BA (Hons) Fashion Buying and Brand Management with Integrated Foundation Year

During Year 1 you will focus on:

• Basics of fashion promotion, buying, and brand communications
• Conceptualisation and direction in fashion design
• Fashion illustration and life drawing techniques
• 3D draping and garment construction on the stand
• Techniques in fabric manipulation and digital printing
• Fashion styling and photography
• Brand identity management and creative leadership
• Prototyping, atelier practices, and digital tool usage
• Understanding industry trends and audience expectations

During Year 2, 3 and 4 of the course you will explore:

• Trend forecasting
• Consumer profiling
• Identification
• Market research
• Fashion buying and product development
• Merchandising
• Visual merchandising
• Manufacturing and sustainability
• Business planning
• Brand management
• Marketing.

You will begin developing the core skills needed for a future in fashion. The Integrated Foundation Year is designed to maximise Level 4 readiness.

Modules may include*:

• Academic Development - Critical Thinking and Research
• Academic Development - Writing and Communication
• Introduction to Business Management
• Developing Professional Skills
• Marketing Fundamentals
• Business Management Foundation Project.

*Subject to revalidation.

Students will explore and gain insight into target audience behaviour, psychographic profiling and data analysis in order to understand what makes people buy.

You will engage in masterclasses in trend prediction, buying cycles, range planning, sales performance, product development, fabric identification and testing, 3D digital textile manipulation, the supply chain and the importance of circularity.

Modules may include*:

• Industry Introduction
• Trend Forecasting
• Buying & Product Development
• Brand Management & Marketing
• Professional Life Practice- Developing your Practice
• Professional Life Practice- Exploring your Practice.

*Subject to change.

Students will gain a greater understanding of managing their personal brand and will work in creative collaboration with industry partners and students from other disciplines.

Every student will be given the opportunity to find their own work-based learning opportunity within industry to develop their employability skills.

Modules may include*:

• Sustainability & Sourcing
• Innovation & Collaboration
• Merchandising & Visual Merchandising: The Brand Experience
• Professional Life Practice - Applying your Practice
• Work-Based Learning.

*Subject to change.

We ask students to show their contextual studies research in a written or visual dissertation.

They will further build on their skills in consumer research and trend prediction to make the case for a gap in the market to launch a new brand.

They will also write a market research report, create a brand proposal, range plan, tech packs and produce a range of creative outcomes.

Modules may include*:

• Final Major Project Research
• Final Major Project Launch
• Professional Life Practice- Situating your Practice
• Career Pack.

*Subject to change.

At Ravensbourne we accept a wide range of qualifications for entry onto our courses, whilst also considering the context in which they were achieved. For this course, we would usually require a GCSE Grade 4 or above in English and Maths in addition to any of the below;

• Two A Levels at grade DD or above
• BTEC Extended Diploma at grade PPP
• UAL Level 3 Extended Diploma
• T Level (pass or above)
• Access to Higher Education Diploma
• International Baccalaureate at grade 24 or above
• Other/Mixed qualifications equivalent to 48 UCAS Tariff points

There are no interview or portfolio requirements for this course.

UK students

Simply select your chosen start date using the 'Apply now' dropdown at the top of this page, and you will be directed to the appropriate course page on the UCAS website. The UCAS code for this course is located in the course overview bar at the top of this page. 

The UCAS website will guide you through the simple application process. You can also apply through your school or college using the UCAS system.

Learn more: how to apply for an undergraduate degree course

The entry requirements for this course can be found in the relevant section above.

International students

International students can apply directly via our Online Applicant Portal. Please see bespoke advice for international students in the dedicated section below. 

For information on study routes, visa requirements, studying in England, language and entry requirements, application requirements and access to international agents, please visit our international section.

Quick links:

• How to apply
• International Education Agents
• Visas and immigration
• Student visa CAS deposit refund
• International student FAQs

Graduates can find work in roles such as:

• Fashion buyer
• Merchandising
• Brand Manager
• Trend Forecasting
• Digital Communications
• E-commerce Manager
• Sustainability and Sourcing
• Marketing Manager
• Entrepreneur/Business Owner.

Our students benefit from ongoing industry engagement through our partnership with leading fashion retailer NEXT. In 2025 , for the second year running, third-year students took part in an Early Careers Day at the clothing company's head office in Leicester, gaining first-hand insight into fashion buying, merchandising and large-scale retail operations. They also engaged with a live project to develop strategic presentations for SEASONS, as a means to ensure that they gained relevant industry experience, as well as a solid foundation of the fashion sector upon graduation.

Past graduates have found roles as buyers, administration assistants, merchandising administration assistants, and visual merchandisers in well-known companies like Net-A-Porter, Harvey Nichols, Liberty, Urban Outfitters, Mackintosh, ASOS, River Island, and Kurt Geiger.

Find out more about our tuition fees and whether you qualify for financial support during your studies. 

Key links:

• Undergraduate fees and funding
• Paying your fees
• Scholarships, bursaries and other discounts
• Student finance

If you have any questions, we'd love to hear from you. 

Get in touch with a member of our admissions team:

T: +44 (0) 20 3040 3998

E: [email protected]

If you have specific queries about being an international student, contact [email protected]

For general information, call +44 (0) 20 3040 3500

You can also chat to our students