You'll get to grips with the principles of fashion marketing as you examine social and digital brand communications and the role of visual design in globalised fashion. Using our industry-standard equipment and fashion marketing studio, you'll apply your knowledge to concept development and creative direction.

Modules

Fashion Marketing Principles

You'll begin by knowing the language of fashion marketing and understanding key concepts of the professional marketing role, specifically regarding market insight. Political, economic, social and technological factors in the marketing environment are deconstructed to help you understand the purpose of marketing planning. You will recall and explain the role and tasks of marketing through application of theory to current case studies and online content. This module is aligned with the CIM curriculum.

Marketing Communications

Identifying appropriate marketing communications concepts, technologies and creative processes in fashion industry contexts, this module helps you identify patterns of consumer behaviour and select appropriate tools and techniques in response. At the end of the module, you will be able to identify and report on marketing communications challenges, including the changing role of technology, digital media and the legal and ethical debate surrounding the topic.

Design Thinking

This module offers an introduction to the principles of visual design in a fashion and marketing context. You'll begin to come up with innovative and abstract ideas through the use of sketchbooks and other creative development methods. You'll also understand the appropriate use of graphical elements, such as photographic, typographic and layout design applied in fashion presentation, learning to use a range of industry-standard software tools for developing marketing communications and content generation, such as Adobe InDesign and Photoshop.

Creative Direction

In this module, you will employ appropriate creative direction in the context of fashion image-making and written content generation for digital and print, magazine, PR and events. You'll be given the opportunity to work in collaborative practice to develop creative solutions, working to debate, raise awareness and build engagement around contemporary societal issues such as sustainability, equality, diversity and ethics in a fashion context.

Themes in Culture

This module explores the cultural and historical contexts that have shaped the themes and issues arising in contemporary practice. A lecture, screening, seminar and workshop series establishes key cultural themes, historical developments and movements in visual culture that continue to impact on creative practice.

Exploring the industry in greater detail, you'll focus on trend prediction and brand development. You'll enhance your understanding of strategic marketing and international business practice, while working on a range of assignments set by industry partners and academic staff. You'll also be supported with careers advice, working towards securing internships and third-year placements

Modules

Fashion Buying & Merchandising

This module is focused on exploring buying, merchandising and visual merchandising theory through practical application; for instance, buying decision-making, product assortments, budgeting, planning retail space, and designing and implementing an in-store narrative. You'll begin to develop financial literacy, strategic thinking and visual solutions in order to examine the delivery of customer and shareholder value in retail.

On Brand

In this module, we'll consider branding theory and creative visual identity in a fashion environment. It supports you as you deepen your conceptual, theoretical and commercial understanding of brand communication, new product development processes and creative visualisation. You will also explore your employability skills through developing your self-promotion in an industry context.

Trends & Predictions

This module explores contemporary understanding of trend forecasting and long-term predictions using a range of processes adopted by industry practitioners, depicting drivers of change, including socio-cultural, technological, economic and visual factors. You will be able to interpret trend impact and translate these into potential scenarios for fashion and wider society.

Global Fashion

It's important to understand globalisation relative to the production and consumption of fashion. This module explores the structure and evolution of international agreements, emerging economies and technologies as a part of the political and social context of international trade. We'll assess the global supply chain in terms of profit, people and planet, with an emphasis on sustainable development. You will compare and contrast cultural difference and business development opportunities to support strategies for market growth.

Theories of Culture

Building on the Year one programme, this module further investigates the historical, social, cultural and global contexts in which contemporary practice occurs. It introduces theoretical perspectives in order to develop the ability to discuss your own and others' practice in an academic framework.

You'll begin this 30-week work placement year by creating a study and work plan – advised on and approved by your course team and the university's career service. Then, under the direction of an employer, you'll learn first-hand about different roles and your position in the industry. This is your chance to reflect and develop the kind of work-based skills required by longer live projects, typically seasonal buying cycles.

Modules

Employment Experience

This is an industry placement option. You will undertake a period of supervised work experience of 30 weeks or more, under the direction of an employer or several employers, and with a university-based academic mentor. This will enable you to develop and operate in a course-related working environment. You are required to evidence your experiences, reflecting on your skills acquisition and professional outlook in a report or blog-style documentary.

You’ll develop skills and insights around a specialism, as you work on an extended research project, strategic marketing plan and focus on professional strategies considering your future career path. You will also design your final major project to demonstrate everything you’ve learnt and achieved, giving you a chance to present strategic and creative marketing skills in a portfolio of work. 

Modules

Marketing Strategies

In this module, you'll evaluate and critique contemporary industry practice and performance of fashion marketing strategies, working with strategic planning frameworks and discussing your ideas with peers and tutors. This leads to the design and defence of creative marketing solutions to an identified business problem. The context for this may arise from direct experience gained through industry placement, a case study, or an entrepreneurial collaboration. The focus of this strategic development will reflect your individual interests and often lays the foundations for your final major project.

Professional Strategies

In this module, you will evaluate your own learning journey and skills acquisition in preparation for opportunities after graduation. You'll create a communication strategy and portfolio of presentation materials reflecting your personal professional identity, in a range of print and digital formats.
You'll also have the chance to explore and plan for your final major project. The focus of development will reflect your individual interests, as you work towards creating the perfect portfolio of work in the context of your personal career opportunities.

Dissertation

At this stage, you'll complete a dissertation or equivalent, which arises out of agreed individual interests relating to practice. The study consolidates personal research developed from Year two, reflecting on your research strengths. You will engage in considered debate and detailed discussion of the chosen topic, exploring ideas with a supervisor to determine the nature, form, breadth and depth of your independent study. You'll then draft and produce a substantial body of written work.

Final Major Project

This module supports the completion your fashion marketing degree. You will devise a project proposal for a detailed marketing solution, underpinned by in-depth research, and produce a set of deliverables for an identified opportunity or problem in a fashion or lifestyle context. This may be retail, e-commerce, campaigns, events or publishing, but the project will reflect your strengths and career aspirations.

We consider all applications on their own individual merit and potential. We invite all applicants to an interview day or audition to give them the opportunity to demonstrate this along with what inspires and motivates them in their field. Applicants will also be able to show their portfolio or give a performance depending on the course. We welcome applications from all subject backgrounds, whether you’ve specialised in STEM, the arts or humanities.  

As a guide our typical offer at undergraduate level is 104 – 120 UCAS Tariff points, primarily from Level 3 qualifications such as but not limited to A-levels, T Levels, a BTEC/UAL Extended Diploma or a Foundation Diploma. 

Check how many points your qualifications are worth

You can choose to study a three-year degree with short placement options, or extend your degree to four years with a year-long industrial placement in the third year. While you need to choose one for your UCAS application, you can amend your decision up until the end of your second year.

If you’re an International student, you’ll need to make a new student visa application to transfer from the three to four-year course.

For applicants whose first language is English we require you to have or be working towards GCSE English Language Grade 4 (C), or equivalent. 

If English is not your first language you will need to meet the same standard which is equivalent to the IELTS Academic 6.0 overall score, with at least 5.5 in Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening. We accept a range of in country equivalencies and approved tests.  

If you need a Tier 4 student visa to study in the UK, you'll need to take a recognised language test that is approved and vouched for by the University. You can read our English Language Requirements for more information.

UK applications: 26 January 2022 (for equal consideration)

Late applications will be considered if there are places available. 

International fee payers can apply throughout the year. But we recommend applying as early as possible, to make time for visa and travel arrangements.

£9,250 per year - full-time UK

£16,950 per year - full-time EU/international

Additional tuition fees for sandwich/placement year students:

£1,350 - sandwich/placement year - UK

£1,850 - sandwich/placement year - EU/international

£9,250 per year - full-time UK

£17,460 per year - full-time EU/international

Additional tuition fees for sandwich/placement year students:

£1,850 - sandwich/placement year - UK/EU/international