8 Best Fashion Schools In Australia 2024

You are looking for where to study fashion design? You can add some of the best fashion schools in Australia to your list. This blog post provides authentic info on each of the schools. So, sit back, relax and have a great read.

The fashion industry is one of the most in-demand sectors, the whole world depends on it and it is something that anyone cannot do without. Its 3 trillion dollar value is proof of just how important it is.

At least, you have to put on some clothes, right? And this industry isn’t just about clothing alone. It encompasses everything that humans use and put on their bodies as well as the creative intelligence and design put into it.

Fashion designing is an art of creativity and fashion designers are one of the most creative people in the world. You also have to possess this excellent creativity to excel in this industry. This is where fashion schools come in, they groom you and develop the creative potential that will help you kick start a successful career in the fashion industry.

Also, you may already know this but it is good to stress that the fashion industry is highly competitive, if not the most competitive after the music industry, I think. You have to go the extra mile and burn a lot of midnight candles to compete and get yourself and your work out there. All of these would be easier for you if you are passionate about fashion design.

Don’t worry about how you are going to achieve this because there are thousands of fashion schools out there that will guide and shape you and help you meet your objectives. But going to the ‘best’ fashion school will help you even more and open you to bigger and better opportunities. To that effect, I have brought to you, some of the best fashion schools in Australia that you can choose from.

At this point, I’m guessing you’re already putting together a list of fashion schools to attend and we also have other helpful guides to make the process easier and faster for you. You can check our previous articles on the fashion schools in London and fashion schools in Germany if you want to study fashion in Europe, these countries are great places to look coupled with the opportunities they offer to budding fashion designers like yourself.

If you are just starting in the field or looking for a career change and want to go into fashion, or are not too sure if this is the field for you, then you should enroll in online fashion design courses that are free to test the waters. You can also find art colleges and normal universities that offer fashion designing courses leading to bachelor’s or master’s degrees.

Is Australia A Good Place To Study Fashion?

According to my research, I found that in the last 10 years Australia has become a strong force in the fashion industry and some of its fashion schools are competing with some of the world’s best. In 2019, Business Fashion ranked the fashion programs at the University of Technology Sidney (UTS) and RMIT among the world’s best.

If you are into fashion trends then you must have heard names like Alex Perry, Collete Dinnigan, Nicky Zimmermann, and Akira Isogawa. These are some of the world’s top fashion designers from Australia and a few of them like Perry and Zimmermann were alumni of the institutions I mentioned earlier.

With this information, it is obvious that Australia is home to some popular and renowned institutions, and individuals, for students interested in studying fashion design. Thanks to educational advances, Australians are producing impressive results in the fashion industry which in turn is putting the country on the map as a prestigious fashion studying destination.

What is The Cost of Fashion Schools in Australia?

The cost of fashion schools in Australia varies by different factors. Some universities offer fashion and designing programs at undergraduate and graduate levels, and of course, their tuition fees vary. There are also fashion schools that are only focused on training and developing the skill of students in fashion alone. They usually give diplomas or certifications after students complete their education.

Now, these fashion schools and universities with fashion courses offer different fees for different students. In most cases, tuition is usually different for in-state students, out-of-state students, and international students. Due to these varying factors, I cannot give a specific cost of the fashion schools in Australia. But the range should be between AUD$1,580 and AUD$59,904 depending on whether you are going for a certification or a degree in fashion and design.

How To Get Into Fashion Schools in Australia?

Getting into fashion and design schools in Australia or anywhere else in the world is highly competitive just as I mentioned earlier. However, if you can meet above the requirements and apply early then you might have just increased your chances of getting into a fashion school in Australia.

Here are ways on how you can get in.

Completed Secondary Education

You must have completed your secondary education and take subjects related to the fashion field, your teacher or parent should be able to help you out with this. You should also be part of a club in your school, especially one that has to do with design and creativity like a theater or acting club where you are part of the costume team.

This will give you a primary or background experience in fashion designing and can boost your chances of getting accepted into one of the fashion design schools in Australia. And it also puts you ahead a few steps compared to those who do not have this necessary experience.

Meet Entry Requirements

This is a general thing for every institution whether it is an online college or law school, there are usually requirements set in place by the admissions board for applicants to meet. Through these requirements, you will be evaluated and given a response. And requirements usually vary between fashion schools and universities offering fashion and design programs in Australia.

But a general requirement between both is that applicants must submit recommendation letters, have some experience in the fashion industry, and submit a portfolio of their work. International applicants may be required to take English language proficiency tests and submit scores.

Be In Contact With Your Host Institution

This is one of the many things that prospective students never do. Whichever fashion school in Australia you will be applying for, the first thing you need to do is be in contact with the admissions officer. This way, you can get firsthand information on things like full requirements, tuition and other fees, financial packages like scholarships, the admission application process, and deadlines.

Although these details can be found on other resources like blogs the chances of them being incorrect or outdated are high so, contacting your host institution grants your fresh details on anything you may need to facilitate your admission into that fashion school.

These are pretty much the steps to get into any of the fashion schools in Australia. You can go ahead and apply them to one of these schools below.

List of The Best Fashion Schools in Australia

The following are some of the best fashion schools in Australia with important details you need to know to find the one that suits you best. Let’s get started!

The University of Technology Sydney (UTS)
Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT)
Australian Institute of Creative Design (AICD)
FBI Fashion College
The Fashion Institute
Whitehouse Institute of Design
TAFE NSW Fashion Design Studio
Queensland University of Technology (QUT)

1. The University of Technology Sydney (UTS)

UTS is a public university located in Ultimo, Australia, and ranks as the no.1 youngest university in the country focused on making difference through leading research, and inspiring education. For those who would prefer to get an academic degree in fashion, UTS is one of the top choices among international and domestic students, it could be yours too.

The fashion degree programs offered at UTS are the Bachelor of Design in Fashion and Textiles, Bachelor of Creative Intelligence and Innovation – which takes 4 years full-time or 8 years part-time to complete – and Diploma of Fashion and Sustainability which takes 6 months full-time or 1 year part-time to complete. These programs are all internationally recognized and can give you the boost you need to make a name in the fashion industry.

2. Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT)

RMIT is one of the top art schools in Australia and among the top 250 universities globally. It houses a School of Fashion and Textiles ranked no.1 in Oceania for art and design and no.15 in the world. The RMIT School of Fashion and Textiles prides itself as a global leader in fashion and textile education and develops students in every way to help them get started in the fashion industry.

Aside from being a global leader in fashion and design education, prospective students can easily find what program they want to pursue at RMIT. There are certificates, diplomas, and degrees. Some of them are:

Ph.D. in Fashion & Textiles
Master of Technology in Fashion & Textiles
Master of Design in Fashion & Textiles
Bachelor of Fashion (Design) (Honours)
Bachelor of Fashion (Textiles)
Bachelor of Fashion and Textiles (Sustainable Innovation)
Bachelor of Fashion (Design)
Associate Degree in Fashion Design & Technology
Associate Degree in Fashion and Textile Merchandising
Diploma in Visual Merchandizing
Diploma in Fashion Styling
Certificate III in Clothing and Textile Production
Certificate IV in Custom-Made Footwear
Certificate IV in Textile Design, Development, and Production.

These programs all have different entry requirements and tuition fees, you should check the website or contact the admissions office to get all the complete details.

3. Australian Institute of Creative Design (AICD)

AICD is first on our list of best fashion schools in Australia that completely focuses on everything design. The institution offers courses in Creative Arts & Design, Interior Design, and Textiles, Clothing, and Footwear which is where you will learn and gather skills concerning everything fashion design.

AICD offers a Certificate II in Applied Fashion Design and Technology, a Certificate III in Applied Fashion Design and Technology, and a Diploma in Applied Fashion Design and Merchandizing. They run for 25 weeks, 34 weeks, and 52 weeks respectively.

4. FBI Fashion College

The Fashion College is one of the schools in Australia that are completely focused on offering fashion education. It prides itself as Australia’s leading provider of full government-accredited and nationally recognized fashion qualifications. The college offers an Advanced Diploma of Fashion Business and Diploma of Fashion Design programs that you can enroll in online or on campus.

5. The Fashion Institute

The Fashion Institute is one of the leading fashion schools in Australia offering world-class education from industry experts. The college has campuses in Sydney, Australia, and Brisbane. Programs offered are Bachelor of Communications + Media and Bachelor of Business (Major Public Relations). These programs prepare you for leadership roles in the fashion industry.

Both programs are offered online and on-campus and have two study options; the part-time which takes 2 years to complete of the fast-track which allows you to complete the program in 18 months. Several are 24 and the fee per unit is $2,500.

6. Whitehouse Institute of Design

Whitehouse Institute of Design is one of the prestigious fashion and design colleges in Australia. It is private and very expensive. The programs offered are Master of Design, Bachelor of Design, Fashion Design Specialization, interior Design Specialization, Creative Direction & Styling Specialization, Certificate III in Design, and Certificate IV in Design.

International and domestic students are accepted into any of these courses and fees vary. For example, the annual tuition for the Bachelor of Design course is $59,904 for international students and $41,415 for domestic students. So, visit the site to know the cost for each of the programs and entry requirements.

7. TAFE NSW Fashion Design Studio

This is a prestigious fashion school in Ultimo, Australia, and one of the leading fashion schools in the world. It also prides itself as the only school showcased at Mercedes-Benz Australian Fashion Week. It has been operating for more than 60 years and has trained the likes of Nicky Zimmermann, Alex Perry, Dion Lee, and Akira Isogawa all of whom are iconic designers in Australia and globally.

Programs offered include Bachelor of Fashion Design, Certificate IV in Design, and Certificate III in Design Fundamentals. These courses can be taken online from anywhere in the world or on campus. The choice is yours.

8. Queensland University of Technology (QUT)

QUT offers a Bachelor of Design (Fashion) and a combined Bachelor of Business/Bachelor of Design courses. These courses are taught by industry experts in world-class studios fully equipped for you to bring your designs to life.

If you are looking for a prestigious university in Australia to get a globally recognized degree in fashion and design, QUT should be top of your list.

These are the top-ranking fashion and design schools and programs in Australia. Which one will you be applying for?

Fashion Schools in Australia – FAQs

[sc_fs_multi_faq headline-0=”h3″ question-0=”Do fashion schools in Australia accept foreigners?” answer-0=” Most of the fashion schools in Australia accept international students, whether online or on-campus.” image-0=”” headline-1=”h3″ question-1=”What is the most famous fashion school in Australia?” answer-1=” Some of the popular fashion schools in Australia include RMIT, FE NSW Fashion Design Studio, and FBI Fashion College.” image-1=”” headline-2=”h3″ question-2=”How long is fashion school in Australia?” answer-2=” The duration of fashion schools in Australia depends on the program you are enrolled in. Diploma and certification courses take a few months to a year to complete while bachelor’s can take up to 3 years.” image-2=”” headline-3=”h3″ question-3=”How many fashion schools are in Australia?” answer-3=” There are about 10 fashion schools in Australia and more than 25 universities in Australia that offer programs in fashion and design.” image-3=”” count=”4″ html=”true” css_class=””]