Fashion Communication with Business Studies BA(Hons)

International requirements and visas

We can help you meet our English language or academic entry requirements.

Visas and immigration advice

Portfolio advice 

Online portfolio

Once you have applied, we'll ask you for a digital portfolio (Tumblr, Flickr or any other type of folders via link) consisting of 15–20 images containing:

• drawing ability and experimentation
• conceptual ideas
• two or three sketchbook pages
• ideas related to fashion
• 2D or 3D experimentation ideas or tests.

In usual circumstances you would have the opportunity to bring a physical portfolio to interview. As we are focusing on online portfolios this year, you may wish to use our guidance for physical portfolios as inspiration on what to include:

• evidence of an awareness of concept, image, illustration, film
• evidence of use of drawing to record and develop ideas
• experimental approaches to investigation and discovery of materials/processes
• ability to carry an idea forward from concept
• potential to experiment and explore ideas, techniques
• examples of life drawing
• 2D visual evidence of development
• two working sketchbooks, source ideas, experimentation.

We also expect applicants to demonstrate an awareness of fashion and fashion communication within a wider context, eg fashion trends, artistic, cultural and social movements.

Find out more about how to create and submit your portfolio.

Year 1

Modules

• Study Skills in the Creative Industries

  This module is an introduction to study skills in HE practice-based courses at undergraduate level. You will be introduced to fashion communication through object and image analysis and to skills ranging from research to presentation.

• Introduction to Fashion Photography and Styling

  This module introduces you to fashion styling and photography through the exploration of subcultures and tribes. The module will equip you to experiment and test ideas in fashion photography and fashion styling.

  By looking at key stylists and photographers from recent history you will explore issues in identity, political and social change.

  You will be introduced to the photographic studios, the camera and to key principles of styling, to the roles of the fashion photographer and the fashion stylist.

• Introduction to Fashion Illustration and Imaging

  This module introduces you to fashion illustration and imaging, and visual research and processes from the hand-drawn sketch to the digital image.

  It equips you to experiment and test ideas in fashion drawing, visual research and processes and explores fashion and identity through outputs such as magazines, fanzines and interactive imaging.

• Introduction to Visual Promotion

  This module introduces you to the subject of visual promotion through the exploration of social and cultural capital. You will be introduced to the value of fashion trends, fashion forecasting and its influences on fashion brands.

  The module explores the impact of new and emergent technologies and their impact upon visual promotion and how these can be utilised as fashion communicators. Lectures on fashion trends and forecasting, emergent technologies, workshops, tutorials and learning to promote your ideas.

• Market Research and Business in the Creative Industries

  This module introduces you to and equips you with a range of transferable skills, qualities and attitudes that will prepare you for professional career paths in the creative industries. Through investigation and critical reflection, you will have the opportunity to develop your knowledge and appreciation of the scale and scope of the creative industries and begin to locate yourself, your interests and your practice within a vocational context.

• Design and Culture Under Scrutiny

  This module introduces key debates relevant to the analysis of the past and present in fashion, textiles and fashion communication. Through lectures, seminars and exhibition visits, you will be introduced to, and engage with, critical ideas and academic approaches relevant to your field of study.

  The module is designed to support studio work through the development of critical thinking and formal written skills.

Making sure that what you learn with us is relevant, up to date and what employers are looking for is our priority, so courses are reviewed and enhanced on an ongoing basis. When you have applied to us, you’ll be told about any new developments through Student View.

Rowena explains how important the facilities and work placements were and her ambitions after graduating.

Year 2

In year 2 you will specialise in one of three areas.

• Fashion photography and styling
• Fashion imaging, film and interaction
• Visual promotion

You will also choose whether to undertake a third year placement or progress straight to your final year.

Modules

• Editorial Brief

  You will work as part of a team in this module to create a magazine exploring and introducing new ideas to fashion editorial. The module focuses on developing techniques within photography, styling, visual promotion or fashion imaging, and will enable you to create industry-focused work that explores contemporary methods and roles within fashion communication.

• Preparing for and Engaging with Business

  This module will teach you the skills required for a variety of business contexts in the creative industries. Working towards developing an effective business strategy, you will develop an understanding of contemporary business models, with a focus on sustainability and ethical practice. During the module, you will investigate different pricing and supply chain models as part of a proposal tailored to a specific brand.

• Pathway Projects

  Focusing on research and studio practice, this module will enable you to bring your creative concepts to life within your chosen specialism of fashion communication. You will develop narrative techniques in photography and styling; explore space by curating and creating content within the specialism of fashion imaging; or look at PR and building campaigns within the visual promotion arena.

• The Clothes and Fabrics of Society

  In this module you will continue the theoretical and historical studies and research skills programme started in year 1. It pulls together broad and specific historical and contemporary issues related to the global worlds of fashion and textiles design, making, retailing and consumption. The module is designed to demonstrate the value of uniting the study of design sources, studio practice, critical theory and the development of written skills.

• Creative Collaboration in the Fashion Industry

  In this module you will work within a student design team to give you a collaborative experience which reflects real world industry practice and help you understand how your work fits into the broader fashion industry. The module focuses on developing the teamwork skills needed in a professional setting while also improving your technical and creative abilities.

For a year 2 group project, students produce magazines over three months, each taking an individual role such as photographer, stylist, designer, art director or writer. The Brighton shop Magazine then gives the publications a pop-up window display for a weekend, with students keeping the profits.

Placement year

After your second year will have the opportunity to complete a year in industry with a dedicated placement team to support you in your research, preparation and application for placements, and while on placement.

This process begins in the second year when you will complete a compulsory professional practice module which will support you to develop skills and promotional material to make applications for placements.

The placement year in industry is academically assessed and your degree award will reflect your industry experience. The placement is for a minimum of 20 weeks.

You may find placements across the following a broad range of areas including: fashion forecasting, fashion photography and styling, features editing, picture editing, fashion buying, fashion PR, fashion event planning, fashion merchandising and visual merchandising.

Taking a placement enables you to:

• apply your learning to real life situations and challenges
• get an insight in to how businesses and organisations function
• develop existing skills and discover new ones
• explore career options
• make professional contacts
• build confidence and organisational skills.

Many students find that the placement informs as well as enhances their employment after graduating.

Our students have completed placements at organisations including: Dazed & Confused, Harper's Bazaar, The Vampire's Wife, Selfridges, Moseley Road and Big Sky Studios.

Read what University of Brighton fashion and textiles students had to say about their placements.

Samruddhi Karandikar’s turned her placement in logistics and operations at Italian luxury brand Max Mara in London into a full-time job on graduation.

Final year

In your final year you will choose and research an area of study, and then develop this study into your final project. You will also complete a business plan. 

You will also be part of a final exhibition where industry contacts are invited to see your work.

Modules

• Fashion Communication Research, Investigation and Proposal

  This module encourages you to focus on your creative goals in fashion communication. You will research, develop, test and contextualise a concept for your final portfolio and major project. This will take the form of interrelated visual and material-based research, market research, costings and contextual critical, cultural or historical research. The module is self-directed, but you will be supported with academic, technical and specialist guidance.

• Design Management and Business Plan

  In this module you will write and present a three-year business plan, strategic marketing plan or social media campaign to help you develop new skills in relation to your degree and career goals. The project requires you to research and evaluate the management of your future practice and is intended to be an important part of your professional portfolio, helping you to assess work options and enhance your employability.

• Historical and Critical Studies Research Project

  During this module you will undertake a self-initiated, independent written research project (maximum 3,500 words) related to your area of practice. The module will help you consolidate your research methods, demonstrate critical thinking, and define, organise, analyse and integrate theoretical and visual study drawn from contemporary and/or historical evidence. During the module, you will be guided by regular supervision sessions with a specialist tutor.

• Fashion Communication Portfolio

  You will create a self-initiated and self-directed portfolio of your work during this module, which marks the culmination of your studies. You will be challenged to produce professional, industry-ready portfolios in both analogue and digital formats. The project and outcomes should be informed and underpinned by extensive experimentation and consolidated research. You will be supported throughout by academic and technical teams.

• Fashion Communication Final Major Project

  This module marks the culmination of your studies and as such is self-initiated and self-directed; however, you will be supported throughout by academic and technical teams. You will develop and complete a final major project within your specialism, with the result being suitable for exhibition in a public arena. Your project and outcomes should be based on thorough experimentation and solid research.

Start of Spring by Feiyi Hung, winner of the 2019 Photography Award at Graduate Fashion Week.

Facilities

• Media Centre, including specialist equipment including materials for sound, film and photography available for short term loan, computer rooms with contemporary software for digital image processing and manipulation, graphic layout and typography, animation, film and sound production and editing.
• Access to Mac suites, Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Premiere.
• Photographic Services Unit including well-equipped dark room, studio and camera loan facilities.
• Students also have access to the TECH HUB – a team of technical demonstrators based in Grand Parade who provide specialist creative software support including Adobe CC (Photoshop, Illustrator, Premiere, After Effects etc), Rhino, Blender and C4D, as well as web and blog-related software. They manage digital manufacturing services within the School of Art and Media, including laser cutting, 3D printing, CNC routing, plasma cutting and 3-axis CNC milling. They also have VR headsets and 3D scanners. The TECH HUB has its own dedicated PC suite with all of the software they support as well as standard university programmes.
• Department print bureau.
• One of the country's best-stocked specialist art and design libraries.
• Internationally important Design Archives.
• On-site supplies shop.

Click image above to take a virtual tour of our facilities.

Meet the team

Rachael Taylor, course leader
Rachael is a fashion artist whose work looks into practical and interventional experiences that engage a wider audience in the fashion and socio-economic debates. Her recent work explores the value systems between wellness and fashion consumption.

Other staff on the course include:

• Mark Wells - senior lecturer and a practising interaction designer. His research interests explore the intersectionality of the digital and analogue spaces.
• Chris Arran – fashion Imaging, illustration and graphic design, specialising in multimedia illustration
• Eloise Calandre – photography and moving image, with specialist knowledge in contemporary digital practice
• Emma Collins – visual promotion, specialising in social media and maker spaces
• Jules Findley – specialising in fashion communication, fashion illustration, postproduction in film, fashion imaging, catwalk photography, embodied materiality and material knowledge.
• Chris Hagan – technical demonstrator
• Daniela Hatfield – visual promotion, specialising in trend forecasting and project development

Summer shows 2024

Course fees

If you choose to take the professional placement (sandwich) year offered on this course you will pay a reduced fee during this year. Our fee for the professional placement year is £1,500 for UK students and £1,850 for international students. This fee may be subject to small increases, in line with inflation.

The fees listed here are for the first year of full-time study if you start your course in the academic year 2025–26.

You will pay fees for each year of your course. Some fees may increase each year.

UK undergraduate and some postgraduate fees are regulated by the UK government and increases will not be more than the maximum amount allowed. Course fees that are not regulated may increase each year by up to 5% or RPI (whichever is higher).

If you are studying part-time your fee will usually be calculated based on the number of modules that you take.

Find out more

• Brighton Boost – cost of living help for our new undergrad students. Find out about how we can help with your study, accommodation or travel costs and more...
• Fees, bursaries, scholarships and government funding info for UK and international undergraduate students
• Student finance and budgeting while studying
• Read our student contract and tuition fee policy (pdf) for more on University of Brighton tuition fees.

Campus where this course is taught

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