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Introduction
Why choose this course?
Key features
 We are recognised as one of the country’s most sustainable fashion and textiles schools (Green Gown Awards, 2021) and one of the best fashion schools in the world for 2022 (CEOWORLD, 2022).
 Work on live projects with industry partners to learn from buying, marketing and creative experts. Previous briefs include sustainable projects with Stella McCartney and Ted Baker, and a trend forecasting project with Next.
 Learn how to analyse consumer behaviour in order to develop targeted marketing and promotional campaigns for retailers.
 Enhance your career prospects by choosing a year-long placement. Our students have worked at Next, Urban Outfitters, Mamas & Papas, Joules, Yours Clothing and O’Neill.
 Our graduates have gone onto work at companies including Reiss, Next, Marks & Spencer, River Island and Selfridges, while others have started their own successful companies.
 Develop highly sought after CAD skills in our state-of-the-art labs to enhance your fashion industry prospects.
 Take part in our international experience programme, DMU Global. Students have benefited from trips to Porto, Antwerp, Amsterdam, Hong Kong and New York, meeting key influencers at top fashion brands.
 Utilise an award-winning workshop and design space – the Vijay Patel Building – containing specialist facilities to foster fresh ideas and creativity.
 Benefit from Education 2030, where a simplified ‘block learning’ timetable means you will study one subject at a time and have more time to engage with your learning, receive faster feedback and enjoy a better study-life balance.
Overview
Fashion buying requires both strong commercial understanding as well as theoretical knowledge. After looking at the roles and responsibilities of buyers – from design concept to point of sale – you’ll focus on the business side of fashion, building your knowledge of planning, branding, public relations/communications and social media platforms.
You will study computer-aided design (CAD) to ensure that your design and marketing concepts can be presented and communicated in a professional, and industry-recognised, style. You will also cover report writing, data selection, presentation and critical analysis.
Develop the practical skills needed to take on the challenges of our rapidly evolving industry, focusing on the shift in consumer demand from high street to online shopping. With an emphasis on sustainability and social responsibility, we aim to give you the tools you will need to drive innovation at all stages of the buying process.
Modules
First year
 Block 1: Fashion Consumer and Marketplace
 Block 2: Fashion Business
 Block 3: Fashion Lifecycle
 Block 4: Sustainable Futures
Second year
 Block 1: Buying and Professional Practice
 Block 2: Design Innovation and Sustainable Futures
 Block 3: Fashion Buying Professional Practice
 Block 4: Marketing, Communications and Branding
Third year
 Block 1 and 2: Sustainable Sourcing and Supply Management, and Strategic Fashion Marketing
 Block 3 and 4: Major Research Project
Entry Criteria
ENTRY REQUIRED DOCUMENTS
Home Office Share Code
For EU students only.
IF no Qualification
Please provide CV with at least 2 years of work experience, and employee reference letter.
Entry criteria
Typical entry requirements
We welcome applicants from a range of backgrounds.
 Art and Design Foundation or
 112 points from at least 2 A levels
 BTEC Extended Diploma DMM
 International Baccalaureate: 26+ Points or
 T Levels Merit
Plus five GCSEs grades 9-4 including English Language or Literature at grade 4 or above.
 Pass Access with 30 Level 3 credits at Merit and GCSE English (Language or Literature) at grade 4 or above
We will normally require students to have had a break from full time education before undertaking the Access course.
 We also accept the BTEC First Diploma plus two GCSEs including English Language or Literature at grade 4 or above
English language requirements
If English is not your first language an IELTS score of 6.0 overall with 5.5 in each band (or equivalent) when you start the course is essential.
English language tuition, delivered by our British Council-accredited Centre for English Language Learning, is available both before and throughout the course if you need it.
Assessment
ASSESSMENT METHODS
1. INTERNAL ENGLISH TEST if you don't have an English accredited certificate
2. Academic Interview
Career Opportunities
Placements
This course gives you the option to enhance and build your professional skills to progress within your chosen career through a placement. Our dedicated team offer a range of careers resources and opportunities so you can start planning your future.
We have excellent links with the fashion industry, ensuring you work on industry relevant projects and clients’ briefs to gain more experience and build your external reputation before you graduate. This invaluable experience can enrich student capabilities as well as their projects for their final year. This year some of our students have gone to companies Marks & Spencer, ASOS, George, F&F Tesco, Timberland, Matalan.
Maisie Bee secured a year-long placement at one of Britain’s largest fashion and home retailers, Next, in its online department
DMU Global
Our innovative international experience programme DMU Global aims to enrich studies, broaden cultural horizons and develop key skills valued by employers.
Through DMU Global, we offer an exciting mix of overseas, on-campus and online international experiences, including the opportunity to study or work abroad for up to a year.
Students on this course have recently been to Porto, where they learnt about the fashion manufacturing cycle by visiting spinners, knitters, dye houses and manufacturers. New York trips have involved visits to local museums, colleges, suppliers, product data management head offices, and a tour and talk at Gap’s head office.
Graduate careers
Our graduates go on to a variety of areas within fashion buying. Recent employers include ASOS, Selfridges, Next, Reiss, Marks & Spencer, River Island, and Joules, among many others.
Rosie Haymes won an award from the Ideal Marketing Company (IMC) and landed a full-time job for Simply Be.
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