Considering a Bachelor of Fashion (Design) at RMIT but not sure whether the degree is the best fit for you?
Well, look no further as we’ve spoken with Antonia, a Bachelor of Fashion (Design) Graduate at RMIT, to provide you with all the answers to the questions you’re curious about.
Let’s get started!
Why should you study a Fashion degree at RMIT?
Top 3 Pros of a Fashion Degree
Top 3 Cons of a Fashion Degree
Mistakes You Shouldn’t Make
Things to Know Before Starting RMIT Fashion
What Makes this Degree Different
Motivations for Studying RMIT Fashion
Potential Career Paths
Why should you study a Fashion degree at RMIT?
A Bachelor of Fashion (Design) at RMIT is a forward-thinking degree that demands 100% of your passion, creativity, and innovation to develop the skills and expertise to break into the fashion industry.
The degree is a fusion of practical and theoretical work, and you’ll be encouraged to think conceptually when designing a collection.
If you’ve got a passion for fashion and want to channel your creativity into innovative design processes, Fashion at RMIT could be the degree for you!
Top 3 Pros of a Fashion degree
#1: Nationally recognised degree
Globally recognised as one the best fashion schools in the world, the RMIT School of Fashion and Textiles is ranked 1st in Australia for Art and Design.
There are numerous opportunities to showcase your skills by participating in national and international events and exhibitions, such as the Melbourne Fashion Week Student Collections Runway and the Graduate Fashion Week London International Catwalk!
#2: Rewarding work
“This degree sets you up for being able to achieve some really hard work, so when you enter the industry, it’s not as overwhelming for you to manage your tasks. I don’t think you’re ever going to do something as difficult as this in your workplace, at least not for many years,” said Antonia.
The workload for a Bachelor of Fashion (Design) at RMIT is very heavy, yet this degree pushes you to put in all your effort and challenge yourself beyond your comfort zone. The ability to work effectively under pressure and go the extra mile in perfecting your designs is an essential skill that students develop.
#3: Social connections
The great aspect about a Bachelor of Fashion (Design) at RMIT is that you will meet many like-minded people who are just as passionate about fashion as you are!
Located near a vibrant art and music scene, the Brunswick campus is home to a world-class Fashion Hub facility that enables students to experiment with fashion design in a thriving urban environment.
Top 3 Cons of a Fashion degree
#1: Time commitment
“When you enter this degree, you can’t expect to work full-time or have a great social life. You should be prepared going into this course that you will need to pretty much dedicate your whole life to it,” said Antonia.
A Bachelor of Fashion (Design) at RMIT is a highly time-demanding degree, and you will be expected to be incredibly disciplined to deal with the intense workload. While this degree requires a lot of time management and some sacrifice, the most important thing is that you’re passionate!
#2: Job prospects
“If you slack off and think, ‘I’m just going to pass and I will be fine’, that mindset isn’t going to get you a job. You must enter the degree with a dedicated mindset and do as much as you can to get a job,” said Antonia.
As such a competitive job market, the fashion industry can be challenging to break into and requires you to be self-sufficient in seeking out opportunities. Antonia recommends that students seek out valuable connections, look for internships, email people constantly and be persistent!
#3: Extra expenses
“Many people that do this course are self-sufficient and have to worry about paying for their rent and their bills. I think it might be worth considering taking a year off and working before you begin because you spend a ridiculous amount of money throughout this course,” said Antonia.
Unfortunately, unlike a typical degree where your main supplies are your laptop and a couple of textbooks, a fashion course requires you to pay for your own fabrics and art supplies. You should expect to spend a lot on extra costs throughout your degree, and this can amount to quite a hefty sum, with Antonia telling us that she had to spend thousands per semester!
Any regrets?
Despite all its hardships, the answer for Antonia is plain and simple.
“No, I don’t regret doing this degree. I really loved it, and I’m currently in my dream job,” she shared.
What do you wish you had known before starting RMIT Fashion?
Antonia wishes she had taken some time off before beginning her degree to get to know herself better and gain some perspective of her personal taste.
“It’s a very very heavy course, and it’s hard to know yourself at the age of 18 or 19. This course asks a lot of you knowing yourself. I would have preferred to have taken a year off before going into this degree to really explore myself and discover what I liked and what I would have wanted to do,” she explained.
What makes this degree different from the ones offered at other universities?
Antonia says that based on units she had taken with other fashion courses and from what she had heard from people studying different fashion degrees, the volume of work that you do at RMIT is unmatched.
“The work is a lot harder, it costs more, and it takes up more of your life, but, I think that if you want to become a designer and do conceptual work, you should go to RMIT. While many other universities usually specialise in one thing, RMIT covers a broad range of design subjects.”
What inspired you to choose RMIT Fashion?
After being told by her Year 12 Textiles teacher that RMIT had the best fashion degree in the country, Antonia knew she wanted to shoot for the stars.
“I had always loved sewing and the more arts-based subjects, but I realised during high school that I wanted to make my hobby my work. I really loved fashion and design, and I was excited to do something for work that I loved, instead of falling back on a job that I wasn’t passionate about,” she highlighted.
What are the possible career paths?
A Bachelor of Fashion (Design) at RMIT opens up a number of doors in the fashion and design industry, with tons of roles available in design practice, styling, marketing and management. A few of the diverse roles that you can explore include:
- Fashion designer
- Fashion project manager
- Stylist
- Creative director
- Product developer
- Creative pattern-maker
- Fashion journalist
- Buyers assistant
Ashley Sullivan is a Content Writer for Art of Smart Education and is currently undertaking a double degree in Communications (Journalism) and a Bachelor of Laws at UTS. Ashley’s articles have been published in The Comma and Central News. She is a film, fashion and fiction enthusiast who enjoys learning about philosophy, psychology and unsolved mysteries in her spare time.
