• Undergraduate

Fashion Industry: Branding and Marketing BA (Hons)

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Overview

Overview

Why study at the University of West London?
  • Ranked 30th university in the UK - The Guardian University Guide 2025
  • Number 1 London university for overall student satisfaction - National Student Survey 2024**
  • Best university for Student Experience and Teaching Quality in the UK - The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024
Why study this course?

Study a Fashion Industry degree at UWL and we will help you 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 fashion 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.

Pathways

Depending on your individual experience, interests, and skills there are three potential pathways to choose from, each focusing on different sectors of the fashion industry: 

View some of our students' recent work.

Select your desired study option, then pick a start date to see relevant course information:

Study options:
We support flexible study by offering some of our courses part-time or via distance learning. To give you real world experience before you graduate, we also offer some courses with a placement or internship. All available options are listed here. Your choices may affect some details of your course, such as the duration and cost per year. Please re-check the details on this page if you change your selection.
With Foundation Year
Duration: 4 years

Start date:

If your desired start date is not available, try selecting a different study option.

Why study Fashion Industry: Branding and Marketing with us?

Why study Fashion Industry: Branding and Marketing with us?

A collage of students

What our students say…

This course looks at both the retail and marketing side of fashion brands. It gives you insight into fashion brands and how they use social media platforms to get their brands across to their consumers. The lecturers are highly professional and very friendly, who have industry-based experience and knowledge.

Suzanne Kalair
Next
Top London University Fashion
Industry focused teaching
The sewing room has industrial sewing machines for creating collections.
Use our pattern cutting room, equipped with high tables and mannequins.
Course detail & modules

Course detail & modules

Recent Branding and Marketing graduates have gained employment with organisations including Louis Vuitton, Turnbull and Asser, Levi Strauss, All Saints, Lone Design Club, Mulberry and more...

Are you interested in fashion communication, marketing strategy and campaign development? Do you want to know more about how and why we communicate different messages to each other? Are you inquisitive, a team worker and an individual that likes to solve problems?

This fashion industry course will help you to acquire the academic, practical, and commercial skills you need to pursue a career in the fashion industry.

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 Branding and Marketing modules will be introduced at Level 5, including creative, strategic marketing and Fashion Media and PR. You will have the opportunity to liaise with clients, work on proposals in teams, and meet industry experts who will introduce you to aspects of industry practice.

Additionally, you will learn how to pitch ideas, the importance of factual and statistical research, and how to analyse communication from a variety of brands, whilst applying methodologies relevant to the discipline. 

Branding and Marketing students have gained Internships or work experience, within numerous roles, including digital marketing and communications officer, social media content creator, CRM experience expert, marketing and publishing executive, store designer, application developer and E-Commerce co-ordinator.

Compulsory modules

  • Consumer Experience and Analysis

    The module will help you to identify and analyse the modern global customer and how fashion can play a role in their sense of identity. You will also reflect on the importance of consumer experience and how it can define a customer's relationship with a brand. Additionally, you will be introduced to how a brand communicates with its customer across a variety of touchpoints within an omnichannel marketplace.

  • Creative Visual Promotion

    The aim of this module is to offer an opportunity for you to gain practical experience in photoshoot planning, styling, image creation and post-editing. You are required to record a process of development that details a learning journey in photographic development and utilisation. There will be a series of presentations and discussions throughout class sessions based around on-location shoots and studio-based workshops completed by the group.

     

  • Digital Design Skills

    The Digital Design Skills module explores the area of digital creativity and is focused on enabling you to explore and gain awareness of industry-standard graphics software (e.g. Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop and InDesign). The content introduces key areas including graphic design, photography, moving images, sound, mobile / web and user experience design.

  • Fashion and Culture Forecasting

    A series of lectures and seminars will introduceyou to key concepts and theories that underpin fashion forecasting and contemporary culture. The module will help you to gain insights into fashion history, design, and contemporary culture from a political, economic, social, technological, and environmental perspective.

  • Introduction to Fashion Branding and Marketing

    In this module, students will learn about the role of marketing for fashion brands and the key theoretical concepts that underpin the activities of the fashion marketer. They will explore the fashion marketing environment, fashion customer behaviour in the digital age, market research and the strategic marketing planning process. This will include the marketing mix and a tactical planning framework to aid marketing effectiveness.

Compulsory modules

  • Fashion Visual Merchandising

    This module covers trend research, design development, store design and online visual merchandising, which will give you the necessary understanding of visual merchandising across an omnichannel environment. The strategic contribution of visual merchandising and branding to the long-term development of a retail business is emphasised by studying international brands, sustainability, innovation, strategy, and entrepreneurship.

  • Creative Strategic Marketing

  • Professional Development & Industry Practice

    The aims of the module are to:

    • Identify potential professional opportunities and goals
    • Develop and improve on personal presentation and interview skills
    • Create a professionally written CV and Covering Letter to send to potential employers
    • Secure an industry placement – preferably in semester two
    • Understand personal branding and its significance within a competitive fashion employment sector
    • Understand the importance of editing your own work to showcase skills in an efficient and relevant manner
    • Develop a real-life understanding of the fashion industry/organisational practice
    • Respond to professional and market-related opportunities and goals
    • Reflect upon working contexts relative to knowledge on the course
    • Cultivate a critical understanding of your own strengths and weaknesses in a work-based situation and/or industry project.

  • Social Responsibility and Sustainable Practice

    The module provides you with the opportunity to become the next generation of changemakers advocating a more sustainable and equitable future for the fashion industry.  

    You will learn the latest trends, theories and practices across people, planet and profit; deep diving into new business models, ground-breaking technologies and innovations, and pioneering movements and organisations helping to deliver a more conscious and sustainable fashion sector. You will also learn about the importance of transparency and accountability within the sector to avoid greenwashing and further damage.

  • Fashion Media and PR

Compulsory modules

  • Research Planning and Application

    This module is to support the major–negotiated project in semester two.

    The content of this module is to prepare the learner in the process of exploring challenging themes, debates, surrounding fashion and formulating a lead question/topic of study, contextual synopsis, research method strategy and critical time progression map.  

     

    There will be a focus on key issues such as: 

     

    • Introduction to Major Project process  

    • Introduction to proposed research methodologies 

    • Developing a progression map and reflective statement 

    • Process of formulating lead questions 

    • How to develop and apply primary research  

    • How to analyse and critically question findings  

    • Referencing and Bibliography

  • Fashion Data Analysis and Storytelling

    The module will focus on the role of data analysis and data storytelling in a commercial environment. The industry of today circulates around consumer activity and preference.   By exploring a variety of strategies and data collation sources, you will gain experience in pattern analysis, market sector identification and a range of visualisation and contextual techniques.

     

  • Fashion Industry: External Brief

    Through the identification of gaps and opportunities, you will develop their business, project management and consultancy skills, with the investigation of a series of key challenges and implementation of the launch of a proposed concept for a fashion brand. You will work individually and collaboratively on the execution of a creative developmental plan and proposal for a specified fashion brand, together with supporting research which justifies the methods and approaches used in relation to the brief’s objectives.

     

  • Industry Portfolio

    The module is intended to support and develop an industry-focused digital portfolio. It is designed to allow you to develop an individual approach and style that will aid your future career progression.

     

  • Major Negotiated Project

    The aims of the module are: 

     

    • To review, refine and creatively develop the research question and strategy from the Research Planning Module 

    • To analyse visuals, data, and research findings to develop a coherent argument and develop creative practical outcomes.  

    • To foster critical thinking and self-directed learning skills. 

    • To plan, research, write and visualise a major-negotiated project with logical organisation, structure, and referencing. 

    • To facilitate full realisation of the final practical concept.

Entry requirements

Entry requirements

112 UCAS points required from level 3 qualifications

These can include:

  • A Levels at grade B, B and C, or above
  • BTEC Extended Diploma with Distinction, Merit, Merit
  • Access to HE Diploma
  • T Levels

You also need GCSE English and Maths (grade 9 – 4 / A* - C) or Level 2 equivalents.

 

Looking for BA (Hons) Fashion Industry: Branding and Marketing with Foundation Year?

View Foundation Year course
Whether you are changing career or don't have the exact subjects and grades required for this course, you might want to choose this course with a foundation year. This will give you an extra year's study to prepare you for the standard degree programme, where you can go on to graduate with a full Honours degree. Follow the link to see full details of the course with foundation year.

Mature applicants (aged 21+): If you do not hold the qualifications listed but have relevant work experience, you are welcome to apply. Your application will be considered on an individual basis.

Level 5 (year 2) entry
To directly enter the second year of this course you will need to show appropriate knowledge and experience. For example, you are an ideal candidate if you have 120 undergraduate credits at Level 4 or a CertHE in a related subject area.

Level 6 (year 3) entry
To directly enter the third year of this course you need to show appropriate knowledge and experience. For example, you are an ideal candidate if you have 240 undergraduate credits (at Levels 4 and 5), a DipHE, Foundation Degree or HND in a related subject area.

Looking for BA (Hons) Fashion Industry: Branding and Marketing with Foundation Year?

View Foundation Year course
Whether you are changing career or don't have the exact subjects and grades required for this course, you might want to choose this course with a foundation year. This will give you an extra year's study to prepare you for the standard degree programme, where you can go on to graduate with a full Honours degree. Follow the link to see full details of the course with foundation year.
6.0 IELTS or above

You need to meet our English language requirement - a minimum of IELTS 5.5 for each of the 4 individual components (Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening). Visit our English language requirements page for information on other English language tests we accept. 

You also need academic qualifications at the same level as UK applicants. In some countries where teaching is in English, we may accept local qualifications. Check for local equivalents. 

We offer pre-sessional English language courses if you do not meet these requirements.

Find out more about our English Language courses.

Looking for BA (Hons) Fashion Industry: Branding and Marketing with Foundation Year?

View Foundation Year course
Whether you are changing career or don't have the exact subjects and grades required for this course, you might want to choose this course with a foundation year. This will give you an extra year's study to prepare you for the standard degree programme, where you can go on to graduate with a full Honours degree. Follow the link to see full details of the course with foundation year.

Mature applicants (aged 21+): If you do not hold the qualifications listed but have relevant work experience, you are welcome to apply. Your application will be considered on an individual basis.

Level 5 (year 2) entry
To directly enter the second year of this course you will need to show appropriate knowledge and experience. For example, you are an ideal candidate if you have 120 undergraduate credits at Level 4 or a CertHE in a related subject area.

Level 6 (year 3) entry
To directly enter the third year of this course you need to show appropriate knowledge and experience. For example, you are an ideal candidate if you have 240 undergraduate credits (at Levels 4 and 5), a DipHE, Foundation Degree or HND in a related subject area.

Looking for BA (Hons) Fashion Industry: Branding and Marketing with Foundation Year?

View Foundation Year course
Whether you are changing career or don't have the exact subjects and grades required for this course, you might want to choose this course with a foundation year. This will give you an extra year's study to prepare you for the standard degree programme, where you can go on to graduate with a full Honours degree. Follow the link to see full details of the course with foundation year.
Fees & funding

Fees & funding

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Additional costs

There are additional costs for this course that are not included in the tuition fees. See the links below to get a better idea of what to expect:

Please note:

  • Fees for the 2026/27 academic year and onwards may be subject to Government regulation and change.
  • Tuition fees are charged for each year of your course. If your course runs for two years or more, you will need to pay the fee for each academic year at the start of that year.
  • If your course runs for less than two years, the cost above is for your full course and you will need to pay the full fee upfront.
  • If no fee is shown above then the fees for this course are not available yet. Please check again later for updates.

Funding your studies

You may be eligible for a student loan to cover the cost of tuition fees, or a maintenance loan. Additional funding is available to some types of students, such as those with dependants and disabled students.

We offer generous bursaries and scholarships to make sure your aspirations are your only limit. In recent years, hundreds of students have received our Full-time Undergraduate Student Bursary.

Additional scholarships specifically for students in the fields of film, media and design are also on offer.

View full details, including conditions and eligibility.

Funding your studies
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Additional costs

There are additional costs for this course that are not included in the tuition fees. See the links below to get a better idea of what to expect:

Please note:

  • Fees for the 2026/27 academic year and onwards may be subject to Government regulation and change.
  • Tuition fees are charged for each year of your course. If your course runs for two years or more, you will need to pay the fee for each academic year at the start of that year.
  • If your course runs for less than two years, the cost above is for your full course and you will need to pay the full fee upfront.
  • If no fee is shown above then the fees for this course are not available yet. Please check again later for updates.

International students - funding your studies

We offer scholarships for international students including International Ambassador Scholarships. 

Further information about funding and financial support for international students is available from the UK Council for International Student Affairs.

 

Financial support for international students
Teaching staff

Teaching staff

Study & career progression

Study & career progression

A woman and a man looking at designs whilst woman has her make-up done in the background. All surrounded by clothes rail

Whilst this pathway focuses on fashion branding and marketing strategy, communication and campaign development, the skills you will develop are transferable to numerous roles within the fashion industry and related fields.

You could build a fashion industry career within fields such as: 

  • brand and marketing specialist
  • retail management
  • e-commerce management
  • CRM and retail client engagement
  • wholesale brand management
  • trend forecasting
  • data analysis/ insights
  • visual merchandising
  • global sourcing, distribution, and logistics
  • omnichannel fashion customer experience
  • sustainable fashion marketing and communications.

Recent Branding and Marketing graduates have gained fashion industry jobs with organisations including Louis Vuitton, Turnbull and Asser, Levi Strauss, All Saints, Lone Design Club, Mulberry and more.

You may decide to specialise in a related area or explore a new subject. Please see our postgraduate courses for a range of options.

How to apply

How to apply

Search for courses

ARTSFEST

A collage of images demonstrating fashion at the University of West London.

Find out more about the work our students produce and view some of their recent work by visiting our Fashion ARTSFEST page.

Find out more

Important notes for applicants

Disclaimer

*Modern universities - defined as higher education institutions that were granted university status in, and subsequent to, 1992.

**The National Student Survey 2023 and 2024 - Average of answers to all questions by registered student population. Excludes specialist institutions.

Testimonials - our students or former students provided all of our testimonials - often a student from the course but sometimes another student. For example, the testimonial often comes from another UWL student when the course is new.

Optional modules - where optional modules are offered they will run subject to staff availability and viable student numbers opting to take the module.

Videos - all videos on our course pages were accurate at the time of filming. In some cases a new Course Leader has joined the University since the video was filmed.

Availability of placements - if you choose a course with placement/internship route we would like to advise you that if a placement/internship opportunity does not arise when you are expected to undertake the placement then the University will automatically transfer you to the non-internship route, this is to ensure you are still successful in being awarded a degree.