Bachelor of Sustainable Fashion Design

Course Overview

The Bachelor of Sustainable Fashion Design programme addresses the belief that if we care for the land and the people, we ensure our stakeholders are better stewards of the planet and are more responsible towards ensuring a sustainable and progressive future for the fashion industry. We take pride in providing an educational environment that values and fosters in students and staff Manaakitanga (mutual respect, care, and support), wisdom, courage, agility, and integrity. We provide a collaborative learning and educational environment that values and fosters creative minds to become responsible individuals, by weaving the concepts and values of Whitecliffe and Te Tiriti o Waitangi - protection, participation, and partnership.

The programme acknowledges the urgent need to address the negative environmental and social impact of the fashion industry. The programme redesigns the value of fashion by challenging the conventional ways the industry operates by integrating skills and knowledge of sustainable and innovative design theories and practices to promote learning relevant to the future of sustainable and ethical fashion. The programme offers rich learning opportunities that inspire critical and creative thinkers as future change-makers, enabling them to address the need for rapid, positive, restorative, and regenerative design solutions, through individual and expressive outcomes.

The programme provides an opportunity for students to draw upon their cultural knowledge, social issues, and values and their local community context/s, to be involved in, and to increase their awareness of wider issues within the local and global fashion industry and subsequently, to inform their contribution to this rapidly-changing industry. Students are encouraged to be confident to express their perspectives while developing their ability to be critically reflective and responsive to the broader contexts of influence and significance relevant to their own practice and individual creative inquiry. The programme emphasises ongoing development of attitudes, values, and self-awareness as a foundation for continuing personal and professional effectiveness and growth.

General Eligibility

Domestic Student Entry Requirements:

• Completed application form

• Applicants must demonstrate an ability to undertake degree level study, including appropriate knowledge and skills in the areas of written communication and mathematics, by having achieved:

  • University Entrance: NCEA Level 3 or above and 20 credits at NCEA Level 2 or above, including: NCEA Level 3; 14 credits each in three approved subjects and UE Literacy (NCEA Level 2 or above; 10 credits with 5 credits each in reading and writing) and UE Numeracy (NCEA Level 1 or above; 10 credits) OR

  • New Zealand Certificate in Apparel and Fashion

  • Technology qualifications (Level 4) OR

  • New Zealand Certificate in Arts and Design (Level 4) OR

  • New Zealand Certificate in Digital Media and Design (Level 4) OR

  • A New Zealand or overseas qualification assessed to be equivalent to the above by the Head of School OR

  • Passes in other certificate/diploma qualifications or courses as considered appropriate by the Head of School

• Applicants who do not meet the above criteria may be eligible for admission with the approval of the Head of School

• Interview: Applicants are required to attend an interview to determine their suitability for the programme. During the interview, the applicant will be assessed against the following aspects to determine their admission into the programme:

  • Portfolio

  • Letter of Intent

• Portfolio: present 12-24 representative examples of creative work that reflect skills and potential to successfully complete the programme

• Letter of Intent: write a 250-word letter of intent about why you want to enrol in the programme.

International Student Entry Requirements:

• Completed application form

• Passport copy

• Minimum age: International students must be at least 18 years of age during their first semester of study.

• IELTS Academic overall score of 6.0 with no band less than 5.5 or equivalent

• Academic Transcripts: School or previous tertiary results

• Interview: Applicants are required to attend an interview to determine their suitability for the programme.

• During the interview, the applicant will be assessed against the following aspects to determine their admission to the programme:

  • Portfolio

  • Letter of Intent

• Interviews of International students can be conducted by phone or skype. Portfolios can be provided in digital format.

• Portfolio: present 12 – 24 representative samples of creative work that reflect skills and potential to successfully complete the programme

• Letter of Intent: write a 250-word letter of intent about why they want to enrol in the programme.

• Full-time study: International students enrolled into a degree or higher-level programme, including low residence and/or online or blended learning delivery, will be required to enrol into 60 credits per semester and meet the attendance requirements of the programme.

Part Time Work Details

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Language Requirement

• IELTS Academic overall score of 6.0 with no band less than 5.5 or equivalent