Design Management for Fashion Retailing: The University of Manchester

Course description

With design now playing an increasingly important part in the lifestyles of consumers, there is a growing demand within retailing organisations for professionals who can combine an awareness of design and fashion with the necessary retail and management skills. To meet this demand, the Design Management for Fashion Retailing degree course was created to provide a broad education in the theory, practice and application of design management within the retail environment.

This multi-disciplinary programme allows creative individuals to develop expertise in ICT and CAD alongside a sound knowledge base in retailing, design communication, fashion management, buyer behaviour, product performance, trend forecasting and supply chain management. The programme is taught via studio-based projects, tutorials and lectures with problem-based learning forming an important element throughout the programme. Creative computer-based design projects are an integral part of every year and a major design/retail research project is undertaken in the final year.

Career opportunities

Employers are looking for design professionals with retail knowledge. Graduates from this programme go into various retail sectors of the fashion and textile industries as design or retail managers, buyers, stylists and merchandisers. Recent graduates have been employed by Arcadia, Debenhams, Marks and Spencer, Matalan, Next and House of Fraser.

Entry requirements

• English language:
  • Grade C or above in GCSE English language.
  • Grade C or above in Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency.
  • IELTS average score of 6 with not less than 5.5 in any one component.
  • Test of English as a Foreign language (TOEFL) minimum score of 550 (paper based); 213 (computer based) or 80 (internet-based).
• A level: Grades ABB in any combination of subjects.
• Unit grade information: The University of Manchester welcomes the provision of unit grade information which, like all other available information, will inform the consideration of applications.
• GCSE: Minimum grade C in English Language, Dual Science, Mathematics.
• Key Skills qualification: The University warmly welcomes applications from students studying the Key Skills qualification.
• International Baccalaureate: 33 to 34 points overall with three subjects at Higher level.