Fashion Marketing BA

This unique degree gives you an insight into the dynamic forces of the fashion industry, alongside the expertise in marketing to spot and promote the next big trend.

You’ll gain an understanding of the aesthetics of design and style in fashion products, as well as consumer behaviour and the role of consumerism in the fashion life cycle. But you’ll also put this into context by studying style, design and taste from an historical and technological perspective, so you can work confidently with trend information to develop and promote new colour and style trends and concepts.

Our combination of compulsory and optional design modules enable you to broaden your study as part of the Leeds Curriculum. You’ll develop your critical thinking and place your work into the wider context of art and design, its history and societal trends.

During the programme your projects could include devising a new brand strategy for a fashion label, trend forecasting or developing ideas for innovative fashion products or an exciting PR campaign. It’s a great way to gain the skills to succeed in a competitive and fast-changing industry.

Specialist resources

Students have access to extensive resources on fashion and textile design, especially for their individual research. We house the M&S Company Archive including documents, advertising, photos, films, clothing and merchandise from throughout Marks & Spencer’s history. It’s a fascinating insight into how fashion and the marketplace have changed and continue to evolve.

The University is also home to the Yorkshire Fashion Archive, containing a huge variety of couture, fashion garments and everyday clothing bought and worn by Yorkshire locals throughout the 20th century. ULITA – an archive of international textiles – is also housed on campus to collect, preserve and document textiles and related areas from around the world.

Year 1 will introduce you to the fashion industry, the marketplace and the processes involved in marketing apparel from concept to consumer. You’ll look at everything from design and materials to supply chains, as well as modules covering the key principles of marketing, research and consumer behaviour. Core modules will explore the historical, cultural and technological aspects of art and design to get a clearer sense of how consumer taste evolves.

You’ll build on your knowledge and skills in the following year, working with professional standards and developing your knowledge of fashion promotions, including branding and communications. With a focus on advertising and public relations, you’ll discover trend and colour forecasting and work on written and visual communications.

In your final year, your major project will allow you to plan and execute your own marketing strategy, identifying future trends and developing ideas for new products, branding and promotional campaigns. Beyond this, you’ll have the chance to appreciate issues such as sustainability and brand identity, as well as working collaboratively with colleagues. An individual research project and dissertation will also give you an opportunity to apply the research and creative skills you have gained.

Course structure

The list shown below represents typical modules/components studied and may change from time to time. Read more in our Terms and conditions.

For more information and a full list of typical modules available on this course, please read Fashion Marketing BA in the course catalogue

Modules

Year 1

Year 2

Year 3

Broadening your academic horizons

At Leeds we want you to benefit from the depth and breadth of the University's expertise, to prepare you for success in an ever-changing and challenging world. This course gives you the opportunity to broaden your learning by studying discovery modules. Find out more on the Broadening webpages.

Learning and teaching

This degree covers a range of different approaches and disciplines. As a result, you’ll benefit from a variety of teaching and learning styles. Lectures, seminars and tutorials are among the most common, particularly in more theory-based modules, as well as one-to-one contact with tutors in studios and workshops. However, independent study is at the heart of this degree – it builds research and critical skills, and also helps you to develop your individual voice.

Assessment

Practical work is assessed using visual presentations and portfolios among other methods, or you may have to submit practical log books or collections of visual ideas. Written exams, essays and other written responses to assignment briefs may also be part of the mix, depending on the modules you choose.

Entry requirements

A-level: ABB including an art or design-related subject and not including General Studies or Critical Thinking.

If you don’t have an art or design-related subject but you are taking Media Studies A-level, we may also consider your application if you can explain how your media studies is related to some area of fashion marketing. If you’re taking Business Studies, we may consider your application if you have GCSE or equivalent in Art or Design at a high grade and/or display a creative aptitude in your UCAS application.

• Access to HE Diploma

  Pass: 60 credits including 45 at level 3, with grades specified for individual subjects.

• BTEC

  DDM in art/design

• Cambridge Pre-U

  D3, M2, M2 including art or design.

• International Baccalaureate

  34 overall (16 higher, with 5 or 6 in art/visual art/design). If you don’t have an art or design subject but you are taking Business Studies, we may consider your application if you have GCSE or equivalent in Art or design at a high grade and/or display a creative aptitude in your UCAS application.

• Irish Highers (Leaving Certificate)

  (Leaving Certificate): AABBBB including art or design

• Scottish Highers / Advanced Highers

  AABBBB OR AAABB (B at advanced level) OR AABBB (BB at advanced level) including an art or design subject

• Other Qualifications

  Art Foundation course: We welcome Art Foundation course students. However, the qualification is not a requirement for entry and doesn’t usually count towards entry requirements, which are based on A-levels and equivalent qualifications. In exceptional cases, we may make you an offer conditional on achieving an Art Foundation qualification: we may consider your application if you’re taking a validated Art Foundation course and have ABB or above at A-level not including Art or Design.

  If you’re taking the EPQ, we may make you an alternative offer in addition to the standard offer. In this case that would be BBB, plus EPQ grade A.

Read more about UK and Republic of Ireland accepted qualifications or contact the School’s Undergraduate Admissions Team.

Alternative entry

We’re committed to identifying the best possible applicants, regardless of personal circumstances or background.

Access to Leeds is an alternative admissions scheme which accepts applications from individuals who might be from low income households, in the first generation of their immediate family to apply to higher education, or have had their studies disrupted.

Find out more about Access to Leeds and alternative admissions.

International

We accept a range of international equivalent qualifications. For information contact the School of Design Undergraduate Admissions Team.

International Foundation Year

International students who do not meet the academic requirements for undergraduate study may be able to study the University of Leeds International Foundation Year. This gives you the opportunity to study on campus, be taught by University of Leeds academics and progress onto a wide range of Leeds undergraduate courses. Find out more about International Foundation Year programmes.

English language requirements

IELTS 6.0 overall, with no less than 5.5 in any component. For other English qualifications, read English language equivalent qualifications.

Improve your English

If you're an international student and you don't meet the English language requirements for this programme, you may be able to study our undergraduate pre-sessional English course, to help improve your English language level.
 

How to apply

Apply to this course through UCAS. The institution code for the University of Leeds is L23. Check the deadline for applications on the UCAS website.

International students apply through UCAS in the same way as UK/EU students. Our network of international representatives can help you with your application. If you’re unsure about the application process, contact the admissions team for help.

Read about visas, immigration and other information in International students. We recommend that international students apply as early as possible to ensure that they have time to apply for their visa.

Admissions policy

Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Cultures Undergraduate Admissions Policy 2019

Fees

UK/EU: See fees section below

International: £19,750 (per year)

For UK and non-UK EU full-time students starting in 2018, the fee for 2018/19 will be £9,250. 

For UK and non-UK EU full-time students starting in 2019, the fee for 2019/20 will be £9,250. 

The fee may increase in future years of your course in line with inflation, and as permitted by law. For example, the increase of 2.8% in 2017/18 was based on the government’s forecast for the RPI-X measure of inflation.

The UK government has confirmed that non-UK EU students starting in the 2019/20 academic year will have home fee status and be eligible for UK government student loans. The UK government has not confirmed the situation for future years, so keep checking our website for updates.

If you take a study abroad or work placement year, you’ll pay a reduced tuition fee during this period. For more information, see Study abroad and work placement tuition fees and loans.

Read more about paying fees and charges.

Financial support

If you have the talent and drive, we want you to be able to study with us, whatever your financial circumstances. There is help for students in the form of loans and non-repayable grants from the University and from the government. Find out more in our Undergraduate funding overview.

This degree is unique and will equip you with a range of specialist skills. You’ll have the chance to develop trend forecasting skills as well as consumer and commercial awareness. If you choose to spend a year in industry, you’ll also gain valuable work experience. Students from the programme have found exciting and diverse roles in companies such as French Connection, L’Oréal, JW Anderson, Donna Karan to name but a few.

However, it also cuts across different disciplines and has the academic grounding that a Leeds degree offers you. That means you’ll also be able to develop valuable transferable skills such as business acumen, research, critical and analytical thinking, creative problem-solving, communication, cultural sensitivity, professionalism and planning and organising – all of which are highly desirable to a variety of employers.

As a result you could work in fashion production and manufacturing as a buyer or new product developer, or in retail as a visual merchandiser. You could work as a fashion marketer, directing strategy and identifying opportunities for brand development. You could also go into the media in roles such as fashion stylist, fashion writer or journalist, or pursue a career in PR.

Careers Support

We encourage you to prepare for your career from day one. That’s one of the reasons Leeds graduates are so sought after by employers.

Leeds for Life is our unique approach to helping you make the most of University by supporting your academic and personal development. Find out more at the Leeds for Life website.

The Careers Centre and staff in your faculty provide a range of help and advice to help you plan your career and make well-informed decisions along the way, even after you graduate. Find out more at the Careers website.

Study abroad

On this course you have the opportunity to apply to spend time abroad, usually as an extra academic year. The University has over 300 partnerships with universities worldwide and popular destinations for our students include Europe, the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Hong Kong, South Africa and Latin America. 

Find out more at the Study Abroad website.

Work placements

The industrial placement is particularly popular with School of Design students – it’s great for your personal and professional development. Some students have even been offered permanent roles at their placement companies.

You could work in a range of roles, such as PR, buying, merchandising, product development, trend forecasting and advertising.

Placements have included:

• Harvey Nichols - Menswear buying team
• LKBennett - Press assistant
• Loreal - visual merchandising assistant
• MarcusLupfer - Ecommerce and Production intern

Read more about the Year in Industry