University in South Africa
Dunkeld West, Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa
University profile
Villioti Fashion Institute is a private higher education institution in Dunkeld West, Johannesburg, dedicated to fashion education. It was founded by couturier Spero Villioti, who has run a fashion brand for more than 30 years, and traces its origins to 2003. It was formerly known as the Spero Villioti Elite Design Academy and is a private company (Villioti Fashion Institute (Pty) Ltd, reg. no. 2007/022224/07). Its mission is to transform individual potential through nurture, dedication and excellence for success in the fashion industry.
The Institute offers a Higher Certificate in Fashion (NQF 5, one year), a Diploma in Fashion (NQF 6, three years), a Bachelor of Fashion (NQF 7, 370 credits, three years, face to face or online) and an online Bachelor of Arts Honours in Fashion (NQF 8, 120 credits, one year full time or two years part time). Undergraduate and postgraduate programmes have February and July intakes. Non-degree purpose study lets people register for individual Diploma and Bachelor modules for credit, and part-time short courses in Garment Construction (Levels 1 to 4), Pattern Making (Levels 1 to 4) and Fashion Design (Levels 1 and 2) run in the evenings or on Saturdays over 12 weeks per level.
The curricula cover fashion design, garment engineering and construction, pattern engineering, textiles, history and culture of fashion, trend forecasting, retail and operations management, business and entrepreneurship, and computer-aided design. Diploma and Bachelor students complete work-integrated learning at fashion companies, and the Bachelor's final year includes a Fashion Events course in which students plan and run the year-end fashion show. International affiliations with Parsons New York, the Fashion Institute of Technology New York and London College of Fashion are used to benchmark the courses, and the Institute hosts a New York International Programme taught by visiting New York faculty.
Students are assigned a mentor for their studies, attend compulsory orientation, and have access to career guidance, an early-warning 'red flag' system for students at risk, supervised intensive programmes for students who struggle in a course, and summative assessment concessions for students with diagnosed disabilities or medical conditions. Instruction is in English. Adobe Creative Cloud is free to students on campus and Microsoft 365 is free on or off campus.
The Institute is registered with the Department of Higher Education as a private higher education institution under the Higher Education Act, 1997 (registration certificate 2009/HE07/008). Its Higher Certificate, Diploma, Bachelor of Fashion and BA Honours programmes are accredited by the Higher Education Quality Committee (HEQC) of the Council on Higher Education and registered on the NQF with SAQA. It describes itself as the only private fashion institute certified under ISO 21001:2018.
The Institute works with Student Hero to help students and sponsors apply for and compare student loans, and with Capitec education finance. Early-bird fee discounts apply when the training fee is paid up front or secured through Student Hero finance.
For details contact the Institute at [email protected] or +27 11 325 6088. Official page: https://villiotifashioninstitute.co.za/funding/.
Browse the scholarships listed for Villioti Fashion Institute (Pty) Ltd and check each award’s eligibility.
View scholarships for Villioti Fashion Institute (Pty) Ltd →National Senior Certificate (or similar standard, such as a Senior Certificate with endorsement) with a minimum of 50% in English and an achievement rating of 4 (50-59%) or better in four subjects from the designated list: Accounting, Agricultural Science, Business Studies, Dramatic Arts, Economics, Engineering Graphics and Design, Geography, History, Consumer Studies, Information Technology, Languages, Life Sciences, Mathematics, Mathematical Literacy, Music, Physical Science, Religion Studies and Visual Arts. Proof of Grade 12 is required, preferably an NSC or NCV showing the candidate qualifies for degree admission, or a Senior Certificate with higher and/or standard grade subjects or an equivalent school-leaving certificate.
NSC (or similar standard) with endorsement, with a minimum of 40% in English and an achievement rating of 3 (40-49%) or better in four recognised 20-credit NSC subjects, excluding Life Orientation.
NSC (or similar standard) with endorsement and a minimum of 40% in English. A Higher Certificate graduate may progress to the Diploma or Bachelor of Fashion.
A Bachelor of Fashion from the Institute, or an appropriate bachelor's degree or postgraduate diploma in the same or a commensurate field, with a recommended minimum of 60% in all final-year modules. Applicants below 60% are interviewed by the Head of Academic Affairs to gauge ambition, drive and commitment to postgraduate study.
There is no admission formula: each applicant is reviewed individually on skill, experience, achievements and potential, and undergraduate applicants complete a formal admission assessment and interview. The Institute accepts academically strong applicants with limited art or design experience. Students must show proficiency in written and spoken English at first-additional-language level.
RPL is considered for applicants who have not completed school but are aged 23 or older with sufficient workplace experience; applicants with a Matric who miss the entry requirements but have workplace experience; applicants seeking partial exemption for study completed elsewhere (credit accumulation and transfer); and applicants who turn 40 before or during their first year of registration and satisfy the RPL Committee.
Applicants holding foreign school-leaving certificates must supply a letter from the South African Qualifications Authority confirming equivalence to the National Senior Certificate. Instruction is in English.
Applications are made online through the application form for the February or July intake, followed by a personal consultation, the admission assessment and interview, and registration on payment of a securing deposit (R7 500) and a registration fee (R10 000 for the Bachelor, Diploma and Honours; R7 500 for the Higher Certificate). Cancellation within 7 days of paying the securing deposit is refunded in full.
A specialist equipment and textbook pack is charged in addition (2026 figures: Bachelor R9 220, Diploma R9 350, Higher Certificate R8 750, each including a R1 350 online library fee). Ten-instalment plans require a debit order and a credit check.
Dunkeld West campus, Johannesburg (Albury Office Park, 1 Magalieszicht Crescent, Dunkeld West, opposite Hyde Park Corner, Sandton area). All face-to-face programmes are taught here; the BA Honours is delivered online.
The campus is served by Gautrain, bus and taxi stops. There are no residences; students arrange their own accommodation in Johannesburg.
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