BA (Hons) Fashion Buying and Merchandising

BA (Hons) Fashion Buying and Merchandising is situated in the School of Management and Science, which is a member of the Association of Business Schools. It is a highly specialised course designed for individuals who want to work in the fashion industry in the areas of buying and / or merchandising.

The course is situated in the fashion business programme and facilitates your understanding of the structure of the global fashion market, trend research, design and product development, garment sourcing, supply chain management, range planning and distribution, visual communication, sales analysis and profit management. You will consider how the strategic contribution of buying and merchandising to the long term development of a fashion business works through the inclusion of internationalisation, sustainability, customer enhancement, business strategy, leadership, entrepreneurship and innovation.

The course explores all levels of the market from value orientated retailers to luxury brands. You will learn the importance of developing fashion awareness and business acumen through the analysis of buying and merchandising practice within both established and new and emerging organisations.

The strategic relationship between a fashion business and its customers will be explored, and you will discover how a business can develop through establishing different retail formats and entering new markets. You will have the opportunity to place your practice in context through theoretical, historical and professional study.

There are opportunities for collaborative projects with other students in the fashion business programme where you will gain industry relevant knowledge and practice by working with a prestigious company. National and international industry professionals interact with the course on projects, as visiting speakers, and through industrial visits. The opportunity for a placement year between the second and final year of the course enhances the employability of students through offering valuable experience and contacts within the industry. LCF Careers offer support throughout the course on increasing your career profile, and, through First Move, continue support after graduation.

BA (Hons) Fashion Buying and Merchandising is based at High Holborn, adjacent to Lincoln’s Inn Fields. Other green spaces in the area include Gray’s Inn Gardens and Coram’s Fields. Situated nearby are Sir John Soane’s Museum in Lincoln’s Inn Fields, the Foundling Museum in Brunswick Square, and the British Museum in Bloomsbury. Markets worth visiting are the weekday lunchtime markets in Leather Lane and Exmouth Market. Covent Garden, with its numerous shops, bars and restaurants, the Royal Opera House and many of the West End’s theatres, is a ten minute walk away. The John Prince’s Street site, with the library, Oxford Street and Regent Street, is two tube stops along the Central line.

The course team arrange a variety of optional trips and visits to supplement your studies. These trips are often local and where possible provided at nil or reduced cost. Opportunities for extended trips to fashion industry events or areas of interest are usually offered in the first and second year and where these trips involve accommodation and travel costs we aim to offer good value for students.

Course Structure

Year One - Stage One - level 4 - 120 credits

• Term One: Introduction to the Fashion Business for Fashion Buying and Merchandising (20 credits); The Principles of Fashion Buying and Merchandising (20 credits)
• Term Two: Introduction to Cultural and Historical Studies (20 credits); Planning the Fashion Range (20 credits)
• Term Three: Collaborative Project (40 credits)

Year Two - Stage Two - level 5 - 120 credits

• Term One: Cultural and Historical Studies (20 credits); Visual Retail Planning (20 credits)
• Term Two: Fashion Analysis and Trading (20 credits); Research Methods for Fashion Buying and Merchandising (20 credits)
• Term Three: Fashion Buying and Merchandising Business Development Project (40 credits)
• Professional Placement Year (optional)
• Diploma in Professional Studies and Diploma Supplement

Final Year - Stage Three - level 6 - 120 credits

• Term One: Futures and Innovation (20 credits)
• Terms One and Two: Fashion Buying and Merchandising Business Strategy (40 credits)
• Terms One Two and Three: Final Major Project (60 credits)
• Travelling across London

The renowned London College of Fashion library is at our John Prince’s Street site, and you will need to travel to this site, and possibly others, during your course to use the library, which is open seven days a week in term time, and for tuition and special events.


Course structure

The information outlined is an indicative structure of the course. Whilst we will aim to deliver the course as described on this page, there may be situations where it is desirable or necessary for the University to make changes in course provision, for example because of regulatory requirements or operational efficiencies, before or after enrolment. If this occurs, we will communicate all major changes to all applicants and students who have either applied or enrolled on the course.

Please note that due to staff research agreements or availability, not all of the optional modules listed may be available every year.
In addition, the provision of course options which depend upon the availability of specialist teaching, or on a placement at another institution, cannot be guaranteed. Please check this element of the course with the course team before making a decision to apply.