BA Footwear Design
About this course
BA (Hons) in Footwear Design, a footwear design degree focused on practical shoemaking, pattern cutting and industry-standard manufacturing processes. Core topics include Laboratory Techniques, Research Methods, Communication & Writing, Critical & Analytical Thinking, Ethics & Professional Practice, Design & Creative Practice, Global & Comparative Perspective. The programme offers a placement year option alongside traditional study paths, supported by specialised facilities and links with international brands. The first year introduces foundational principles through Fundamentals: Tools, Techniques and Principles, Construct: Pattern, Process and Prototyping, Manufacture: Methods, Materials and Making, and Futures - Design, Culture and Responsibility, establishing core technical competencies in illustration, pattern cutting and manufacturing. The second year progresses to advanced applications through Bespoke: Classic, Orthopaedic and Performance, Communicate: Design Values, Collaborate: Live Industry Challenges, and Evolve: 3D Design and Innovation, tackling made-to-measure footwear, communication methods and performance markets. The final year concentrates on individual specialisation and culminates in the independent Resolve: Final Major Project, alongside Ideate: Circularity within Conceptual Frameworks and Define: Design Identity.
Written by AI from the university's course page and module list. It can get details wrong, so check the official course page before you rely on it.
Entry requirements
UCAS points: 112 A Level: BBC BTEC Extended Diploma: DMM Contextual Offer: DMU operates a generous contextual offer for students from underrepresented backgrounds in Higher Education. This is a minimum of one to two grade reduction from our typical offer and full details including eligibility criteria can be found at dmu.ac.uk/contextual T Levels: Merit Access to HE: Pass with 30 Level 3 credits at Merit International Baccalaureate (IB): 26 GCSEs: 5 x GCSEs at grade 4/C or above including English and Maths 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.
Admissions (2022 entry, home applicants)
Offer rate 85%: 52 offers from 61 applications, from the university's Freedom of Information return.
What students say
Based on about 13 final-year students who answered (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Teaching on my course: 94%
- Learning opportunities: 95%
- Assessment and feedback: 88%
- Academic support: 88%
- Organisation and management: 88%
- Learning resources: 85%
- Student voice: 78%
Do students stay on the course?
Based on about 20 students who started (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Continued on course: 90%
- Left higher education: 10%
What graduates do next
Based on about 49 graduates who answered, across similar courses at this university
- Working: 58%
- Working and studying: 15%
- Further study: 5%
- Unemployed: 12%
Most common jobs
- Engineering professionals: 45%
- Elementary occupations: 10%
- Sales occupations: 10%
- Managers, directors and senior officials: 5%
- Administrative occupations: 5%
- Find their work meaningful: 85%
- Feel on track for their future plans: 70%
- Use what they learnt on the course: 55%
Where graduates work (5 years on)
Based on about 165 graduates, across similar courses at this university
- North West: 5%
- Yorkshire and the Humber: 4%
- East Midlands: 48%
- West Midlands: 14%
- East of England: 11%
- London: 11%
- South East: 4%
- South West: 1%
- Wales: 1%
- Northern Ireland: 1%
Who gets in
Based on about 25 students who started (a small group: a rough guide only)
- A levels: 80%
- Access course: 5%
- Other HE qualification: 5%
- Other qualifications: 15%
Accreditation & quality ratings
TEF 2023 (whole university): Silver overall, Bronze for student experience, Silver for student outcomes.
Modules
- Fundamentals: Tools, Techniques and Principles
- Construct: Pattern, Process and Prototyping
- Manufacture: Methods, Materials and Making
- Futures - Design, Culture and Responsibility
- Bespoke: Classic, Orthopaedic and Performance
- Communicate: Design Values
- Collaborate: Live Industry Challenges
- Evolve: 3D Design and Innovation
- Ideate: Circularity within Conceptual Frameworks
- Define: Design Identity
- Resolve: Final Major Project
Questions about this course
How much do graduates of BA Footwear Design at De Montfort University earn?
The median salary is £28,000 after 15 months, £24,000 after 3 years, £29,500 after 5 years. After five years the middle half of graduates earn between £24,000 and £35,000.
What do graduates of BA Footwear Design at De Montfort University do next?
78% were in work or further study 15 months after finishing (Graduate Outcomes 2022-23).
Are students happy with the teaching on BA Footwear Design at De Montfort University?
94% of final-year students were positive about the teaching in the National Student Survey 2024-25.
What grades do I need for BA Footwear Design at De Montfort University?
The typical offer is BBC at A level. The average entrant had 120 UCAS points.
What is the offer rate for BA Footwear Design at De Montfort University?
85% of home applicants received an offer for 2022 entry: 52 offers from 61 applications, according to the university's Freedom of Information return.
Does BA Footwear Design at De Montfort University include a placement year or year abroad?
The course has an optional placement year and an optional year abroad.
How many students continue on BA Footwear Design at De Montfort University?
90% of students continued into their second year, and 10% left higher education.