Course summary
Our Fashion Business Management with Professional Experience BA is designed to create the buyers and merchandisers of the future for the fashion, business, and retail industries.
We develop your interpersonal, creative, technical and commercial skills while giving you an academic grounding in strategic business management, in order to help you to progress quickly upon graduation to employment in the retail and fashion industries.
Using a combination of academic theory, creative skills, industry knowledge and direct business experience, our course is designed to provide the skills and knowledge required to buy, develop, build ranges and trade within the retail industry.
Our four-year course includes a full year industry placement and the opportunity to study abroad for one semester.
The focus of our course is both home and global, to reflect the nature of the fashion and retail industries. You'll have the option to choose to develop your global business and cultural awareness by combining your year of placement with an international exchange programme, with one of our academic partners in America, Canada or Hong Kong.
We put a strong emphasis on real-world experience and you’ll benefit from an extensive and high calibre programme of guest speakers, industry-driven projects and a tutor team with considerable industry experience.
You'll also benefit from all of the resources that London has to offer, including retailers, suppliers, museums as well as key shows, lectures and events, which you'll be encouraged to attend.
Top reasons to study with us
- Experience London – Our vibrant Harrow Campus is just a 20-minute train ride into London
- Get ahead before graduating – A year of business placement will provide you with practical commercial experience
- Industry-experienced tutors – You'll be taught by tutors who have real-world experience of the retail and fashion industries
- Get global experience – Our four-year course includes the opportunity to study abroad for one semester
- Excellent course reputation – The University of Westminster's fashion courses have an excellent reputation within the industry
- Westminster is ranked 2nd in the UK in the Complete University Guide 2023 for ‘Research Quality’ in Art and Design
Course structure
This is a modular course with interactive sessions covering the academic, practical and applied elements of fashion business management.
The following subjects are indicative of what you will study on this course.
| Year 1 | Subjects of study include: - Career Planning
- Fashion Marketing
- Fashion Trends and Consumer Culture
- Garment Technology
- Introduction to the Fashion Industry
- London Fashion
- Study Skills for Fashion Business Management
- The Roles and Processes of Buyers and Merchandisers
Credit Level 4 |
| Year 2 | Subjects of study include: - Digital Trading
- Fashion Promotion
- Preparing for Work
- Range Design and Concept Development
- Range Planning and Trading for Buyers and Merchandisers
- Supply Chain
- Textiles and Product Development
- Visual Merchandising and Styling
Credit Level 5 |
| Placement year | Between Years 2 and 3, you’ll undertake a professional placement year in industry. The business placement is an integral part of the course, which will give you essential practical experience and will increase your knowledge and understanding of the business environment. It is a critical factor in ensuring subsequent graduate career progression. Completing a year-long work placement will lead to the award title BA Honours – Fashion Business Management with Professional Experience. |
| Year 3 | Subjects of study include: - Consumer Behaviour
- Marketing and Luxury Brand Development
- Fashion Business Simulation Game
- Fashion Entrepreneurship
- Future Trends and Insight
- International Buying and Merchandising Negotiation
- Major Project
- Research Methods
- Sustainable Fashion
- The Changing Business of Fashion
Credit Level 6 |
Career development is embedded in our course. Students can work part-time, on placements and enjoy work-related learning across all three years of study.
With a growing global network of 3,000 employers, our Careers and Employability Service is here to support you to achieve your full potential.
