Birmingham City University

B.A (Hons) - Fashion Business and Promotion with a Foundation Year

Our BA (Hons) Fashion Business and Promotion degree course enable you to explore a range of roles within the fashion industry, far 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.

About foundation courses

This four-year program has been specifically designed to allow you to undertake the additional Level 3 study, to ensure you are successful in your chosen degree program.

After successful completion of your foundation year, you will have the flexibility to switch (should you wish to change direction) onto a number of related undergraduate degree programs within the School of Fashion and Textiles.

What's covered in the 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.

You will work on a live event management project, as well as industry-led briefs across the first two years, supported by brands such as Whistles, Selfridges, Claire’s and River Island. You’ll benefit from regular industry visits, listen to guest speakers from leading fashion brands and have the chance to visit London, Paris, Florence and New York.

Throughout the course, you’ll be taught by staff with experience of brands like Topshop, Lyle and Scott, Emporio Armani and more, ensuring your learning is supported by contemporary knowledge, practice, and contacts. We’ll develop your business knowledge and language, preparing you for delivering presentations, teamwork, writing reports, creating visual mood boards and using online resources. You’ll also explore new skills in packages such as InDesign, Photoshop and Illustrator.

In your final year, you will work on a series of projects that will develop your skills ready for industry. There will be a chance to showcase your work to industry leaders, at events such as Graduate Fashion Week in London.