Show admissions tutors you understand something about the fashion, textiles, and jewellery industry. Write about what excites you about studying the subject, and give an insight into who you are and why you’re suited to it.
-
Think about why you want to study the subject
- Have you been inspired by someone, a news story, a documentary, or a podcast?
- Do you have career aspirations in this area of study?
- What interests you about the subject – be specific; rather than saying you enjoy it or are good at it, try to explain the ‘why’ behind your reasoning.
- What do you already know about the subject and what are you looking forward to learning more about?
-
What makes you suitable to study the subject?
- Have you done projects or essays in this subject at school or college?
- Think about who you are as a person; your personality, your strengths, your experiences in life – how do these make you suited to study the subject?
- How have you shown an interest in the subject outside of school or college – have you done extra reading, online courses, been part of clubs or competitions?
- Your current subjects and grades will be included elsewhere in your application, so try to think about specific things you’ve learned during your studies that relate to the subject, rather than listing your grades and subjects.
-
Look at the bigger picture
- Have you done any work experience, an internship or had a part-time job in this subject area or related? Most job or work experience will give you transferable skills, even if it’s in a different industry.
- Do you have any hobbies you can mention that might relate to your chosen subject? Many hobbies show that you can be motivated outside of school to achieve and succeed in something you’re interested in.
- Think about how your life and personal experiences have helped make you the person you are today, and how these challenges and experiences can support your application by evidencing essential qualities for certain subjects.
- If you’ve got ambitions and goals for your life and career, can you express how this subject will help you reach these goals?
Guidance and examples you can use
Question 1: Why do you want to study this course or subject?
This is your opportunity to showcase your passion and knowledge of your chosen subject area and to demonstrate to universities and colleges why it’s a good fit for you and your future ambitions.
Examples:
- Give evidence of what’s sparked your interest in fashion, textiles, and jewellery. Do you follow a particular fashion designer or brand? If so, what is it about the way they create clothes, textiles, or jewellery that’s made you want to work in this industry?
- Why would studying this subject suit you? Maybe you enjoy customising clothes or upcycling metals into jewellery and you want to turn that into a career or perhaps you’ve always been creative and good at fashion drawing, and that’s where your interests lie.
- Show you’ve done some research of your own too – whether that’s insight you’ve gained into how the fashion industry works, and what makes certain brands or businesses successful. Elaborate on where you see yourself fitting in the industry, whether it’s as a designer, business manager, or in sales.
Question 2: How have your qualifications and studies helped you to prepare for this course or subject?
This is your chance to shout about the relevant or transferable skills you’ve gained from your formal education and highlight your understanding of how they will help you succeed in this subject area.
Examples:
- Check the course entry requirements, as they may ask for certain subjects at A level or equivalent, but regardless think about the creative and technical skills you’ll have picked up from studying subjects like art, design technology, and IT, for example, and how they’ll help you during a fashion, textiles, and jewellery degree.
- You’ll have also gained other relevant skills during your studies, such as good time management, project management, independence, and group working skills.
- Have you done any online courses to boost your knowledge in the subject? For example, why not try Subject Spotlights or Virtual Work Experiences from Springpod to grow your skills and interest?
Question 3: What else have you done to prepare outside of education, and why are these experiences useful?
This is your chance to talk about any other activities you have undertaken outside of your formal education, or personal experiences which further demonstrate your suitability for the course. This section is likely to be highly personal to you and anything you do include should reflect on why you’re including it.
Examples:
- Showcase any relevant hobbies or skills you enjoy, whether that’s sewing, using computer-aided design (CAD), life drawing, or jewellery design. You may also have other interests like creative writing, crochet, or model-making, which show you have imagination and a commitment to seeing things through to completion.
- If you’ve had part-time or weekend jobs, think about the skills you’ve picked up. For example, if you’ve worked at a garden centre, shop or restaurant, you’ll have learned some sales skills, as well as interpersonal skills and good time management.
- Think what else makes you suited to a course like this. You may read fashion magazines, and be up-to-date with the latest trends, and challenges. You may have already started your own business selling jewellery or textiles on Etsy or eBay. If you have managed to get any work experience at a jeweller’s, textiles firm, or fashion designer’s, make sure you write about that too.
- Do relate any examples back to the subject you’re applying to – make it relevant
- Do make it personal – admissions staff want to get to know who you are
- Do use a spell-checker and grammar-checker to ensure there are no errors
- Do ask people for feedback, whether that’s family members or teachers
- Do your research to find out what universities are looking for, and make sure you include evidence to show how you are suitable for the course
- Don’t just list out examples, subjects you study, or experiences you’ve had without any evidence
- Don’t copy something you’ve seen online or use AI to write something for you
- Don’t make things up just because you think they’ll make you look good on paper
- Don’t leave it until the last minute – you need time for several drafts
- Don’t worry about making each section the same length; as long as you hit the minimum character count, you can use the 4,000 characters across each answer in the way that suits you best
Admissions tutors will be looking for creative flair and innovation
If you love going to exhibitions and you’ve got a favourite designer or museum, critique something you’ve seen. If you’re into history, perhaps you’re fascinated by the fashions of the Tudor or the Edwardian era, and can expand on that. Or maybe you’ve seen the textile machines at Bradford Industrial Museum or Quarry Bank Mill and you started researching how fabrics are made and experimented with weaving yourself.
Think about your personal qualities too, whether you’ve got good analytical skills, attention to detail or just drive and commitment. You could demonstrate this through other hobbies and interests you have, whether that’s playing a sport, teaching yourself to code, or solving puzzles.
It's even better if you can link your interests and experience to something you've learned in your art, business, or design technology studies, seen at the Fashion and textile museum or the V&A, or read in Business of Fashion, The Jeweller, or embroidery magazine.
Some more tips to consider
- Research the course: Why do you want to study fashion, textiles, and jewellery, what specific aspects of the course interest you, how does it relate to your academic studies, and what additional reading or other activities have led you to apply? Make sure you tailor your statement to the course you’re applying for.
- Creativity and flair: Demonstrate your creative skills and ambitions with examples of things you’ve already made at home or in school/college.
- Make your work experience count: Mention any relevant work-shadowing or volunteering you’ve done at a tailor’s, textiles or fashion museum or factory, at a jeweller’s, or even for a fashion influencer, and make sure you spell out what you personally gained from it.
- Transferable skills: Whether through extracurricular or supercurricular activities, work experience, or a part-time job, you’ll have lots of skills that will be relevant to your course. If you’ve competed in a sport or been involved in a community project, how has it developed your interpersonal skills, persistence, and ability to work well on your own and as part of a wider group?