee for students who progress to the following year with no resits is € 16.000.

The tuition fee for students who progress to the following year with one or more resits is € 17.000.

Application fee: € 275

The application fee is due at the moment of application and is non-refundable unless the Amsterdam Fashion Academy won’t accept you in the programme. This is a one-time fee, so you only need to pay during in the process of admission.

Tuition fee:

Students who apply before the 3rd of April 2023 will be invited to an Interview Day or Admission Interview. If the student is accepted, a deposit (20% of the early bird tuition fee) is required before the 28th of April 2023. The remaining amount must be paid before the 15th of July 2023, or according to the payment plan agreed previously.

Students who apply after the 3rd of April 2023 won’t be able to attend an Interview Day, but will have a personal admission interview on an agreed date. If the student is accepted, we will request the payment of a deposit (20% of the tuition fee) 3 weeks after the acceptance date. The remaining amount must be paid before the 15th of July 2023, or according to the payment plan agreed previously.

Payment Plans

Option 1 (no surcharge)

• 20% payment before April 28th, 2023 (early bird tuition fee), or 3 weeks after acceptance (regular tuition fee).
• 80% payment before July 15th, 2023

Option 2 (+3% surcharge)

• 20% payment before April 28th, 2023 (early bird tuition fee), or 3 weeks after acceptance (regular tuition fee).
• 40% payment before July 15th, 2023
• 40% payment before January 15th, 2024

Option 3 (+5% surcharge)

• 20% payment before April 28th, 2023 (early bird tuition fee), or 3 weeks after acceptance (regular tuition fee).
• 20% payment before July 15th, 2023
• 20% payment before October 15th, 2023
• 20% payment before January 15th, 2024
• 20% payment before April 15th, 2024

DUO

Students with a Dutch passport and who have resided in the Netherlands for at least three of the preceding six years prior to the date of enrolment are eligible for student finance (studiefinanciering) from DUO.

The Amsterdam Fashion Academy is a non-governmental and non-subsidized institute.

Fees are equal for Europen and non-European students.

Please be informed that we are not legally able to sponsor non-EEA students for a study visa. Applicants must have an EEA passport (27 EU member states; Iceland; Liechtenstein; Norway; Switzerland) or Dutch residents permit to study in the BA (Hons) Fashion Design.

Students must have one of the following high school diplomas:

• International Baccalaureate Diploma minimum 28 points;
• Foundation Diploma in Art & Design (Level 3);
• European Baccalaureate;
• Austria: Reife- und Diplomprüfungszeugnis or Reifezeugnis/Reifeprüfungszeugnis;
• Belgium: Certificat d’Enseignement Secondaire Supérieur, enseignement artistique/technique or general; or KSO, TSO, ASO;
• Bulgaria: Diplomaza Sredno Obrazonvaine (Diploma of Secondary Education);
• Croatia: Svjedodžba o (državnoj) maturi or Svjedodžba o zavrsnom ispitu;
• Czech Republic: Vysvědčení o maturitní zkoušce obtained at a Gymnázium;
• Denmark: Højere Handelseksamen (HHX)/Højere Teknisk Eksamen (HTX) or Studentereksamenbevis (STX)/Bevis for Højere Forberedelseseksamen (HF);
• Estonia: Gümnaasiumi lõputunnistus;
• Finland: Ylioppilastutkintotodistus/ Studentexamenbevis/ Matriculation Examination Certificate;
• France: Baccalauréat Technologique or Général;
• Germany: Zeugnis der Allgemeinen Hochschulreife (Abiturzeugnis) or Fachhochschulreife;
• Greece: Apolytirio Genikou Lykeiou;
• Hungary: Gimnáziumi Érettségi Bizonyítvány or Szakközépiskolai Érettségi-Képesítö Bizonyítvány;
• Ireland: Leaving Certificate with at least 5 subjects of the established programme, including 5 subjects with at least O6 or H7, and at least 200 CAO points; or Leaving Certificate with at least 6 subjects of the established programme, including at least 2 subjects with H5 or higher, 4 subjects with at least O6 or H7, and at least 350 CAO points.
• Italy: Diploma di Superamento dell’Esame di Stato Conclusivo dei Corsi di Istruzione Secondario Superiore (liceo classico / scientifco / linguistico / scienze umane);
• Lithuania: Brandos Atestatas;
• Luxembourg: Diplôme de fin d’études secondaires classiques or générales; or Diplôme de technicien (DT);
• Netherlands: MBO 4, HAVO 5, VWO 6;
• Norway: Vitnemål for Videregående Opplaering;
• Poland: Świadectwo dojrzałości (maturiteitscertificaat);
• Portugal: Diploma/Certificado/Cer tidão do Ensino Secundário;
• Romania: Diplomă de Bacalaureat;
• Slovakia: Vysvedčenie o maturitnej skúške obtained at a Gymnázium or a Vysvedcenie o Maturitnej Skuske with a minimum overall score of 2.4;
• Spain: Título de Bachiller;
• Sweden: Högskoleförberedande Examen;
• Switzerland: Berufsmaturität/ Fachmaturität/ Specialised Maturity Certificate; or Maturity Certificate/ Maturitätszeugnis/ Maturitätsausweis/ Certificat de Maturité;
• UK: BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma; or Access to HE Diploma; or 4 GCSEs (with grade A* to C or 9 to 4) plus 2 subjects at AS level (with grade A* to C); or 4 GCSEs (with grade A* to C or 9 to 4) plus 2 subjects at A level (with grade D/E); or 3 GCSEs (with grade A* to C or 9 to 4) plus 3 subjects at A level (with grade A* to C).
• USA: US High School Diploma with GPA 2.8 or better, plus SAT scores (if taken in 2016 or later) of 1050 or better; or US High School Diploma with GPA 2.8 or better, plus SAT scores (if taken before 2016) of 1600 or better; or US High School Diploma with GPA 2.8 or better, plus two or three Advanced Placement tests with scores of 3 or better; or US High School Diploma with GPA 2.8 or better, plus ACT scores of 24 or better; or a transcript showing successful completion of one year of a Bachelor’s degree from a recognised American university with GPA 2.0
• For other countries, please contact us.

Portfolio

What are we looking for in your portfolio?

• School art projects that show working and experimenting with various media;
  Research skills;
• Creative curiosity;
• Willingness to experiment;
• Playing with line, colour, shadow etc.;
• Show your developments as well as your final pieces;
• If you have sewing skills take good photo’s of your garments;

Never studied fashion design before?

We know most students have never studied fashion design before, however personal fashion design projects show you are proactive and engaged with the subject. A basic fashion project should include:

• Mood board: images that inspire you to create;
• Colour palette: use your imagery to select colours for your designs;
• Designs: can be collages, drawings etc.

If you need guidance in building up your portoflio, please let us know. We will be more than happy to give you personal help.

Step 1: Fill out the Request for Information form or sign up to an Open Day;

Step 2: We will send you more details by email and we will schedule a call or meeting with you;

Step 3: After the call or meeting, we will send you by email the Application form;

Step 4: Submit the application form; letter of motivations, digital portfolio, secondary school diploma or transcript of grades or proof of enrolment.

Step 5: We will invite you to attend an Interview Day or an interview on campus or online on another date.

After evaluating your application, we will might invite you to attend an Interview Day.

The Interview Day is a big opportunity to experience the Amsterdam Fashion Academy for a full day, meet other international applications, explore Amsterdam and work with your future lecturers. Thanks to the Interview Day, you will have a clearer idea if the Amsterdam Fashion Academy is the right place for you.

The Interview Days 2023 will be held on the following dates:

• On-Campus: Friday, 24th of February 2023 from 10:00am to 5:00pm CET;
• On-Campus: Friday, 10th of March 2023 from 10:00am to 6:00pm CET;
• Online & On-Campus: Friday, 24th of March 2023 from 10:00am to 6:00pm CET.

Depending on that date of the submission of your application, we will invite you to the first available Interview Day. Please check below the application deadlines for each Interview Day.

We will communicate you the result of your Interview Day on the 3rd of April 2023.

We remind you that by applying before the 15th of March 2023 and attending an Interview Day, you will benefit of the early bird tuition fee of € 16.000 per year.

Won’t you be able to attend an Interview Day or to send your application before the 15th of March 2023?

No worries, we will be more than happy to schedule a personal interview for you on another date. However, please consider that for applications received after the 3rd of April 2023 we will apply the regular tuition fee of € 17.000 per year. Furthermore, you will more chances of admission by applying before the 10th of March 2023. After April 2023 most of the places will be assigned already.

Deadlines

Even though we don’t have a deadline for applications, we encourage you to submit your application before the 15th of March 2023 to have the opportunity to attend an Interview Day and have the best chance to be offered a place, besides benefiting of the early bird tuition fee of € 16.000 per year.

If you wish to attend an Interview Day, then we kindly ask you to submit your application before the following dates:

• Interview Day February 24th, 2023: application deadline is February 3rd, 2023;
• Interview Day March 10th, 2023: application deadline is February 24th, 2023;
• Interview Day March 24th, 2023: application deadline is March 15th, 2023.