How to get into UAL?

I'm a parent but my son is in his first year at LCF, studying Fashion Photography. He asked his flatmates, many of whom are doing Fashion Marketing, for you. What's below is his - and their - take on getting into UAL and what you need to consider.
The fact you're doing the UAL course is very useful, as you can show you understand what they look for in terms of aptitude/ ability, etc. At UAL, the key messages are about talent and potential in relation to what they look for in applicants. If you have to submit a portfolio, this is really important to remember. They also like to see that you have tried to get some sort of experience in your chosen field or in related fields. How can you show that you're serious about fashion marketing? What are the positives and the pitfalls of this area of study/career?
They like people to be reflective and understand who they are and how their 'position' affects the way they look at/think about fashion. What are some of the issues with fashion/fashion marketing? Think privilege, access, environment, money. Show, too, who your influences are: which designers do you like and why. Also, who are you less keen on! Attend shows, exhibitions and events. There's an expectation at LCF that you will come with some experience of 'research' through looking at magazines, watching videos, going to events and exhibitions.
Also, are you a creator? If not, get creating! Post on your socials and develop your 'voice' there. You'll be asked to share your socials with other students when you get there, so make sure you're engaging with media and are commentating/influencing in your own right. Think about the climate, racism and social justice, and how to knit those issues into how you think about fashion. These are key elements that underpin LCF's approach to fashion.
I hope this helps!

Glad to be of help! He didn't attend an open day. There aren't many and they book up really fast. He did an in-person portfolio day and a general tour, both of which were very informative and gave an idea of the college. He did lots of online research and spoke to students who he found through friends. The building is incredible and the creativity on show is amazing, and the tutors and students so far are all lovely. Some of the floors at LCF are open to the public, especially for exhibitions and events, so follow them on socials and if you can, go along to one of these, so you get a flavour of the environment if you can't get to an open day.
In relation to experience, he found BBC Maestro courses, he visited exhibitions, he used volunteering and unrelated work experience to show that he was committed and understood work environments. On top of that, he managed to find a photographic studio that would have him for a few days' work experience. He had to plead with them, but they agreed and he threw himself into it. This turned out to be extremely useful and they've invited him back as an intern!
This all shows research experience, as well as tenacity and creativity in finding ways to get in front of people who can help. If you've managed to get a few days' experience with a marketing agency or in-house team in any sector, it shows you've gone out there to find out more, even if the industry is different: you've looked at what the basics of marketing are about. If you've got some work experience in a shop or store, then you've shown you can understand the customer-facing elements of the marketing process, and so on. You can turn any experience into a research and learning opportunity.

Thats super helpful, thankyou 😊😊

Hello! I am one of the student ambassadors here on student room, and I wanted to add a little bit extra from Loudou’s advice!
The fact that UAL is the awarding body for your course is fantastic, it provides a solid basis for your application to LCF.
I would say that participating in fashion competitions or industry related competitions can be very helpful in addition to your coursework because they demonstrate your dedication and also helps make your personal statement stand out. The UAL website has a session dedicated to portfolio advice and tips, which you may found helpful. You can view the guidance here: https://www.arts.ac.uk/study-at-ual/apply/portfolio-advice
If you have any enquiries concerning UAL life / preparing the application / what to expect, please feel free to ask! 😊
-Faye

Hi thankyou for this! What are fashion competitions?