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Frequently asked questions

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The application process

The application process varies for each course. Please visit each course admission criteria tab for information about how to apply.

Undergraduate courses

Postgraduate courses

Short courses

Online courses

For entry criteria information please visit each course and click on Admissions and Entry Criteria tab for detailed information.

Undergraduate courses

Postgraduate courses

Short courses

Online courses

The College requires non-native English speakers to have an English Language Proficiency Qualification.

All classes are taught in English. Applicants whose first language is not English must prove their proficiency in written and spoken English and show that they will be able to participate in group discussions and give a presentation in English. The standard English language requirement for entry to MA courses is 6.5 overall for BA , Foundation, Diploma and Certificate 6.0 and all other courses 5.5 overall. Other relevant exams and experiences in written and spoken English may also be taken into consideration, depending on which course you are applying for. For more information on IELTS click here.

For Student Visa purposes you will need to take a secure English Language test, you can read more here.

For further information, please email admissions@condenastcollege.ac.uk

It depends on the course and your visa conditions requirements.

Applicants who are offered a place prior to taking an English test will have a conditional place reserved. Evidence of having the appropriate level of English must be submitted before starting the course.

You need to have studied certain subjects for some of the MA programmes only. For all other courses, there are no subject requirements.

For the Online, 5 Days of: Creative Direction, Fashion Business, Fashion Journalism, and Vogue Teen Weekend courses, applicants are required to apply no later than one week before the course starts.

For 5 Days of Fashion Styling and Vogue Summer School courses applicants are required to apply no later than two week before the course starts.

For the Foundation, Diploma and Certificate courses, you will be required to complete your application no latter two weeks before the course starts if you are home student. For international students please consider the length of time you will require to obtain your visa and travel documents.

For the BA & MA degrees, applicants are required to apply no later than six weeks before the course starts, for early bird application deadlines please check the course pages. For international students you should start the application process at least three months before the course starts. You can apply for the visa only after you have been accepted and issued with a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) number. More information regarding the process can be found on our International Students pages.

Given the intense competition for places, you are advised to apply as soon as possible. If you have any concerns, please check with the Admissions team at admissions@condenastcollege.ac.uk who can inform you if a course is already full.

Applicants for MA programmes, the BA (Hons) Fashion Communication & Industry Practice, Foundation Programme and Diploma are required to submit one academic reference with their application form. 

For all other courses, we do not require references. If we consider a reference necessary for your application, a member of the admissions team will send you a request in writing.

A digital portfolio is preferred in all instances, and you will be asked to submit your portfolio via email to: admissions@condenastcollege.ac.uk

Please ensure that you send your portfolio as one file. If it is too large to send via email, you are welcome to send it via WeTransfer

If you are attending the interview in person, you can provide a link on the day – there will be a computer and viewing screen available. Alternatively, you can use a USB stick containing digital copies of your work, or you can bring a laptop. If you are providing work on a USB stick, please ensure that files are compatible with Microsoft Office or Adobe Creative suite. You can also bring your portfolio with you on the day if your interview is in person. 

If you have a traditional Art & Design or Textiles portfolio, please consider the contents carefully and select examples of your work that are most relevant to the course. Paper-based work should be scanned, and textiles work photographed.

If you have a well-maintained blog, this is considered a suitable portfolio.

During your interview, your portfolio will act as a point of discussion to allow you to demonstrate the following:

  • An understanding of, but most importantly a genuine interest in, the fashion industry and fashion brands.
  • The ability to communicate visually and the level of your digital visualisation skills.
  • Your use of quality research with breadth and depth.
  • Your personal tastes and interests.
  • We are also interested in your ability to communicate in writing and would like to see suitable examples of written work.

The most appropriate types of work to include are those with a close relationship to the course content, such as styling and photography, graphic design and branding, journalism, marketing campaigns, websites etc. Fine Art and Textiles examples are also relevant, but please follow the guidelines above regarding editing these and providing them digitally.

Above all, the interview is for you to show that you can communicate your ideas and thoughts about fashion in three ways – visually, verbally and in writing. The college is looking for students who will actively contribute to the course and take an original approach to their work.

You will be informed of the status of your application shortly after your interview.

You do not need to be a current student to apply for our courses. We welcome applications from individuals who are returning to education, and take into consideration alternative qualifications and relevant work experience when appropriate.

For the MA Programmes, the BA (Hons) Fashion Communication & Industry Practice and Foundation Programme you are required to submit a portfolio of work during the application process. Once this has been received, we can invite you to an interview via Zoom.

For the Diploma and Certificates you will receive a response regarding your application within three weeks.

For the Insights Online, 5 Days of... Courses, Vogue Summer School, and the Vogue Teen Weekend/Festival, it is a book and pay process.

Successful applicants are invited for an interview after the application and portfolio have been submitted. During your interview, your portfolio will act as a point of discussion to allow you to demonstrate the following:

  • An understanding of, but most importantly a genuine interest in, the fashion industry.
  • The ability to communicate visually and the level of your digital visualisation skills.
  • Your use of quality research with breadth and depth.
  • Your personal tastes and interests.

Above all, the interview is for you to show that you can communicate your ideas and thoughts about fashion in three ways – visually, verbally and in writing. The college is looking for students who will actively contribute to the course and take an original approach to their work.

It is also an opportunity for you to ask us any questions and for you to get a feel for what it might be like as a student at the College.

The interview will be conducted in person, or via Zoom, depending on your location.

You will be informed of the status of your application shortly after your interview.

Full information regarding available bursaries we offer, and how to apply can be found on our Funding Page  here.

Along with all other students, bursary applicants will undertake the normal application process. Before the interview, you must indicate that you have applied for a bursary in order for your application to be considered.

Candidates who have been shortlisted for a bursary will then be invited for a second-round interview with the Admissions panel a few months prior to the start of the course.

Successful students will receive a 100% remission of fees. Prior to confirmation of the award, successful candidates will be required to provide hard copy evidence of earnings/financial status.  

Yes. For full information visit our Funding Page here.

The College welcomes you to apply for multiple courses.

We welcome students to enrol on the Foundation Programme prior to enrolling on the BA (Hons) Fashion Communication & Industry Practice, as this course acts as a preparatory course for the degree.

If you are deciding between two accredited courses, we welcome you to apply for one course, and discuss your preference/suitability for both courses during your interview.  

We welcome students to attend a short course and then enrol on an accredited course. This is also a great opportunity to experience the Condé Nast College before deciding to enrol on a longer course, though of course it is not mandatory.

You can apply for multiple Insights online courses, but we discourage to apply for more that two at the time.

You cannot apply for multiple 5 Days of... courses as you will not be able to participate in two different schedules at the same time.

Yes. Dates for open days are published on the website at the start of each academic year. Please see Open Days for more information.

Paying Deposit

If you are accepted on to the MA Programmes, BA (Hons) Fashion Communication & Industry Practice, Foundation Programme, Diploma, Certificates we will ask you to pay a deposit of £3,000 to secure your place on the course.

In order to confirm and secure a place on this course, applicants holding an offer from us must pay a non-refundable deposit of £3,000.00. Offers must be accepted, with the deposit payment made, within 2 weeks of the offer letter date.

Paying Tuition Fees

Once a place has been accepted and secured with a deposit for the the MA Programmes, BA (Hons) Fashion Communication & Industry Practice, Foundation Programme, and Diploma programmes, students will be required to settle their relevant tuition fees by 15th August in advance of the course start date. Students can choose to pay by this date:

- the total course tuition fee covering both years' fees

- the upcoming year's tuition fee - a termly instalment

- please see the Instalment Plans section in Terms & Conditions for more details.

For Certificate courses, you must pay the full course fee six weeks prior to the start of the course.

For the VOGUE Summer School, Insights Online, 5 Days of ... courses and the Vogue Teen Weekend/Festival, you are required to pay your course fee at the time of the booking.

The College

The ethos of the Condé Nast College of Fashion & Design is to equip students with the knowledge and skills appropriate for a wide range of careers in the fashion industry or to prepare them for further study in relevant fields.

Successful students leave the College with a clear competitive advantage when applying for jobs. Prospective employers appreciate that students from the Condé Nast College of Fashion & Design have an informed understanding of how the fashion industry works, making them an asset in the workplace.

Additionally, our students are well placed to pursue higher qualifications in a wide range of disciplines including design, publishing, journalism and marketing, should they choose to do so.

We run a variety of short courses at the Condé Nast College, lasting from a weekend to a month. These are designed to give you an introduction to a number of specialisms (journalism, styling, creative direction, fashion branding etc) or a basic grounding in the business of the wider fashion industry.

On these courses you will benefit from our unparalleled insight into the fashion industry and our outstanding academic team.

Please note that there is no assessed work on any of the short courses and we cannot provide the same level of career guidance or networking opportunities due to time limitations.  

The MA programmes, BA (Hons) Fashion Communication and Diploma is assessed in a variety of ways, as relevant to the module and subject area. This includes: presentations, essays, portfolios, written reports, practical tasks and projects. Examinations are used occasionally, but are one of the least prevalent methods of assessment used on the course and there is no major "exam diet" at the end of each term. The main forms of assessment are project based.  

Students taking the Foundation Programme and Certificate programmes are assessed by 100% coursework, including oral presentations, focused workshop activities, written submissions and other projects. This will provide an excellent opportunity to develop your portfolio for your future studies and job applications. There is no assessed work on any of the other short courses.

The BA (Hons) Fashion Communication & Industry Practice programme includes an industry placement in the first summer term. Students are expected, as part of the assignment for the module, to search and apply for their own placements, however they will be fully supported in this by our academic team and careers advisor.

After completing an assessed course at the Condé Nast College, work experience and internship placements at Condé Nast may be offered to a select handful of the most talented and hardworking students.

Students will be alerted when suitable jobs or internships are available within the company and the faculty may also make individual recommendations to our wider network.

On MA programmes you will have an option to do a work placement as part of the Final Masters Project.

In addition Postgraduate and Undergraduate students including Diploma and Certificates will have careers focused lectures and workshops on areas such as:

  • CV & Cover Letters
  • LinkedIn
  • Personal Strength Analysis
  • Personal Branding for Careers
  • Job Search Strategies
  • Career Planning

The College cannot pledge work placements for all students at Condé Nast or at any other business, but it will make introductions and recommendations for outstanding students when appropriate.

Due to the short nature of the Vogue Summer School courses, the Insights Online and 5 Days of ... courses and the Vogue Teen Weekend/Festival, we do not provide career guidance after the course has ended.

International students

CAS Applicant Checklist

In order for us to issue you with a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) you will need to submit the following information to us for review once you have an unconditional offer of a place. Once we have verified all of your details and documents, we will issue you a CAS, which you can use to apply for your Student Visa (previously known as Tier 4). Please note that you can only apply for a CAS six months prior to the start of your course.  We will contact you in March/April to request your CAS documents, and provide you with a checklist to ensure you submit everything you need to.

Required Documents 

 Document

Description

Confirmation of Acceptance of Studies (CAS)

You can request your CAS within six months of your course start date, if you have accepted your unconditional offer, and paid your first year’s tuition fees.

Passport or travel document

Copy of the photo page of your passport and any previous UK visas. 

If you have applied for and have previously been refused a UK visa for whatever reason, please provide a copy of the visa refusal letter. 

Must be the same document listed on your CAS

Financial documents

You must show the full amount needed for your tuition fees (minus the deposit amount and instalment(s) you already paid towards your fees) and maintenance for the duration of your programme. The funds should have been in the account for a minimum of 28 days. A bank statement should be printed on the 29th day.


Your bank statement closing balance must be no more than 31 days before the date you submit your student visa (previously Tier 4 visa) application.

If using parents' bank statements, they must be accompanied by a letter of support from parents and proof of the relationship (i.e. birth certificate).

The UKVI Student Visa Policy Guidance gives very precise instructions strictly to ensure you meet the financial requirements.

Academic and English qualifications

Must be the same qualifications you used to receive an offer to study with Condé Nast College, and for your CAS to be approved.

Depending on your situation, you may also be required to submit:

 Document

Description

Tuberculosis (TB) Medical Certificate

You will need to have a TB test from a UKVI approved test centre if you are coming to the UK for more than 6 months and are resident in any of these listed countries.

Letter of Consent from parents

If you are under 18 years of age.

Official English translations

If any supporting documents are not in English.

For more information on required documents for a Tier 4 student visa application, please read the full Home Office guidance and see the UKCISA evidence pages.

Finance Information

You are required to pay the first semester of your course tuition fee in advance of us issuing you the CAS. Should any prospective international student visa application be refused for any reason, the College will refund the fees paid (less any deposit) only if all compliance checks have been satisfactorily completed. These compliance checks are communicated to all prospective international students as part of their application process (CAS Student Checklist).

For full information visit our Terms & Conditions

Most non-UK nationals starting a degree level course or above will need a Student Visa (previously known as Tier 4) visa.

The type of visa you will need, and the process for applying for it, will differ according to the type of course you plan to study, the length of your course and several other criteria. If you are in doubt, you can Check if you Need a Visa or get in touch with our Compliance Team at visa.compliance@condenastcollege.ac.uk

You can get more information on how to apply for your visa and which visa to apply for on the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) website.

You can also find more information on the Home Office website.

For the MA programmes, BA (Hons) Fashion Communication & Industry Practice and Vogue Fashion Foundation, and Vogue Diploma in Fashion Communication programmes

International students without a UK passport will require a Student Visa (previously known as Tier 4) to attend either of these courses. You can apply for this visa only after you have been accepted and issued with a confirmation of acceptance for studies (CAS) number by the College. 

If you are currently outside the UK and do not hold a valid UK visa then you will need to apply for the Student visa from the country that you live in and wait to be granted the visa before travelling to the UK. See the detailed guidance on making a Student visa application from outside the UK.

If you are currently inside the UK and hold a valid UK visa then you may be able to make an application for your Student visa to study at Conde Nast College of Fashion from inside the UK. Please note that not all applicants currently in the UK will be able to apply for their new visa from within the UK. Please read the guidance on making a Student visa application inside the UK (please see below) very carefully and seek help from the Visa Compliance Team if you are uncertain.

Once you have received an unconditional offer of studies, we will send you all the required information to help guide you through the visa application process. More information on this visa can be found on the Gov.uk website.

 

Standard visitor visa (short-term) for Vogue Certificates, Vogue Summer School Courses, 5 Days of... Courses and Vogue Teen Festival

International students without a UK passport might be required to apply for the standard visitor visa. Consult the Gov.uk website to confirm this in relation to your nationality. 

Applicants with nationalities on the non-visa national list are not required to apply for a Standard Visitor Visa. You can Check if you Need a Visa to confirm this. A list of the required documents and other important information can also be found on the site.

Nota Bene: An Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) will become a requirement for people who do not need a visa to travel to the UK. More information on this can be found here

If you’re a national of Qatar: You’ll need an ETA if you’re travelling to the UK on or after 15 November 2023. You’ll be able to apply from 25 October.

If you’re a national of Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia or the United Arab Emirates: You’ll need an ETA if you’re travelling to the UK on or after 22 February 2024. You’ll be able to apply from 1 February 2024.

If you’re a national of another country: You do not need to apply for an ETA now. More nationalities will be added to the scheme later.

If you are a Non-Visa National you must avoid entering the country through the E-Gates. Visit a Border Control Officer when entering the UK to get a stamp in your passport. This will validate your Right to Study.

In case you do need to apply for the short-term visa, you will need an unconditional acceptance letter from the Condé Nast College confirming your enrolment on the course. The original letter will only be issued once the full payment of the tuition fee has been received and cleared. Please note that photocopies and scans are not accepted. If you have not received yours yet, please get in touch with our Compliance Team at visa.compliance@condenastcollege.ac.uk

Student Visa (previously Tier 4)

You can apply no more than six months before the start of your course from outside the UK. You should check with the United Kingdom Visas and Immigration (UKVI) website as to their processing times. You must apply for a visa in your home country.

After you have been accepted on to the course, we will send you a checklist of documents you will need to submit to us for review before we issue you a CAS. Once we have verified all your details and documents, we will issue you a CAS, which you use to apply for your student visa.

Standard visitor visa (short-term)

You can apply for a visa up to three months before your date of travel to the UK. You should get a decision on your visa within three weeks.

Check the guide processing times to find out how long getting a visa might take in the country you’re applying from.

Applicants with nationalities on the non-visa national list are not required to apply for a Standard Visitor Visa. You can check if you need a UK Visa to confirm this. A list of the required documents and other important information on the short-term study visa can be accessed on the Gov.uk website.

In order to apply for this visa, either in your home country or at the UK border, you will need an unconditional acceptance letter. This is a letter from us (the College) confirming your enrolment on the course. We can only issue this letter once we have received your full payment of the tuition. We then send you the original copy of the letter, which you will need for the standard visitor visa application. If you have not received yours yet, please get in touch with our Compliance Team at visa.compliance@condenastcollege.ac.uk

Most international students will need to apply for a student visa (previously known as Tier 4) to study a full-time  course with a length of 6 months or more course at Condé Nast College of Fashion & Design.

The information on this page is a brief guide highlighting the key points of the student visa process for international students. 

For more detailed information, please visit UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) and the UK Home Office

Application Process

The Home Office has full guidance on how, when and where to apply, but here is a brief summary of the process:

  1. Obtain Confirmation of Acceptance of Studies (CAS) from the Compliance Team after receiving your unconditional offer, but no more than 6 months before the course start date. 
  2. Complete Student Visa application form online (if you plan to apply from within the UK, check to make sure you are eligible).
  3. Pay immigration health surcharge and application fee.
  4. Book a biometric appointment at a visa application centre (to get a biometric residence permit) as part of your application.
  5. Attend biometrics appointment (scan and upload your documents before the appointment).
  6. Attend credibility interview (if asked to do so).
  7. Home Office will contact you with a decision (often within three weeks, but visa processing times vary by country).
  8. If your visa is refused, please contact the Compliance Team at visa.compliance@condenastcollege.ac.uk and attach your visa refusal letter.
  9. If your visa is granted, please contact the Compliance Team at visa.compliance@condenastcollege.ac.uk and attach your UKVI 01 letter.
  10. Collect your biometric residence permit (BRP) within 10 days of your arrival in the UK (or, if you applied within the UK, your BRP will be posted directly to you). Bring it with you on your first day at Campus for processing.

To apply to extend your current Student visa or switch from a different type of UK visa  to the Student visa from within the UK you must meet all of the requirements below

  • You must hold a valid Student visa or another type of visa that allows you to ‘switch’ to the Student visa. You can find a full list of visas that do not allow you to ‘switch’ to the Student visa inside the UK here. This includes the Visitor visa. If you enter the UK as a Visitor you cannot apply for a Student visa from inside the UK.
  • The start date of your course (as noted on your CAS) must be no later than 28 days after the expiry of your current visa. In 2024, full-time taught courses at Conde Nast will commence on 30 September 2024. Therefore your current visa must be valid until at least 02 September 2024 for you to make your Student visa application inside the UK.
  • You must be able to submit your application for a new Student visa before your current visa expires.
  • You must meet the academic progression requirements as detailed within the UK’s immigration rules (we will confirm if you meet this requirement on your CAS).
  • After you have been accepted onto the course, we will send you a checklist of documents you will need to submit to us for review before we issue you a CAS. Once we have verified all your details and documents, we will issue you a CAS, which you use to apply for your student visa.

If you do not meet all of the above requirements then you must submit your Student visa application from outside the UK.


If you are unsure whether you meet all these requirements then please contact visa.compliance@condenastcollege.ac.uk before you make your visa application.

The full guide can be found on UKCISA website. In short, you must provide documents that prove you:

  • Have been offered a place on a course in the UK at an accepted place of study (the unconditional acceptance letter from us).
  • Have enough money to support yourself without working or help from public funds, or that relatives and friends can support and house you.
  • Can pay for your return or onward journey (evidence of return tickets or bank statements).

College life

The Condé Nast College of Fashion & Design is located in Bedford Square, in the heart of London. This means that our students have easy access to the capital's many famous museums, galleries, theatres, and other cultural landmarks. The College is within walking distance of the Underground stations at Covent Garden, Piccadilly Circus, Leicester Square, and Tottenham Court Road. In addition, national and international rail links and international airports are within easy reach.

We do not provide student accommodation, however the college offers advice and further guidance to assist students in finding accommodation in London. Flat-shares are also very popular and may be a good option for some students. Click here to read our guide.

While London is a vast city, public transport is fast and effective, so there is no requirement for students to live close to the campus. However, we do recommend that you consider your daily commute, and live close to a transportation link that gives easy access to central London.

Although the College has no dedicated sports facilities of its own, there are numerous gyms, swimming pools and sports centres nearby. Many of these facilities also offer special discounts for students.

Courses