Professional experience during your studies

Student placements at LCF

Many of our courses include a work placement built into one of your years of study. During this placement you’ll have the opportunity to develop your skills, build your network and gain new knowledge to enhance your experience and professional practice. This period of work experience is an integrated and assessed part of your degree. A variety of LCF undergraduate courses include the opportunity for short-term accredited work experience, while on others there is an option to do a placement year in industry, known as Diploma in Professional Studies (DiPS).

At London College of Fashion we have a dedicated Graduate Futures placements team that support student placements.

Work Experience (short-term placement)

Short-term accredited work experience takes place in year 2, the shortest placement is 30 hours and longest around 10 weeks. Your tutors and the Graduate Futures team will support you in sourcing your own work experience. Your placement will help contextualise your academic studies and develop workplace skills in the industry.

Diploma in Professional Studies

The Diploma in Professional Studies (DiPS) gives you the opportunity to undertake professional experience between the second and third year of your course. It’s a great way to build up valuable experience and sample a career in the fashion industry before you graduate. This is an optional part of your course and you do not need to apply before you begin. If you do decide on a placement, the Graduate Futures team will support you throughout the placement process; from considering opportunities through to application and interview stages. Upon completion, you will be awarded an additional qualification.

Enterprise Diploma in Professional Studies

This optional diploma can be taken between years 2 and 3. With support from tutors, undertaking an enterprise placement year will explore a business idea from proposal to minimal viable product (MVP). As well as developing enterprise skills, students will gain an additional qualification upon successful completion.

Creative Computing Institute

Another great option open to students on our undergraduate courses is to take a Diploma with UAL’s Creative Computing Institute (CCI) between years 2 and 3 of your course. There are two Diploma options within CCI, each designed to develop your skills in computing and give you additional experiences that you can take into your future career.

UAL Diploma in Apple Development

Become an Apple Developer with this learning programme designed by Apple and adapted to the UAL context. You’ll focus on software development and app design, allowing you to develop the skills needed to succeed in the digital creative industries. Once completed, you’ll also graduate with an enhanced degree title.

UAL Creative Computing Institute Diploma

Enhance your undergraduate course by gaining an understanding of the computational technologies that underpin innovation in the creative industries. Creative graduates with computing skills are in high demand and with this Diploma you will learn how to code, develop apps and more. Once completed, you’ll also graduate with an enhanced degree title.

Fees

Tuition fees for each qualification can be found on the relevant course page.

Opportunities

Placement opportunities are advertised through the UAL Creative Opportunities Jobs board. There is a dedicated Placements section exclusively available to LCF’s second year students seeking an accredited placement as part of their course.