Fashion Design
www.ufv.ca/fashion

Fashion Design diploma

Entrance requirements

1. B.C. secondary school graduation or equivalent or 19 years or older before the first day of classes.

2. You must attend an orientation session and a personal interview with the program faculty, at which time your strengths and weaknesses are assessed. The personal interview will consider:
  a. Level of creativity: a portfolio of work containing 15-20 original pieces. Work should be recent and varied in nature:
    • Art/Fine art work — painting, sketches, drawings, prints, in a variety of mediums.
    • Craft work — embroidery, weaving, fabric arts, knitting, macramé, beadwork, etc.
    • Applied Art — photography, pottery, 3D sculpture, models, etc.
  b. Technical skills: minimum of four different garments (e.g., blouse, dress, skirt, pants, suit, etc.) demonstrating a range of techniques to include darts, zippers, pockets, sleeves and collars.
    • Mechanical drafts — of buildings, industrial designs, garment patterns, etc.
  c. Communication skills: immediately prior to the interview, you will be required to write a brief paragraph on a selected topic.
  d. Math skills: a short math test involving addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division of fractions and decimals will be administered at the same time.

Note: Calculators are allowed.

Note: Basic computer skills are required.

Applicants will be evaluated on the following point system:

A minimum score of 70% qualifies you for acceptance into the program.

Students who do not meet these requirements might consider the Arts Studies program path.

How to apply

1. Submit the application fee along with your UCFV application for admission form to the Admissions and Records (A&R) office. Application forms are available from any A&R or Student Services office. You can also print an application form from our website at www.ufv.ca/ar, or you can apply directly through the internet at www.pas.bc.ca. See the Program Charts for a complete list of application dates and general admission information.

Additional documents required for a complete application:
• proof of B.C. secondary school graduation or equivalent if not 19 years of age or older

2. You will be informed of an orientation session which you must attend, as the personal interview appointments are set up at this time. If it is absolutely impossible for you to attend the orientation, please contact the department assistant to book an appointment. During your interview, which is approximately 30 minutes long, you are asked to present your portfolio and a minimum of four different garments that you have sewn. Letters of reference from teachers, employers, and club leaders would assist in assessing points and should accompany the portfolio.

3. Upon admission to the program you will be provided with registration information. A deposit is required when you register (see the Fees and Other Costs section). This money will be applied toward your tuition fees. Final payment of all course fees is due the end of the second week of classes.

If this program is full, or you are waiting to find out about your admission to the program, you will be given an opportunity to register as an Arts Studies student. It is not necessary to submit a separate application form. If you meet the entrance requirements and a space becomes available later, you will be contacted.

4. For students under 19 years of age, admission is conditional upon B.C. secondary school graduation. Proof of completion of entrance requirements is due the end of the first week in August.

Basis for admission decision

Applicants who meet the entrance requirements will be admitted in order of their application date. This date is set when an application, all required documentation, and the application fee have been submitted.

Fees and additional costs

See the Fees and Other Costs section.

In addition to the tuition fees, it is estimated that the following costs will apply to the full-time student, plus additional costs for elective courses.

Fashion Design — First year approximate cost

Fashion Design — Second year

Equipment and supplies

A list of equipment and supplies will be distributed at first class. Most are available from the UCFV bookstore.

Supply fees cover the cost of pre-packaged kits which contain the basic supplies and sample sets for each course and are available from the instructor. They range between $25 and $50, depending on the course. Not all courses have a supply fee.

Location

Abbotsford campus.

Workload

Twenty hours per week of classroom time is scheduled in the first year of the program and 15 hours in the second, with additional time up to 24 hours depending on the electives or options selected.

In addition to scheduled classroom time, students are expected to take advantage of the fashion lab time (a minimum of 15 hours per week) to keep up with the workload.

Expectations

Deadlines are strictly adhered to as success in the industry relies heavily on the meeting of deadlines and delivery dates.

Regular attendance is mandatory. Penalties for late arrivals and absenteeism without reason might include a reduction of the final grade.

Students should not fall behind. Thirteen weeks per semester does not allow time to catch up. Also the design, drafting, and construction courses are so closely linked that a class missed in one area could set you back in the other two.

Students will benefit greatly from participating in extracurricular activities such as fashion shows and open houses, and are encouraged to do so. Time schedules and duties will be announced well in advance.

Transfer students and advanced standing

Applicants applying for transfer credits from another institution or advanced standing will be considered on an individual basis. Make an appointment to see the program head.

Re-application

Any student who has previously applied to the UCFV Fashion Design program but who did not register and wishes to re-apply for admission will follow the same procedures as a new applicant.

Graduation requirements

The Fashion Design diploma will be awarded to students who have successfully completed all required courses with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 (C), plus electives/ options to give a minimum total of 63 to 67 credits.

A minimum C- grade or the instructor’s permission is required in all courses that are listed as a prerequisite for advancement into the next level.

Program outline

Semester I

Semester II

Semester III

Semester IV

Note: Courses not requiring acceptance into the program may be taken individually.

In the second year, students may choose to specialize in one of the following options:

• General Fashion Design
• Textiles
• Marketing

Course listings

For complete details on courses see the course descriptions section.