International Fashion Business BA (Hons)

Study level: Undergraduate
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This course aims to produce future business professionals with a broad understanding of fashion who innovate and collaborate to drive the global fashion industry forward with a new, responsible directive.

Year of entry

Location

Coventry University (Coventry)

Study mode

Full-time
Sandwich

Duration

3 years full-time
4 years sandwich

Course code

W23B

Start date

September 2025

Available through Clearing

We recognise a breadth of qualifications and relevant experience and may be able to consider your portfolio or other examples of your practice-based work even if you do not have the required points. Speak to one of our advisers today for more information. Your portfolio and/or practice-based work will be reviewed by the Course Director who will make a final decision.*
*Applicant offer decisions are final and there is no right of appeal.

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Course overview

This course is designed to appeal to students that are passionate about the global fashion business and are looking to explore and develop creative and intellectual skills needed to enter the dynamic fashion industry.

  • The course nurtures individual creativity, business acumen and future employability aspirations/goals.
  • Learn about the role that fashion brands play not only in world economies (and in particular emerging markets) but also the importance of applying ethics and sustainability in a global fashion industry.
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Rated Gold Overall

Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) 2023

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5 QS Stars for Teaching and Facilities

QS Stars University Ratings

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Top 5 Student City in England (Coventry)

QS Best Student Cities Index 2025

Why you should study this course

  • The common first year enables you to work alongside students doing our BA (Hons) Fashion, Brand and Communication and BA (Hons) Fashion courses, to widen your knowledge and exposure to other subject areas and professions. You will have the opportunity to collaborate with other students, so you can share your insights and experience which will help you to develop and learn.
  • The BA (Hons) International Fashion Business course is a hands-on, creative course. Fashion theory and business studies are embedded throughout module activities, whilst work you undertake is creative in its content and approach. Students on this course are able to apply sound knowledge of fashion business in a practical, applied manner; setting them apart from their counterparts.
  • Outstanding creative spaces in our purpose-built Delia Derbyshire building offers collaboration space along with access to industry appropriate software to ensure you develop skills relevant to graduate roles within Fashion Business4.
  • Beyond the shared first year, collaboration is key throughout this course. You will be encouraged to work alongside peers in other subject areas as well as external practitioners and organisations to experience real world challenges and propose real, viable solutions2.
  • This course, along with others in the suite of Fashion courses is highly internationally focused. You benefit from a wealth of international experience established by the course founders; who are passionate about ensuring global collaboration and industry readiness and who seek opportunities to develop solid international awareness and experience where possible. Themes included within course modules embrace this global approach and you are encouraged to consider diverse perspectives and references from the start of the course.

Learn more about Graduate Fashion week which attracts Industry and International audiences from across the world. Find out more here


What you'll study

This course has a common first year.

The common first year enables you to work alongside students doing similar courses to you, to widen your knowledge and exposure to other subject areas and professions. You will have the opportunity to collaborate with other students, so you can share your insights and experience which will help you to develop and learn. 

If you discover an interest in a specific subject you have studied, upon successful completion of your first year, you could swap degrees with another course in your common first year (subject to meeting progression requirements).

Common first year courses

  • Fashion BA (Hons)
  • Fashion Brand and Communication BA (Hons)
  • International Fashion Business BA (Hons)

In your first year, the curriculum is shared across related courses allowing you to gain a broad grounding in the discipline before going on, in the second and third years, to specialist modules in your chosen field.

Modules

In your second year, you will continue to develop the skills and knowledge you’ve learned. We do this by embedding the following four principles into the curriculum and developing your:

  • Technical skills – digital fluency, backed with the right academic knowledge.
  • Study skills – to be an adaptive, independent and proactive learner.
  • Professional skills – to have the behaviour and abilities to succeed in your career.
  • Global awareness – the beliefs and abilities to be a resilient, confident and motivated global citizen.

You will develop more advanced knowledge and skills to do with: brand engagement, the global marketplace, and the international buying cycle, amongst others.

Modules

There’s no better way to find out what you love doing than trying it out for yourself, which is why a work placement2 can often be beneficial. Work placements usually occur between your second and final years of study. They’re a great way to help you explore your potential career path and gain valuable work experience, whilst developing transferable skills for the future.

Modules

Your final year aims to bring you to the level to enter the world of work by consolidating your knowledge and skills from your first and second years.

Modules

We regularly review our course content, to make it relevant and current for the benefit of our students. For these reasons, course modules may be updated.


How you'll learn

The School of Art and Design’s teaching and learning mirrors the needs of the creative industries ensuring that our graduates are equipped with the skills and attributes to become industry specialists, leaders and innovators to drive social responsibility and design global change.

We seek to create a socially responsible studio and workshop culture that develops critical thinking in research and fosters a collaborative, creative community. Our global initiatives aim to give you skills to become collaborative communicators and make you culturally competent in the ever-changing world of art or design.

As the creative arena is an ever-evolving space, being curious and adaptable learners is key to our school’s graduates. You will learn how to recognise your strengths and learning needs, how to self-reflect and grow. You will identify your personal development and drive your projects for ambitious career aspirations.


Teaching contact hours

As a full-time undergraduate student, you will study modules totalling 120 credits each academic year. A typical 20 credit module requires a total of 200 hours study. This is made up of teaching contact hours, guided and independent study.

Teaching hours:

Teaching hours vary each semester, year of study and due to module selection. During your first year you can expect 15-18 teaching hours each week. You will also have the option to attend optional sessions including time with a progress coach or to meet with staff for advice and feedback. As you progress through your studies, teaching hours may reduce.

Guided and independent study:

Throughout your studies, you will be expected to spend time in guided and independent study to make up the required study hours per module. You'll be digging deeper into topics, review what you've learnt and complete assignments. This can be completed around your personal commitments. As you progress through your studies, you'll spend more time in independent study.

Online learning:

As an innovative university, we use different teaching methods including online tools and emerging technologies. So, some of your teaching hours and assessments may be delivered online.


Assessment

You will be assessed using a variety of methods which could vary depending upon the module. In the School of Art and Design we design our assessment methods to replicate the creative industry ways of working. This ensures that you have the chance to learn skills for future career opportunities.

Assessment methods may include reports, practical coursework and presentations as part of individual assignments or group work elements.

The Coventry University Group assessment strategy ensures that our courses are fairly assessed and allows us to monitor student progression towards achieving the intended learning outcomes.


International experience opportunities

Throughout the course a range of optional study visits will be offered. Past visits undertaken by courses within the Fashion suite have included Paris - to attend Premiere Vision (the World’s Premiere Textile Trade Fair), Berlin to attend Fashion Week and London to attend leading fashion exhibitions. Visits have also been arranged for students to undertake location fashion shoots and have included London, Bristol, The Yorkshire Sculpture Park and Weston-super-Mare2.

Please note that all international experience opportunities may be subject to additional costs, competitive application, availability and meeting applicable visa and travel requirements are therefore not guaranteed2.


Entry requirements

Clearing places available on this course

See if you have enough points (UCAS tariff 2025)

Don't know your points total? Work it out
Additional requirements may apply

Typical entry requirements:


Fees and funding

Student Full-time Part-time
UK, Ireland*, Channel Islands or Isle of Man £9,535 per year Not available
EU £9,535 per year with EU Support Bursary**
£19,850 per year without EU Support Bursary**
Not available
International £19,850 per year Not available

If you choose to study this course with a professional placement2 or study abroad year, you will need to pay a tuition fee3 to cover your academic support throughout your placement year. Students commencing their professional placement in the academic year 2027/28 will pay £1,500 if they are paying UK fees, or £1,800 if they are paying international fees.

For advice and guidance on tuition fees and student loans visit our Undergraduate Finance page and see The University’s Tuition Fee and Refund Terms and Conditions.

The University will charge the tuition fees that are stated in the above table for the first Academic Year of study. The University will review tuition fees each year. For UK (home) students, if Parliament permits an increase in tuition fees, the university may increase fees for each subsequent year of study in line with any such changes. Note that any increase is expected to be in line with inflation.

If you choose to study this course with a professional placement, the University will charge the tuition fees stated above for those on a placement during Academic Year 2027/28. The University will review professional placement tuition fees each year. For UK (home) students, the University may increase fees for each subsequent year of study, but such that it will be no more than 5% above inflation.

For international students, we may increase fees each year, but such increases will be no more than 5% above inflation. If you defer your course start date or have to extend your studies beyond the normal duration of the course (e.g. to repeat a year or resit examinations) the University reserves the right to charge you fees at a higher rate and/or in accordance with any legislative changes during the additional period of study.

We offer a range of International scholarships to students all over the world. For more information, visit our International Scholarships page.

Tuition fees cover the cost of your teaching, assessments, facilities and support services. There may be additional costs not covered by this fee such as accommodation and living costs, recommended reading books, stationery, printing and re-assessments should you need them. Find out what's included in your tuition costs.

The following are additional costs not included in the tuition fees:

  • Any optional overseas field trips or visits: £400+ per trip.
  • Any costs associated with securing, attending or completing a placement (whether in the UK or abroad).

Other additional costs

  • Any optional specialist supplies, such as materials, or equipment not supplied by the course.

*Irish student fees

The rights of Irish residents to study in the UK are preserved under the Common Travel Area arrangement. If you are an Irish student and meet the residency criteria, you can study in England, pay the same level of tuition fees as English students and utilise the Tuition Fee Loan.

**EU Support Bursary

Following the UK's exit from the European Union, we are offering financial support to all eligible EU students who wish to study an undergraduate or a postgraduate degree with us full-time. This bursary will be used to offset the cost of your tuition fees to bring them in line with that of UK students. Students studying a degree with a foundation year with us are not eligible for the bursary.


Facilities

The Delia Derbyshire building lies at the heart of our Coventry city campus. This multi-million pound investment in the arts is home to the Schools of Art and Design, Media and Performing Arts, Humanities, and Psychological, Social and Behavioural Sciences. First opened to students in 2023, the spaces enable you to mix with like-minded students, getting hands-on with cross-disciplinary projects or immersing yourself in the studios with cutting-edge virtual reality and mixed-reality technologies. Our aim is to bring you sector-leading facilities helping you explore your way to your future career4.

Our digital and industrial workshops are of industry-standard quality and house 3D rapid prototyping, laser cutters and milling machines. These facilities are available to all students on our courses at no extra cost.

Facilities are subject to availability. Access to some facilities (including some teaching and learning spaces) may vary from those advertised and/or may have reduced availability or restrictions where the university is following public authority guidance, decisions or orders.

Student in fashion studio, working with fabric.

Fashion studios

You will have access all kinds of industry-grade equipment for a range of textiles: from laser cutting, digital embroidery, sonic wielding and screen printing, to manufacturing tools for accessories, embroidery and garments.

Student with model of car.

Digital Design Workshop

Realise digital designs by using our range of milling machines, rapid prototyping and laser cutting machines.

Delia Derbyshire building

Delia Derbyshire Building

The Delia Derbyshire complex offers more space to learn, design and make, including a hyper-studio for students across all disciplines to collaborate on projects together, a gallery space and an events atrium.


Careers and opportunities

Employability and graduate skills are of paramount importance throughout the industry focused course. The course has been developed with graduate goals and destinations in mind, beyond undergraduate academic success; therefore, modules at all levels are written to ensure students are graduate, and industry ready.

The course has been developed by staff with substantial industry experience and connections, which helps to ensure the content remains up to date and relevant to the needs of the changing (and ever widening) fashion industry (staff is subject to change).

At level 5, your Marketing Futures module directly prepares you to apply for industry placements of interest2, and to prepare for post second-year plans.

The optional sandwich year is a real, focused opportunity to gain industry experience and helps refine your graduate goals and ensure a clear direction for your return to studies2.

At level 6, through the Disruptive Futures module you’ll realise an industry facing promotional package demonstrating your employability.

The suite of Fashion courses at Coventry University are geographically located in the golden fashion triangle of the UK. Home to the design hubs of the giant fashion retailers including, George, Next, Sainsbury’s TU, Morrisons Nutmeg, Murray and a plethora of independent fashion brands including Bottle Blonde, Alien Cow, Rosie Billington, Lumpy Coffee (all Coventry University Fashion graduate start-ups) this course is well placed to offer students and graduates accessible and regional industry experiences, as well as international opportunities2.

Where our graduates work

Previous alumni from our suite of fashion courses have undertaken placements at companies including Francesca Casrellano, MR MARVIS, Ralph Lauren, Common Objective, BStyle Studio, Adidas, Karl Lagerfeld, Sainsbury’s TU, The Future Laboratory, Calvin Klein, POP Magazine, Vogue, Iris Van Herpen, WGSN and Bottle Blonde.

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