BA (Hons) Fashion Buying Merchandising & Innovation
Course overview
Start date
September 2021
Subject area
Fashion
Attendance
Full-time, 3 years
Part-time, 4.5 years
Learning
On campus, dual delivery
Course summary
The BA (Hons) Fashion Buying, Merchandising & Innovation programme is designed to introduce students to responsibilities and develop their understanding of the skills that are required for working as a buyer within fashion.
In addition, students will be made aware of the evolving nature of fashion buying and be encouraged to developing an innovative mindset that will set them up for success and progression in the area of fashion buying. Subjects to develop their key skills will involve working with IT and digital platforms, training their numerical literacy and also learning about fashion operation systems and consumer behaviour in order to nurture each student’s progression within the evolving industry of fashion and also support with developing skills relevant for further progressing within higher education.
Return to campus: dual delivery
In a Covid-secure environment, enjoy learning on our state-of-the-art campuses and flex between online delivery
Find out morePlacement
Optional placement year available
Collaborative environment
Students on the fashion buying programme will have the opportunity to collaborate with other fashion pathways.
Industry links
UEL’s fashion department has an exceptional link with industry and students have benefitted from working with renowned fashion brands.
Thriving London location
Wth excellent connections and links across London, your time at UEL will place you in close proximity to relevant research and recreational local areas such as Westfield Stratford, the Olympic Park, Canary Wharf and West End as well as international locations via London City Airport.
Fees and funding
Tuition Fee Loan
You can apply for a loan to cover the cost of your tuition fees, which will be paid directly to UEL. There are no up-front fees required. Repayment only starts after you finish your course and are earning over £25,000. If you haven’t finished repaying your loan after 30 years it will be automatically cancelled.
To apply visit gov.uk/student-finance
Maintenance Loan
You can apply for a loan to help with living costs such as food, travel and accommodation. How much you can borrow depends on where you live and study, and whether you are currently on welfare benefits. The maximum loan you can apply for is £12,729.
To apply visit gov.uk/student-finance
Supplementary Grants
The government also offer the following additional support:
- Parents' Learning Allowance
- Adult Dependants' Grant
- Childcare Grant
- Disabled Students’ Allowance
- All nursing and many allied health students on courses from September 2020 will receive a payment of at least £5,000 a year from the government.
For further information visit gov.uk/student-finance or contact Student Finance England.
All students will receive:
Bursaries Schemes for which you can apply
- Care Leaver and Foyer Bursary - up to £1,500
- Progression Bursary - up to £2,000
- Engagement Bursary - up to £2,000
- Hardship Bursary - up to £2,000
- Helena Kennedy Foundation - £1,500
- Going Global – awards range from £300 - £700
Scholarships Schemes for which you can apply
- Vice Chancellor Scholarship - up to £27,750 over three years
- Dean Scholarship - up to £13,500 over three years
- Civic Engagement Scholarship - £1,000
- EU Scholarship (EU Only) - £1,000
- ELSEF Scholarship - £1,000
- UTC Scholarship - £1,500
- Sports Scholarships - up to £6,000
There are a number of external organisations that offer financial help to
students. Please see the list below list to view additional support options.
Alternatively, you can visit the Scholarship Search website.
Please note that the University of East London is not responsible for
the content of these external sites and is not associated in any way
with the funding schemes and their application processes.
The Student Money Advice and Rights Team (SMART) are here to help you navigate your finances while you are a student at the University of East London.
We can give you advice, information and guidance on government and university funds so that you receive your full funding entitlement.
Email: study@uel.ac.uk
Phone: 020 8223 4444
You don't need to pay this up front.
EU, EEA and Swiss Nationals starting a course in September 2021, will no longer be eligible for Home fees. However, such nationals benefitting from Settled Status or Citizens' Rights may become eligible for Home fees as and when the UK Government confirms any new fees regulations. Further information can be found at UKCISA.
Tuition fees are subject to annual change. Fees for future years will be published in due course.
Tuition Fee Loan
You can apply for a loan to cover the cost of your tuition fees, which will be paid directly to UEL. There are no up-front fees required. Repayment only starts after you finish your course and are earning over £25,000. If you haven’t finished repaying your loan after 30 years it will be automatically cancelled.
Maintenance Loan
Part-time students can access maintenance loans from Student Finance England.
From academic year 2018/19, part-time students can access maintenance loans from Student Finance England.
You can apply for a loan to help with living costs such as food, travel and accommodation.
Part-time students need to study their courses at a rate of at least
25% of an equivalent full-time course in each academic year.
For further information visit gov.uk/student-finance
We appreciate that finance is one of the key considerations when you are applying to university. That's why alongside your Government loan, you can apply for scholarships to help towards your finances. We have invested over £2 million worth of scholarships to financially assist new students, starting in September 2019. If you are awarded a scholarship you don't need to pay it back.
All students will receive:
Ebooks
Bursaries Schemes for which you can apply
Scholarships Schemes for which you can apply
There are a number of external organisations that offer financial help to
students. Please see the list below list to view additional support options.
Alternatively, you can visit the Scholarship Search website.
Please note that the University of East London is not responsible for
the content of these external sites and is not associated in any way
with the funding schemes and their application processes.
The Student Money Advice and Rights Team (SMART) are here to help you navigate your finances while you are a student at the University of East London.
We can give you advice, information and guidance on government and university funds so that you receive your full funding entitlement.
Email: study@uel.ac.uk
Phone: 020 8223 4444
Price per 30 credit module.
EU, EEA and Swiss Nationals starting a course in September 2021, will no longer be eligible for Home fees. However, such nationals benefitting from Settled Status or Citizens' Rights may become eligible for Home fees as and when the UK Government confirms any new fees regulations. Further information can be found at UKCISA.
At UEL, we understand that studying in another country is a big financial commitment. If you apply early for an undergraduate, you may be entitled to a scholarship of up to £3,000.You can find out more about the international scholarships here.
The Student Money Advice and Rights Team (SMART) also run an Emergency International Fund to assist international students in hardship.
You can contact our SMART team on 02082233333 or study@uel.ac.uk
As part of the Tier 4 student visa requirements, UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) estimate that you will need £1,265* per month to cover your living costs. It includes expenses for accommodation, food and drink, travel within London, text books, entertainment, clothing, toiletries and laundry. Most Tier 4 students are required to show they have sufficient funds to cover the first nine months of the course before they start- a total of £11,385- in addition to the tuition fees. You can find more information about the specific requirements of the Tier 4 student visa here. The amount that you will spend can vary depending on your lifestyle. The UKCISA International Student Calculator can help you plan and manage your money. Please make sure you also factor in the fees for the visa application and immigration health surcharge when budgeting.
* Please note the Immigration Rules are subject to change and this figure is likely to be increased by UKVI year on year. Please therefore check our ISA pages for more information at the time of preparing your visa application.
Deposits and paying by instalments
International students are required to pay a deposit prior to being issued a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS).
Your remaining balance will be paid in five monthly instalments over your first term. The first of these instalments must be paid when completing your enrolment on arrival at UEL. Please follow the payment instructions here.
After the required payment has been made, you will be asked to complete the online International Student Reply Form to confirm your acceptance of our offer and of our terms of admittance and fees policy.
Our International team at UEL are available for advice and guidance on studying in London, fees, scholarships and visa requirements.
Email: international@uel.ac.uk
EU, EEA and Swiss Nationals starting a course in September 2021, will no longer be eligible for Home fees. However, such nationals benefitting from Settled Status or Citizens' Rights may become eligible for Home fees as and when the UK Government confirms any new fees regulations. Further information can be found at UKCISA.
Tuition fees are subject to annual change. Fees for future years will be published in due course.
Entry requirements
- September 2021
-
Degree
112
New UCAS Points
Access to HE Diploma (QAA approved) with 60 credits overall and 45 credits at Level 3
We will also consider the UEL New Beginnings pre-entry course
The portfolio is a very important part of the application process. It should reflect broad examples of your work. This will be used as evidence of your creative ability and potential.
Your portfolio should include elements of the below:
- Evidence of use of colour, mixed media, sculptural work, photography, collage, and idea development.
- Drawing skills - life drawing, observational drawing, understanding of garment scale and proportion on the body, fashion drawings, and inspiration development
- Visual research and inspiration development
- Evidence of understanding of fashion market levels
- Evidence of publication knowledge – relevant newspaper and high-end conceptual fashion magazines
- Fabric research
- Any samples/photographs of work
- Evidence of own projects/work/blogs etc
Overall IELTS score of 5.5 with a minimum of 5.5 in Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking (or recognised equivalent).
If you do not meet the academic English language requirements for your course, you may be eligible to enrol onto a pre-sessional English programme. The length of the course will depend on your current level of English and the requirements for your degree programme. We offer a 5-week and an 11-week pre-sessional course. Find out more here.
Level 2 equivalences such as Level 2 Functional Skills in English / Maths, Level 2 Key Skills in Communication / Application of Number and Level 2 Adult Literacy / Adult Numeracy
Please note that some courses require applicants to meet the entry requirements outlined on the course page. Our pre-entry Information Advice and Guidance Team are able to provide further advice on entry requirements and suitability for study.
What you'll learn
You will learn a range of subjects related to how the fashion industry operates and also develop your skills and ability for working with the required skills needed for employment as a fashion buyer. The evolving industry of fashion will also require you to be proactive, empathetic and also embrace knowledge of sustainable practices. The Fashion Buying course will encourage this in you. You can also learn transferable skills that will be of paramount importance, such as team working, time management, communication skills and also develop your digital, numerical and technological proficiencies.
What you'll study and when
We consistently review our courses to ensure we are up-to-date with industry changes and requirements from our graduates. As a result, our modules are subject to change.
- Creative Research Practice
- Design & Application
- Design & Context
- Fashion Development & Technique
- Technical & Creative Processes
- Final Realisation
- Technical Innovation for Fashion
- Introduction to Fashion Management
- Fashion Context & Research
- Fashion & Trend Forecasting
- Fashion Enterprise 1
- Mental Wealth, Professional Life Business of Fashion 1
- Principles of Fashion Buying
- Application of Technical Skills for Buying
- Creative Fashion Practice
- Principles of Fashion Operations
- Fashion Enterprise 2
- Mental Wealth, Professional Life Business of Fashion 2
This course offers the opportunity of year-long placement between years two and three. If you choose to take this option, you’ll spend your third year on a placement with a relevant company or organisation, adding valuable practical experience to your growing academic knowledge.
The extra placement year means it will take four years to complete your studies, instead of three.
- Fashion Buying & Merchandising
- Consumer Psychology & Behaviour
- FMP - Research Project
- FMP - Realisation
- Fashion Enterprise 3
- Mental Wealth, Professional Life Business of Fashion 3
How you'll be assessed
You will be assessed through a range of assessment methods, and with both individual and group projects. Each assessment method will be dependent on the modules. Assessment methods can include:
- Portfolios
- Academic and creative journals
- Written essays
- Inter-programme group projects
- Competition entries
- Live project briefs
- Individual and group presentations
- Exam and assessed quiz activities
How you'll learn
You will learn through lecture and seminar sessions that will be led by academics, practitioners, as well as industry guest speakers. Off campus activities such as local and international trips will also provide learning opportunities for you throughout the programme. Added to this, you will have the chance to learn in participation with mentors and through internships, which you can undertake during the placement year, within and between academic term periods.
Who will teach on this course
The teaching team includes qualified academics, practitioners and industry experts as guest speakers. Full details of the academics will be provided in the student handbook and module guides.
Your future career
You can expect to find employment in the area of fashion buying across a range of fashion organisations. Further opportunities can include working as a consultant, in merchandising or starting up your own fashion label.
Explore the different career options you can pursue with this degree and see the median salaries of the sector on our Career Coach portal
