- UCAS course code
- 6G49
- UCAS institution code
- M20
Bachelor of Science (BSc)
BSc Fashion Buying and Merchandising
Become a successful fashion buyer by combining creativity and trend-spotting with data analysis, business theory and textile science.
Duration: 3 years or 4 years
Year of entry: 2025
UCAS course code: 6G49 / Institution code: M20
- Key features:
Study abroad
Industrial experience
Scholarships available
Field trips
Accredited course
- Typical A-level offer: AAB including specific subjects
- Typical contextual A-level offer: ABB including specific subjects
- Refugee/care-experienced offer: BBB including specific subjects
- Typical International Baccalaureate offer: 35 points overall with 6,6,5 at HL
Fees and funding
Fees
Tuition fees for home students commencing their studies in September 2025 will be £9,535 per annum (subject to Parliamentary approval). Tuition fees for international students will be £38,000 per annum. For general information please see the undergraduate finance pages.
Policy on additional costs
All students should normally be able to complete their programme of study without incurring additional study costs over and above the tuition fee for that programme. Any unavoidable additional compulsory costs totalling more than 1% of the annual home undergraduate fee per annum, regardless of whether the programme in question is undergraduate or postgraduate taught, will be made clear to you at the point of application. Further information can be found in the University's Policy on additional costs incurred by students on undergraduate and postgraduate taught programmes (PDF document, 91KB).
Scholarships/sponsorships
The University of Manchester is committed to attracting and supporting the very best students. We have a focus on nurturing talent and ability and we want to make sure that you have the opportunity to study here, regardless of your financial circumstances. For information about scholarships and bursaries please visit our undergraduate student finance pages and our the Department funding pages .
Course unit details:
Fashion Function and Aesthetics
| Unit code | MATS11502 |
|---|---|
| Credit rating | 20 |
| Unit level | Level 4 |
| Teaching period(s) | Semester 2 |
| Available as a free choice unit? | No |
Overview
In this unit, the student will explore the concept of innovation and be provided with an overview of textile technologies, innovations in their employment, development of new materials and products particularly focusing upon the production of textiles for fashion applications.
Aims
The unit aims to introduce the students to automated and innovative technologies for fashion production, and continuing understanding of manual and semi-automated textiles processes. Technologies within the field of fabric construction (weaving and knitting) fabric enhancement (printing), consideration to aesthetics together with novel and alternative material fabrication and other enhancement processes, such as laser technology; together with an opportunity to develop an understanding of the interface between technologies and design issues within textiles for fashion applications: The practical textile workshops and textile technology demonstrations, together with a series of lectures, seminars, independent study and student led research will introduce the student to the following areas:
- USP
- Fabric/ Technology in fashion
- Concept of function design
- Commercial use of innovation
- Consumer needs
- Creative thinking
- Fabric
Learning outcomes
A greater depth of the learning outcomes are covered in the following sections:
- Knowledge and understanding
- Intellectual skills
- Practical skills
- Transferable skills and personal qualities
Teaching and learning methods
This unit will make use of a variety of learning and teaching processes including: online activities, online workshops and textile process workshops combined with student independent study time,coursework and exam.
Blackboard will be used to present videos, lecture notes, guided reading, articles and other supporting information. Blackboard may also be utilised for assessment using on line quiz and e-learning tools and supportive videos.
These learning environments will develop the theoretical subject knowledge, whilst the workshops will provide opportunity for application of theory, discussions and deeper learning to the unit; evaluating the importance of research, technology, construction and enhancement techniques, material awareness, commercial viability of textiles for fashion, defining a USP through creative thinking and consumer needs.
Knowledge and understanding
- Describe and explain the processes involved in textile production, fabric structures and enhancement, weaving, knitting, print / colouration;
- Discuss the use of textile CAD/CAM and appropriate specialised textile production software in these textile production processes;
- Discuss design processes and concepts, whilst being restricted to the fundamentals of a particular technology for the production of textiles for fashion products;
Intellectual skills
- Outline options for using current existing technologies in generating fashion textile designs / accessories / products;
- Relate the appropriateness of textile materials, structures, enhancement to their applications.
- Retrieve, sift and select information from a variety of sources;
- Explain new approaches to utilising traditional textile production and enhancement fundamentals for textile fashion applications.
Practical skills
- Employ textile technology with regard to the design and production of textile sampling;
- Employ appropriate specialised textile production software in the production and enhancement of textiles
- Identify and employ appropriate sources of information to aid discussions
- Employ a range of visual and practical aids to support communication of knowledge and information
Transferable skills and personal qualities
- Communicate using a new technical language appropriate for the fashion and textile industry;
- Demonstrate an ability to engage in research and analysis to inform project outcomes;
- Demonstrate an ability work independently and team-working skills.
Assessment methods
| Method | Weight |
|---|---|
| Written exam | 30% |
| Report | 70% |
Feedback methods
Feedback given written and oral
Recommended reading
Core Reading:
- Sinclair, R. 2014. Textiles and Fashion: Materials, Processes and Products. Woodhead Publishing Ltd, UK.
Digital Textiles List:
- Holyoke, J, 2013. Digital Jacquard Design. Bloomsbury Academic.
- Doe, Tamasin, 2015. Textile Design in the Digital Age (Print). Goodman-Fiell.
- Amitai, P., and Seymour, S., 2014. Computational Fashion: Topics in Fashion and Wearable Technology. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform.
- Udale, J., 2014. Fashion Knitwear. Laurence King.
Materials List:
- Textiles in Sport, Roshan Shishoo, Cambridge, England : Woodhead Pub. in association with the Textile Institute; Boca Raton, FL : CRC 2005. Online version available at: knovel.com
- Textiles for Sportswear Shishoo, Roshan. (2015). Elsevier. Online version available at: knovel.com
- Sinclair, R., 2014. Textiles and Fashion: Materials, Design and technology. Woodhead Publishing.
Biodegradable and sustainable fibres, R S. Blackburn, Cambridge : Woodhead Publishing Limited 2005
Additional reading:
- SportsTech : revolutionary fabrics, fashion and design,
Study hours
| Scheduled activity hours | |
|---|---|
| Lectures | 24 |
| Independent study hours | |
|---|---|
| Independent study | 176 |
Teaching staff
| Staff member | Role |
|---|---|
| Jane Wood | Unit coordinator |