Fashion Buying Management: University of Westminster

Introduction

The BA Honours Fashion Buying Management Degree has been designed to directly meet the needs of the Fashion Retail Industry, and specifically the business of buying. It aims to deliver relevant and current course content blending academic theory, creative skills and industry knowledge with direct business experience.

Devised with the support of leading fashion companies this new award addresses the buying side of the retail industry. The School has an international reputation in the field of retail management and this course sits alongside the established and highly regarded degree in Fashion Merchandise Management. The course aims to produce graduates who have the knowledge and skills necessary for becoming an effective Buying Professional within the Retail Industry.

Course Content

You will undertake a continuous learning curve throughout this four year course building thorough, detailed retail industry product buying knowledge and skills. This core will be further supported, by rigorous academic grounding in strategic business management, and other key elements of the wider business environment. Emphasis is placed on developing creative, technical and interpersonal skills, commercial flair and business acumen.

The additional opportunity to advance language skills throughout is offered to meet the increasing standards of global competition and reflects the global nature of the business environment. The course offers excellence, relevance and employability in the field of Product Buying Management.

Teaching and Assessment

Teaching and Learning is interactive covering the academic, practical and applied elements of the subjects studied. Lectures, seminars and individual tutorials are delivered together with wide ranging offsite visits to the manufacturing and retailing industry. The placement year out in business provides the practical commercial experience that is central to the ethos of the course.

Assessment methods and processes are designed to meet and match the levels of attainment that reflect an honours degree course and the business environment that you will subsequently enter; self-reflection through learning logs, interpersonal skills through presentations, academic skills and business acumen through business reports, creative and technical skills through practical examinations and design projects. Response to student work is a significant aspect of learning and all summative forms of assessment will be accompanied by written feedback conforming to campus guidelines to ensure that you will have the opportunity to apply this critique to your subsequent studies.

Associated Careers

Their impressive employability record and global industry contacts ensure graduate opportunity and success in the fields of buying, product development and retail management. Subsequent roles may encompass the following; Fashion Buyer, PR manager, Trend Forecaster, Retail Manager.

Entry Requirements

• In addition to the standard entry requirements applicants must evidence their creative skills through a portfolio, their literary skills through a research assignment, attend an interview and pass a numeracy test.
• They are asking for a minimum of 5 GCSEs including passes in Maths, English at grade C or above and would also prefer an additional foreign language. A minimum of 3 Cs at A’ level is required. Preference is given to English Literature, Art, Art and Design, Textiles, Psychology, Business Studies, Languages. Foundation/ access courses also favoured. A minimum score of 6.0 is required from the IELTS test or similar English test.
• Candidates are expected to be confident, good communicators who are self-motivated with enthusiasm for retailing and the product.