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BA (Hons)Fashion Styling and Creative Direction
Apply on UCAS
- 2025
- 2026
- 3 years
- 4 years with foundation year
UCAS code: FSC1
Institution code: S30
UCAS points: 104-120Flexible entry options available
Campus: Southampton City CentreView on Google Maps
Why study a fashion styling and creative direction degree at Solent University
Perfect your skills in styling and art direction, make-up and hair direction, photography, retouching, trend forecasting, and branding to begin your career as a fashion stylist or creative director.
- Top0in the UK for learning resources in design studies, out of 78 institutions (NSS 2024)
- 0%positivity score for academic support (NSS 2024)
- 0%positivity score for teaching on the course (NSS 2024)
- Solent is ranked in the UK's Top 10 for satisfaction with teaching in fashion and textiles (out of 46 institutions) (The Guardian University Guide 2025).
- Gain 100 hours of work-based learning for your CV before you even graduate, helping to ensure you finish your studies with the experience employers are looking for.
- Learn from a course team that includes award-winning industry professionals who have worked with some of the world's leading fashion magazines, brands, and designers.
- Feature your work in our annual high-end fashion publication, 'anon' giving you the perfect tool to showcase your creations.
- Access to a range of specialist facilities, including a make-up and hair studio with industry-standard airbrush guns and studio lighting; modern photography studios; a comprehensive media loans scheme; and a range of well-equipped IT labs.
- Immerse yourself in a creative, multi-disciplinary environment for world-leading research in media, culture and the arts – you'll learn from experts in their field.
- As a future stylist and image-maker, you will be encouraged to use vintage and second-hand clothing to produce innovative and creative photography shoots for your projects.
- You'll have use of a dedicated Fashion Wardrobe to borrow items from for projects.
- You’ll be assigned a personal tutor who can assist you with pastoral support to help you make the most of your learning.
- Every student at Solent University will also have the option to study an additional Certificate in Practical Artificial Intelligence qualification alongside their course. Free of charge, the course ensures you'll be prepared for a fantastic and varied career after graduation.
Course overview
From planning creative concepts, scouting models and locations, to selecting clothes and accessories for photoshoots, a fashion stylist and creative director is the ultimate multitasker.
Throughout this course you'll acquire skills not only in styling, but also in make-up and hair, photography, retouching, trend forecasting and branding – making you a complete fashion stylist or creative director with the skillset to become a distinctive and visionary voice within the fashion industry.
You'll be supported to increase confidence in your understanding and use of independent learning and show an awareness of professional and personal development. And you'll be taught how to professionally apply the practical and technical skills developed throughout your studies for a diverse range of media and design platforms.
Crucial for this is collaboration and working as part of a creative team, with the ability to have an open and flexible approach to ideas. You will be encouraged to show initiative and demonstrate the ability to research and discuss sociocultural issues and perspectives that are related to the progression of visual design practice.
You'll evaluate both contemporary, and historical fashion and lifestyle trends for the formulation of creative and visual communication. And throughout this process, will practice self-reflection and critically challenge your own work and that of others, to develop a deeper understanding of your own development as a creative practitioner while being conscious and aware of how their work and research can impact on the wider community, both locally and globally.
To enhance your learning, you'll have access to specialist hair and make-up studios which boast airbrush guns, studio lights and other industry-standard fixtures. And you'll have use of our large professional photographic studios and infinity cove studio. You'll also be able to use other professional-standard facilities, including a digital reprographics lab, colour and black-and-white darkrooms, finishing and film processing rooms, and a multimedia lab featuring 24 iMacs with Adobe Creative Suite and Final Cut Pro
You'll also be taught by award-winning industry professionals who have worked with some of the world’s leading fashion magazines, brands and designers, including UK Vogue, US Vogue, Glamour, Alexander McQueen, Paul Smith, ELLE, The Guardian, and The Observer.
Work from our final year students across our fashion-related degrees is showcased at Graduate Fashion Week (GFW). In 2023, seven students have been shortlisted by the Graduate Fashion Foundation across a number of different categories at the GFW23 awards. Read more about the students and their work.
Any questions?
Contact international admissions
Email: Call:Course features
Foundation year available
If you're not quite ready for a full undergraduate degree, there's alternative entry through one of our foundation years
Further studies
After successfully completing your studies, there's an opportunity to continue your studies at Solent
Specialist facilities
This course has access to specialist facilities
Top-up option
If you have an appropriate Level 5 qualification, you can top it up to a degree in just a year
Study abroad
You have the opportunity to study abroad in one of our partner universities for a semester on this course
Who is this course for?
This course is suited to students who want to hone their creative skills, and learn how to channel these into the hands-on development of visual concepts.
Applicants should have a keen and broad interest in the creative industries, from fashion and design, to art and graphics, and will need to show a varied portfolio of both visual and written work upon application.
What does this course lead to?
The course can lead to a wide range of exciting career prospects in roles such as magazine editor, brand consultant, art director, catwalk stylist, celebrity stylist, studio manager, content creator and e-commerce styling.
Recent graduates have gained career opportunities at Vogue UK, The Great Frog, FatFace, Trendstop, COS, Graduate Fashion Foundation and Named Models. Our alumni also include those who have created their own career and business opportunities through freelance editorial styling, photography and journalism.
Graduate stories
Hear from Solent alumni about where their careers have taken them and how studying at Solent prepared them for their future.
Read more storiesMeet the team
The course teaching team maintain close links with the industry, giving students access to unique industry insight from a range of high-profile guest speakers.
The University cannot guarantee any particular members of staff will teach specific aspects of the course in the future, but will endeavour to ensure the teaching team maintains their balance of experience and qualifications.
Facilities
You’ll have access to a specialist make-up and hair studio with industry-standard airbrush guns and studio lighting; modern photography studios; a comprehensive media loans scheme; and a range of well-equipped IT labs.
Our vibrant campus brings state-of-the-art facilities to enhance your learning and elevate your student experience. Our award-winning teaching building, The Spark is centred around students and offers a stimulating study environment with flexible learning spaces. Away from studying, why not try out the gyms, fitness studios and sports halls in our £28 million Sports Complex, or watch a blockbuster film at our student-run cinema with Dolby Atmos audio.
International opportunities
Broaden your horizons by adding an international dimension to your CV – essential to achieving success in today’s fast-changing, global environment.
Studying, working or volunteering in another country could be the experience of a lifetime. Enhance your degree by developing important global skills such as knowledge of other countries, language skills, intercultural awareness, adaptability and confidence.
For more information, please email international.mobility@solent.ac.uk.
What you'll study
Core modules
Style Cultures
It is important to look at cultural and socio-economic phenomena with a critical eye, and this module will teach you how to do just that. You will practice how to analyse and discuss contemporary culture and its historical foundations, and understand how art can interpret and reflect the worries and desires of a particular society.
Creating Beauty
You will learn the central skills required when capturing beauty image and moving media, the processes explored in seminar and through lectures will look at historical understanding of beauty and the contemporary industry imagery that informs trend-led ideas and outcomes. This will introduce you to fundamental knowledge of how to link your technical photography and fashion research when creating beauty-focused imagery for editorial and advertising purposes.
Editorial Fashion
This module will provide you with an in-depth understanding of editorial fashion, target audiences and aesthetic principles. Understanding a broad range of aspects when it comes to magazine production and publishing, will equip you with the necessary knowledge needed to make well-informed creative decisions when creating work for any publication in industry.
Reading Pictures
This module will change the way you look at images. It will allow you to better understand the meaning of images and their place in the world. You’ll learn to read the content of images, going beyond the surface to the underlying message. You’ll also learn to look at images from a theoretical point of view and use this deeper understanding of images in the creation of your own written and practical work.
Icons and Image
When producing editorial content intended for publishing, the creative process is vital in capturing an exciting and visually stimulating outcome. In this module, you'll learn the fundamentals of styling and concept development, understanding the practicalities of historical contexts, including photography, fashion styling and beauty related media. Through related technical sessions you'll build a foundation of skills to aid the production of photoshoots and design-focused layouts. Through this, you'll gain a vital understanding of processes important to the publishing industry, and thinking how an image will be used, to give you a deeper understanding of design contexts.
Making Pictures
Photography, studio, and post-production techniques are constantly developing and changing, thanks to the continuous advancement in technology and social and cultural trends in media and design. Gaining a solid foundation in the fundamental skills needed to shoot successful visuals in a photography studio environment, along with the introduction and exploration of post-production techniques are key to preparing you for your creative development. During this module, you'll be introduced to the vast array of approaches in image making, breaking down each element to form an understanding of how the parts make up the whole. You'll also discover the important relationship between lighting, model choice, and direction, along with post-production and make-up/hair/fashion styling, and how they complement or restrict one another. You’ll develop and hone your skills in moodboard design and concept development, helping you to visualise your initial ideas and create strong final outcomes.
How you will learn and be assessed
You will learn by:
You will be assessed by:
- Assignments
- Final major project
Solent’s curriculum framework builds on our unique, creative and applied approach to teaching. The transformation of students’ lives is at the heart of our mission as a university, and our curriculum – informed by the latest theory – reflects this shared educational vision.
Find out more
Study support
The student achievement team are on hand to help you succeed during your studies at Solent. They aim to contact you at key times during your time here with personalised information, advice and guidance, by email or phone.
The disability advice team provides information, advice and guidance for disabled students.
All students can access Succeed@Solent, Solent's online guide to getting better grades. It offers extensive, practical information and advice on topics such as academic writing, research and presentations.
Why choose the industry?
The fashion industry is constantly developing and changing, thanks to the continuous advancement in technology and social and cultural trends in media and design. Gaining a solid foundation in the fundamental styling skills and ability needed to shoot successful visuals in a photography studio environment, along with the introduction and exploration of post-production techniques are key to preparing you for your creative development throughout your degree course. The skills delivered on this course go beyond producing editorial fashion shoots and stresses advertising campaigns, and experimental or commercial moving image.
You could earn:
Stylist
Senior stylist: £23,000 to £30,000
Employed junior stylists can expect to earn in the region of £18,000 to £20,000. Senior stylists earn higher salaries of between £23,000 and £30,000. Being a freelancer is very common in this industry, and as a freelancer you'll be paid either a daily or hourly rate. An assistant stylist can earn anything from £50 to £150 per day, but if paid hourly, this is in the region of £7.70 to £8.20 per hour.
Photographer
Typical salary: £25,000 to £65,000
Many entrants to the profession start as assistants, where salaries can be set at the national minimum wage. In full-time employment, early career salaries are typically between £16,000 and £22,000. Salaries can increase to anywhere from £25,000 to £65,000. The top end of the scale is typically for those who have a strong reputation and are highly sought-after, which takes years of experience. As a freelance photographer, your earnings are linked to what you can charge and how much work you can secure.
Make-up artist
Per day: £275
Make-up artists working in fashion can earn £450 a day for an event like London Fashion Week, and around £275 for other events. For fashion editorial work head make-up artists earn £170 to £320 per day, depending on the designer. On major feature films, with budgets over £30million, a trainee make-up artist can earn £140 for a ten-hour day, while a key hair and make-up artist with several years' experience, will earn £410.
The stated salaries are published on prospects.ac.uk.
Graduate stories
Hear from Solent alumni about where their careers have taken them and how studying at Solent prepared them for their future.
Read more stories“The one-to-one tutor sessions give you great guidance and support when you need it.”
Solent Careers
The Solent Careers team is committed to getting students into great careers.
While you are studying, the team can help you with finding work experience or placements, link you with a mentor, check your CV, or offer one-to-one guidance.
We also have graduate job opportunities just for Solent graduates.
6th
UK uni for sustained employment
Longitudinal Educational Outcomes, 2022
Certificate in Practical Artificial Intelligence
Every student at Solent University will also have the option to study an additional Certificate in Practical Artificial Intelligence qualification alongside their course. Free of charge, the course ensures you'll be prepared for a fantastic and varied career after graduation.
Further study
Thinking about studying further than an undergraduate degree? Alumni can get 20% off their postgraduate study.
MA Creative Direction for Fashion and Beauty
Take charge and lead a wealth of fashion and beauty brands to success with your innovative and creative vision on this practice-based master's degree.
MA Make-up and Hair Design Futures
Explore the rapidly evolving field of designing for future bodies, beauty cultures and creature design using speculative design strategies and augmented realities
MA Visual Communication
Do you have an eye for design? Would you like to help influence the future of visual communications? Our MA Visual Communication degree is ideal for creatives keen to refine their practice, working as part of an interdisciplinary group of students.
Tuition fees
The tuition fees for the 2025/26 academic year are:
- UK, ROI, EU (settled status) and Channel Island full-time fees: £9,535 per year
- International full-time fees: £17,750 per year
For further information, please visit our tuition fees page.
Extra course costs
While most course costs are covered by your tuition fees, some essential resources and optional extras may need to be paid for separately. These additional costs are listed below. For advice on budgeting and managing your money, please contact student.funding@solent.ac.uk.
The 2025/26 other costs are not yet available. For guidance, the 2024/25 costs were:
Compulsory costs
- Year one
Make-up kit, hair kit: approx £250
Compulsory memory sticks and printing, workbooks: £50 - Year two
Digital equipment, course materials, and printing: £150 - £200 - Year three
Digital printing, final major project, workbooks, memory sticks, and printing: £100 - £300
Optional costs
- Year one
Study trips: approx £300 - Year two
Study trips: approx £300-£800 - Year three
Study trips: approx £800-£1,250
Bursaries, scholarships and financial support
Solent University offers a range of bursaries and scholarships that provide financial assistance or waive fees for tuition or accommodation. Each bursary or scholarship has specific eligibility criteria. Check out our bursaries and scholarships pages to find out more.
Solent EU Welcome Scholarship (Fee Discount)
This scholarship is available to students from an EU country, with EU nationality, who are applying for an undergraduate course starting in September 2025. The scholarship will reduce your tuition fees to £10,500 per year - this includes foundation years.
Find out more about the scholarship
Cost of living support
At Solent, we understand that the cost of living crisis may be of some concern. To help, we've put together some detailed information to show what support is available and how to make your money go further.
Graduation costs
There is no charge to attend graduation, but you will be required to pay for the rental of your academic gown (approximately £45 per graduate, depending on your award). You may also wish to purchase official photography packages, which range in price from £15 to £200+. Graduation is not compulsory, so if you prefer to have your award sent to you, there is no cost. Extra guest tickets will go on sale after results publication and will be sold on a first-come-first-served basis. The cost per ticket is currently £15. Please note, we do not guarantee there will be any extra tickets available to purchase.
Student finance videos
Student finance Video transcript, with a description of visuals available.Student funding - the essentials Video transcript, with a description of visuals available.
Entry requirements
Please select an option below:
Key entry requirements
104-120 UCAS tariff points
- A minimum of two completed A-levels, a BTEC Extended Diploma at DMM or BTEC Diploma at D*D or equivalent qualification, or a combination of qualifications which comply with the minimum entry requirement of 104 UCAS points.
- Direct entry into the second or third years may be considered for this course
- UK applicants are required to send an electronic portfolio.
- Applicants from outside the UK will be required to send an electronic portfolio.
- Applicants over the age of 21 may be considered based on relevant experience, without having the required tariff points.
- For further information about UK qualifications, please contact admissions.
Key entry requirements
As a general guide, we look for qualifications that are equivalent to the British high school A-levels.
Applicants from outside the UK will be required to submit an electronic portfolio for consideration.
If you are applying from outside the UK, find information about entry requirements, visas and agents for your country here.
For further information about EU qualifications, please see our course entry requirements document.
For international students who do not meet the direct entry requirements for this undergraduate degree, our trusted partner, QA Higher Education offers the following pathway programme designed to develop your academic and English language skills:
- International Foundation Year - for progression to the first year of an undergraduate degree
Key entry requirements
As a general guide, we look for qualifications that are equivalent to the British high school A-levels.
Applicants from outside the UK will be required to submit an electronic portfolio for consideration.
If you are applying from outside the UK, find information about entry requirements, visas and agents for your country here.
For further information about UK, EU and international qualifications, please see our course entry requirements document.
For international students who do not meet the direct entry requirements for this undergraduate degree, our trusted partner, QA Higher Education offers the following pathway programme designed to develop your academic and English language skills:
- International Foundation Year - for progression to the first year of an undergraduate degree
Note to all international students requiring a visa
All international applicants need to be aware that the English language requirements to attend Solent University, and the English language requirements to obtain a visa from the Home Office, may be different. This means that if you meet the Solent University language requirement to gain a place on the course, you may still have to meet additional requirements to be granted with a visa by the Home Office.
We strongly advise all applicants to visit the Home Office website which outlines all the requirements for a successful visa application.
104-120UCAS points
Any questions?
Contact international admissions
Email: Call:How to apply
Full-time
Any student applying for the first year of a full-time/sandwich undergraduate course must apply through UCAS (University and Colleges Admissions Service). This includes mature, overseas and EU students.
Nearly all schools and colleges offer their students the facility of applying electronically through the UCAS website using 'Apply'; it may also be used by those applying independently in the UK and overseas. This facility and all course information can be found on the UCAS website: www.ucas.com.
Your application should reach UCAS by 31 January if you hope to enter a course the following autumn. Early application is advised for the most popular subject areas. Late applications may be made until the end of June. The UCAS Code for the University is S30, code name SOLNT.
Find out what happens after you apply
Contextual offers
Solent endeavours to offer learning opportunities to students from all backgrounds. When we receive and review an application, we take into consideration the context and personal circumstances of applicants when making a decision, which means our advertised entry tariff could be reduced.
Alternative entry options
Top-up route:
We welcome applications from students currently studying a Foundation Degree, DipHE, HNC, HND or modules of an undergraduate degree course at another university, who wish to enter directly into Years 2 or 3 of one of our undergraduate degree courses. Please contact our admissions team for more information: contact us
Language requirements
Applicants who do not have English as their first language will be required to demonstrate an approved level of proficiency in the use of the English language. The agreed minimum requirements for this course are:
- IELTS minimum 6.0 overall with a minimum of 5.5 in each individual component
- TOEFL IBT minimum 80 with a minimum of 20 in each individual component
- Duolingo English Language Test - 115 overall with minimum of 95 in each component or equivalent.
Qualifications are checked before enrolment, and international students must bring their original certificates or certified copies when coming to study at the University.
Pre-Sessional English programme
The University also offers a pre-sessional English programme for international students who wish to improve their level of English before starting a degree course.
Make your application
- 3 years
- 4 years with foundation year
