Fashion Business and Promotion - BA (Hons)
Studying with us in 2021/22
It is possible that the 2021/22 academic year may be affected by the ongoing disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Any arrangements put in place by the University for the 2021/22 academic year will be in accordance with the latest government public health advice, pandemic-related/health and safety legislation, and the terms and conditions of the student contract.
Our BA (Hons) Fashion Business and Promotion degree course enables you to explore a range of roles within the fashion industry, beyond the making and production of clothing.
Guided and supported by a knowledgeable, industry-experienced staff team, you will gain an education across the different fashion sectors and develop skills in order to undertake a number of industry roles, including Buying, Marketing and PR, Trends forecasting and Event Management.
What's covered in the course?
You will learn how fashion roles work together, as well as commercial and consumer and competitive awareness.
You will work on a live project, as well as industry focused briefs across the first two years and benefit from regular industry guest speakers.
Throughout the course, we will develop your business knowledge and language, preparing you for delivering presentations, teamwork, writing reports and build skills in creating both paper and digital visual work with the aid of CAD packages.
In your final year, you will work on projects that support your independent interests and develop your self-promotion skills ready for industry. There will also be the chance to showcase your final-year work to industry leaders, at events such as Graduate Fashion Week in London.
I can truly say this course prepares you to be 100 per cent industry-ready. You will learn in a challenging, informative and inspiring way, giving you true industry insight and skills across a number of subjects. From trends forecasting to event management this course helps you understand the wider fashion picture. You will leave this course as a confident professional.
Sophie Johnson, graduate
Why Choose Us?
- The course helps you become as versatile and dynamic as the industry itself.
- 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 trend forecasting to branding and international retailing.
- Integrated work placements provide you with the essential experience needed to get ahead in their sector.
Open Days
Our next Virtual Open Day is taking place on Saturday 20 March. It's the perfect opportunity to virtually tour our facilities, hear from some of our staff and get a feel of what it's like to study at BCU.
Book your place
This course is open to International students
Discover the School of Fashion and Textiles
Visit our School site for more student work and extra information.
Where our students go
Our students have gone on to work with companies such as:
And in jobs such as:
- PR Assistant
- Buyers Admin Assistant
- Trainee Merchandiser
Retail stars of the future given a helping hand by Selfridges
Talented Fashion Business and Promotion students have ‘taken over’ Selfridges Birmingham for a term as they learn about retail design.
The students were given the unique opportunity to work with the creative and management team at the iconic Birmingham store to complete their module on Visual Merchandising and Retail Design.
Entry Requirements
We accept a range of qualifications, the most popular of which are detailed below.
Essential Requirements
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112 UCAS tariff points from A/AS Level with a minimum of 2 A Levels. |
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| LEVEL 2 QUALIFICATIONS | ||
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| GCSE |
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| Irish Leaving Certificate (Ordinary Level) | See level 3 entry under Irish Leaving Certificate for full details | |
| Scottish National 5 |
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| IELTS | Minimum overall score of 6.0, with 6.0 in writing and no less than 5.5 in the remaining three skills. | |
| Plus one of the following Level 3 (and above) Qualifications | ||
| A Level and Advanced VCE |
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| AS and AS VCE | Considered with a maximum of 3 other Level 3 qualifications (AS Levels must be in different subject to A-Levels) to obtain 112 pts | |
| Access to HE Diploma |
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DMM | |
| Foundation Studies (Art and Design, and Art, Design & Media) |
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| IBO Certificate in Higher Level |
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| International Baccalaureate Diploma |
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| Irish Leaving Certificate (Highers) | Pass the Irish Leaving Certificate with a minimum of 112 tariff points, achieved in five Higher level subjects. This must include English Language and Maths taken at either Ordinary Level (minimum grade O1-O4 (or A-C/A1-C3)) or Higher level minimum grade H1/H7 (or A-D / A1-D3 up to and including 2016. | |
| OCR Cambridge Technical Extended Diploma | DMM | |
| Scottish Advanced Higher |
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| T-Levels | Merit overall | |
| UAL Extended Diploma in Art & Design | Merit overall | |
| UAL Extended Diploma in Creative Media Production & Technology | Merit overall | |
| UAL Extended Diploma in Performing and Production Arts | Merit overall | |
| Other qualifications | ||
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If you have a qualification that is not listed in the table please refer to our full entry requirements on UCAS. Further guidance on tariff points can be found on the UCAS website. |
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Additional information for EU/International students
| Essential | ||
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In addition to qualifications, International applicants will also need a good digital portfolio. EU applicants will not be required to submit a portfolio as part of their application. Please see your country page for further details on the equivalent qualifications we accept. In addition to the academic entry requirements listed above, international and EU students will also require the qualifications detailed in this table. |
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| EU/Non-EU (International) Qualifications | Requirements | |
| IELTS |
Minimum overall score of 6.0, with 6.0 in writing and no less than 5.5 in the remaining three skills. If you do not meet the required IELTS score, you may be eligible for one of our pre-sessional English courses. Please note that you must have a Secure English Language Test (SELT) to study on the pre-sessional English course. More information. |
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| International Baccalaureate Diploma (or equivalent, including internationally accredited Foundation courses). |
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International students who cannot meet the direct entry requirements can begin their degree studies at Birmingham City University International College (BCUIC).
Mature Applicants
Applications from mature students (21+) with alternative qualifications and/or considerable work experience will be considered on their merits.
From A/AS Level with a minimum of 2 A Levels
Don’t meet our entry requirements?
You could apply for a foundation course or a course at our International College. These routes have lower entry requirements and act as the bridge to a full degree. To find out more, please select your status:
- UK students
- International students
Award: BA (Hons)
Starting: Sep 2021
- Mode
- Duration
- Fees
- Full Time
- 3 years
- £9,250 per year
- Apply via UCAS
Award: BA (Hons)
Starting: Sep 2021
- Mode
- Duration
- Fees
- Full Time
- 3 years
- £13,200 per year
If you're unable to use the online form for any reason, you can complete our PDF application form and equal opportunities PDF form instead. The University reserves the right to increase fees in line with inflation based on the Retail Prices Index or to reflect changes in Government funding policies or changes agreed by Parliament up to a maximum of five per cent.
Guidance for UK students
UK students applying for most undergraduate degree courses in the UK will need to apply through UCAS.
The Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) is a UK organisation responsible for managing applications to university and college.
Applying through UCAS
Register with UCAS
Login to UCAS
Complete your details
Select your course
Write a personal statement
Get a reference
Pay your application fee
Send UCAS your application
International students
There are three ways to apply:
1) Direct to the University
You will need to complete our International Application Form and Equal Opportunities Form, and submit them together with scan copies of your original academic transcripts and certificates.
2) Through a country representative
Our in-country representatives can help you make your application and apply for a visa. They can also offer advice on travel, living in the UK and studying abroad.
3) Through UCAS
If you are applying for an undergraduate degree or a Higher National Diploma (HND), you can apply through the UK’s Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS).
You can request a printed form from your school or nearest British Council office. You will be charged for applying through UCAS. Birmingham City University’s UCAS code is B25 BCITY.
Portfolio Guidance
If you are an International student and your application is progressed, you will be asked to submit a portfolio of your creative work. Your portfolio is your opportunity to show us examples of your work and creative interests to support your application.
Please see our international portfolio guidance page for guidance on how to create and submit your portfolio.
Please note that if you are a UK/ EU student you will not be required to submit a portfolio.
Personal statement
UK / EU students are required to submit a personal statement as part of their application for this course.*
The personal statement gives you a crucial opportunity to say why you’re applying and why the institution should accept you.
Here are the key areas you’ll need to address:
Course choice
Why does this course appeal? What areas are of particular interest?
Career plans
If you have a specific career in mind, say how your chosen course will help you pursue this goal.
Work experience
Mention any work that is relevant to your subject, highlighting the skills and experience gained.
School or college experience
Highlight skills gained at school/college, eg summer schools or mentoring activities.
Non-accredited skills or achievement
eg Duke of Edinburgh Award, Young Enterprise scheme.
You should also mention your future plans – if you’re planning to take a year out, don't forget to give your reasons. Talk about any subjects you’re studying that don’t have a formal assessment and any sponsorships or placements you’ve applied for. And don't be scared to add in details about your social, sports or leisure interests.
Get more information on writing personal statements.
*Non-EU students are not required to submit a personal statement when applying for this course.
Additional costs
Our courses include activities such as performance, exhibitions, field trips and production of works or artefacts which may require you to purchase specific equipment, instruments, books, materials, hire of venues and accommodation, or other items.
Based on the past experience of our students, you might find it helpful to set aside about £50 for each year of your studies for your personal stationery and study materials. All our students are provided with 100 free pages of printing each year to a maximum total value of £15.
Accommodation and living costs
The cost of accommodation and other living costs are not included within your course fees. More information on the cost of accommodation can be found in our accommodation pages.
Worried about personal statements?
If you've got no idea where to start or just want to check you're on the right track, we’ve got expert advice and real examples from our students to help you nail your personal statement. You can even download our ultimate personal statement guide for free.
Financial Support
We offer further information on possible undergraduate financial support. This includes the type of loans, grants and scholarships available both from the government and from Birmingham City University.
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.
All modules will be supported with weekly tutorials in groups or individually, of which you are expected to come prepared with work to show and questions.
In order to complete this course you must successfully complete all the following CORE modules (totalling 120 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.
All modules will be supported with weekly tutorials in groups or individually, of which you are expected to come prepared with work to show and questions.
In order to complete this course you must successfully complete all the following CORE modules (totalling 120 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.
All modules will be supported with weekly tutorials in groups or individually, of which you are expected to come prepared with work to show and questions.
In order to complete this course a student must successfully complete all the following CORE modules (totalling 120 credits):
The first two years of the course allow you to explore the multi-faceted disciplines that are integral to the way that the fashion business operates.
The third year then allows you to refine your expertise through negotiated projects and tailor your work to become an expert in your chosen field.
Guest speakers have included buyers from George and River Island, social media and PR experts from Missguided, marketing and PR industry managers and fashion bloggers.
You'll gain commercial awareness through a series of live industry projects, industrial placements and opportunities for competitions.
Projects
We have previously linked with Selfridges in Birmingham to help understand the scale of visual merchandising in a department store. Students applied trends and key drivers to new concepts and presented their ideas to the store manager.
Buying and Merchandising module, worked with Whistles to focus students on their core consumer. They gained an insight into how to profile the consumer and interpret the fashion trends into a range. This was supported with Illustrator workshops and Whistles’ head office buyers.
You will also gain experience of Event Management, working in teams to generate a live event in support of a charity. Previous events have included comedy nights, roller discos, open mic nights and more. You will work with venues and retailers to get a real feel of how to manage, market and deliver an event.
You will engage in discussions and debates and you will look at issues surrounding fashion business, and offer solutions for the next generation.
Student Work
Emily Lehmann, Year 3 student
Final-year student Emily Lehmann worked on a project for ASOS, bringing online media to the high street with a new app that used geotagging. The app sent news feeds that direct the consumer to an open space. Once there, the shopper is then rewarded with discounts and content.
Georgia Griffiths, Year 3 student
Georgia Griffiths created a buying range plan for Whistles, offering a consumer-focused collection with ways to wear, and in-store layout.
Overseas Opportunities
In your second year, you have the opportunity to take some study in another country – we currently have links with Milan Polytechnic in Italy and KEA Design in Copenhagen.
GFW19 New Media Award Winner
BCU's Ciara Neale picked up the award in a competitive field. Ciara commented “I’m especially proud of the fact that I can be part of this new generation of talents. I am absolutely thrilled for the award and I cannot wait for every opportunity that will come next.”
I AM BCU
Jessica McEwan
Jessica has celebrated many great achievements at BCU so far, including landing a placement with George ASDA during her first year of study.
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:
- To produce industry-ready graduates, who can creatively contribute to fashion and its related industries in local, UK or global markets.
- To provide opportunities for you to explore, practice and challenge the inter-relationships between the commercial environment, creative thinking and technical practice.
- To employ a range of teaching and learning methods, in which you are able to synthesis theories, concepts and fashion practice within local, national and global market places.
- To develop student confidence and professionalism through fluency in verbal communication, as well as coherent written and visual presentation skills.
- To stimulate commercial awareness and activity through project management, live and team projects, industrial liaison and visits, industrial placement and competition at all levels.
- To instil cooperation, competition and an entrepreneurial approach in all student achievements.
Placements
As is the nature of the industry, our students often get the chance to work in many inspiring and glamorous places. If that’s not a great excuse for a shopping trip, we don’t know what is!
Placements have previously seen students undertake a range of roles, working with leading brands like Topshop, Selfridges, Missguided, River Island and Next, taking on roles in blogging, social media, PR and buying.
Links to industry
We have great links with the visual merchandising team at Birmingham’s Selfridges branch, as well as Claire’s Head Office.
Graduate jobs
Many of our students go on to become buyers or PR assistants, finding opportunities with brands such as Next, Office, Paul Smith, Store 21, Karen Millen and Asos.
Sophie Stronell landed her dream job in 2015 working in PR in Michael Kors in London.
Lizzie Sumners is working for Warehouse as a buyer’s admin assistant and was spotted in Drapers soon after graduation already schmoozing at an industry event.
OpportUNIty
OpportUNIty: Student Jobs on Campus ensures that our students are given a first opportunity to fill many part-time temporary positions within the University. This allows you to work while you study with us, fitting the job around your course commitments. By taking part in the scheme, you will gain valuable experiences and employability skills, enhancing your prospects in the job market.
It will also allow you to become more involved in University life by delivering, leading and supporting many aspects of the learning experience, from administration to research and mentoring roles.
BCU Graduate+
Through our courses we give you the skills and experience needed to get a head start when applying for jobs. But we offer something extra too – Graduate+.
Our unique programme gives you the chance to develop valuable skills outside of the more formal classroom learning. We award points for Graduate+ activities (including firewalking!) and these can be put towards a final Graduate+ award.
More about Graduate+
Charnice Blaize
BA (Hons) Fashion Business and Promotion graduate
Charnice won the ASOS Future Talent Award after having her work submitted to Graduate Fashion Week. This opportunity led to her being offered a permanent position at ASOS where she now works full time as a Cultural Marketing Coordinator, scouting new and emerging talents to work with on various ASOS projects and campaigns.
As well as her position at ASOS, Charnice also runs her own business, Blaized UK, and works as a freelance stylist and a vlogger.
Birmingham City University is a vibrant and multicultural university in the heart of a modern and diverse city. We welcome many international students every year – there are currently students from more than 80 countries among our student community.
The University is conveniently placed, with Birmingham International Airport nearby and first-rate transport connections to London and the rest of the UK.
Our international pages contain a wealth of information for international students who are considering applying to study here, including:
- Explore some of the good reasons why you should study here.
- Find out how to improve your language skills before starting your studies.
- Find all the information relevant to applicants from your country.
- Learn where to find financial support for your studies.
Our international students
Our School is particularly popular with students from China and Malaysia.
Our International Office in Shanghai was established in 2007 and we work hard to develop strong working relationships between both countries.
Birmingham City University International College (BCUIC)
International students who have a serious interest in studying with us but who perhaps cannot meet the direct entry requirements, academic or English, or who have been out of education for some time, can enter Birmingham City University International College (BCUIC) and begin their degree studies.
BCUIC is part of the global Navitas Group, an internationally recognised education provider, and the partnership allows students to access the University’s facilities and services and move seamlessly through to achieving a Bachelor’s degree from Birmingham City University.
Popular home countries
Our students come from a variety of backgrounds, and we have a cohort of students from countries like China, Malaysia, Taiwan, Thailand, Lithuania and Poland. Our fashion business and promotion course is most popular with international students from:
Macau
Serbia
Our Facilities
You’ll be based in our School of Fashion and Textiles, within The Parkside Building. The Parkside Building is part of our new multi-million pound City Centre Campus development in the heart of Birmingham's Eastside development.
Staff
All of our staff have come from industry backgrounds. Sophie Johnson is an ex-student from the course who went on to set up her own PR company, promoting products for the likes of Katy Perry and Little Mix.
Amy Johns worked across a range of roles with a number of prestigious brands, including Burberry, Lyle and Scott, and Fortnum and Mason.
Julia South has worked across the business community, as well as the Birmingham Chamber of Commerce.
Alison Rapsey
Course Director - BA (Hons) Fashion Business and Promotion
Alison has over 11 years of teaching experience joining Birmingham City University as a lecturer in Fashion Retail Management in 2006. Following her years of dedication to the department, in 2012 she became Course Director for BA(Hons) Fashion Business and Promotion.
Alison began her work in the fashion industry by working for Arcadia, across Dorothy Perkins and Burton stores in management roles and went on to the role of Ladieswear Manager in a newly opened Emporio Armani in 2000.
Sophie Johnson
Lecturer - PR and Marketing
Sophie has been lecturing at BCU for nearly 7 years. As well as being a BCU alumni after graduating in 2011 from the Fashion Retail Management course, she has continued her academic developing by undertaking a Masters Degree in Public Relations in the BCU School of Media. Sophie has just begun her PhD study at the Leeds Business School, researching the impact of multiple layers of crisis in fashion retail and how public relations can co-create value in times of brand damage.
As well as lecturing on the Fashion Business BA Hons Degree, Sophie is a media champion for BCU and has had her expert commentary featured on ITV News at 10, as well as publications such as Retail Gazette, Drapers and Birmingham Mail. Sophie also oversees the School of Fashion and Textiles Blog and is the School Lead for Marketing and Recruitment.
After initially graduating she began her career working for the fast fashion brand In Love With Fashion, managing their online promotions, including social media, digital marketing, influencer marketing and website management. Sophie then began to manage the PR for the brand, dealing with fashion publications and journalists, stylists and celebrities.
After a short while she set up her own company offering digital and public relations services to fast fashion online brands. MAD PR was born in August 2011 and began competing with top PR and boutique agencies offering a new style of Digital PR not many companies were offering at the time. Eventually MAD PR grew, working with big names such as Claire’s Accessories, In Love With Fashion, TFNC, Merc and Ziba. MAD PR also branched into celebrity placement and dressing services, event management and celebrity PR management.
Career highlights include dressing Katy Perry in a client’s product, working with X Factor, TOWIE, Made In Chelsea and other reality TV programmes plus charity football match Celebrities V Arsenal managed by England Football Player Jermain Defoe, and appearing on ‘The Work Experience’ on E4.