HND Fashion Design
- Location
- Cardonald Campus
- SCQF Level
- 8
- Start Date
- 24 Aug 2026
- Qualification Type
- HND
- Course Type
- Full-Time
- Duration
- 2 Years (August to June)
If fashion is your passion and you want to develop the technical skills to get your ideas onto the catwalk, this exciting HND will be the right course for you. This course covers all aspects of the design process, from research and design development, fashion forecasting, commercial design and garment manufacture, right through to pattern cutting, fashion illustration and digital skills. You’ll develop your craft in industry-standard facilities that are some of the best in Scotland and you’ll also get the chance to work on live commercial briefs, before creating a final collection that showcases your originality, creativity and flair.
What will I learn?
The HND Fashion Design course is based on project and studio work and covers fashion drawing, design development, pattern drafting and manufacturing skills. In year one, you'll learn design development, CAD design, pattern cutting and garment manufacture using industrial methods. In year 2, you will become more independent in your approach to learning. You'll work on personal research and design projects using both traditional and digital media to illustrate your designs. You'll take your designs through to a final collection and be encouraged to challenge tried-and-tested methods of design and pattern cutting using complex and inventive cutting and garment construction techniques. Preparing you for moving on to university or directly into employment.
The course covers:
- Fashion design development
- Fashion illustration
- Fashion forecasting and research.
- Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator
- Commercial design
- Pattern development
- Industrial sewing techniques.
Progression from year 1 to 2nd year of the HND is not a guarantee and is dependent on suitable progression through course work, as well as satisfactory attendance, timekeeping and commitment.
If you are interested in this course and would like to know more, please view the course presentation below before making your application: .
Take a tour of facilities in the School of Fashion and Textiles here.
Entry requirements (minimum)
- One Higher at C pass or above in an art-related subject e.g Art & Design/Fashion & Textiles, or are working towards this qualification; OR
- Foundation in Fashion Textiles or Access to HND Fashion and Textiles, or equivalent
- Applications will be considered from those that do not meet the academic requirements if they can demonstrate some experience in the Textile/Fashion/ Design industry
- Relevant National Qualification or a Foundation/ Modern Apprenticeship.
The Scottish Credit and Qualifications (SCQF) Framework can help you to check if you're choosing the right level of study. Take a look at the SCQF Interactive Framework here.
If you do not meet the entry criteria for your chosen course, you may be offered an alternative course in the same subject area.
Employer and industry links
Our Fashion and Textiles courses regularly engage with industry and work on live projects as part of their studies.
UKFT
We are one of the only educational partners in Scotland within UKFT.
UKFT is the voice of UK fashion and textiles and is committed to creating the best environment for our industry. They represent the entire fashion and textile supply chain, promoting the fashion and textile industry in the UK and overseas.
They demonstrate the strategic and economic value of our vibrant industry to government and policymakers, ensuring the key issues are on the agenda. They champion our diverse and valuable industry through campaigns and key activities.
The key UK trade associations and organisations in fashion and textiles are Federated Members of UKFT, uniting the sector on common issues.
Find out more about UKFT here.
Trades House of Glasgow
We work closely with the Trades House of Glasgow and the affiliated Incorporations through the annual Craftex Awards and educational partnerships with the Incorporation of Weavers, Incorporation of Cordiners, Incorporation of Tailors and the Incorporation of Dyers and Bonnetmakers. Students benefit annually through sponsorship and awards.
Articulation Routes
Associate Programme Heriot-Watt University Borders Campus
Within the School of Fashion and Textiles, 40 students across year 1 and 2 of our Fashion and Textiles courses will enrol as Heriot-Watt Associate students each year. A further 40 students will be dual enrolled as Articulation Plus students.
This articulation opportunity is available to all students and offers a direct entry route into a degree programme out with the UCAS process.
For HND Fashion Design students, progression is into 3rd year of) BA (Hons) Fashion Design. Selection for this articulation route is made at the start of the HND Fashion Design course.
Once selected, articulation is guaranteed on successful completion of the two-year HND Programme and a B grade, or above, in Graded Unit year 1 and 2.
Grays School of Art
An articulation agreement is in place with Gray’s School of Art at Robert Gordon University Aberdeen. Successful HND Fashion Design students can progress to year 3 of the BA (Hons) Fashion and Textile Design degree programme. Entry will be dependent on:
Satisfactory completion of the above HND
– Grade A in the Graded Unit
– Attendance at interview may be required
– Portfolio review may be required
Jobs and further study
HND Fashion Design students’ progress to a number of degree courses across the UK. Offers for direct entry to university are subject to satisfactory progress, portfolio, and reference. Recent graduates from this course have progressed to:
- 2nd/3rd year entry to Heriot-Watt University for Fashion Design and Fashion Communication.
- 3rd year entry to BA Fashion Business at Glasgow Caledonian University
- 2nd year entry to Fashion at Glasgow School of Art
- 2nd year entry to BA Fashion Design at Edinburgh College of Art
- 2nd year entry to BA Performance Costume at Edinburgh College of Art
- 2nd year entry to BA Fashion at Northumbria University
- 1st year entry to BA Fashion at London College of Fashion
- 3rd year BSc. Education and Curricular Studies with Teaching Qualification Strathclyde University
- Modern Apprenticeship within the textile sector.
In addition, students have gone on to self-employment or employment in the fashion industry.
Take a look at the course progression map for fashion and textiles courses.
Glasgow Clyde College recent HND Fashion Design graduates include:
- Designer at Urban Outfitters
- Small Business Owner
- Menswear Designer for H&M.
- Junior designer menswear at Gianni Versace S.P.A
- Apparel Designer for Footasylum
- Designer at Alexander McQueen
- Junior designer with Quiz
- Designer at Under Armour
- Junior Designer at LF Fashion
- Menswear Designer at H&M
- Design lead at Hyper Island, Stockholm.
- Developer with Spoke
- Crowd Costume Coordinator at Left Bank Pictures Ltd
- Designer Paulin Watches
My world of work Business of Fashion
Check out our School of Fashion and Textiles website
Making an application
For courses starting in August, you can make up to two applications.
Applications are made to a course and a first choice of campus. If the course is oversubscribed at your first choice you will be automatically considered for alternative sites and may be made an offer without a further application.
I've applied — what happens next?
When you apply
You'll receive an automated email confirming that we have received your application (remember to check your SPAM folder).
Your application will be reviewed by the admissions team and you'll either be:
- Made a direct offer (unconditional or conditional)
- Invited to book an information session. At the information session you'll be given additional information about your course, have a tour of the facilities and meet the staff. It is essential that you attend this session.
- Advised that your application is unsuccessful – you have not met the entry requirements for this course and are advised to contact the College Student Advice Centres to discuss alternative options which may be available to you.
We aim not to reject an application and if you don’t meet the entry requirements you may be referred to a different course or level.
If you are invited to interview, you'll be informed of the outcome of your interview by email within 14 working days. The outcome will be one of the following:
- Unconditional offer of a place – you have met all the entry requirements and your place is guaranteed. You'll be required to accept this offer to secure your place.
- Conditional offer of a place – your place is secured pending you meeting the entry requirements. This may mean achieving school or college qualifications which you may not be able to provide to us yet. You'll be required to accept this offer to secure your conditional place. Once your conditions are met this will change to an unconditional offer of a place which you must accept before you can enrol on the course.
- Waiting list – you have met all entry requirements, and have been interviewed however, the course is now full so you have been placed on a waiting list. If any spaces become available you may be contacted, usually around the course start date. We would advise that you also consider other application options.
- Reserve list – following your interview, you have unfortunately not been successful in this round of recruitment. We have placed your name on a Reserve list and your application may be reconsidered at a later date. This could happen any time up to the start date of the course but it is very possible that you'll not be offered a place. We would advise that you also consider other application options.
- Unsuccessful – your interview has been unsuccessful. You may be offered a place on a course at a different level, or advised to contact the College Student Advice Centres to discuss alternative options which may be available to you.
Once an offer is received, you must reply within 14 working days or risk losing your place, as the system will automatically decline your offer after 14 days.
Once you have accepted your offer, you'll be sent out instructions about student funding, joining instructions and the induction date.
