Applications to London College of Fashion go through UCAS; the equal consideration date for most courses for 2027 entry is 13 January 2027. BA Fashion Design and Development asks for 112 UCAS Tariff points or an IB of 25, a personal statement of up to 4,000 characters, a digital portfolio of up to 30 pages and, if invited, a 15–20 minute online interview; IELTS 6.0. The business courses have no portfolio stage and ask for IELTS 6.5. The international fee is £30,890 a year (September 2026 entry).
- City
- London, East Bank
- Status
- A college of University of the Arts London
- Length
- 3 years, or 4 with a placement year
- Application
- UCAS, 13 January 2027
- English
- IELTS 6.0 (design), 6.5 (business)
- International fee
- £30,890 a year
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How a Fashion Design and Development application works
- 01
The UCAS application
BA (Hons) Fashion Design and Development, UCAS code W241. Applications for 2027/28 entry open in autumn 2026.
- 02
The personal statement
A total limit of 4,000 characters; the statement goes to all five courses chosen in UCAS.
- 03
The digital portfolio
Uploaded through PebblePad: no more than 30 pages, focused on technical and practical skills, visual communication of ideas, work in progress and research into the cultural contexts of the contemporary industry.
- 04
The interview
After review, some applicants are invited to a 15–20 minute online interview.
- 05
Academic requirements
112 UCAS Tariff points from A levels, a Foundation Diploma in Art and Design at Distinction, a BTEC, or equivalent qualifications such as an IB of 25 points.
- 06
English
IELTS 6.0, with at least 5.5 in each component.
What this means for an international applicant
LCF lists A levels, the IB, BTEC and the Foundation Diploma, and then “equivalent EU or non-EU qualifications”. Whether a particular national certificate counts is decided by UAL country by country, and for an applicant from an eleven-year school system it is the first thing we check. A common answer is a year on UAL’s Foundation Diploma in Art and Design, which also builds the portfolio.
LCF and Central Saint Martins are colleges of the same university, but their portfolios differ: LCF looks at how things are made and how the applicant works with their hands; CSM looks for experiment and the development of an idea. The same body of work has to be re-edited for each.
Design and business: two different applications
The Fashion Design and Development portfolio runs to 30 pages. It should show technique (construction, sewing, work in progress) and research into the cultural context of today’s industry.
BSc Fashion Management, BA Fashion Marketing and BA Fashion Buying and Merchandising have no portfolio stage. Selection rests on the academic record, the UCAS personal statement and the reference, possibly with an online interview; IELTS 6.5 with at least 5.5 in each component. Numeracy, analytical thinking and an understanding of how the industry works count.
How much London College of Fashion costs
UAL bachelor’s study, September 2026 entry: £30,890 a year for an international student and £9,790 for a Home student. UAL notes that fees for September 2027 entry may change, and that international fees may rise by up to 5% in each later year of the course.
For design, the college lists extra costs such as a sewing machine from £150 and basic pattern-cutting and sewing equipment from £140.
UAL’s Foundation Diploma in Art and Design costs £24,660 for an international student.
Common mistakes
- Sending LCF a portfolio built for CSM, without technical work.
- Not checking in advance whether the school certificate is accepted without a foundation year.
- Writing a personal statement only about design when the UCAS list includes business courses: one statement serves all five choices.
- Waiting for applications to open before starting the portfolio.
Who it suits
- An applicant for whom craft and industry matter: construction, making, production.
- Those heading into fashion business who want to study in London without a portfolio.
- If experiment and concept matter more, compare LCF with Central Saint Martins.
How this school compares: portfolio, set tasks, interview, language and fees at 13 schools in Italy, the UK, France and the US in the EDMONT Fashion Admissions Matrix.Fashion Admissions Matrix 2027