The BA (Hons) Fashion Buying and Brand Management degree at Cardiff Met is designed for students wishing to develop a career within the buying, trend forecasting, merchandising and brand management functions of the dynamic fashion industry. The degree combines the specialisms of Cardiff School of Management, with the creative elements of a fashion programme.
The degree has been developed in conjunction with the
Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) to ensure that teaching content is in line with industry expectations. The course has been awarded the
CIM Graduate Gateway status this accreditation provides our students with an opportunity to gain exemption from both the CIM Certificate in Professional Marketing and Diploma in Professional Marketing Qualifications. All of our fashion business courses have a renowned reputation for their vocational orientation meaning you will gain the academic knowledge and practical skills needed to succeed in a branding and/or buying career.
The degree has been designed to enable students to develop the skills and ability to think creatively and strategically focusing on essential topic areas such as market research, trend forecasting, product development, garment sourcing, finance, account management, brand development and supply chain management. There is also a strong focus on innovation and future issues facing the global fashion industry.
This course offers an emphasis on the professional management of brands at all levels, from value fashion, independent labels to sustainable brands and international luxury brands, along with creation of brands in a global fashion marketplace. Creativity is a highly valued attribute in the fashion industry and assignments are designed to develop ideas, encourage risk taking and support the creation of memorable branding materials and range plans. Having a strong brand is invaluable in the modern fashion market as it guides customers understanding of the business and provides a point of authenticity and personality. A key focus will be on developing communication, presentation and problem solving skills along with creative management tools.
Course information on this page relates to 2022 entry.
The student-centred approach to learning and teaching will be encouraged through the use of specific teaching strategies, case studies, projects, tutorials, practical exercises, supplemented by the use of appropriate support materials, lectures from business experts, videos and computer software. Active engagement with the subject material enhances learning and many of the learning strategies used promote this.
Lectures
Lectures are a major part of the teaching strategy for the programme. Lectures are an effective way of delivering core material and establishing a framework for a module against which other material can be set.
Modular Subject Tutorials
Tutorials are meetings of a student or group of students with a lecturer or lecturers and are used in two ways within the programme:
- Expanding upon material covered in lectures through an enquiry-driven problem solving approach
- Remedial work to overcome any deficiencies in a students background knowledge.
Seminars
Seminars involve a student or students presenting previously prepared work to peers and a lecturer. This strategy is used to extend specific theoretical or practical concepts as well as introducing problem solving exercises. Seminars are used in most modules and provide students with valuable experience in presentational skills as well as providing staff with a method or assessing student-centred learning.
Practical Workshops
Practical workshops are used extensively in a number of modules throughout the programme. In these classes students are able to practise and refine their skills in a supportive environment where they can get feedback from a member of academic staff. Practical workshops represent a valuable transition between theory and practice.
Case Studies
Case studies are a teaching and learning strategy, which are employed in a range of modules; they also are a useful assessment tool. Students are presented with or asked to develop real or simulated complex problems which they are required to analyse in detail and then synthesise/present their own solution in writing or orally.
Business Experts
A key component of the learning experience is the intention to invite business experts, academic and in practice, to provide insights into their research work or business activity. A network of such experts will help provide specialist knowledge as well as bolster and promote the credentials of the programme. Such experts might be invited as guest speakers or requested to provide a more interactive workshop experience where appropriate.
All students will benefit from the team of dedicated personal tutors who provide a point of personal and regular contact. The Personal Tutors work closely with the Programme Directors and Year Tutors to ensure that the needs of students are effectively met and that their time at Cardiff Metropolitan University is both a pleasant and successful experience.
In addition to the Personal Tutors, the individual course specific academic support and guidance is provided by the Programme Director and the respective Year Tutor. This is particularly important in relation to both the choice of options which are available at year two and three and the selection of pathways.