- 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:
The In-Store Environment
| Unit code | MATS22202 |
|---|---|
| Credit rating | 10 |
| Unit level | Level 5 |
| Teaching period(s) | Semester 2 |
| Available as a free choice unit? | No |
Overview
While there has been, and continues to be, much emphasis on digital, multi and omni-channel as places and spaces for retailer ; consumer interaction, the physical store remains the primary locus wherein trading takes place.
Aims
The unit aims to:
Analyse the processes involved in, and the factors influencing the design of, in-store retail/service environments.
Apply the principles of retail atmospherics and visual merchandising to evaluate the sensory and psychological effects of store environments on the retail consumer.
Appreciate the processes involved in the management of retail space: including layout planning, space allocation etc.
Analyse the concept of experiential retailing, and its application, both in general and more specific contexts (for example, in relation to flagship retailing, pop-up retailing etc.).
Learning outcomes
A greater depth of the learning outcomes will be 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 blended learning and teaching approaches including: video lectures ,deferred and live discussion forums and independent study. Blackboard will be used to host the teaching materials and as a locus for learning. Blackboard will be utilised for assessment submission.
This unit requires you to undertake activities in preparation of the learning. These activities include prior reading and reflective thinking. You will not be able to participate effectively in the discussions if you do not complete the task. Please check the task requirement of the seminars prior to attending.
Knowledge and understanding
- Outline the key principles of store design and experience delivery design in the context of retail fashion environments
- Effectively use the principles of store design to critique a contemporary retail fashion store
- Analyse consistency across fashion retail channels
Contributing to developing the programme learning outcome and the assessment of:
- Articulate the processes, procedures and practices of fashion retail, marketing, management and buying and merchandising strategies.
- Develop a critical understanding of fashion retail channels to market focusing on the evolution of retail from traditional ‘bricks and mortar’ stores through to the contemporary omni-channel strategy. (Fashion Retail)
- Evaluate the retail environment and retail innovations used to improve the customer experience in stores, online and in mobile technology. (Fashion Retail)
Intellectual skills
- Review the literature on the different aspects of store atmospherics and design with respect to rational, role and management of the designed environment
Contributing to developing the programme learning outcome and the assessment of:
- Identify and conceptualise appropriate theories, applying them to the fashion and textile industry.
Practical skills
- Utilise on- and off-line resources to source information relating to in-store environments in a contemporary retail context
Contributing to developing the programme learning outcomes and assessment of:
- Identify and employ appropriate sources of information.
Transferable skills and personal qualities
- Synthesise and organise material and data from a variety of sources into a cohesive presentation
Contributing to developing the programme learning outcome.
- Clear and effective communication, using a range of styles and employing various media appropriate to the context
- An ability to apply creative and visual sensibilities in a commercial context
Assessment methods
| Method | Weight |
|---|---|
| Written assignment (inc essay) | 100% |
Feedback methods
Written and verbal
Recommended reading
Please note, there is no single recommended text. Directed reading may be provided as part of the seminar activities, if so, you should read the article(s) PRIOR to attending the seminar. Additional reading is also provided via Blackboard.
Books
- Barrenche, R. (2005) New retail. London Phaidon.
- Beekmans, J. and de Boer. J. (2014). Pop-Up City: City-Making in a Fluid World. Amsterdam: BIS Publishers.
- Berman, B. and Evans, J., R. (2009) Retail management: A strategic approach. 11th edn. Upper Saddle River, N.J./ Harlow: Pearson Education.
- Colemen, P. (2006) Shopping environments: Evolution, planning and design. Oxford: Architectural Press/Elsevier
- Kent, T. (2009). Concepts of flagships. In T. Kent & R. Brown (eds.), Flagship marketing: concepts and places. London: Routledge. pp. 8–19.
- Kim, Y-K., Sullivan, P., & Forney, J. C. (2007). Experiential retailing: Concepts and strategies that sell. New York: Fairchild.
- Holloman, C. (2012) The social media MBA: Your competitive edge in social media strategy development & delivery.
- UK: John Wiley & Sons Ltd.McGoldrick, P. (2002), Retail marketing, McGraw-Hill, Maidenhead.
Study hours
| Scheduled activity hours | |
|---|---|
| Lectures | 12 |
| Independent study hours | |
|---|---|
| Independent study | 88 |
Teaching staff
| Staff member | Role |
|---|---|
| Rachel Parker-Strak | Unit coordinator |