Diploma of Fashion Design
CRS2026DFD
Unlock your creative potential with the Diploma of Fashion Design at PSC. This flexible, industry-informed, online fashion design course combines hands-on design skills and digital innovation to prepare you for exciting roles in fashion or further study. With flexible delivery, you can study fashion design online from anywhere.
Next intake: February 2027
Duration: 8 Units across 2 Trimesters of Study
Delivery: Online
The Diploma of Fashion Design course at PSC is your gateway to the creative world of fashion. Over two trimesters, you’ll develop essential design skills through interactive studios, hands-on projects, and real-time collaboration with peers and industry professionals. Learn the fundamentals of fashion design, garment construction, and textile experimentation while mastering industry-standard digital tools for pattern development and visualisation.
This online fashion design course blends creativity with professional readiness, exploring cultural, ethical, and economic influences shaping fashion today. You’ll graduate with a polished digital portfolio that showcases your technical and creative abilities - perfect for impressing employers or supporting further study. With flexible online delivery options, PSC makes it easy to fit study into your life while staying connected to a vibrant creative community.
The Diploma of Fashion Design opens doors to exciting opportunities in the creative industry. By choosing to study fashion design online, you’ll prepare yourself for a range of entry-level and paraprofessional roles, such as:
Fashion Design Assistant or Junior Designer
Digital Fashion Designer or Visualiser
Pattern Maker, Garment Technician, or Sample Room Assistant
Fashion Production or Product Development Coordinator
Fashion Stylist, Visual Merchandiser, or Marketing Assistant
Independent or Freelance Designer in bespoke or small-scale production
You’ll graduate the course with a professional digital portfolio, giving you a competitive edge when applying for roles or continuing into advanced study. This foundation can also lead to specialised areas like digital fashion, product development, or styling - helping you shape a career that reflects your creativity and ambition.
Applicants must meet one or more of the following criteria:
Successful completion of Year 12 (or equivalent senior secondary qualification); or
Successful completion of at least six months of an AQF Certificate III or higher qualification.
Applicants who do not meet the formal academic entry requirements may be considered for admission on the basis of at least three years of post-secondary work experience demonstrating capability to undertake study at the required level.
All applicants confirm their suitability for study through one of the following:
Submission of a 150-word personal statement as part of the application form, outlining their interest in the creative industries and motivation for study; or
A consultation with the College, conducted in person, online, or by phone.
Unit Code & Title | Credit Points | Prerequisites |
TRIMESTER 1 | ||
DES111 Visual Design This subject introduces students to the core building blocks of visual communication, from colour and composition to shape, space, pattern, and texture. Students learn how meaning is created through images while building practical skills using Adobe Creative Suite. Through hands-on projects, they develop confidence applying design principles to create polished, visually engaging work. | 6 | Nil |
DES112 Culture of Design Students explore how design responds to human, social, cultural, and environmental needs. This subject looks at the evolution of design, its influence on society, and the emerging role of AI in creative practice. Through research, review, and concept development, students learn how design thinking shapes ethical, innovative solutions across industries. | 6 | Nil |
DFD111 Fashion Design Folio 1 This subject introduces the research and design foundations of the fashion industry. Students learn how to use visual and market research to inform their ideas, develop early garment concepts, and communicate their designs through digital, visual, and written methods. By the end, students create their first cohesive fashion design folio supported by commercial and creative insights. | 6 | Nil |
DFD112 Garment Production and Technology 1 Students gain essential pattern making and garment construction skills, learning how foundational garment blocks are developed, fitted, and constructed. The subject covers cutting, sewing, finishing techniques, and the creation of early technical documentation. By producing basic garments and technical packs, students build the practical skills required for apparel development. | 6 | Nil |
TRIMESTER 2 | ||
DFD121 Fashion Design Folio 2 Building on Folio 1, this subject extends students’ design development, illustration, and research skills. Students explore trend analysis, concept generation, textile and print ideas, and sustainable design decision-making. They create a mini fashion collection supported by visual boards, technical drawings, and a strong commercial rationale, strengthening their creative identity and industry awareness. | 6 | DFD111 Fashion Design Folio 1 |
DFD122 Garment Production and Technology 2 This subject advances students’ technical garment construction abilities, introducing more complex pieces such as shirts, trousers, and introductory tailored garments. Students refine pattern manipulation, toile development, fitting, and advanced sewing techniques. They also deepen their understanding of manufacturing quality and produce professional technical documentation and a coordinated outfit. | 6 | DFD112 Garment Production and Technology 1 |
DFD123 The Fashion Design Industry Students gain an applied understanding of how the Australian fashion industry operates, exploring manufacturing standards, grading, costing, merchandising, and production planning. They develop manufacturing-ready documentation and analyse real-world industry practices. The subject also supports students in identifying potential career pathways and the technical and professional skills needed for industry success. | 6 | DES111 Visual Design DES112 Culture of Design DFD112 Garment Production and Technology 1 DFD111 Fashion Design Folio 1 |
DES121 Design Studio This subject consolidates and extends the design knowledge and practical skills developed across the Diploma through a simulated online design studio. Students work in small teams, rotating between client and designer roles as they respond to personal or brand-based briefs and experience a realistic professional workflow. Fashion Design students focus on developing their personal brand identity through aesthetic research and market analysis, creating coordinated promotional materials such as logos, social media content, and presentation assets. Across the trimester, students research the market, create mood boards and design concepts, document their process in a Design Process Book, and present a coordinated folio and live pitch that showcase their readiness for entry level or freelance opportunities in the design industry. | 6 | DES111 Visual Design DES112 Culture of Design DFD111 Fashion Design Folio 1 DFD112 Garment Production and Technology 1 |
Total | 48 |
Domestic students who are Australian Citizens may apply for FEE-HELP.
FEE-HELP is not available for international students. International students' tuition fees are paid up-front annually or per semester.
When you accept your offer and complete your enrolment form, you also choose your tuition fee payment option.
Fashion Design Course Structure and Fees by Subject 2027 - PDF
FEE-HELP Tuition Fee Assistance
PSC is an approved FEE-HELP provider.
FEE-HELP is a government loan scheme that assists eligible fee paying students with loans to pay all or part of their tuition fees. It cannot be used for additional study costs such as equipment and materials, accommodation, living expenses or other costs. It is available to Australian citizens or holders of a permanent humanitarian visa who are enrolled in a higher education course.
Further information about FEE-HELP loans is available in this 2026 FEE-HELP Booklet.
FEE-HELP is available for eligible students for the tuition fees for the Bachelor of Photography and Digital Imaging course. Policies for students enrolled in the Bachelor of Photography and Digital Imaging course including the specific policies that relate to FEE-HELP
Fair Treatment and Equal Benefits and Opportunity (pdf 149 kb)
Student Application and Admissions (Domestic Students) (pdf 184 kb)
Grievance Handling Policy and Procedure (for Academic and Non Academic Matters (pdf 177 kb)
Student Review Procedures for Re-crediting a FEE-HELP Balance (pdf 181kb)
Refund Policy for Eligible Students enrolled in FEE-HELP Enabled Courses (pdf 109Kb)
COURSE LECTURERS
PSC is a community of experienced practitioners and educators with national and international profiles in the areas of documentary, photojournalism, art, commercial photography, photobook publishing, curation and photographic theory.
ALUMNI SHOWCASE
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
You’ll learn to design a garment and then make it. Your eight units cover visual design and colour theory in Adobe Creative Suite, pattern making and garment construction, starting with foundational garments. You’ll then move into more complex pieces like shirts and trousers and also learn some basic tailoring. By the end, you’ll know how the Australian fashion industry works, including manufacturing standards, grading, costing, merchandising and production planning.
The Diploma of Fashion Design suits anyone with an interest in fashion and who wants the technical skills to match it. You’ll need Year 12 or an equivalent senior secondary qualification, or six months of an AQF Certificate III or higher. If you don’t meet these formal academic requirements, you may still be considered based on at least three years of post-secondary work experience. All applicants must also submit a 150-word personal statement or complete a consultation with PSC—in person, online or by phone.
Yes, PSC delivers the Diploma of Fashion Design entirely online so you can study from anywhere in Australia. Our lecturers run live studio sessions where you’ll work on your projects with them and with your classmates. Industry professionals join some of those sessions to collaborate with you on your projects. Your final unit, DES121 Design Studio, replicates a professional design studio online, where you and your team rotate between client and designer roles as you respond to briefs.
You’ll learn to construct garments from foundational blocks that teach you how to:
Make, fit and manipulate patterns
Cut, sew and finish garments
Develop a toile
Sew shirts and trousers
Produce technical documentation and technical packs
Prepare manufacturing-ready documentation to industry quality standards
On the design side, you’ll develop concepts from visual and market research, experiment with textiles and prints and communicate your ideas through digital illustrations and visual boards.
Yes, building a portfolio is one of the main pillars of the Diploma of Fashion Design. Your first folio unit teaches you how to research a market and turn that into cohesive garment concepts. Your second takes you further, into a mini fashion collection supported by visual boards, technical drawings and a commercial rationale. Your final trimester then adds your own brand identity, with logos, social media content and presentation assets. You’ll graduate with a polished digital portfolio and present a live pitch alongside it.
The diploma prepares you for entry-level and paraprofessional roles like:
Fashion design assistant or junior designer
Digital fashion designer or visualiser
Pattern maker, garment technician or sample room assistant
Fashion production or product development coordinator
Fashion stylist, visual merchandiser or marketing assistant
Independent or freelance designer in bespoke or small-scale production
Your digital portfolio can support your applications for these roles, so try to tailor your projects to the job you want in the future. Some graduates specialise further afterwards in digital fashion, product development or styling, while others continue into advanced study.
The Diploma of Fashion Design could suit you if you enjoy solving problems visually and technically at once, since fashion design combines creative thinking with technical problem-solving, from concept development and illustration through to pattern making and garment construction. Two trimesters give you experience across both areas, from the research and illustration through to the sewing and the technical packs. Studying online also lets you keep working while you qualify and eligible Australian citizens can apply for FEE-HELP to cover the tuition.