Location

Epsom

Start date

Sept 2026, Sept 2027

Duration

3 years full-time

UCAS logo

UCAS codes

Course: N101
Institution: C93

+1

Foundation year

Optional extra year of study

+1

Placement year

Optional extra year of study

Entry requirements

Check qualifications

Fashion Business & Management at UCA

Learn the business behind the brand and study creative thinking for the fashion industry. on our BA (Hons) Fashion Business & Management degree, taught at UCA Epsom.  

Fashion first. Business always

Every module is built around the realities of the global fashion industry – buying, merchandising, marketing, finance, entrepreneurship – taught by people who still work within it. You'll build commercial skills through a creative lens: a combination that employers are always searching for.

Built to think forward

On our Fashion Business & Management degree course you won't just study how the industry works now – you'll examine where it's going and how you’re going to keep up. Every session involves critical speculation: what does the data say, what are forecasters predicting, and what do you think comes next? You’ll develop skills, instinct, and a way of thinking that will make you future-proof.

Learn to lead responsibly

Sustainability is fundamentally built into this course as a creative and commercial opportunity. From understanding sustainable accounting to learning how to build businesses around fashion's circular economy – repair, customisation, upcycling, resale – you'll develop an informed and responsible perspective that can improve the future of fashion.

From passion to profession

Fashion Business & Management is a course designed to channel your energy and interests into a rewarding and long-lasting career. You’ll start broad and then narrow your focus as you find your fit: luxury, high street, agency, start-up. At UCA, whatever you’re drawn to is a direction you can go in.

Accreditations, partners and industry connections

The Chartered Management Institute Logo

CMI

This course has dual accreditation with The Chartered Management Institute, you will earn a nationally recognised professional qualification during your degree course.

Two minute stories


Discover the stories of our Marketing students

What you'll study

The content of the course may be subject to change. Curriculum content is provided as a guide.

UCA’s Integrated Foundation Year is designed to give you the skills you’ll need to start your degree in the best possible way – with confidence, solid knowledge of creative practice, study skills and more.

You’ll explore a range of creative techniques and develop your portfolio, with your chosen subject in mind. We’ll work with you throughout the year to ensure you’re on the right track and give you the tools to achieve your highest potential on your degree.

Find out more about the Integrated Foundation Year

Introduction to Fashion Business: 30 credits
You are introduced the fashion industry as a global system shaped by historical, cultural, social, political and economic influences. By exploring how fashion businesses have developed and operate within wider ideas such as values, identity, power and representation. To encourage you to question how fashion businesses create value, communicate meaning, and influence people and society. Through key concepts and real-world examples, you will develop essential academic, research and communication skills.

Fashion Business Strategy: Fashion Buying and Merchandising: 30 credits
This module develops your fashion business and buying and merchandising practices through strategic analysis, digital skills, and data-informed decision- making, establishing the core commercial, ethical, and professional competencies needed for future study and understanding of industry practice.

Career Catalyst: Skills & Capability: 30 credits
This module supports the development of essential creative, technical and digital skills aligned to professional standards needed across the course. You will build confidence, practical and transferable skills that support confident progression in your studies and future professional development. This module strengthens professional literacy, laying the foundations for collaboration, industry engagement and complex creative challenges.

Campaign Management: 30 credits
Acting in the role of an emerging industry professional, you will respond to a live or simulated industry brief. You will engage in client-facing processes such as meetings, presentations, and pitching, applying research, insight, and creative development skills in a professional context. This module serves as the capstone for Level 4, drawing together learning from across the year

Fashion Business Strategy: Omnichannel Brand Marketing: 30 credits
This is a module that develops strategic understanding of omnichannel brand marketing and experiential retail and customer experience through critical analysis, digital, AI and applied creative practice, establishing the commercial, ethical, and professional competencies required for progression in fashion business study and contemporary industry practice.

Career Catalyst: Communities & Influence: 30 credits
You will develop professional agency, teamwork and networks, helping you understand how creative practice creates value, influence and opportunity within industry, civic and global contexts.

Sustainable Accounting and Finance for Fashion Business: 30 credits
This module is practice-led and professionally contextualised through the use of real-world case studies and hands-on projects that directly apply sustainable finance principles to the fashion industry's unique challenges and opportunities.

Branding, Marketing and Data Technology: 30 credits
You will examine how branding and marketing strategies are shaped by data, digital platforms, and emerging technologies within the creative industries. You will explore how brands use data to understand audiences, inform marketing decisions, and optimise communication across channels. The module develops strategic thinking alongside practical skills in branding, marketing technologies, and professional visibility, with a focus on contemporary fashion and beauty industry contexts.

An optional Professional Practice or International Year may be undertaken between years 2 and 3, allowing you to gain industry experience or global exposure before your final year of study.

If you opt to complete a professional practice year, this will take place in year three. You will undertake a placement within the creative industries to further develop your skills and CV.

While on the Professional Practice Year, you will be required to pay a reduced tuition fee for that year. This fee will be determined using government funding regulations. Based on current regulations, we expect this to be a maximum of 20% of the tuition fee rate that you are charged for your second year of study. You will also incur additional travel and accommodation costs during this year. The University will provide you with further advice and guidance about this as you approach your Professional Practice Year.

Critical thinking, future-facing practice, and independent project work Year 3 supports you in becoming an independent, critically aware creative practitioner, capable of responding to global industry challenges and shaping your own future professional direction.

You will study three core modules:

Creative Business Futures: 30 credits
You examine constant change in business by exploring innovation and entrepreneurial practice. It focuses on understanding barriers, evaluating challenges and opportunities, and developing original solutions for future-focused decision-making across various business contexts, including post-consumption and product lifecycles.

Career Catalyst: Futures & Direction: 30 credits
Focused on professional development and future planning, this module supports you in articulating your creative identity and career ambitions. You will explore industry contexts, professional strategies and sustainable career pathways, preparing you for life beyond graduation. You will engage with emerging trends, global industry shifts, and future-facing practices within fashion, media, and creative industries. using this insight to support the development of your Major Project.

Major Project: 60 credits
In your final module, you will produce an independent body of work that demonstrates your creative, strategic, and critical capabilities. Your Major Project allows you to define a specialist direction aligned with your interests and career ambitions, supported by research, professional context, and reflective practice. Outcomes may be creative, entrepreneurial, or research-led, preparing you for graduate employment, further study, or self-directed professional pathways.

This course is designed to offer you (if eligible) the opportunity to study part of your degree aboard at a UCA partner university, while still earning credits towards your UCA degree.

For more information please visit the Study Abroad section

Integrated foundation year

  • Independent study: 72%
  • Scheduled teaching: 28%
  • Maximum percentage of scheduled delivered online: 20%

Year one

  • Independent study: 72%
  • Scheduled teaching: 28%
  • Maximum percentage of scheduled delivered online: 20%

Year two

  • Independent study: 74%
  • Scheduled teaching: 26%
  • Maximum percentage of scheduled delivered online: 20%

Year three

  • Independent study: 76%
  • Scheduled teaching: 24%
  • Maximum percentage of scheduled delivered online: 20%

Professional placement or International year (if undertaken)

  • Independent study: 98%
  • Scheduled teaching: 2%
  • Maximum percentage of scheduled delivered online: 100%

Please note: these details are for 2026 entry and could be subject to change for other years of entry.

Course specifications

Please note, syllabus content indicated is provided as a guide. The content of the course may be subject to change in line with our Student Terms and Conditions for example, as required by external professional bodies or to improve the quality of the course.

Upcoming webinars

We offer a range of webinars throughout the year that you may be interested in.

You can also view recordings of all previous sessions through the UCA webinar archive.


Fees & financial support

Tuition fees - 2026/27

  • Integrated Foundation Year: £5,760
  • BA course: £9,790

If you opt to study the Professional Practice Year, you will be required to pay a reduced tuition fee, for 2026/27 this is £1,955. You will also incur additional travel and accommodation costs during your Professional Practice year. The University will provide you with further advice and guidance about this.

Government guidance indicates that tuition‑fee caps will rise annually with inflation from 2026, subject to legislation, so tuition fees are likely to increase each year of study. 

Tuition fees - 2026/27

  • Integrated Foundation Year: £5,760 (see fee discount information)
  • BA course: £9,790 (see fee discount information)

If you opt to study the Professional Practice Year, you will be required to pay a reduced tuition fee, for 2026/27 this is £1,955. You will also incur additional travel and accommodation costs during your Professional Practice year. The University will provide you with further advice and guidance about this.

Government guidance indicates that tuition‑fee caps will rise annually with inflation from 2026, subject to legislation, so tuition fees are likely to increase each year of study. 

Tuition fees - 2026/27

  • Integrated Foundation Year: £18,000
  • BA course: £18,000

If you opt to study the Professional Practice Year, for 2026 you will be required to pay a reduced tuition fee of £3,490. You will also incur additional travel and accommodation costs during your Professional Practice year. The University will provide you with further advice and guidance about this.

The fees listed here are correct for the stated academic year only, for details of previous years please see the full fee schedules.

UCA scholarships and fee discounts

At UCA we have a number of scholarships and fee discounts available to assist you with the cost of your studies.

Financial support

There are lots of ways you can access additional financial support to help you fund your studies - both from UCA and from external sources. Discover what support you might qualify for please see our financial support information.

Additional course costs

In addition to the tuition fees there may be other costs for your course. The things that you are likely to need to budget for to get the most out of a creative arts education will include books, printing costs, occasional or optional study trips and/or project materials.

These costs will vary according to the nature of your project work and the individual choices that you make. Please see the Additional Course Costs section of the Course Information Document for more details of the costs you may incur.

Find out what's included in your tuition fees.

Fashion Business & Management career opportunities

Our Fashion Business Management degree is designed to produce highly employable graduates with a sound understanding of the fashion industry.

You'll benefit from our extensive industry links and from events such as London Fashion Week. Our industry connections include:

  • Hugo Boss
  • Liberty of London
  • Burberry
  • ASOS Marketing
  • Whistles
  • Prada
  • Paul’s Boutique
  • Kering
  • Margaret Howell
  • Paul Smith

Our commitment to helping our students to secure employment before graduation means that our Fashion Business and Management graduates progress to careers at many leading companies, such as:

  • Harvey Nichols
  • Alexander McQueen
  • Harrods
  • River Island
  • House of Fraser
  • UGG Australia
  • L’Oreal
  • Jigsaw
  • Topshop
  • Ralph Lauren

Recent graduate roles have included:

  • Marketing assistant
  • Allocator
  • PR manager
  • Content curator
  • Visual merchandiser
  • Optimiser
  • Wholesale and marketing executive
  • Online production assistant
  • Trend forecaster
  • Online editorial copywriter

Learn more about what careers you can do with a fashion degree

Niyati Dohisaria, MA Fashion Business & Management, UCA Epsom

What creative careers can you do with a Business degree?

Your guide to business careers and entrepreneurial opportunities in the creative industries, commercial and digital photography jobs in the creative industries.

Your training on this course will prepare you for a wide range of postgraduate courses.

We offer postgraduate fashion business degrees and we will help you find the correct course for you and support you in your application should further study be for you.


Fashion Business & Management entry requirements

Our Fashion Business and Management degree doesn't require a portfolio, if you receive an offer, you’ll be invited to attend an Applicant Day where you can meet the course team and learn more about the course. 

UCAS applicants should check our UCAS personal statement guide for a fashion applicants as well as our UCAS personal statement guide for business applicants.

Select your country to find the equivalent requirements
Business School Lecture, UCA Epsom

What our fashion business students say

“I never expected my life to involve going to Manhattan, or becoming an expert in fashion sustainability. My friends don’t recognise me now, I was never that girl. Now I am.”

Read Sian's story Chat to UCA students

Chat to our Fashion students

Mary, a BA Fashion Design student

Mary - Fashion Design BA (Hons)

From: Greece 🇬🇷

Chat to Mary

Savana, a BA Make-Up and Hair Design student

Savana - Make-Up & Hair Design BA (Hons)

From: United Kingdom 🇬🇧

Chat to Savana

Viktorija, a BA Fashion Business & Management student

Viktorija - Fashion Business & Management BA (Hons)

From: United Kingdom & Lithuania 🇬🇧 🇱🇹

Chat to Viktorija

Fashion Atelier Studios, The Wells

Find more Fashion students to talk to

Explore more students profiles and chat to them about their UCA experience

See more students

Apply to BA (Hons) Fashion Business & Management

Please use the following fields to help select the right application link for you:

UCAS codes

  • UCA institution code: C93
  • Three year degree: N101
  • Plus professional practice year: N102
  • Plus integrated foundation year: N10A
  • Plus integrated foundation year and professional practice year: N10B

BA (Hons) Fashion Business & Management key statistics

Related Courses