BA in Fashion and Image Design

The BA Fashion and Image Design program is designed for students who intend to have a career in fashion design and other design related careers in the fashion area.

Within this program Fashion Design is seen as a highly creative operation, reflecting a trained aesthetic sense and requiring a number of techniques and specific skills for effective expression. The fashion design and image program involves specialist commercial and marketing expertise with a professional approach. The ability to communicate effectively in a world-wide fashion area has become very important as the fashion business develops and operates on an international scale.

The program is designed to enrich and develop students’ individual potential. It is designed to help students to develop their abilities to identify problems and be able to solve them within the fashion area. Furthermore, the program equips students with the ability of understanding the national and international fashion business and meets fully the challenges of modern fashion industry.

It is expected that all students of the program will develop skills and abilities to communicate well, to work both independently and in group situations, to relate their studies to their chosen fashion area and to develop self- motivated responsibility for their actions.

The program provides technical foundation and a broad design education to meet the ever changing demands of the Fashion industry. Within the scope of these two areas the program aims to embody the student with expressive design and technical skills, broaden their communicative and intellectual awareness as well as their conceptual thinking. The students are therefore introduced to fashion technical skills through the courses of Pattern Cutting and Garment Making, the basic synthesis between garment and fabric. Within the course the understanding and proper use of pattern cutting and sewing equipment is developed which in turn assist students in the translation of basic designs into three-dimensional made up garments.

With in the elective courses of Menswear and Tailoring and Professional Pattern Cutting and Garment Making, more intricate skills are developed through experimental and creative pattern cutting and sewing techniques. The opportunity to interact and develop skills and a profound understanding of intricate pattern and sewing techniques helps in developing the necessary knowledge and skills for making up of a final fashion collection.

These fundamental technical courses will enable students to work in a professional manner, hence planning and organizing future fashion collections as well as acquiring good technical communication skills in order to communicate effectively with future design teams.

In conjunction with above technical courses students will also be introduced to art and design courses such as Introduction to Studio Art, Drawing, and Design and Materials. Here students will build upon their drawing skills as well as their knowledge and use of various materials through specific project work. These courses lay foundations for initial development through the establishment of good drawing skills and three dimensional forms.

To assist students in developing a historical and cultural awareness, which is crucial for such a design course, the program offers the course of History of Art / Cultural Studies and History of Fashion Design. This will provide students with an in-depth understanding of how sociopolitical and economic situations affect and influence fashion.

The program has been strategically structured to initially introduce students within the first semesters to the fashion industry and the basics of their future profession. In the following semesters the courses offered will develop students’ expertise in the fashion field with continuous experimentation and exploration in design, image and styling through Fashion Design Practice, Styling and Image Making, Fashion Photography and Design for Performance. The program offers alternative pathways through semesters 3- 8 for students whose special interests and future ambitions lie in the fields of the fashion media and fashion styling. The program strongly involves the use of image and styling. It looks at the diversity of ways that fashion and clothing can be communicated, promoted and presented creatively to different audiences, whether this be through photography, film, digital media, performance, music, advertising and journalism.

In the final year students are expected to establish a strong personal identity in their work one which should be reflected in their major collection project. The Major Collection Projects will enable students to design and execute a fashion design project, which will demonstrate extensive, detailed and critical understanding, initiative, innovation and creative originality. Students will develop a professional approach to their work enabling them to plan, organize fashion collections of high quality.

The program places a great importance on innovative research; hence in the final semester all students must complete a senior project, which is regarded as their thesis. It is a course where students act as individual designers in an investigation of a topic of their own choice. The course can be of any nature/ idea/ concept. The ultimate scope is to conduct an extensive research into the course and prepare an extended essay from the research findings and analysis. The course requires the student to initialise a written brief as well as produce final design solutions and a written thesis. The emphasis is on innovation and variety where topics can cross boundaries in both inter-disciplinary and multi-disciplinary guises.

Students will be introduced to a variety of subjects and media through the art and design electives, such as Illustration Techniques, Fashion Illustration Techniques, Photographic Design and Computer – Aided Pattern Design and many more, which help in the development of knowledge and skills that foster a greater understanding of the fashion field.

The vision of the BA Fashion and Image program is to create the new designers of tomorrow. Designers, which will help create a new identity for fashion design in Cyprus. An identity which no longer includes just fashion design and production but a wider scope which now includes such areas as theatre, film, fashion photography, digital media, advertising, journalism and many more. The program intends to create designers who will be able to work in a multi-disciplinary design environment. It will offer alternative pathways, which will provide students with the necessary knowledge and skills that will help them create, communicate, promote and present fashion creatively to different audiences. Designers, which will be able to design and execute fashion projects that will demonstrate detailed and critical understanding, initiative, innovation and creative originality.

The specific goals of the program are:

• to prepare students for a career in the sphere of creative fashion and associated design influenced careers;
• to educate students to an advanced level of individual creativity within the discipline of fashion design;
• to encourage independent research and problem solving in the fashion design process;
• to develop in depth awareness of the major cultural and social themes and current fashion trends and be able to use this as inspiration for fashion projects;
• to develop, principal and specialist skills, techniques and practices;
• to develop a personal creative identity and originality through their individual design projects;
• to communicate well with experts in other fields both within as well as the fashion design field.
• to understand and be able to translate design into  three-dimensional garments using the correct methods of production for the creation of a fashion collection;
• to design and execute a fashion design project demonstrating extensive, detailed and critical understanding, initiative, innovation and  creative originality;
• to adapt to new situations and flexibility in applying what has been learnt for generating new and unique ideas;
• to work in a multi-disciplinary design environment, support and convince their ideas in front of internal as well as external audience;

Graduates of the BA Fashion and Image Design program will be able to pursue opportunities in the Fashion design market in which today include such fields as fashion styling, fashion photography, fashion design and fashion promotion. This may also include involvement in theatre, television and magazines/ publishing houses. Graduates may also pursue opportunities to initiate community based projects or fashion shows.

Key Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this program, the students should be able to:

1. Demonstrate in depth knowledge and skills in the different areas of fashion, including fashion and textile design, image and styling, fashion photography, fashion illustration and many more;
2. Apply their individual creativity to self initiated projects;
3. Engage in written briefs, and produce final design solutions as well as written reports which will be based on questioning and testing the area of research.
4. Use effectively major cultural and social themes, past and current fashion trends as inspiration for fashion projects;
5. Apply principal and specialist skills and techniques and practices in fashion projects. Skills and techniques which include sewing and pattern cutting techniques, illustrative and / or computer techniques, drawing and styling skills etc.
6. Demonstrate their personal creative identity and originality within their individual design projects.
7. Communicate effectively in both written and spoken form in the fashion design area, demonstrating appropriate levels of autonomy and responsibility;
8. Understand and interpret two-dimensional designs into three-dimensional garments or products, using the correct method of production necessary for the creation of a fashion collection;
9. Design and execute a creative and innovative fashion design project which has considered all aspects of design including, shape, colour, fabrication;
10. Use the ability to create new and unique ideas as a way to adapt to new situations or new design briefs especially when working in a design team.
11. Apply the communication skills developed, as well as the knowledge gained from    studying in a multi- disciplinary environment, to support and convince his/ her ideas in front of an internal or external audience.

Entry Requirements

Frederick University academic year consists of the fall and spring semesters. The calendar is arranged so that students may start classes either during the last week of September or the first week of February. Candidates may submit an application for admission in any of the semesters. Due to the fact that formalities for the issue of an entry visa take at least 6 weeks, candidates are urged to file an application at least 8 weeks prior to the expected date of enrolment. Students are expected to be on campus prior to the beginning of the intended semester/session. In response to arising need, courses could be provided within the summer period.

Candidates for a bachelor degree program should submit a school leaving certificate from a recognized six-form secondary school (high school) with an average grade of 75% (Greek Cypriot secondary schools) or a grade “C” or its equivalent (other secondary schools), or equivalent qualification. Candidates who submit a six-form secondary school leaving certificate but do not meet the above grade requirements may be admitted on a probationary status, if they show potential for educational advancement. The probationary status will be removed, subject to a satisfactory academic performance. Candidates admitted on probationary status may also be asked to enroll in foundation courses in order to improve their skills and/ or to take reduced load.

A. Nationals of EU countries
Candidates who are nationals of EU countries can enter Cyprus as visitors. On arrival at Frederick University they must submit to the Admission Office the following:

• A fully completed application form.
• An application fee of Euro 25 (non-refundable).
• Attested (certified true) copies of their academic qualifications.
• Evidence of proficiency in English, (if available).
• A photocopy of their passport. The passport should be valid for at least one year from the date of their arrival to Cyprus.
• A recent certificate of good conduct issued by the police of the candidate’s country of origin or residence, if necessary translated in Greek or English. The good conduct certificate should be original and issued less than 6 months prior to the beginning of the semester for which the student is applying. The names and titles of the persons issuing and certifying the document should be clearly stated therein.

Furthermore, they must pay the registration fee, the semester tuition fees, and register for subjects. Next they must apply to the Migration Department for a temporary residence permit. The application to the Migration Department must be supported by evidence that they have paid their tuition fees for the semester, have enough funds for their initial living expenses and have obtained local health insurance coverage.

B. Applicants from non EU countries
International Students from non EU countries need to have a valid student visa in order to be allowed to enter Cyprus. The issue of an entry visa takes about 6 weeks from the date of the submission of the application. It is therefore recommended that candidates submit their application at least 8 weeks before the beginning of the semester. Cyprus Migration Department requirements in respect of the issue of a student visa, which from time to time may be modified, are available to candidates in a separate document.

Once the Conditional Acceptance Letter is issued by the University, the prospective student is directed
by an Admissions Officer to send to the University several documents by email and then by courier.
The documents are as follows:
1. Original attested passport copy must be valid for 2 years
2. Original attested copy of High School Leaving Certificate and mark sheets
3. Original attested Police Clearance Certificate must be valid for 6 months
4. Original attested bank letter showing that the student’s sponsor has the financial ability to
support tuition fees and leaving expenses must be valid for 6 months
5. Original attested bank statement which clearly shows the minimum amount of €7,000 in the
sponsor’s account must be valid for 1 month
6. Original attested chest X-ray report for Tuberculosis must be valid for 4 months
7. Original attested blood test results for HIV, Syphilis, Hepatitis B and C must be valid for 4
months
8. Attested document of parental consent for the student’s proposed stay in Cyprus and its
official translation in Greek or English– only for applicants below the age of 18 years
(minors).
9. Attested reports of medical tests showing that they are not suffering from Hepatitis B,
Hepatitis C, HIV, Syphilis and a chest X-ray report.
10. A recent certificate of good conduct issued by the police of the candidate’s country of
origin or residence, if necessary translated in Greek or English. The good conduct
certificate should be original and issued less than 6 months prior to the beginning of the
semester for which the student is applying. The names and titles of the persons issuing
and certifying the document should be clearly stated therein.
11. Attested letter from a bank in the country of origin or residence stating that the student or
his/her parent (s) – full names to be mentioned – have the financial capability to cover the
cost of living and studying in Cyprus, and the student’s repatriation cost, as well as recent
bank statement showing a balance of at least €7000 (seven thousand Euro).

It is estimated that, on average, a student spends about 600 Euro per month for private accommodation, utilities, food and transportation. Of course, a budget is a very personal thing, depending on one’s preferences.

Full time students from non EU countries are entitled to seek employment of 20 hours per week during the study period, provided that the employment hours will not coincide with their study hours at the University, or 38 hours per week during their holidays. The right to employment starts after the completion of six months study and residence in Cyprus. 

Scholarships aim is to support young people with capabilities to distinguish and to contribute to the development and social progress.

The university offers full and partial scholarships to incoming students based on the academic merit of the high school performance. The University also has in place a scholarship scheme for continuing students which reduces tuition fees based on the GPA achieved by the student. The percentage of reduction is related to the GPA achieved.

Additionally, Frederick University has a broad range of scholarships to athletes.