Curious about studying Fashion Business and Promotion - BA (Hons)at Birmingham City University? We've gathered all the key details—entry requirements, modules, fees, and more. Hear from real students by checking out reviews, or take the next step by booking an open day to explore it for yourself.
Bachelor of Arts (with Honours) - BA (Hons)
City Centre Campus (The Curzon Building)
Full Time
Sep 2027
3 Year
Welcome to the BA Fashion Business and Promotion course, this course 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. Here's what makes our course a game-changer: Explore, Experiment, Excel: Get ready to dive into the inner workings of the fashion world, beyond making clothes. From understanding the buying process, crafting marketing strategies to trend forecasting and event management, you'll be equipped with the skills to thrive in any role. Unleash Your Creativity: You'll learn to create stunning visual work using cutting-edge CAD packages. Plus, in your final year, you'll hone your self-promotion skills to stand out in the industry. We are pushing boundaries and thinking outside the box. Whether you're exploring sustainable practices or harnessing digital technology, you'll be at the forefront of innovative ideas. Industry-Ready Excellence: Become the professional you were meant to be! Led by a team of industry-experienced staff, you'll receive top-notch education across various fashion sectors, and guidance from award-winning alumni. Get ready to soak up knowledge and gain skills that will set you apart in the industry, you'll be primed to make your mark and future-proof the global fashion industry. Global Impact: Explore how different fashion roles collaborate and gain insights into commercial, consumer, and competitive dynamics. Dive into live projects, industry briefs, and learn from guest speakers to stay ahead of the game. From trend forecasting to social media management, our course opens doors to international career opportunities. Whether you're dreaming of working for top brands or launching your own business, the sky's the limit! Hands-On Learning: We'll equip you with the business know-how you need to succeed. From delivering presentations to mastering teamwork, you'll be ready to tackle any challenge. Get ready to roll up your sleeves and dive into real-world projects. From industry live briefs to collaborative modules, you'll gain invaluable experience and build a network that'll last a lifetime. Sustainability Matters: Join us in shaping the future of the fashion industry! Explore the United Nations Sustainability Goals, with new concepts around creating a positive planet, and learn how to apply these in real-world settings. Empowering Futures: Level up your skills and confidence. Whether you're refining your strategies or mapping out your career path, we're here to support you every step of the way.
Professional Placement YearThis course offers an optional professional placement year. This allows you to spend a whole year with an employer, following successful completion of your second year, and is a great way to find out more about your chosen career. Some students even return to the same employers after completing their studies. If you choose to pursue a placement year, you will need to find a suitable placement to complement your chosen area of study. You will be able to draw on the University’s extensive network of local, regional, and national employers, and the support of our Careers teams. If you are able to secure a placement, you can request to be transferred to the placement version of the course. Please note that fees are payable during your placement year, equivalent to 20% of the total full-time course fee for that year.
In this module you will explore the connections between the creative fashion and textile industries in the past, and how this informs present and future trends. You will be introduced to the way individuals have influenced culture, freedom of expression and experimentation, and how this pushes boundaries and explores identity. Through reflection you will analyse your research and the connections that you discover, developing core skills and communicating your findings and ideas through the use of industry-standard software. Shared content is delivered via blended learning, this is underpinned by your course-specific content which is delivered on campus.
This module serves as exploration for the fashion industry providing a comprehensive overview of the diverse sectors within the fashion industry and introducing the critical analysis business model of P.E.S.T.L.E factors: Political, Economic, Social, Technological, Legal, and Environmental and these external forces shape the industry. You will explore the industry sectors of the fashion industry from luxury to budget and metaverse. You will explore how global and local shifts impact fashion so by the end of this module, you will possess a solid foundation in understanding the business context of the fashion industry.
Fashion Activism: A Catalyst for Change, allows you to explore the powerful intersection of fashion and activism. This module seeks to empower you with the knowledge and skills to actively contribute to the role of fashion in societal and environmental shifts. From historical movements to contemporary campaigns, you will research into the ways fashion can be a catalyst for positive change, addressing issues such as ethical practices, sustainability, diversity, and body positivity.
This module will introduce you to the buying and merchandising principles, the roles and responsibilities of the product team, and the buying cycle in relation to the fashion industry and different retail formats. You will be working on a live industry project. You will be required to develop a strategy for a new range concept, which will have a focus on key on-going trading climate issues. Understanding what represents real value and where consumers will be prepared to spend. The product must be commercially viable, and appropriate for the brand and their consumer. You will conduct research into the brand and the product area and conduct a comparative shop in order to inform the range for a new season.
The Global Fashion Spaces module aims to explore new and emerging formats for retail across fashion and lifestyle brands on a global scale. This module delves into the evolution of retail spaces, consumer driven demand, technological advancements and the impact of socio-cultural factors on the retail landscape. You will develop skills necessary to generate concepts for future opportunities in the global marketplace.
This level 5 undergraduate module is designed to equip students with the essential skills and knowledge necessary for a successful transition into the industry work placement and beyond. The module focuses on cultivating a deep understanding of professional practices, industry expectations, and personal development strategies. Through a combination of theoretical knowledge, practical exercises, case studies, and industry guest lectures, this module provides students with a solid foundation for their future careers empowering them to thrive in a competitive and dynamic industry landscape.
This Level 5 module immerses you in the dynamic world of promoting and positioning fashion brands within the industry. Students explore the fundamental principles of marketing and public relations tailored to the unique characteristics of the fashion business. From strategic planning to creative execution, the module equips you with the skills needed to navigate the ever-evolving landscape of fashion marketing and effectively communicate brand stories.
This Level 5 module delves into the transformative realm of the experience economy, emphasising the creation and delivery of compelling and immersive consumer experiences. Positioned at the intersection of marketing, business strategy, and consumer behaviour, this module equips students with the knowledge and skills to navigate the evolving landscape of modern commerce, where experiences are valued as much as products and services.
This Level 6 undergraduate module is designed to further develop your research and inquiry skills within the context of the fashion and textile industry. You will undertake a range of research methods on a topic of personal interest. You will investigate and critically analyse the findings. You will be applying a reflective comment to the evidence to deepen your understanding of your field and considering real-world challenges in the industry. You will present conclusions and recommendations in a proposal that feed into an independent project.
The Major Project Design module is an opportunity to showcase your knowledge, critical thinking, and practical skills acquired throughout your academic journey. This module centres around the development and execution of a major project that reflects your individual interests, and aspirations within the landscape of fashion business. You are encouraged to explore innovative and forward-thinking concepts, addressing contemporary challenges and opportunities within the fashion industry. The module embraces a holistic approach, incorporating elements of fashion design, business strategy, marketing, sustainability, and experiential concepts. It must respond to a gap in the market and offer something new for industry. Through a combination of research, strategic planning, you will conceptualize and implement a project that demonstrates solution for a professional world.
This module focuses on the execution of the creative outcomes from the previous Major Project business plan. You will conceptualize and implement a project that demonstrates a solution for a professional world. It will apply innovation, sustainability, market relevance to address relevant, real-world challenges and opportunities. Using appropriate methods of communication, message outcomes for a targeted consumer or audience. The project outcome should look beyond what is happening in industry now, to develop a concept that will be future ready, within a fashion or lifestyle sector. This will be grounded in research both primary and secondary, with industry insight and justification.
The Level 6 module will enable you to transition from academic study to the professional arena. You will reflect on your academic study and work experiences skills and develop self-promotion skills appropriate for a chosen career path set out an action plan for the future. You will research the current market and the important changes that are affecting your chosen field, impacts of current issues within this career field and future drivers. You will identify key contacts and players and develop an action plan for the next 6-18 months - 3 years. You will be optimizing your promotion through relevant digital platforms.