Fashion Industry: Buying & Management with Foundation Year

Study a Fashion Industry degree at UWL and we will help you to become a skilled and industry-ready graduate, who can combine creative business acumen with strategic and innovative thinking, within your specialist-chosen pathway.
This new and exciting industry-focused course has been developed in direct response to the needs of the rapidly changing and fast-paced global fashion market and written in partnership with fashion industry experts and professionals.
On the course, you will receive tutoring in both small groups and one-to-ones and have access to a wide variety of resources. We pride ourselves on our strong industry links, and on delivering a wide variety of industry guest lectures and live briefs. By collaborating with a range of industry clients, you'll gain hands-on experience in developing creative and innovative outcomes to live industry briefs.
In your second year of study, you will have the opportunity to gain invaluable industry experience, by undertaking an internship as part of the curriculum, to enhance your employability further. Our position within London gives us fantastic access to the fashion industry and potential internship and employment opportunities, in addition to the huge variety of retail, galleries, and museums on offer.

What you'll study
Are you interested in fashion product development? Do you combine an analytical brain, with a creative eye for detail? Maybe you already have retail experience and now want to develop this to a more professional level.
This pathway will help you to acquire the academic, practical, and commercial skills you need to pursue a fashion industry career.
At Level 4 you will learn core and transferable skills in digital design, image communication, trend forecasting and consumer analysis - and then build on this by applying your learning to collaborative industry-led briefs.
Specialist Buying and Management modules will be introduced at Level 5, including product promotion through visual merchandising, range planning, and sourcing and supply chain management.
You will learn visual merchandising theory, and explore specialist software, to create in-store and online consumer experiences.
Range planning will give your insight into how buyers plan and create ranges, analysing trend forecasting, data analysis, budget and pricing strategies, best and worst sellers, product mix and phasing.
Sourcing and supply chain management will focus on responsible practice through the development of sustainable supply chains and the circular economy, in relation to global fashion markets. You will learn how to develop technical packs as a tool for product development communication. You will also get the opportunity to visit factories, showrooms, and textile and fashion trade shows.
Buying students have gained internships or work experience, within numerous roles, including buying and merchandising assistants, visual merchandising, sourcing and distribution, and retail client engagement; for a wide variety of companies including Burberry, Givenchy, Dior, Foot Locker, John Lewis, Brand Stable - Fashion Agency.

The foundation year course is designed to equip you with the skills and knowledge you need to continue onto your Honours degree. You will study a range of subjects that will underpin your future study and also gain valuable experience of university life, with full access to campus facilities. Successful completion of the year allows you to progress straight onto Level 4 of this course.

Please see uwl.ac.uk for course modules.