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Footwear Design

Course Summary School: De Montfort University

Location: United Kingdom, Leicester

Education: Diploma

Reasons to study Footwear Design BA (Hons) at DMU:
-Our students regularly win awards at national and international competitions
such as Lineapelle in Bologna which endorses our status as a top-class footwear design course
-Graduate employment is over 90 per cent
thanks to our worldwide links with the footwear industry
-Alexander McQueen, Jimmy Choo and Kurt Geiger 
are just some of the companies where work experience and placement opportunities are available
-Work opportunities on live projects 
set by companies and organisations such as Jeffery West, Irregular Choice, Gola and Gap provide a diverse range of relevant skills
-Hugely successful graduates
have launched careers with Gucci, L.K.Bennett, Irregular Choice and Kurt Geiger both in the UK and Overseas
-International opportunity 
for a meaningful experience as part of your studies through #DMUglobal.
The new Vijay Patel Building
has been designed to provide the space and facilities where ideas can develop and flourish for all of our art and design courses - find out more
-Core workshop materials
available at no cost to our students along with some programme-specific workshop materials - find out more
-Cash awards of £150, £200 and £300
for students in years one, two and three respectively, towards materials and specialist printing*
Throughout the course your shoe design and technical making skills will be developed, emphasising the crucial relationship between design and manufacture and the needs of the footwear industry.
You will develop your design, research, drawing and illustration skills, and the ability to present and communicate ideas and concepts to a high professional standard. This includes a series of shoe design projects focusing on a comprehensive range of footwear styles. You will learn technical modern shoemaking skills and make a range of prototype shoes of your own using excellent specialist studio facilities including 3D design equipment.

We have a unique series of guest speaker events which take place throughout the year and have included Guy West and Liam Fahy; these events give you the chance to network with industry.


Typical entry requirements 
A good portfolio and normally:
Art and Design Foundation or
112 points from at least 2 A ‘levels and including grade C in Art and Design or
BTEC Extended Diploma DMM in an Art and Design related subject or
International Baccalaureate: 26+ Points including Art and Design
GCSEs - Five GCSEs grades A* - C  (9-4) including English Language or Literature at grade C/4 or above.
Access - Pass Access with 30 Level 3 credits at Merit in Art and Design and GCSE  English (Language or Literature) at grade C/4 or above.
We also accept the BTEC First Diploma plus two GCSEs including English at grade C/4 or above (if required as part of our standard requirement).
International students
If English is not your first language an IELTS score of 6.0 overall with 5.5 in each band, or equivalent when you start the course is essential. English Language tuition, delivered by our British Council accredited Centre for English Language Learning, is available both before and throughout the course if you need it.
Interview and Portfolio
UK applicants with relevant qualifications will be invited to bring their portfolio of work to an open day and interview. Overseas applicants will be invited to send samples of their work.