International Fashion Business BA (Hons) 2021/22 entry

International Fashion Business BA (Hons)

2021/22 Entry

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Course code:

W23B

Study options:

3 years full-time
4 years full-time with study abroad / professional placement

Location:

Coventry University

Starting:

September 2021

Fees:

£9,250

Find out more

Faculty:

Faculty of Arts and Humanities

Get in touch

For questions regarding study and admissions please contact us:

+44 (0) 24 7765 2222
ukadmissions@coventry.ac.uk

Course code:

AHU078

Study options:

3 years full-time
4 years full-time with study abroad / professional placement

Location:

Coventry University

Starting:

September 2021

Fees:

£17,700

Find out more

Faculty:

Faculty of Arts and Humanities

Get in touch

For questions regarding study and admissions please contact us:

+44 (0) 24 7765 2222
ukadmissions@coventry.ac.uk

Overview

Buying, Merchandising, Sustainability: the fashion world is more than just designing. An International Fashion Business BA will show you behind the scenes and give you the opportunity to develop the skills you need to set the trends and future proof the world of Fashion Design!

Take our virtual tour

The BA (Hons) International Fashion Business course is designed to give you an opportunity to study international fashion business in a creative environment to students with a range of ambitions and interests in the world of fashion. Graduates of fashion business drive the brand, sales and delivery of high-end designers to multi-million pound high street chains. You will explore driving topics in retail from online to boutique, ethical and green issues and work with Designers to deliver in the fast-paced world of retail.

A unique aspect of this new course is that it will be delivered at Coventry University in Coventrys city-centre for the first two years and at Coventry Universitys London campus for the final year. This will provide you with an opportunity to study for two years in Coventry alongside the BA (Hons) Fashion students on a range of joint projects such as The Clothes Show Live and ReFreshed UnLtd, which offer opportunities for you to be involved in marketing and PR for 'live events and real clients, before moving to London to study for your final year.

Why Coventry University?

An award-winning university, we are committed to providing our students with the best possible experience. We continue to invest in both our facilities and our innovative approach to education. Our students benefit from industry-relevant teaching, and resources and support designed to help them succeed. These range from our modern library and computing facilities to dedicated careers advice and our impressive Students’ Union activities.

COVID-19

The University may deliver certain contact hours and assessments via emerging online technologies and methods across all courses. In response to the Covid-19 pandemic, we are prepared for courses due to start in or after the 2020/2021 academic year to be delivered in a variety of forms. The form of delivery will be determined in accordance with Government and Public Health guidance. Whether on campus or online, our key priority is staff and student safety.

Due to the ongoing restrictions relating to Covid-19, some facilities (including some teaching and learning spaces) and some non-academic offerings (particularly in relation to international experiences), may vary from those advertised and may have reduced availability or restrictions on their use.

Global ready

An international outlook, with global opportunities

Employability

Career-ready graduates, with the skills to succeed

Teaching Excellence

Taught by lecturers who are experts in their field

Course essentials

A degree which offers you more, at no extra cost

What our students say

I went to Paris last year. It was amazing experience and I have a great memories, especially from Premiere Vision! I appreciate the opportunity to participate in such a great event for the fashion industry.

Kinga, Second year International Fashion Business student

Course information

The BA (Hons) International Fashion Business course is designed to offer you an opportunity to study international fashion business in a creative environment for students, with a range of ambitions and interests in fashion who do not, however, aspire to be fashion designers.

A unique aspect of this new course is that it will be delivered at Coventry University in Coventrys city-centre for the first two years and at Coventry University’s London campus for the final year. This will provide you with an opportunity to study for two years in Coventry alongside the BA (Hons) Fashion students on a range of joint projects such as The Clothes Show Live and ReFreshed UnLtd, which offer opportunities for you to be involved in marketing and PR for ‘live’ events and real clients, before moving to London to study for your final year.

Course specification
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Modules

Overview

In Year 1 you will be introduced to the global fashion industry and work alongside Fashion design students to gain an understanding of how designers work. You will learn about old and new technology in the workplace and have the chance to develop a familiarity with common terminology in the fashion world.

You will be introduced to fashion marketing and will have free full access to Worth Global Style Network (WGSN), the global trend authority for fashion and the creative industries. You can also learn how to develop products for the global consumer. You can gain an insight into how to future-proof fashion business by looking at the environments in which they operate and how this influences decisions organisations make working on location in London to develop your understanding of market levels to enable you to solve problems.

Modules

Into Fashion: Personal Development Planning

This module will provide you with the opportunity to gain professional skills and reflect on their personal, professional and learning development.

You will develop subject-specific skills, as well as professional skills and independent progress during the module. You will be challenged with different tasks and activities to develop your practice and consider links between your experience and what you are learning about the fashion industry.

This module encourages you to become a professional, independent practitioner, and provides the opportunity to work as part of a team. The module focuses on the completion of an internship with a final-year student, working on an event and recording and analysing the experience in the format of an illustrated, written journal.
Introduction to the Global Fashion Industry

This module will introduce you to a range of subject matter around the nature of the fashion industry and its international structure, informing your global future as the next generation of fashion-business leaders.

You will be introduced to traditional models of the organisation and calendar of the fashion industry, from sourcing, product development and manufacturing, through to retail with the aim of building your contextual knowledge of the fashion industry as it developed in the twentieth century. Moving forward into the twenty-first century, fashion has become a truly global industry in which political, social and technological developments are causing the reinvention of traditional business models. Fashion has always been about ‘the new’ and future fashion managers need to be at the forefront of change, provoking and inspiring new business models.

You will be introduced to the roles and responsibilities of the designer, with reference to ethical issues and the global fashion market so that you can connect and collaborate with the designers of the future.
Introduction to Fashion Marketing

This module will introduce you to fashion marketing practices in a globalised and cross-cultural fashion industry. The emphasis is on the user experience, and how businesses adapt and change for future success. You will be introduced to the key principles and theories of marketing such as the marketing mix, segmentation and competitor analysis, and will explore how these are applied in the fashion industry today. The marketplace, whether high-street, luxury, sports or lifestyle, is constantly evolving and demands marketing strategies that engage with the digital human via websites, social media and mobile apps. This module aims to develop your critical and creative practice in the changing, dynamic and increasingly global fashion industry utilising practices such as digital campaigns, guerrilla marketing and social media.

You will be introduced to fashion forecasting and will have free full access to Worth Global Style Network (WGSN), the global trend authority for fashion and the creative industries.
Product Development for the Global Consumer

The aim of this module is to enable you to develop innovative and sustainable fashion products for tomorrow’s global consumer. This involves developing your critical understanding of the current turbulent times, with constantly changing political, economic and social environments and how these impact on consumer behaviours. You will learn how to identify consumer trends in a shifting landscape to satisfy the demands of the consumer of the future.

You will be introduced to the marketplace, developing knowledge of national, local and global demographics and audiences, within the context of different cultures and values. You will reflect on different global needs and practices for the design and development of fashion products and services.
Future Proofing for Fashion Business

This module will introduce you to the external environments in which a fashion organisation operates, and how these influence the decisions fashion organisations make.

The makeup of the fashion industry is complex, with market levels ranging from the independent practitioner to large multinationals operating with a wide global reach as well as different business models ranging from SMEs to large design houses, major international retailers through to national and international wholesalers.

Design and manufacturing make up only a fraction of the functions of a fashion business; critical functions include industry and consumer research, brand licensing and property rights, product development and manufacturing, marketing and distribution.

Organisations are also influenced by the environment in which they operate; changes in the political, economic, social and technological environments can also affect the success of an organisation. For future fashion organisations, having a sound understanding of local, national and international environments is crucial for success. In this module, you will gain an insight into some of the everyday problems that fashion organisations face and the basic economics that can help you solve and these problems and future-proof your business.

Add+vantage

The focus on preparing students for successful futures sets Coventry apart as a university.

The Add+vantage modules teach a range of work experience and extra-curricular activities that are taken each year, and broaden students knowledge and skills within a work focused environment. There is a very wide range of Add+vantage free-choice subject areas, and they are arranged in themes.

Find out more

Overview

In Year 2 you will have the chance to develop your entrepreneurial skills and look at how the very latest innovations can be taken out of laboratories into the hands of consumers. You will be introduced to the global buying cycle, sourcing routes and production management, and the relationship of ethics and sustainability to this, all essential skills for future Fashion business managers. You will undertake ‘live projects’ in London involving networking, digital campaign launches and online marketing strategies.

Modules

Future Fashion: Professional Development Planning

This module builds upon all learning from the first year of the course, including Personal Development Planning. It focuses on planning ahead and considering career and personal ambitions.

You will identify and explore your preferred area of the industry and formulate aims for your own future. You are expected to evidence awareness of steps required to achieve your aims; this should include reference to opportunities offered within the course (including placement, and/or study abroad options) as well as extra-curricular prospects to improve your professional outlook.

The lecture programme is designed to introduce you to practical methods of preparing you for external opportunities, and asking you to prepare proactively for your personal, academic and career aspirations. Lectures introduce you to a variety of external opportunities, and explore ideas around employability, enterprise, social enterprise, volunteering, placements, funding for overseas opportunities, freelancing and live projects.
International Fashion Enterprise

As we enter the Fourth Industrial Revolution, materials science will have the potential to transform the fashion industry, opening up a wide range of new functional and aesthetic possibilities for garments.

Future fashion managers will need to get these innovations out of laboratories and into the hands of consumers. To do this, they will need to collaborate with scientists, manufacturers and designers who understand what the consumer wants and how innovation can deliver it. Innovation in materials is essential as demand for raw materials outstrips natural resources. Cotton has traditionally been promoted as an ethical fibre, yet it is depleting water supplies; leather production is falling with factory farming impacting on the quality of hides.

Consumer demand for more fashion products has impacted on waste: in the US alone, about 15 million tons of textiles is sent to landfill each year. Find out more here.

3D printing, artificial intelligence and advances in biomaterials all have the potential to impact on future fashion business successes.

This module will provide you with an overview of the global marketplace and an insight into how to identify new opportunities within emerging markets in order to develop your entrepreneurial skills. You will look at the challenges to be understood and harnessed by fashion management and marketing professionals in order to exploit the potential of these new markets. The module covers global trend predictions, focusing on ‘innovation rich’ and ‘innovation poor’ definitions in order to identify new markets and trends.
Global Campaign Communication Strategies

In an increasingly digitally sophisticated and digitally demanding society, strategically communicated global campaigns are crucial to successful fashion businesses; future fashion brands increasingly use social media to market their products to consumer groups from Generation Y onwards. Digital marketing spans the globe and tomorrow’s digital brands and entrepreneurs will not be held back by physical location.

This module aims to develop your critical and creative practice in the field of global campaign communication through the integration of theory and practice. You will analyse marketing, advertising and branding campaign case studies, and strategic pre-production promotion in order to engage with ‘live project’ networking, digital campaign launches and online marketing strategies.

You will also research the link between ‘bricks and mortar’ and the online experience, and how to maximise a campaign’s potential to a target audience. You will be involved in project management in order to produce an integrated online and offline launch and will explore apps, social media and software such as Dreamweaver in order to learn to use channels effectively and professionally for promotional purposes. You will be encouraged to take risks and innovate as a core aspect of their practice.

The module also aims to develop your ability to differentiate productively between consumer and business campaign communications. Future business managers will need to be aware of how consumers in different areas of the globe engage with social media. You will review cases of how a successful brand has been damaged in the media or online via ill-judged communications that have caused consumer backlash and will explore the infectious potency of viral social media.
Global Sourcing and Production Management

This module will introduce you to existing models of the international buying cycle, sourcing routes and production management. It considers how these have evolved over the last 20 years in constantly changing political, economic and social environments that have forced companies to shift sourcing and production around the globe in order to remain viable businesses.

This module will explain how the size of the organization – from independent designer, to multi-store chains – impacts upon sourcing options and production management. Sustainability and ethics are growing areas of the industry in their own right, with traceability and transparency of sourcing and manufacturing practices in a digital age impacting on any companies misjudging consumer expectation. You will analyse how innovation and technology are changing traditional views on raw materials in terms of sustainability. You will be challenged to rethink the traditional supply chain, and to address the product lifecycle with the aim of reducing the environmental footprint.

Add+vantage

The focus on preparing students for successful futures sets Coventry apart as a university.

Find out more

Overview

After the second year, the course offers an optional Professional Placement Year or Study Abroad Year.

Students can opt to take a Professional Placement or Study Abroad module which runs for a full academic year between years 2 and 3. Students can progress onto the relevant Professional Placement or Study Abroad module if they successfully complete the first two years of the course (i.e. having accumulated 240 credits). Students confirm they are undertaking this option at the end of their second year, typically in August. They might choose one of:

an Erasmus study placement at an EU university;
a study placement at a university outside the EU;
an Erasmus professional work placement;
an approved professional work placement separately and independently organised that is outside the EU;
an approved professional work placement separately and independently organised within the UK;

Students opting for either the Study Abroad or Professional Placement year above will be registered on one of the specific modules listed below. Such modules are non-credit bearing but will appear on a student’s final academic transcript if completed. No additional tuition fees apply to such modules. If you complete the optional Study Abroad year or Professional Placement year, your degree award title will also provide the additional suffix of “With Professional Enhancement” if you’ve gone on placement and “With International Enhancement” if you’ve gone on a study abroad programme for a year. Students will thus graduate with 360 credits in total, assuming successful completion of their final year.

Please note that the University cannot guarantee any placement and/or study abroad opportunities and that all such opportunities may be subject to additional costs (e.g. travel, accommodation, visas etc.), application, availability and/or meeting any applicable visa requirements. To ensure that you fully understand the requirements in this regard, please contact the International Office for further details if you are an EU or International student.

Modules

Study Abroad Year
Professional Placement Year

Overview

In Year 3 you will be encouraged to develop a personal brand that communicates your style, ethics, skills, potential and personality to take you beyond Graduation into the global Fashion industry. You will work on ‘live projects’ and competitions and will be able to develop personal projects such as a business launch, fashion event or public relations campaign which will enable you to analyse the effectiveness of your leadership, communication and team working skills in preparation for graduation.

Throughout the course you will reflect on your skills and experience to help you successfully achieve your future ambitions.

Modules

Future Fashion Innovators

This double module offers you the opportunity to appraise your individual strengths and abilities in preparation for independent study and graduation. You will be expected to engage with and apply strategic thinking, problem solving, project management and teamwork skills learned in previous modules.

You will be encouraged to build on previous experience and focus on an area of creative business development appropriate to your career intentions and suitable for any future fashion-related employer, business or self-employment practice.
Future Fashion Project

This triple module (60 credits) offers you the opportunity through negotiation with staff and mentors from the fashion industry, where appropriate, to select a suitable format in which to produce a body of work forming the basis of your professional potential.
Marketing Futures

In this module you will consider the concept of Personal Branding and will use skills developed in previous modules to enable you to present yourself to the Fashion Industry as an International Fashion Business Graduate. Self-branding is essential in the digital creative age and you will consider personal branding as a holistic package that represents you as an individual.

Add+vantage

The focus on preparing students for successful futures sets Coventry apart as a university.

Find out more

Module Disclaimer

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.

1st

We have been ranked joint first amongst Modern Universities in England for career prospects - Guardian University Guide 2021

In more detail...

Why choose this course?

The unique aspect of this new course is that it will be delivered both at Coventry University, Coventry and Coventry University London, with the first two years being delivered in Coventry and the final year in London. This provides you with the opportunity to study for the first two years in Coventry alongside the BA (Hons) Fashion students on a range of joint projects offering opportunities for you to be involved in marketing and PR for ‘live’ events and real clients before moving to London to study for your final year.

After the first two years in Coventry (plus in some cases an optional Placement or Study Abroad Year) you will move to London, one of the global Fashion capitals, to study your final year. With part of your coursework linking you again with Coventry Fashion students exhibiting your graduate collections in London, which will offer a multitude of professional level opportunities in marketing, PR and event management.

How you'll be taught

You will be taught using a variety of means including lectures, seminars, discussion groups, project work, workshops, self-directed study, reading, CAD demonstrations and practice, placements and tutorials. Students will also learn through a range of extra-curricular activities such as placements and international study visits.

Digital literacy is developed across most modules, including the use of specialist software such as Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator, Dreamweaver and MockShop.

Meet our staff

Ann Muirhead

Ann Muirhead is the Associate Head of Fashion and Associate Head of Media.

Read full profile

How you'll be assessed

This course will be assessed using a variety of methods which will vary depending upon the module.

The Coventry University Group assessment strategy ensures that our courses are fairly assessed and allows us to monitor student progression towards the achieving the intended learning outcomes. Assessments may include exams, individual assignments or group work elements.

Teaching contact hours

In a typical week students can expect to attend up to 12 hours of lectures, seminars and workshops.

International experience opportunities

The course is designed to enable you to prepare to work in the global fashion industry, in the areas of brand management, design and product development, production, retail, buying and merchandising, online and traditional channels, PR, HR / personnel, finance, general operations and senior management. Alternatively, you may choose to go on to further study and to apply for courses such as the MBA International Fashion Management at Coventry University London.

You will also have the opportunity to undertake a Placement or Study Abroad Year. The ‘with International Experience’ route allows students to spend a year on placement abroad ‘with Professional Experience’ allows students to undertake a placement in the UK or abroad. Students opting to take the International Experience module may undertake: a work placement under the Erasmus work placement scheme or a work placement organised on their own initiative outside the EU.

Global ready

Did you know we help more students travel internationally than any other UK university according to data from the experts in higher education data and analysis, HESA?

In 2018/19, we provided a total of 5,469 experiences abroad that lasted at least five days.

Much of this travel is made possible through our Global Leaders Programme, which enables students to prepare for the challenges of the global employment market, as well as strengthening and developing their broader personal and professional skills.

Explore our international experiences

1st for

international experiences

Sending more students overseas than any other UK uni 2016/17

5,469

Student experiences

The number of student trips abroad for at least 5 days in 2018/19

12,000

and counting

The number of students we’ve helped travel internationally since 2016

global programmes

As well as trips, we offer other opportunities like language courses

What our students say

Since being here, I have developed my communication skills, Adobe skills and my knowledge about fashion and business. My tutor is patient, energetic and gives a lot of useful advice.

Yuji, Second Year Student

Clearing places available on this course

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UCAS Details

Course name: International Fashion Business BA (Hons)

Course code: AHU078

Course location: Coventry University

If you haven't met the entry requirements, you may still be able to progress onto a degree by studying a foundation course.

Explore our foundation courses

What our students say

I enjoy the lectures on my course – I find out lots about the fashion industry. The tutors on my course are always very helpful. The best thing about Coventry University are the opportunities you have while studying such as advantage modules and joining societies.

Hillary Kwarleng, First Year International Fashion Business BA student

Tuition Fees

We pride ourselves on offering competitive tuition fees which we review on an annual basis and offer a wide range of scholarships to support students with their studies. Course fees are calculated on the basis of what it costs to teach each course and we aim for total financial transparency.

For more information, please visit our Finance pages.

Starts

Fee

September 2021

£9,250 (per year)

Scholarships and bursaries

We offer a variety of scholarships and bursaries to students at Coventry University to help fund the cost of your study. Eligibility may depend on your circumstances and academic achievement.

Find out more

Starts

Fee

September 2021

£17,700 (per year)

Scholarships and bursaries

There are a number of scholarships available to international students at Coventry University. EU students may be eligible for a transition bursary.

Find out more

Course essentials at no extra cost

We're committed to communicating study costs clearly to make sure you're not faced with having to make any unexpected payments.

This is why our ‘Flying Start’ package provides you with a few course essentials. Your full-time fee for an undergraduate degree will cover the following:

UK field trips

Any mandatory site visits and trips within the United Kingdom.

Key material

This can include core textbooks, software and equipment.

Laser prints

1,000 A4 sides of black and white laser printing credits per year.

Optional year

Pay no tuition fees for optional work placements or study abroad trips.

Please note that placement opportunities shall be subject to additional costs, application, availability and/or meeting any applicable visa requirements.

EU student fees

EU nationals starting in the 2020/21 academic year remain eligible for the same fees as home students and the same financial support. Financial support comes from Student Finance England, and covers undergraduate and postgraduate study for the duration of their course, providing they meet the residency requirement.

For tuition fee loans

EU nationals starting in the 2020/21 academic year must have resided in the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland for the three years prior to the start of their course. The purpose of that three year residency should not have been mainly for the purpose of receiving full time education.

For maintenance loans

EU nationals starting in the 2020/21 academic year must have resided in the UK and Islands for the five years prior to the start of their course. The purpose of that five year residency should not have been mainly for the purpose of receiving full time education.

Reduced course fees for EU students

The UK Government has confirmed that EU students who are starting their course in September 2021 and onwards will be classified as an international student. To support our EU community who are affected by this change, Coventry University are providing an EU Member State Transition Bursary.

Students ordinarily domiciled in an EU Member State who prior to the 2021/22 academic intake qualified for UK fees (home fee status), are eligible for the EU Member State Transition Bursary. This will bring fee levels for those students across the Group into line with those of UK students for courses starting in the 2021/22 academic year.

Review more details on our EU Member State Transition Award/Bursary page.

What our students say...

I find the hands-on approach at Coventry very helpful as in the future there will be a lot of hands-on projects, just like how the course is taught. My teacher is wonderful and always helps me with all my concerns

Kamolpat, Second year student

Career prospects

Graduate Immigration Route visa

Based on current information from the UK Government, international students whose study extends beyond summer 2021 may be eligible for a visa under the UK Government’s Graduate Immigration Route, which will enable students to stay and work, or look for work, in the UK at any skill level for up to two (2) years. Check the most up to date guidance available to check your eligibility and any updates from the UK Government before making an application or enrolment decision.

The course aims to build and develop relationships with the industry globally to enhance learning and teaching though innovative projects, internships and study abroad year.

As the course title indicates this course will be truly international, offering you opportunities for global experience though International Study Visits, admission to International Trade Fairs, Study Abroad and International Placement opportunities including UK placements for international students, the intention is to recruit a diverse range of students from home and abroad. You will be able to engage with the Global Leaders Programme (GLP). Please note all the above are subject to additional costs, application, meeting applicable visa requirements and availability. Further costs incurred as a result of the professional work placement or study abroad shall be borne by the student.

What our students say

Since being here, I have developed my communication skills, Adobe skills and my knowledge about fashion and business. My tutor in particular is patient, energetic and gives a lot of useful advice.

Yuji Ma, Second year International Fashion Business BA student

Disclaimer

By accepting your offer of a place and enrolling with us, a Student Contract will be formed between you and the university. A copy of the 2021/22 Contract can be found here. The Contract details your rights and the obligations you will be bound by during your time as a student and contains the obligations that the university will owe to you. You should read the Contract before you accept an offer of a place and before you enrol at the university.

The tuition fee for the course that is stated on the course webpage and in the prospectus for the first year of study will apply. We will review our tuition fees each year. For UK and EU students, if Parliament permit an increase in tuition fees, we 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. Following the UK’s exit from the European Union, EU students should be aware that there may be a change to UK laws following the UK’s exit, this may change their student status, their eligibility to study part time, and/or their eligibility for student finance. We will act in accordance with the UK’s laws in force in relation to student tuition fees and finance from time to time.

For International students the tuition fee that is stated on the course webpage and in the prospectus for the first year of study will apply. We will review our tuition fees each year. For international students, we may increase fees for each subsequent year of study but such increases will be no more than 5% above inflation.

International Fashion Business BA (Hons) 2021/22 entry