- 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.
- 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 Project
Unit code | MATS34552 |
---|---|
Credit rating | 40 |
Unit level | Level 6 |
Teaching period(s) | Semester 2 |
Available as a free choice unit? | No |
Overview
There is a state of perpetual change in the fashion and textile industry with each stage in the product development process intrinsically and strategically linked.
Aims
Encourage a number of skills required for a career in the commercial world by consolidating the fashion/textiles, management, marketing, buying and merchandising and retailing studies that the students have undertaken to date at level -4 and -5 and exploring how these have been approached by the fashion/textiles industries:
- Develop an understanding for the importance of design to business competitiveness whilst considering effective practices in industry.
- Draw attention to the importance of the decision-making process for strategic business plans.
- Develop specialist knowledge and understanding in fashion textiles marketing
- Introduce the theoretical concepts relating to fashion marketing communication
- Encourage students to develop a creative appreciation of fashion textiles
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 makes use of a variety of learning and teaching processes including: lectures, problem based learning, practical sessions; case studies, and discussions. Blackboard will be used to present lecture notes and supporting materials for the unit. The lectures with develop the theoretical subject knowledge, whilst the case studies and discussions will evaluate the importance and application of techniques, with practical sessions visualising these findings. Blackboard may also be utilised for assessment using Turnitin.
Knowledge and understanding
|
Contributing to developing A9 programme learning outcome and the assessment of: |
A1. | Systematically describe, analyse and appraise the structure of global fashion, textiles and related industries, with focus on the emerging issues of markets, services, consumer expectations within the macro-environment. |
A5. | Confidently distinguish the key elements of contemporary challenges and issues in fashion and textiles and use these systematically in strategic planning of operational responses. |
A7. | Interpret the language of imagery and symbolic content in fashion consumption, with particular reference to forecasting, branding and product development for the fashion and textile industries. |
A8. | Articulate the processes, procedures and practices of fashion retail, marketing, management and buying and merchandising strategies. |
Intellectual skills
|
Contributing to developing the programme specification learning outcomes and assessment of: |
B1. | Identify and conceptualise appropriate theories, applying them to the fashion and textile industry. |
B2. | Synthesise, assess and evaluate information and data from appropriate sources and use these to make informed, independent judgments and decision making in relation to technical product and/or business contexts. |
B4. | Exercise original thinking and independent learning to design and execute a project to evaluate and analyse a business concept or a technical aspect of garment or textiles products. |
B6. | Undertake the development and execution of a major independent project in an appropriate area. |
Practical skills
|
Contributing to developing C2 and C3 programme learning outcomes and the assessment of: |
C4. | Identify and employ appropriate sources of information. |
C6. | Use practical design communication methods effectively in a fashion and textile context. |
Transferable skills and personal qualities
|
Contributing to developing D1, D2, D4 and D7 programme learning outcomes. |
D3. | Clear and effective communication, using a range of styles and employing various media appropriate to the context. |
D5. | Critical reflection upon own performance and use this to identify areas for personal development as part of a lifelong learning strategy and a foundation for continuing professional development. |
D8. | An ability to apply creative and visual sensibilities in a commercial context. |
Assessment methods
Method | Weight |
---|---|
Project output (not diss/n) | 100% |
Feedback methods
Written and verbal
Recommended reading
Main texts:
- Burke, S., (2011), ‘Fashion Designer: Concept to Collection’, Burke Publishing
- Borja de Mozota, B. (2003) ‘Design Management: Using Design to Build Brand Value and Corporate Innovation’, Allworth Press, New York.
- Brannon, E., (2000) ‘Fashion Forecasting’, Fairchild Publications,Inc.
- Cooper, R & Press, M. (1995) ‘The Design Agenda: A Guide to Successful Design Management’, J Wiley & Sons, Chichester, UK
- Copley,P. (2004) ‘Marketing Communications Management’, Elsevier Butterworth Heinemann, Oxford
- Davis Burns, L. & Bryant, N.O. (2002) ‘The Business of Fashion: Designing, Manufacturing and Marketing’ 2nd edition New York: Fairchild Publications
- Dillion, S. (2012) ‘The Fundamentals of Fashion Management’, AVA academia, AVA publishing SA
- Keiser, S.J. & Garner, M. B., (2008) ‘Beyond Design: The Synergy of Apparel Product Development’ 2nd edition New York: Fairchild Publications
- Trott, P. (1998) ‘Innovation Management and New Product Development’, Financial Times Pitman Publishing, UK
- WGSN - http://www.wgsn.com/ (you should get an automatic log in to WGSN from a computer on campus; off campus you will need to set up a VPN – please contact the helpdesk if you need help with this)
Recommended reading:
- Abbing, Erik Roscam & van Gessel, Christa (2008) ‘Brand Driven Innovation’ Design Management Review; Summer 2008; 19, 3; ABI/INFORM Global
- Bell, J. & Ternus, K. (2006) Silent Selling: Best Practices and Effective Strategies in Visual Merchandising, 3rd ed., Fairchild, New YorkClow, K E and Baack, D (2012) Integrated advertising, promotion and marketing communications. 5th edition Pearson, Harlow.
- Gaskill L. R. (1999) Toward a Model of Retail Product Development: A Case Study Analysis, Clothing and Textiles Research Journal 1992 10: 17 SAGE
- Goworek, H. (2010) ‘An investigation into product development processes for UK fashion retailer: A multiple case study’, Journal of Fashion Marketing and Management Vol. 14 No. 4, 2010 pp. 648-662 q Emerald Group Publishing Limited
- Grose, V. (2012) ‘Concept to Consumer’ AVA Academia, AVA Publishing SA
- Hackley, C. (2005) Advertising and Promotion: Communicating Brands, Sage, London
- Pringle, H. (2004) Celebrity Sells, Wiley, Chichester, UK
- Jackson, T. and Shaw, D. (2009), ‘Mastering Fashion Marketing’, Palgrave Macmillan
- Lea-Greenwood, G. (2007) Fashion Marketing Communications, Blackwell Science, Oxford
- Harrison, S. (2000) Public Relations, Thomson learning, London
- Lea-Greenwood, G. (1993) ‘River Island Clothing Co: A Case Study on Changing an Image’, in International Journal of Retail and Distribution Management, 21 (3)
- Lea-Greenwood, G. (1998) ‘Visual Merchandising: A Neglected Area in UK Fashion Marketing?’, in International Journal of Retail and Distribution Management
- Lea-Greenwood, G. (2000)’ Maine New England at Debenhams: Developing a New Range’, in Contemporary Cases in Retail Operations Management, Macmillan, London
- McColl, J. & Moore C. (2010) An exploration of fashion retailer own brand strategies Journal of Fashion Marketing and Management Vol. 15 No. 1, 2011 pp. 91-107 q Emerald Group Publishing Limited
- Moore, G. (2012) ‘Fashion Promotion: Building a Brand through Marketing and Communication’, AVA Academia, AVA Publishing SA
Study hours
Scheduled activity hours | |
---|---|
Lectures | 40 |
Independent study hours | |
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Independent study | 360 |
Teaching staff
Staff member | Role |
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Rachel Studd | Unit coordinator |