Birmingham City University

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-led staff team, you will gain an education across the different fashion sectors and develop skills in order to undertake a number of industry roles responding to the changing needs of fashion brands and shifting consumer behaviour. Including Buying, Marketing and PR, Trends forecasting and Event Management.

You will work on live projects, as well as industry focused briefs across the first two years and benefit from regular industry guest speakers. In your final year, you will work on projects that support your independent interests and develop your self-promotion skills preparing you to respond directly to the rapidly evolving fashion landscape.

The course consists of a vibrant mix of subject-matter based across all areas of fashion communication and brand management. Areas of study include creative direction and styling, fashion journalism, trend prediction and consumer behaviour strategies. This course will give you the skills you need to be a creative, confident, well-informed fashion communicator, ready for the rigours of industry.

You will be taught by an industry-experienced teaching team, visiting professionals and also have access to our guest speaker network. This is in addition to the opportunity to participate in frequent live brand-based projects, internships and competitions from all sectors of fashion, lifestyle and media.

During your time with us, you will develop visual and written communication skills across a broad range of creative platforms (Still and moving image-making, art direction and graphics, print and digital design, branding strategy and written content creation) associated with the fashion industry. 

Based at our City Centre Campus, you will have access to photography studios and equipment, relevant software and computer equipment, as well as a Faculty of creative students to collaborate with. You can also choose our four-year sandwich option, which features a one-year industry work placement.

Our BA (Hons) Fashion Design degree course will equip you with the necessary knowledge and skills to succeed in the fashion industry and have the chance to take part in exciting work placements, with companies such as Ted Baker, Mary Katrantzou, Paul Smith, Topshop and River Island.

You will learn to work with different design systems alongside staff who have valuable industry experience with a range of recognised brands. Each year, a selection of our final-year students showcase their final year work to industry leaders at events such as Graduate Fashion Week and New Designers in London. The course equips you with the necessary knowledge, skills and attributes to succeed in a wide range of careers in the fashion industry.

Your first year will introduce you to a number of fashion topics, helping you to develop a good foundation of fashion knowledge and skills, in both design and technical areas.

Your second year helps to strengthen your personal and professional development in relation to your own career goals. You will also have the opportunity to take part in the international Erasmus exchange programme, spending a semester at an international institution.

An optional placement year takes place between years 2 and 3, providing an opportunity for an internship in industry.

Your final year, gives you the opportunity to specialise in women’s or menswear. You will focus on your own individual area of practice and produce garments that reflect your personal direction as a creative fashion design graduate.

The course blends individual creativity and commercial realism, and you will be able to apply your skills and knowledge of the professional design process, from concept to product.

BA (Hons) Fashion Design, BA (Hons) Costume Design and Practice and BA (Hons) Garment Technology have a shared first year of study.