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Fashion Business & Management at UCA

Behind every fashion brand is a brilliant business plan and a team of experts to bring it to life. If you want to take your place among the major players of the fashion industry, our BA (Hons) Fashion Business & Management degree course can help you get there.

Taught at UCA Epsom’s Business School for the Creative Industries, you’ll develop your business sense and planning skills so that you can thrive commercially. Whether it’s fashion buying, merchandising, forecasting, management strategy, PR and marketing, branding, or international business, you’ll graduate with the knowledge and confidence to succeed.

You’ll work collaboratively across the Business School for the Creative Industries to learn the fundamentals of business and management, before branching out to explore the specifics of the fashion industry.

Along the way, you’ll get the opportunity to broaden your horizons as you pick from a range of industry-related elective units, from supply chain management to behavioural studies. Whichever you choose, your learning will take a global outlook that allows you to forge a career in either domestic or international markets.

 

Course entry options

Select from the following options to find out more about the different study options available for this course:

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Institution code
C93
UCAS code
N101
Campus
UCA Epsom
Start date(s)
September 2024, September 2025, January 2025
Duration
3 years full-time
Entry requirements

112 UCAS points

International equivalent qualifications

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Institution code
C93
UCAS code
N10A
Campus
UCA Epsom
Start date(s)
September 2024, September 2025
Duration
4 years full-time
Entry requirements

32 UCAS points

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Institution code
C93
UCAS code
N10C
Campus
UCA Epsom
Start date(s)
September 2024, September 2025
Duration
4 years full-time
Entry requirements

12 years of schooling (with good grades)

Close
Institution code
C93
UCAS code
N102
Campus
UCA Epsom
Start date(s)
September 2024, September 2025, January 2025
Duration
4 years full-time
Entry requirements

112 UCAS points

International equivalent qualifications

Close
Institution code
C93
UCAS code
N10B
Campus
UCA Epsom
Start date(s)
September 2024, September 2025
Duration
5 years full-time
Entry requirements

32 UCAS points

Close
Institution code
C93
Campus
UCA Epsom
Start date(s)
September 2024, September 2025
Duration
5 years full-time
Entry requirements

12 years of schooling (with good grades)

What you'll study

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

For our students coming from a non-UK educational background, UCA has an Integrated International Foundation Year to bring students from around the world to one hub of creativity. 

This year of preparatory study 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 the English speaking and writing skills you’ll need to succeed.

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 International Foundation Year

Critical Perspectives on Fashion Business
Fashion is a complex worldwide system of businesses that makes many trillions of pounds and employs billions of people, but it was not always this way. Critical Perspectives on Fashion Business introduces you to historical and cultural changes around the world that helped shape the development of current fashion businesses. The unit examines social, political, and cultural structures such as gender, race, and class, and encourages you to evaluate how these factors impact fashion businesses.

Fashion Business: Digital Skills, Practices and Futures
This unit explores the fundamental digital skills required within contemporary fashion businesses. You will demonstrate your knowledge of digital practices and evaluate approaches to solving problems, while also demonstrating your creative and business digital skills. This unit will be the basis of all future digital study and will be the beginning of your understanding of professional digital tools and software used in fashion businesses.

Professional Business Communication and Networks
You will explore the theoretical underpinnings and practical aspects of communicating and networking effectively across different professional settings, while also considering the ethical dimensions of these practices. You will develop a robust set of competencies, insights, and informed perspectives critical for thriving in professional contexts.

Fashion Business Strategy: Buying and Merchandising
This interdisciplinary unit explores the core concepts, methodologies, and principles that drive fashion enterprises. You will hone your foundational understanding of fashion business strategy and acquire practical skills in digital buying and merchandising, all while embracing principles of global sustainability and ethics.

Fashion Forecasting and Consumer Trends
This unit is designed to immerse you into the complexities of fashion forecasting and the analysis of consumer trends, aiming to equip you with a sophisticated understanding of the mechanisms driving consumer behaviour and the ability to anticipate future trends in the fashion industry.

Sustainability and Ethics in Fashion Business
Develop a nuanced understanding of how sustainability and ethical considerations shape business strategies, influence consumer behaviour, and impact global supply chains in this unit, through a blend of theoretical knowledge and practical insights.

Fashion Business Strategy: Omnichannel Brand Marketing and Experiential Retail
In fashion, brand marketing is crucial as it helps build emotional connections and memorable experiences with customers. As a future fashion business professional, you will need various strategies like omnichannel marketing (combining online and offline sales) and experiential retail (creating engaging shopping experiences) to create strong brand stories.  The unit aims to develop applied understanding of how customer experiences should be created and managed to positively impact on an organisation's success, exploring brand marketing in fashion and differing marketing methods.

Fashion Business: Marketing Analytics and Data Technology
You will explore, in-depth, this area of fashion business, emphasising the evolution of marketing analytics, the importance of data analysis, and the integration of AI-driven reporting tools. It provides you with comprehensive skills in interpreting, managing, and leveraging data to foster innovation, competitive advantage, and alignment with customer trends and preferences.

Narrative Economics and Storytelling in Business
With an innovative approach to blending economic theory with the art of storytelling, this unit is designed to equip you with the understanding of how narrative economics influences market dynamics and decision-making within the realm of creative industries, such as film, fashion, music, publishing, and digital media.

Sustainable Accounting and Finance for Fashion Business
You will build on your financial management knowledge, emphasising real-world applications and sustainability, covering  budgeting, financial planning, and innovative finance tools, all within the context of fashion.

Consumer Insight and Behaviour in Fashion
To thrive in the competitive fashion industry, businesses need a deep understanding of their consumers' behaviour, values, and attitudes. This unit explores consumer motivation and decision-making processes specific to the fashion sector, and how these can be influenced by both internal and environmental factors.

Sustainable Fashion Startup
This unit equips you with the knowledge and skills needed to innovate within the rapidly evolving landscape of sustainable fashion, preparing you to address pressing global challenges while creating successful and socially conscious businesses.  This unit requires you to develop different elements of a sustainable fashion start-up each week. You will carry out relevant market research to help you identify opportunities in the fashion industry and your target market and develop a prototype of a new product or service using a range of tools. Finally, you will apply your knowledge and research to create a compelling business pitch for potential investors and funders.

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.

Fashion Business Strategy: Sustainable Business Design
You will explore the intersection of sustainable practices and innovative business design in the fashion industry, so that you can develop, implement, and manage business strategies that are not only economically viable but also centred on sustainability and customer desirability.  You will work in a team with other students to plan and execute a project from start to finish, simulating real fashion business scenarios. This collaborative work is supplemented with structured peer feedback, encouraging reflective learning and critical thinking.

Entrepreneurial Finance and Financial Modelling for Fashion Business
You’ll be introduced to the critical aspects of entrepreneurial finance and financial modelling within the fashion industry. You will develop the ability to build and defend robust business models in the fashion sector, employing both traditional financial management principles and modern tools, including AI, for financial analysis.

Fashion Business: Project Management
The ability to manage projects efficiently is a high-value skill indispensable for all managers. This unit equips you with the essential knowledge and skills needed to manage fashion business projects successfully, addressing common problems and challenges. By the end, you will have an opportunity to achieve a formal Project Management qualification (Agile PM Certification

Fashion Business and Management Degree Project
The culmination of your course is the final major project, designed to demonstrate your ability to apply theoretical knowledge to practical, real-world challenges in the fashion industry. You will plan and manage a significant project, either focusing on a professional workplace setting or on academic research; in both instances, you must address a real-world business need or challenge specific to the fashion industry.

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

Industry placement
offer

Preparing graduates for successful careers underpins everything we do, and all students on this course may be offered support to identify and prepare for an industry placement according to their individual needs. We’ll draw on our wide range of contacts within the creative industries to help provide you with opportunities that align with your interests and future career aspirations.

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.

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Fees & funding

Fees & financial support

Tuition fees - 2024/25 entry

  • Integrated Foundation Year: £9,250
  • BA course: £9,250

If you opt to study the Professional Practice Year, for 2024 you will be required to pay a reduced tuition fee of £1,850. 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.

Tuition fees - 2024/25 entry

  • Integrated International Foundation Year: £9,250 (see fee discount information)
  • BA course: £9,250 (see fee discount information)

If you opt to study the Professional Practice Year, for 2024 you will be required to pay a reduced tuition fee of £1,850. 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.

Tuition fees - 2024/25 entry

  • Integrated International Foundation Year: £16,950
  • BA course: £17,500

If you opt to study the Professional Practice Year, for 2024 you will be required to pay a reduced tuition fee of £3,390. 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.

Please note: The fees listed on this webpage 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 your Course Information for details of the costs you may incur.

Facilities

The UCA Business School for the Creative Industries, based at our Epsom campus, is the first of its kind in the UK. There’s dedicated studios and study areas, digital media suites equipped with Macs and PCs which are programmed with specialist software including Adobe Creative Suite, Dreamweaver and After Effects. There’s a modern library with a wealth of books and thanks to its location, many collaborative opportunities with students from other courses.

View 360 virtual tour

Business School Studios, UCA Epsom

Business School Lecture, UCA Epsom

Library, UCA Epsom

Digital media suite, UCA Epsom

Career opportunities

Designed to produce highly employable graduates with a sound understanding of the fashion industry, our Fashion Business and Management degree gives students the chance to 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 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.

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

We offer postgraduate opportunities in our Business School and we will help you find the correct course for you and support you in your application should further study be for you.

What’s it like being a student at UCA?

That’s a big question. Get some answers from people who are studying right here, right now.

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Entry requirements

This course 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. 

Select your country to find the equivalent requirements
Entry & portfolio requirements

Entry & portfolio
requirements

BA (Hons) course
BA (Hons) course with Professional Practice Year

The standard entry requirements* for these courses are one of the following:

  • 112 UCAS tariff points, see accepted qualifications
  • Pass at Foundation Diploma in Art & Design (Level 3 or 4)
  • Distinction, Merit, Merit at BTEC Extended Diploma / BTEC National Extended Diploma
  • Merit at UAL Extended Diploma
  • 112 UCAS tariff points from an accredited Access to Higher Education Diploma in appropriate subject
  • 27-30 total points in the International Baccalaureate Diploma with at least 15 IB points at Higher level, see more information about IB entry requirements.

And four GCSE passes at grade 9-4/A*-C including English (or Functional Skills English/Key Skills Communication Level 2).

Other relevant and equivalent Level 3 UK and international qualifications are considered on an individual basis, and we encourage students from diverse educational backgrounds to apply.  

Portfolio requirements

These courses don'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. 

 


BA (Hons) course with Integrated Foundation Year
BA (Hons) course with Integrated Foundation Year and Professional Practice Year

The standard entry requirements* for these courses are one of the following:

  • 32 UCAS tariff points, see accepted qualifications
  • Pass at Foundation Diploma in Art & Design (Level 3 or 4)
  • Pass, Pass, Pass at BTEC Extended Diploma / BTEC National Extended Diploma
  • Pass at UAL Extended Diploma
  • 32 UCAS tariff points from an accredited Access to Higher Education Diploma in appropriate subject
  • 24 points from the International Baccalaureate, see more information about IB entry requirements.

And four GCSE passes at grade 9-4/A*-C including English (or Functional Skills English/Key Skills Communication Level 2).

Other relevant and equivalent Level 3 UK and international qualifications are considered on an individual basis, and we encourage students from diverse educational backgrounds to apply. 

Portfolio requirements

These courses don'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. 

 


*We occasionally make offers which are lower than the standard entry criteria, to students who have faced difficulties that have affected their performance and who were expected to achieve higher results. We consider the strength of our applicants’ portfolios, as well as their grades -  in these cases, a strong portfolio is especially important.

BA (Hons) course
BA (Hons) course with Professional Practice Year

The entry requirements for these courses will depend on the country your qualifications are from, please check the equivalent qualifications for your country:

Any additional entry requirements listed in the UK requirements section, e.g., subject requirements, work experience or professional qualifications, also apply to international applicants applying with equivalent qualifications.

Portfolio requirements

These courses don't require a portfolio. 

 


BA (Hons) course with Integrated International Foundation Year
BA (Hons) course with Integrated International Foundation Year and Professional Practice Year

For these courses you need to have completed 12 years of schooling (with good grades) and show strong evidence of your ability to successfully complete the programme and progress onto your chosen degree.

Any additional entry requirements listed in the UK requirements section, e.g., subject requirements, work experience or professional qualifications, also apply to international applicants applying with equivalent qualifications.

Portfolio requirements

These courses don't require a portfolio. 


English language requirements

To study at UCA, you'll need to have a certain level of English language skill. And so, to make sure you meet the requirements of your course, we ask for evidence of your English language ability, please check the level of English language required:

Don't meet the international entry requirements or English language requirements?

You may be able to enter the course through the following entry pathways:

Apply now

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

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