Fashion Buying Management BA Honours

The course emphasis is placed on developing your creative, technical and interpersonal skills, commercial flair and business acumen. The focus of the course is global, to reflect the nature of the industry, and the additional opportunity to advance language skills and study abroad is offered to meet the increasing standards of global competition and the needs of the business environment. The work placement in the third year is an essential component of the course and can be taken as a full-year work placement or a combination of work placement and a study abroad option.
Based at the recently refurbished Harrow Campus – home to the Westminster School of Media, Arts and Design – you will work alongside students from film, photography, music, fashion and journalism, in a unique hothouse of creative opportunity. Teaching and learning are interactive, covering academic, practical and applied elements. Our teaching staff have had successful retail careers and understand the pivotal role of buyers within the decision-making hierarchy. Assessment methods include individual and group reports and presentations, industry projects, portfolio development, and extended essays and exams.
Subjects of study
The following subjects are indicative of what you will study on this course. For more details on course structure and modules, and how you will be taught and assessed, see the full course document.
Year 1 (Credit Level 4)
The first year modules provide a fundamental underpinning of business knowledge and creative skills that will build and deepen throughout the course. Subjects of study include:
Fabrics and Garment Technology
Fashion Marketing
Fashion Trends and Consumer Culture
Polylang Language module
Range Design and CAD
The Buying Process
The Fashion Business
Year 2 (Credit Level 5)
The second year develops both your practical and academic skills and includes live project work for a fashion brand. The expectation is that the additional skills and knowledge gained will enable you to undertake a successful work placement year. Subjects of study include:
Career Development
Creative Encounters
Fashion Promotion
Global Retailing
Polylang Language module
Textiles and Garment Sourcing and Manufacture
Trading and Concept Development
Visual Merchandising and Styling
Year 3 – Sandwich year
You will be given substantial support in finding suitable work placements, and the course has excellent relationships with many well-respected potential employers. You are ultimately responsible for securing your own placement. You are supported throughout the year by a placement tutor.
Year 4 (Credit Level 6)
At this level, you are expected to develop a more strategic perspective and draw together your academic and work experience. You will study subjects that further develop your general business skills, and you will also have the opportunity to specialise in areas of particular interest. Alongside your Final Major Project, Subjects of study include:
Commercial Skills
Fashion Branding
Fashion Consumer Behaviour
Fashion Entrepreneurship
Global Fashion Sourcing
Luxury Fashion Management
Polylang Language module
Sustainable Fashion
Trends and Change Implementation for Fashion Retail
This list is indicative of what you will study on this course. For more specific and detailed module information, please refer to full course document.
This list is indicative of what you will study on this course. For more specific and detailed module information please refer to full course document.
Westminster electives
As part of your course you can take elective modules. Electives are an exciting opportunity to widen your experience at university and to gain skills and knowledge that will help make you more employable. Find out about Westminster electives.
Course team
Nicola Mansfield, Course Lecturer
Josie Misick, Course Lecturer
Sally Heale, Course Lecturer
Beth Jelly, Course Lecturer
Additional costs information
To check what your tuition fees cover and what you may need to pay for separately, see our What tuition fees cover page.
International Foundation course
We work in partnership with Kaplan International College London to provide Foundation courses for international students who do not meet our Bachelor's degree entry requirements. For more information visit the Kaplan International College's website.