Program Overview

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BA (Hons) Fashion Business and Promotion with a Foundation Year

Overview

The BA Fashion Business and Promotion course with Foundation year opens doors to a multitude of roles in the fashion industry. Explore Marketing, Buying, Public Relations, Trend Forecasting, Event Experience, and much more. Get ready to dive deep into the world of fashion - your gateway to a world of endless possibilities in the fashion industry.

Why Choose Us?

• The foundation year will enable you to explore all of the different degree pathways to help you choose the right course ready for the step up to degree.
• On the foundation course, you will be part of a community, building your knowledge of the equipment and facilities available, getting to know staff and your fellow students through social events and our end-of-year exhibition.
• Unlike other courses, we cover a variety of fashion business modules to ensure you gain a broad perspective of the fashion industry.
• The course provides creative and visual fluency, equipping you with the toolkit to operate in the competitive, international fashion market place.
• Our academic staff all have industry experience, teaching and researching their specialist subjects, ranging from buying to marketing.
• The course helps you become as versatile and dynamic as the industry itself.

What's Covered in This Course?

This course will develop you through a variety of business and creative modules, teaching you skills in buying, merchandising, marketing, visual merchandising, PR, and buying and merchandising.

You'll learn how fashion roles work together, as well as commercial and planning skills, competitive awareness, and the ability to think outside the box, all of which are essential in this global industry.

You'll be exposed to trends forecasting, buying, marketing, and events and industry placements, ensuring you graduate ready for employment.

Entry Requirements

Essential Requirements

• 80 UCAS Tariff points.
• GCSE and other level 2 requirements: This course does not require evidence of GCSE qualifications.

A Level, BTEC, and Other Level 3 Requirements

• Qualification| Entry Requirements
  • A Level / AS Level |
    • A Level: 80 UCAS Tariff points / CDD (or equivalent)
    • AS Level: Must be in a different subject to A Levels
    • A maximum of four subjects will be considered
  • Pearson BTEC (Diploma / Extended Diploma/ Extended Certificate) |
    • 80 UCAS Tariff points
    • Diploma accepted with one A Level or equivalent level 3 qualifications
    • Extended Certificate accepted with two A Levels or equivalent level 3 qualifications
  • T Level | Pass overall (C or above on the core) All subjects accepted but Digital Production, Design and Development; Digital Business Services; Media, Broadcast and Production preferred
  • Access to HE Diploma | Pass with 60 credits, 45 credits at level 3 Accepted subjects: Arts, Media and Publishing subjects preferred but other subjects also considered
  • OCR Cambridge Technical qualifications | 80 UCAS Tariff points
  • NCFE CACHE Level 3 qualifications | 80 UCAS Tariff points
  • WJEC Level 3 qualifications |
    • 80 UCAS Tariff points
    • Considered with two A Levels or equivalent level 3 qualification(s)
  • Irish Leaving Certificate (Highers) | Minimum of 80 UCAS Tariff points, achieved in five Higher level subjects
  • Scottish Higher / Advanced Higher | 80 UCAS Tariff points from three Advanced Highers (DDD) or two Advanced Highers (DD) plus two Highers (DD)
  • Welsh Baccalaureate | 80 UCAS Tariff points. Considered with three A Levels or equivalent level 3 qualifications
  • UAL Level 3 Extended Diploma | Pass overall
  • Foundation Studies (Art and Design, and Art, Design and Media) | Pass overall

International Qualifications

• International Baccalaureate Diploma: Obtain a minimum of 28 points overall.
• EU / International students: Please see your country page for further details on the equivalent qualifications we accept.

Fees & How to Apply

UK Students

• Annual and modular tuition fees shown are applicable to the first year of study.
• The University reserves the right to increase fees for subsequent years of study in line with increases in inflation (capped at 5%) or to reflect changes in Government funding policies or changes agreed by Parliament.
• Award: BA (Hons)
• Starting: Sep 2026
• Mode: Full Time
• Duration: 4 years
• Fees: £9,535 in 2026/27
• Apply via UCAS

International Students

• Annual and modular tuition fees shown are applicable to the first year of study.
• The University reserves the right to increase fees for subsequent years of study in line with increases in inflation (capped at 5%) or to reflect changes in Government funding policies or changes agreed by Parliament.
• Award: BA (Hons)
• Starting: Sep 2026
• Mode: Full Time
• Duration: 4 years
• Fees: £18,570 in 2026/27
• Register interest

Included in Your Course Fees

• Access to computer equipment
• Printing
• Field trips
• Access to Microsoft Office 365
• Key software
• Key subscriptions

Not Included in Your Course Fees

• Project materials (mandatory)
• Excess printing (optional)
• Personal stationery and study materials (optional)
• Placement expenses (optional)
• Field trips (optional)
• Gallery visits (optional)
• Personal equipment (optional)
• Accommodation and living costs (optional)

Course in Depth

Foundation Year

• In your Foundation Year, you will gain a grounding in a variety of skills from each of our degree pathways, including blog writing, textile techniques, branding, creating garments, and more.
• You will be able to explore the Fashion and Textiles workshops and CAD suites to pursue your individual interests.

Core Modules

• Developing a Narrative (20 credits)
• Understanding Fundamental Processes (20 credits)
• Introducing Trends (20 credits)
• Brand Development (20 credits)
• Signature Project (40 credits)

Year One

• The course is module-based and delivered one at a time – you will be taught in a classroom and lecture hall-style rooms to help you engage in lectures topics, discussions, and class activities to support the module.
• You will receive workshops in Visual Communication across pages such as InDesign and Illustrator.

Core Modules

• Creative Industries: Connections (blended) (20 credits)
• Fashion Business Context (20 credits)
• Fashion Activism: A Catalyst for Change (20 credits)
• Buying & Merchandising for the Future (40 credits)
• Global Fashion Spaces: Experiential Retail (20 credits)

Year Two

• The course is module-based and delivered one at a time – you will be taught in a classroom and lecture hall-style rooms to help you engage in lectures topics, discussions, and class activities to support the module.
• You will receive workshops in Visual Communication across pages such as InDesign and Illustrator.

Core Modules

• Creative Industries: Industry Futures (blended) (20 credits)
• Marketing Strategies (40 credits)
• Experience Economy (40 credits)

Optional Modules

• Work Placement (20 credits)
• Independent Creative Entrepreneur (20 credits)
• Industry Project (20 credits)

Year Three

• The course is module-based and delivered one at a time – you will be taught in a classroom and lecture hall-style rooms to help you engage in lectures topics, discussions, and class activities to support the module.
• You will receive workshops in Visual Communication across pages such as InDesign and Illustrator.

Core Modules

• Creative Industries: Research Development and Enquiry (blended) (20 credits)
• Major Concept Strategy (40 credits)
• Creative Realisation (20 credits)
• Self Promotion and Commercialisation (40 credits)

Employability

Enhancing Your Employability Skills

• Employability and being ready for the world of work is very important to us, and the course offers a range of modules that will develop relevant industry skills.
• Our aims are to:
  • Produce industry-ready graduates, who can creatively contribute to fashion and its related industries in local, UK, or global markets.
  • Provide opportunities for you to explore, practice, and challenge the inter-relationships between the commercial environment, creative thinking, and technical practice.
  • Employ a range of teaching and learning methods, in which you are able to synthesize theories, concepts, and fashion practice within local, national, and global marketplaces.
  • Develop student confidence and professionalism through fluency in verbal communication, as well as coherent written and visual presentation skills.
  • Stimulate commercial awareness and activity through project management, live and team projects, industrial liaison and visits, industrial placement, and competition at all levels.
  • Instil cooperation, competition, and an entrepreneurial approach in all student achievements.

Facilities & Staff

Our Facilities

• Fashion and Textiles courses are based at our Parkside Building, which is part of our multi-million-pound City Centre Campus development in the heart of Birmingham's Eastside development.

Our Staff

• Louise Martin: Lecturer in Foundation Year Fashion and Textiles
• Natalie Martin: Course Leader in Foundation Year Fashion and Textiles

Contact Us

• Birmingham City University
• Curzon Building
• 4 Cardigan Street
• Birmingham
• B4 7BD
• United Kingdom
• +44 (0)121 331 5000