Masters Degrees (Fashion Buying And Merchandising)

This course is designed to allow students to explore and produce creative strategies for fashion and retail brands, re-equipping them with the skills necessary to excel in the global fashion industry. The course merges practical skills, with leading academic research surrounding areas such as business, marketing, consumer behaviour, branding and fashion theory – giving a solid platform for graduates to move into the industry or progress in their chosen career path.

MA Fashion Retail is designed to accommodate a range of student backgrounds, from those already within employment looking to add to their existing skills, to design graduates looking to expand their knowledge of branding and retail strategy, or even those seeking a change in career. Learning activities will focus on the needs of individual students, allowing them to focus projects on their area of expertise or future career ambitions.

The course has been developed to meet global fashion industry demand for graduates with both creative skills and business acumen, particularly surrounding multi-channel retailing, digital and social media strategies, brand management, retail design, marketing and communication. The course will take an international focus, to ensure graduate relevance across global markets.

If you choose to study on a creative postgraduate course at the University of South Wales, you will also benefit from being part of a vibrant international student community.

See the website http://courses.southwales.ac.uk/courses/1557-ma-fashion-retail

What you will study

Students will benefit from an immersion into the contemporary fashion industry, with modules addressing both the creative skills and theoretical application necessary. The course will combine a creative focus with the acquisition of technical skills and professional expertise via experiential learning and the strategical application towards live and industry simulated briefs.

Selection of Modules include:

- Academic and Professional Practice for Fashion
This module is design to cater to students individual learning needs, whether that be focused on research into the fashion industry or towards research and academic skills required for Masters level study. Students will consider their own personal experience and future career aspirations along with a focus on creative digital visualisation skills and industry standard software.

- Fashion Retail Interactions
This module will explore the landscape of fashion retail to encourage students to engage with contextual understanding, looking into areas such as consumer behaviour, sales management, visual merchandising, buying, multi-channel retailing and marketing communication. Students can choose an area of specialism to produce a visual research book, demonstrating their skills in research and analysis.

- Fashion Retail Space and Place
This module will encourage innovative thinking as students question what retail is and what it could be in the future. Students will use industry standard 3D visualisation software to design their own retail space that will be focused on a specific market and consumer base, considering the store environment, use of multi-platform integration across all levels of fashion retail.

- Fashion Brand Design and Communication
This module will critically explore the nature of branding, with both theoretical understanding and creative and practical application. Students will be encouraged to select an existing fashion brand or retailer, researching fully utilising both primary and secondary research methods, before proposing an opportunity for re-branding or re-positioning of the brand. Students will utilise create software to produce promotional materials relating to their ‘new’ brand concept. This module is designed to run as a live brief with a brand.

- Strategic Fashion Retail Innovation
Students will be asked to think globally, exploring the impact of wider factors on the design of fashion retail strategies for innovation. Students will consider a consumer group in a specific marketplace and produce a strategy for international expansion. This strategy will be accompanied by creative promotional material to enhance students research and analytical skills, as well as their visual communication.

The final semester of the degree will include a 60-credit project, which will develop through one of the above modules. The final major project enables students to focus on their area of expertise, designing their own major project brief (with help from lecturers) that will showcase their advance fashion retail knowledge and design skills. Students will be guided on an appropriate project, before working with tutors to create an outcome that can be used as a discussion point in future interviews or exhibitions. Alternatively, students can choose an extended work placement, or reflection on their own work practice, to utilise work placed learning into their MA Fashion Retail.

Common Modules:
The Faculty understands the importance of a strong grounding in research knowledge and skills, enterprise and innovation as part of a balanced postgraduate education.

We also recognise that each student has different requirements of their postgraduate experience.

You can choose to study one of the following three, 20 credit common modules. Each of these has a different focus, enabling you to select the module that will be most beneficial to you.

- Creative and Cultural Entrepreneurship
This module aims to develop your knowledge of the methods to identify, develop and manage enterprise and innovation in the creative sector. It will then help you apply this to your own entrepreneurial project.

- Research and Practice in the Creative and Cultural Industries
The focus of this module is on the development of research knowledge and skills, while also encouraging critical engagement with approaches to creative practice. You will also explore ideas, debates and issues in the creative and cultural industries.

- Research Paradigms
This module focuses on research paradigms and their theoretical underpinnings. It also looks at key conceptual tools drawn from a wide range of subject areas relevant to postgraduate research in the creative industries.

PLEASE NOTE: Modules are subject to change.

Learning and teaching methods

The academic staff have significant fashion industry experience within retail, business, design and marketing and have access to industry to bring guest speakers and attract world-renowned brands for live briefs in order to enhance the learning experience and networking opportunities.

Work Experience and Employment Prospects

This course is suitable for those looking to break into the fashion industry, along with those who are looking to take their current career towards a more senior role. This course would also suit those with a background in a more specific industry function (such as design and PR) to help them to enhance their skill-set and knowledge.

The course will give you rich knowledge of the fashion industry and a broad range of transferable skills. The skills and experience gained will allow you to go on to decision-making roles within fashion, in areas such as retail design, buying and merchandising, marketing, brand strategy, creative branding and management.

Assessment methods

The course is 100% course work and will include innovative and research informed teaching practices. Modules will include live project briefs from well-known fashion and retail brands to give you experience that reflects industry practice.

Read less

Humber’s Fashion Management and Promotions graduate certificate program prepares you to work in the dynamic fashion industry. It focuses on the management, marketing and sales of fashion apparel and accessories. Courses cover content in new product development and branding, fashion buying and retailing, multi-channel sales, international marketing, and product management. Visual merchandising skills combined with colour theory skills and trend forecasting give this program a dynamic, hands-on approach to the business side of fashion. The program also covers the rapidly growing promotional side of fashion including courses in integrated marketing communication and social media brand management. You will learn how to leverage and promote a brand through social media, personal blogs, Instagram, Twitter, online selling and personal website development.

Course detail

Upon successful completion of the program, a graduate will:

• Analyze the changing face of the Canadian Textile and apparel industry in context with shifting global sourcing and manufacturing centres.
• Determine strategies and formulate a production plan for developing new fashion/cosmetic/fragrance products that are consistent with evolving market needs using Supply Chain Management principles.
• Strategically analyze the process of brand development, market positioning and new fashion/cosmetic/fragrance trends, and evaluate potential impact.
• Determine entrepreneurship strategies in both large and small companies.
• Develop replenishment processes for product inventory and develop pricing and market positioning strategies which take into account competitive pressures, manufacturing costs and corporate objectives.
• Create visual merchandising promotional images using specialized industry software.
• Formulate a strategic business plan based on the ever changing face of retail operations, and conduct primary research on market and manufacturing conditions in order to determine existing and potential levels of activity for particular fashion and cosmetic products.
• Evaluate the types of multi-channel retailing methods and determine the most optimum strategic mix for an organization.
• Evaluate product marketing in an international market.
• Prepare and deliver a sales/marketing/promotional presentation.
• Apply human resource and leadership knowledge and skills to enhance performance with individuals and teams to contribute to the successful creation of a new product.
• Develop strategies to establish working relationships with clients, customers, suppliers, manufacturers, distributors and promotional agencies which maintain and strengthen their loyalty to his/her organization.

Modules

Semester 1
• BISM 5000: Computer Analytic Skills
• FMPC 5000: Marketing Fundamentals
• FMPC 5001: Career Development and Pre-Placement Seminar
• FMPC 5002: Trend Analysis
• FMPC 5005: Product Knowledge
• FMPC 5006: Visual Merchandising and Display
• FMPC 5007: Wholesale Sales

Semester 2
• FMPC 5100: Current Issues in Fashion Industry: A Strategic Analysis
• FMPC 5101: International Marketing
• FMPC 5103: Retail Buying
• FMPC 5104: Product Development and Sourcing
• MKTG 5519: Integrated Marketing Communications
• WORK 5121: Fashion Management Field Placement
• WORK 5570: Industry Seminar

Work Placement

Gain first-hand experience in the industry with a four-week (160-hour) work placement, which takes place either part time during the program or full time at the end of the program. Placements provide the valuable work experience employers seek.

Your Career

According to City of Toronto data, the fashion industry employs nearly 50,000 people. Fashion design, wholesaling and retailing have grown dramatically in the last five years, with 10,000 fashion-related jobs. There are 4,600 fashion retail firms in Toronto that generate annual sales of $2.6 billion. Sales have grown by 6.4 per cent in the last year. Employment in the wholesale and retail trade grew by 34.5 per cent or 13,000 jobs in the last five years.

Graduates may find employment in companies that develop, manufacture, market, import, wholesale, distribute or retail fashion apparel and accessories. Employment settings include apparel suppliers, wholesale distribution companies, fashion retail companies, importers and logistics firms, marketing divisions within major retail operations, and up and coming online businesses. The program equips you for roles such as product development manager, private label/brand manager, retail manager, event manager, retail buyer, fashion manager relating to sourcing, logistics co-ordinator, inventory control manager, visual merchandiser, promotion manager or planner. Online retailing offers positions in community management, social media marketing and opportunities in customer service inventory management.

How to apply

Click here to apply: http://humber.ca/admissions/how-apply.html

Funding

For information on funding, please use the following link: http://humber.ca/admissions/financial-aid.html

Read less

Introduction

Investigate fashion, dress and style in culture and society. Examine the evolving relationship between fashion and film.

Content

MA Fashion Cultures offers a unique experience in fashion education at postgraduate level.

The course has two specific but interrelated pathways: History and Culture; and Fashion / Film. On this course you will have the opportunity to study fashion and dress within its historical, social and cultural contexts. A dynamic in-depth exploration of theoretical and methodological perspectives will give you a grounding in the history of fashion and an underpinning of social and cultural theory for both pathways. You will then undertake more specialised study on your chosen pathway. On the History and Culture pathway you will investigate fashion as object, representation and practice through an interdisciplinary approach from both historical and contemporary perspectives. On Fashion/Film you will investigate the ongoing changing relationship between fashion, costume and forms of film as well as the relationship between cinema and consumption within a global context. While you will choose one pathway, you will have the opportunity to attend the lectures for the other pathway if you wish to, so you can gain the fullest possible understanding of a variety of disciplines and their impact upon visual and material cultures.

The pathways are led by renowned experts in their respective fields, and they are supported by research fellows, professors, authors, curators and historians who contribute to the course. Based in one of fashion’s most important cities, our students benefit from access to the special collections and archives of many leading institutions in London, including the V and A, Museum of London and the British Film Institute. You will also have the opportunity to work with other graduate students from the Culture and Curation Programme on some units of the course.

We attract students from a wide variety of academic and industry backgrounds, some of whom have completed theory-based first degrees, while others come with practice-based backgrounds. After completing their Masters studies, some students from both former courses have progressed to higher level research degrees, and others have established themselves in a number of related fields including curation, visual merchandising, styling, archiving, fashion buying, lecturing and research.

Structure

Block One September to January

Social and Cultural Theories (20 credits) (both pathways)
Fashion Histories (20 credits) (both pathways)
Research Methods (20 credits) (both pathways)

Block Two February to May:

Cycles of Fashion (20 units) (History and Culture pathway), or
Fashion, Stardom and Celebrity Culture (20 credits) (Fashion / Film pathway), or
Sustainability and Fashion (20 credits) (either pathway)

Gendering Fashion (20 credits) (History and Culture pathway), or
Film Concepts, Global Cinema (20 credits) (Fashion / Film pathway), or
Consumer Behaviour and Psychology (20 credits) (either pathway); Collaborative Unit (20 credits) (both pathways)

Block Three May to September: Masters Project (60 credits) (both pathways)

Read less

Please note due to the great demand for our programmes early applications are assessed when received and dealt with promptly. Therefore it is advisable to make early applications for an early response. If you do not yet have your final degree results this will not hinder your application as we are happy to issue conditional offer letters in such circumstances.

To make a full and complete application for this programme you must include a current CV along with a cover letter stating why you are applying for this postgraduate diploma and outlining your suitability to the course.

The DIT School of Retail and Services Management has devised this Postgraduate Diploma in Fashion Buying and Management and customized it to the needs of the Fashion Industry. This highly anticipated route of study is one year full-time in duration.The design reflects the educational requirements and learning opportunities necessary to succeed as a fashion buyer in today`s competitive environment.The Postgraduate Diploma programme will bring together both industry experts and educators in the respective module areas.

Course Content

The first semester introduces participants to the principles of Fashion Buying I. Materials and Fabrics, Sociology of Fashion, Finance for non-financial Managers, and Marketing Luxury Brands and Retail Merchandising Analytics.

In the second semester students study a more specialist area with Fashion Buying II, complemented by modules such as Store Environment, Fashion Public Relations and Communications, Retail Operations Management and International Fashion Retailing.

Throughout the year, a series of Fashion Seminars will be delivered. These seminars will allow for the students to interact with key industry figures and be kept informed of the latest industry developments. International travel will also be an important feature of the programme.

The first trip to Paris takes place in February. The aim of this trip is primarily to attend the Premiere Vision fabric trade fair and experience firsthand the demands of the apparel industry. The learning outcomes of this trip our examined by continuous assessment.

Later in the semester, students travel to an Irish and UK based fabric mill with The National Tailoring Academy who deliver the Materials and Fabric module throughout semester 1.

Read less

Succeed at the next level with a practical and creative Master's degree. Focus on core concepts and principles of fashion marketing coupled with contemporary international issues, integrated fashion communications, global marketing and brand management.

This course has several available start dates - for more information, see the relevant web-page:
JANUARY 2017 - http://www.gculondon.ac.uk/study/coursedetails/index.php/P02563-1FTLB-1617/International_Fashion_Marketing_(Jan)?utm_source=GCUL&utm_medium=web&utm_campaign=courselisting

JANUARY 2018 - http://www.gculondon.ac.uk/study/coursedetails/index.php/P02563-1FTLB-1718/International_Fashion_Marketing?utm_source=GCUL&utm_medium=web&utm_campaign=courselisting

Programme Description

Fast-paced, exciting and innovative, the MSc International Fashion Marketing will provide you with the international business knowledge along with the creative and practical marketing expertise to succeed in today's increasingly competitive and global fashion industry.

Our programme's unique design incorporates a broad curriculum focusing on the core concepts and principles of fashion marketing and then provides a specialist focus on the contemporary international issues within fashion marketing, logistics, buying and merchandising, fashion business analysis, integrated fashion communications, consumer insights, marketing planning, brand management.

Designed to challenge and inspire, our programme is intensive and academically challenging. Youll analyse relevant academic theories and apply models, tools and techniques to real fashion marketing situations. Well encourage you to critically develop independent, inquiring and creative approaches to strategic fashion marketing issues and problems.

You can start in September or January at our Glasgow or London campus.

EPAS Accredited

MSc International Fashion Marketing is accredited by the European Foundation for Management Development Programme Accreditation Scheme (EPAS) and is the only fashion programme worldwide to receive this distinction of high quality education.

Benchmarked against international standards. GCU is one of just 69 international institutions to have EPAS accreditation, and was commended by EPAS for its exceptional commitment to the ethics, responsibility and sustainability (ERS) agenda.

EPAS accreditation is a key achievement of Glasgow School for Business and Society (GSBS) and gives MSc IFM graduates the assurance that they will be equipped with the skills and knowledge needed to succeed in the fashion marketing industry as well as being recognised internationally for their excellent Master’s education and experience.

Course Overview

-This programme has been designed in consultation with industry to offer the knowledge and skills needed to make a difference in the international fashion marketing arena.
-The university prides itself on creating a friendly and highly supportive learning environment for all its students.
-We incorporate the latest academic marketing thinking and theories to ensure the programme is leading edge in all respects.
-All teaching and learning on the programme is supported by cutting edge e-learning technologies.
-Teaching is delivered in small groups allowing students to develop their own environment of shared learning and for individual learning needs to be addressed by tutors.
-Modules are designed to relate directly to real-world business and to give students opportunities to learn about potential career areas.
-The programme provides students the opportunity to attend Masterclasses from marketing practitioners and leaders of industry.

Employment Details

The prospects for graduates from this programme remain high, in a range of organisations, both in the UK and internationally. Employers have identified the key strengths of our graduates as being their commercial awareness and combination of academic and applied skills. Previous graduates have secured employment in brand management, market analysis, buying and merchandising, marketing communications, direct marketing and media planning. Other graduates have successfully set up their own business or developed an existing company.

Read less

Our MSc Fashion Management degree enables graduates to develop the skills and knowledge required to follow a rewarding career within the fashion industry. For 2015/16 funded places are available for Scottish/EU Students.

This innovative course combines an exciting mix of visual and creative skills modules with those that develop students understanding of communication, retail and business in the global marketplace today.

This course is aimed at those who need to gain specialist fashion knowledge and skills alongside marketing and management techniques specific to the international fashion industry. It is ideal for students who have an undergraduate honours degree in Communication and Media, Marketing or Management as well as Fashion Design students who wish to further their business, marketing and management understanding.

Visit the website http://www.rgu.ac.uk/business-management-and-accounting/study-options/postgraduate-taught-full-time/fashion-management-pgcert/pgdip/msc

Please note: this course does not involve garment design and construction, and does not require a creative portfolio for entry.

Stage 1

•Fashion Business
•Fashion Branding and the Consumer Exchange
•Public Relations Theory and Practice
•Fashion Internationalisation and Distribution

Exit award: Postgraduate Certificate (PgCert) in Fashion Management

Stage 2

•Fieldwork Placement
•Fashion Buying, Forecasting and Merchandising (double module)
•Research Methods

Exit award: Postgraduate Diploma (PgDip) in Fashion Management

Stage 3

•Dissertation

Award: Masters (MSc) Fashion Management

Format

You will learn through a combination of lectures, seminars and workshop sessions. These comprise of a mix of group study, discussion, simulation and presentations of findings by teams and individuals. You will work as an individual and also as part of a team on case studies, team activities, presentations and discussions.

Access to our virtual learning environment, CampusMoodle, is also provided giving you access from home to learning materials (including videos, e-books and journals).

How to apply

To find out how to apply, use the following link: http://www.rgu.ac.uk/applyonline

Funding

For information on funding, including loans, scholarships and Disabled Students Allowance (DSA) please click the following link: http://www.rgu.ac.uk/future-students/finance-and-scholarships/financial-support/uk-students/postgraduate-students/postgraduate-students/

Read less

The fashion industry is a vibrant and challenging business environment. This Fashion Management with Marketing MA is designed to accommodate a range of career opportunities within this sector, providing you with an advanced understanding of the global fashion industry.

Our innovative programme is aimed at graduates with a fashion, textiles, design or business degree who wish to gain management knowledge, with the aim to become a manager within this sector. It will also provide a suitable progression route for those who have worked in the industry but want to improve their employment prospects to get to a higher level, as well as for those preparing for PhD study.

You will learn from a range of expert staff about the management practices which are specific to the fashion and textiles business, as well as the inclusion of fashion marketing and promotion techniques, and brand management theories. You will graduate with an advanced understanding of the global fashion industry.

Teaching usually consists of one hour lectures followed by one or two-hour seminars or tutorials for each module. You will also be expected to conduct a substantial amount of self-directed learning, which is important for you to contextualise your studies and to broaden your knowledge. The Fashion Management with Marketing MA is a theoretical programme and assessments are mostly by the submission of fully referenced and structured reports. Presentations are also fundamental as an opportunity for you to present your work to others either for assessment or within a scheduled class activity. One module includes the formulation of a weekly blog for you to keep abreast of topical issues. You will also be required to submit a project proposal which will act as your plan for future research, especially for the dissertation.

The fashion and textile business is highly competitive and we encourage you to develop networking opportunities by becoming a student member of trade associations and to engage in conferences and seminars delivered by industry members.
We expect you to be proactive and attend presentations provided by visitors from the fashion and textiles business to the university, as extra curricula activity. Teaching staff come from a range of art and design disciplines, contributing to their own areas of expertise. Throughout the programme the curriculum is also enhanced by visiting lectures from a variety of business experiences.

Graduate careers include fashion buying, fashion marketing, fashion public relations, merchandising and logistics management, management of the product development process, retail or brand management, product sourcing, supply chain management, and e-commerce. Graduates would also be in a strong position to consider developing a new business along with the support from the university's business development unit.

Read less

Fast-paced, exciting and innovative, our MSc International Fashion Marketing provides you the international business knowledge along with creative and practical marketing expertise to succeed in today's increasingly competitive and global fashion industry.

Accredited by the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM), the leading professional body for marketers worldwide, and the only fashion programme in the world accredited by European Foundation for Management Development Programme Accreditation Scheme (EPAS), our prgoramme is benchmarked against international standards. This double accreditation demonstrates your degree is recognised internationally for its excellent education and experience.

Our programme's unique design incorporates a broad curriculum focusing on the core concepts and principles of fashion marketing and then provides a specialist focus on the contemporary international issues within fashion marketing, logistics, buying and merchandising, fashion business analysis, integrated fashion communications, consumer insights, marketing planning, brand management.

With teaching designed to challenge and inspire, you’ll analyse relevant academic theories and apply models, tools and techniques to real fashion marketing situations. We incorporate the latest academic marketing thinking and theories to ensure the programme is leading edge in all respects. We’ll encourage you to develop creative and strategic approaches to fashion marketing issues and problems.

This programme also has a JANUARY 2017 start - for more information, please view this web-page: http://www.gcu.ac.uk/gsbs/study/courses/details/index.php/P02562-1FTAB-1617/International_Fashion_Marketing_(Jan_start)?utm_source=YYYY&utm_medium=web&utm_campaign=courselisting

Why choose this programme?

-Unique dual accreditation from CIM & EPAS.
-GCU was commended for its exceptional commitment to the ethics, responsibility and sustainability (ERS) agenda by EPAS.
-Designed in consultation with industry.
-Coursework relates directly to real-world business challenges.
-A friendly and highly supportive learning environment.
-Teaching is delivered in small groups and supported by cutting edge e-learning technology.
-You can start in September or January at our Glasgow or London campus.

Assessment

Assessment strategies aim to test subject knowledge, independent thought and skills acquisition. They are balanced in accordance with the learning outcomes of each module and include examinations, essays and reports.

Assessments are designed in various formats to allow the development of specific skills, for example, individual as well as group work, case study analysis as well as real-life hosted projects and various forms of academic and management-style presentations. Some of the assessments are summative (marked) while others are designed solely to give you feedback on the progress of your learning throughout the year.

During the course of the year, you will also undertake a major research dissertation on a fashion marketing topic of your choice. Some topics may be suggested and sponsored by commercial companies, allowing you to undertake research which has a real impact on marketing decision making.

Significant emphasis is placed on independent learning throughout the assessment period. Students are encouraged to manage their own learning and embrace the values of rationality, reflection, critical appraisal and self-development.

Career Opportunities

The prospects for graduates from this programme are high. Our graduates have gone on to succeed in a range of organisations, both in the UK and internationally. Employers have identified the key strengths of our graduates as being their commercial awareness and combination of academic and applied skills.

Previous graduates have secured employment in brand management, market analysis, buying and merchandising, marketing communications, direct marketing and media planning. Other graduates have successfully set up their own business or developed an existing company.

Read less

Introduction

A dynamic, relevant and industry-facing course with live briefs, keynote speakers and field trips. Students develop product, market and consumer insight, an understanding of the supply chain and strong negotiating skills.

Content

The Postgraduate Certificate Fashion: Buying and Merchandising is a fashion business course with a vocational focus on buying and merchandising. It combines a post graduate level academic experience with the vocational realities of retailer buying and merchandising operations. The course covers a range of vocational knowledge and skills for students seeking a career in fashion buying and merchandising, and develops knowledge of both theoretical and practical issues relevant to current practice in the UK buying and merchandising sector. This is integrated with practical professional skills in communication, negotiation and presentation. Distinctive features of the course are the strong links with fashion buying and merchandising offices in the UK and the opportunity afforded by the practical emphasis on skills negotiation in the final project.

The course is designed for graduates aiming at a first career position in fashion buying or merchandising but who need to supplement their first degree with a more relevant academic qualification. The course may also be suitable as a preparation for higher level postgraduate study in related subject areas.

The Postgraduate Certificate Fashion: Buying and Merchandising course 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.

Structure

Weeks 1-10 - level 7

Buying and Merchandising (20 credits)
Marketing and Supply Chain Management (20 credits)

Weeks 11-15 - level 7

Integrated Project (20 credits)

Read less

Buying and merchandising are specialist retail functions, which lie at the heart of a fashion brand’s ability to respond effectively to fast changing fashion trends.

You will gain the insights and practical knowledge and skills necessary to succeed in a fashion buying or merchandising career.

Industry knowledge and skills are embedded across modules and are achieved in different ways. These include learning about textiles and clothing manufacture, competitor shopping and analysing trends and sales patterns to make commercial decisions. You will develop and strengthen many skills including numeracy for buying and merchandising, presentation, team working and negotiation.

Why should I choose this programme?

The fashion industry continues to grow in size and significance, as brands and retailers expand their ranges and markets. Fashion buying and merchandising lie at the heart of a fashion company’s ability to respond effectively to fast moving trends with commercially successful seasonal collections.

This programme will provide you with the specialist knowledge and skills associated with adapting trends and developing fashion ranges, commercial understanding and industry insights to access a range of positions in buying and merchandising.

Key skills, aims and objectives

‌•knowledge of how fashion trends emerge, and ability to exploit associated market gaps
‌•ability to edit and select seasonal collections
‌•ability to identify commercial product opportunities and plan a merchandise range
‌•retail pricing and margin management
‌•competitor analysis
‌•teamwork
‌•presentation and negotiation skills

Future opportunities

This programme will provide you with the specialist knowledge, skills and commercial understanding to kickstart your career in fashion buying and merchandising.

Typical entry level jobs open to graduates of the programme include:

‌•Buying Assistant
‌•Buying Admin Assistant
‌•Buyer’s Clerk
‌•Assistant Buyer
‌•Trainee Buyer
‌•Merchandising Assistant
‌•Merchandising Admin Assistant
‌•Allocator
‌•Distributor
‌•Supply Chain Coordinator
‌•Marketing Assistant

How to apply

Applying to study at RUL is a quick and easy process. We accept direct applications, have no formal application deadlines and there is no application fee.

Step 1 Apply

You can apply in the following ways:

•Apply online
•Apply directly to us using the application form available here http://www.regents.ac.uk/media/1188903/Regents-application-form.pdf
Once you have completed the application form, please send us the following supporting documents, by post, email or fax:

•Copies of academic transcripts and certificates of all academic study undertaken after secondary school
•One letter of academic reference
•A copy of your CV/resumé showing your work experience if applicable.
•A 300 to 500-word personal statement in support of your application, outlining your reasons for applying to your chosen programme and how you feel you will benefit from the course of study
•A copy of your passport photograph (ID) page
•One recent passport-sized, colour photograph, jpeg format (this must be emailed to us at [email protected])
•If not a native English speaker, proof of your English proficiency

Please note: most candidates will be assessed for admission on the basis of their submitted application materials. However, RUL reserves the right to invite candidates for interview and to reject those who decline to attend.

Step 2 Making an offer

We will assess whether you meet our minimum entry requirements and will make you an offer by both email and post, or notify you that you have been unsuccessful.

If you have completed your education and have met all the entry requirements, you will be sent an unconditional offer. If you still have to finish your exams, or have yet to submit supporting documentation, we will make you a conditional offer.

You can expect to receive a decision on your application within 10 working days of receipt of your completed application and supporting documents.

Step 3 Accepting the offer

If you wish to accept the offer you must:

•Confirm your acceptance via email/post/telephone/in person
•Pay the registration fee (non-refundable)
•Pay the non-EU advance tuition fee deposit, if applicable (non-refundable)
•Please note: although there is no formal deadline to pay your registration fee or non-EU advance deposit, if you need to apply for an international student visa to study in the UK, then we recommend that you pay these as soon as possible.

Please see here for information on how to pay http://www.regents.ac.uk/study/how-to-pay.aspx

Step 4 Full acceptance and visa

On receipt of your acceptance we will issue the final set of documentation and, where needed, the relevant visa support documentation. To find out if you need a student visa please consult the UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) website for current information: http://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/uk-visas-and-immigration (please note it is your own responsibility to arrange the appropriate visa).

For more information on course structure, admissions and teaching and assessment, please follow this link: http://www.regents.ac.uk/study/postgraduate-study/programmes/pg-dip-fashion-journalism.aspx

Read less

OVERVIEW

This course will suit highly motivated individuals who want to develop fashion marketing and business skills to either work within the fashion industry, explore new ideas to set up their own business or extend family enterprises. Previous experience in allied industries such as advertising will be of a particular advantage.

WHY CHOOSE THIS COURSE?

Our location offers a fantastic opportunity to explore the world of fashion, from up-and-coming designers and their pop-up shops, to global trend laboratories, leading high street names and luxury fashion brands. On campus, you can take advantage of our fashion studio equipped with the latest design software.

MODULES

• Marketing in a Global Age
• Trend Prediction and Fashion Forecasting
• International Fashion Marketing
• Fashion and Brand Management
• Buying and Merchandising in a Changing Global Industry
• Buyer Behaviour
• Retail and Service Marketing
• Business and Management Research Methods
• Fashion Marketing and Communication in a Global Context
• London Fashion Live Project

Project options
• Internship
• Consulting Project
• Entrepreneurship Project
• Simulation
• Dissertation

ACCREDITATION

Upon successful completion of the programme and selected modules you will be awarded the CMI Level 7 Certificate in Strategic Management and Leadership*.

*Subject to registering as a CMI member

SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

Coventry University London is delighted to have recently launched a number of scholarships to UK and International students. You can find out more about our Scholarships by viewing our website.

START DATES

MSc International Fashion Marketing has start dates in October 2017.

FUTURE PROSPECTS

“I really appreciated the range of work experience options which were available and I would highly recommend an internship module. It helped me bring together everything I had learned and combine it with real-world practices. I am currently pursuing a career in the media and entertainment industry and cannot wait to see what the future holds.” - Samantha Johnson, Germany

Read less

OVERVIEW

MBA International Fashion Management aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the fashion industry. It focuses in particular on the global and technological shifts that have characterised this industry in recent years, on the management of fashion design and product development, and on international fashion manufacturing and retailing strategies.

WHY CHOOSE THIS COURSE?

This course is designed to address the needs of a new generation of fashion industry managers. Challenging and stimulating, it combines the highest quality of teaching and academic support with direct inputs from the fashion industry.

MODULES

• Sustainable Strategy – from Planning to Implementation
• Marketing in a Global Age
• Finance, Funding and Legislative Frameworks for Success
• Leading in a Changing World
• Business and Management Research Methods or Entrepreneurship

Specialist modules
• Trend Prediction and Fashion Forecasting
• Buying and Merchandising in a Changing Global Industry
• Fashion Design and Product Development
• Project Management

Project options
• Internship
• Consulting Project
• Entrepreneurship Project
• Simulation
• Dissertation

ACCREDITATION

Upon successful completion of the course and selected modules you will be awarded the CMI Level 7 Certificate in Strategic Management and Leadership*.

*Subject to registering as a CMI member.

SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

Coventry University London is delighted to have recently launched a number of scholarships to UK and International students. You can find out more about our Scholarships by viewing our website.

START DATES

MBA International Fashion Management has start dates in October 2017.

FUTURE PROSPECTS

“I currently work as a Product Manager Assistant for C&A. As an assistant buyer I work alongside different departments, including trend, design, sourcing, quality assurance, visual merchandising and marketing. Coventry University London gave me the perfect base to start my career as a buyer.” - Sofie Gill, Belgium

Read less

Milano Fashion Institute is the interuniversity Institute set up in 2007 by the 3 leading Italian Universities: Bocconi University, Polytechnic of Milan, and Cattolica University for realizing University Masters in Fashion Direction. An innovative didactical method thanks to the interdisciplinary approach provided by the partners qualifies MFI as a unique in the whole European scenario.

If brand management and how to develop a fashion collection are your source of inspiration, this Master is the source of your competitive advantage.

The Master in Fashion Direction: Brand & Business Management aims to provide students skills and competences strongly needed by brands and companies. How to manage an omnichannel strategy? From the understanding of the most diffused tools and practices, to the field and deep knowledge of retail processes affecting every touch point with the Client. That’s fashion retail.

The Master will explore the management of retail strategies, main business models, merchandising and buying processes and visual merchandising practices, for concluding with the digital strategy and the CRM policies.

Therefore, the professional figure that is formed is the marketing and retail manager, connecting strategy to customer, integrating the digital environment to the retail formats and experience design.

Fashion Communication. More than a process, a compelling challenge to involve the customer. Fashion brands are leading the innovation, from the digital opportunity to the engagement challenge.

Read less

Overview

Are you fascinated by the fashion industry? Would you like a career that combines creativity with business acumen? Southampton Solent University’s postgraduate fashion merchandise management programme will help you to develop an advanced understanding of merchandising practices, retail space design, product buying, consumer behaviour, marketing and academic research methods.

- Students study under the guidance of veteran industry professionals with strong links to fashion and retail businesses.
- Core units cover contemporary retail innovation, industry contexts, marketing, retail design, research methods, fashion buying and merchandising.
- Students work closely with Solent’s industry contacts. Retailing company B&Q is currently involved in teaching the ‘Retail Futures: Innovation and Enterprise’ unit.
- Previous industry collaborators have included MRA Architecture & Interior Design, and IBM.
- Students will also have the opportunity to work in Re:So, our student-managed high-street retail boutique, or pitch for agency work through Solent Creatives.
- Students are supported by tutors to secure industry work placements.
- Graduates will have learnt transferable business management, marketing and employability skills that are sought after by employers in a range of sectors.
- Available facilities include a 24 hour library; industry-standard design software; photographic and fashion studios; and a range of merchandising equipment.

The industry -

The retail workforce is projected to grow between 2013 and 2020, with job opportunities expected to increase for managerial positions in particular (Prospects, 2015). This unique degree programme will help you to capitalise on the growth, developing key skills that visual merchandising and product buying employers are seeking.

The programme -

With increasing competition in the retail sector, fashion merchandisers play a vital role in transforming ordinary store environments into exciting retail experiences. Students studying on Southampton Solent’s unique fashion merchandise management programme will undertake in-depth study of visual merchandising, retail design and fashion buying – delving into the psychological and cultural factors that influence consumer spending.

The curriculum also covers technical innovation and the place of technology in the modern retail environment. These contemporary innovations are examined alongside retail design, visual merchandising, in-store branding and the benefits of customer interaction.

Students can get involved in retail activities at Re:So, Solent’s student-run high-street store. Re:So stocks a range of fashion and craft products produced by our creative students, making it the ideal place to get hands-on visual merchandising experience. The store’s upper floor ‘learning zone’ has previously hosted guest speakers from the fashion industry, workshops, photo-shoots and exhibitions – all with an emphasis on developing student retail, enterprise and employability skills.

The course concludes with a final master’s project. This is a chance for students to specialise in an area that suits their unique career ambitions, applying the skills that they have learnt throughout the course. Project supervisors are chosen based on the topic of the dissertation, ensuring that students have one-to-one access to expert support.

Course Content

Programme specification document - http://mycourse.solent.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=6152

Teaching, learning and assessment -

The course is taught through seminars, tutorials and workshops, with an emphasis on creativity and critical thinking. You will collaborate with our industry partners and take part in occasional group projects.

Work Experience -

We can provide support and guidance to help you find relevant work experience at a fashion or design company through our close links with industry. Former students have completed placements in a wide range of areas, including:

- trend reporting for WGSN
- merchandising at the Hobbs Head Office
- design/trend consultancy for Mudpie
- design at Jenny Packham
- marketing at Harvey Nichols
- MRA Architecture and Interior Design
- visual communication at Calvin Klein.

Assessment -

Assessment is through projects, reports and a dissertation.

Our facilities -

You will have access to multimedia and IT suites, photography and printing studios, fashion studios, design-and-make workshops, and excellent library facilities.

Study abroad -

There are opportunities for trips abroad, as well as regular excursions to museums and exhibitions in and around London.

Web-based learning -

Solent’s virtual learning environment provides quick online access to assignments, lecture notes, suggested reading and other course information.

Why Solent?

What do we offer?

From a vibrant city centre campus to our first class facilities, this is where you can find out why you should choose Solent.

Facilities - http://www.solent.ac.uk/about/facilities/facilities.aspx

City living - http://www.solent.ac.uk/studying/southampton/living-in-southampton.aspx

Accommodation - http://www.solent.ac.uk/studying/accommodation/accommodation.aspx

Career Potential

Following this course, you will be well prepared for a career in fashion merchandise management or the broader fashion industry.

Suitable roles for graduates include:

- Visual merchandiser
- Buyer/allocator
- Merchandising
- Creative marketing
- Consumer behaviour consultant
- Store planner/designer
- Retail management
- Visual merchandising
- Business owner.

Links with industry -

Industry professionals share their knowledge and experiences with students through guest presentations, lectures, one-to-one tutorials and portfolio-viewing workshops.
Recent visiting lecturers have included: Caryn Franklin, Perry Curties, Iain R Webb, Wayne Johns, Bruce Smith, Ellen Rogers, Hannah Al-Shemmeri, Elaine Waldron, Maria Bonet and Richard Billingham.

On this course, we also work closely with industry partners, including MRA and IBM, who are involved in teaching on two specialist units.

Transferable skills -

During the course you’ll develop your research, writing and critical thinking skills, along with experience in presentation, networking and teamwork.

Tuition fees

The tuition fees for the 2016/2017 academic year are:

UK and EU full-time fees: £6,695 per year

International full-time fees: £11,260 per year

UK and EU part-time fees: £3,350 per year

International part-time fees: £5,630 per year

Graduation costs -

Graduation is the ceremony to celebrate the achievements of your studies. For graduates in 2015, there is no charge to attend graduation, but you will be required to pay for the rental of your academic gown (approximately £42 per graduate, depending on your award). You may also wish to purchase official photography packages, which range in price from £15 to £200+. Graduation is not compulsory, so if you prefer to have your award sent to you, there is no cost.
For more details, please visit: http://www.solent.ac.uk/studying/graduation/home.aspx

Next steps

Think a career in fashion retail might be for you? With an expert teaching team, industry-standard facilities and a long history of providing graduates for retail and fashion management roles, Southampton Solent University’s postgraduate fashion merchandise management programme could be the ideal next step towards your dream career.

Read less

This is a one-year, industry-led programme, which gives you the opportunity to develop specialist knowledge of contemporary fashion buying and merchandising from a managerial perspective. Developed in conjunction with industry specialists to inform innovative projects and maintain contemporary content and foster innovative projects.

Throughout the Master’s you will develop professional, managerial and personal abilities, including commercial awareness, negotiating and relationship management skills, alongside developing your visual skills in a business context to enable you to operate successfully within the global industry.

You will also gain an in-depth knowledge of finance, industry developments, profit margins, pricing, sales strategies and turnover and how to confidently convey your ideas through successful communication and contemporary presentation.

About the Course

You will gain a deep understanding of the role of the buyer and merchandiser, and gain the ability to strategically plan and select a range of high quality garments, while considering the profitable development of a company.

By undertaking a variety of projects, you will learn how to analyse the factors that influence sales alongside personal and practical presentation skills. You will also learn how to build a range of profitable garments for wholesale, retail or online sales.

Assessment details

Assessment includes written coursework assignments, reports, business plans, and project work. The assessments are work orientated.

Read less