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Fashion Marketing and Branding BA (Hons)

UCAS code: WN25

Start year

Information for 2025

About this course

Fashion marketing and branding is fast-paced and continually evolving. At the heart of this course is the understanding that creativity is an essential part of business and brand success.

Strategic business minds and fashion marketers have always been central to elevating iconic labels to the enduringly desirable brands they are today. In a sector where consumer habits can change overnight, clever marketing and distinct branding are vital.

This course is designed by and for creative marketeers, business innovators and fashion lifestyle enthusiasts. It’s about reconstructing the iconic, championing sustainable practice, and bringing fresh initiative to the forefront of fashion branding and marketing. Become an agile, creative and strategic visionary thinker; stand out in a complex global business environment; and prepare for a lucrative career in an industry like no other – where strategy meets style.

  • Make industry connections as you work on live briefs for brands such as Adidas, Next and Aspinal of London.
  • Attend creative events and visit industry premises throughout the UK and in Europe’s fashion capitals.
  • Study a semester abroad at a university such as the Fashion Institute of Technology, New York.
Top
20
In the UK for Art and Design in Complete University Guide 2025

What you’ll study

BA Fashion Marketing and Branding at NTU is for strategic thinkers: you’ll use market analysis and business acumen to develop and prepare briefs for creative agencies. You’ll study modules which delve into the theories behind fashion marketing, branding, self-identity and cultural influences, and apply this knowledge to live project briefs set by some of the industry’s biggest labels.

Sustainability is a hot topic in fashion, and it’s our responsibility to protect the environment in order to ensure the longevity of the industry. That’s why sustainable practice is built into every element of BA Fashion Marketing and Branding at NTU.

You’ll:

  • tackle live briefs from brands such as Gymshark, Lacoste, Adidas, Next, FaceGym, Clarks, Craghoppers, Aspinal of London and Sunspel
  • become proficient in using immersive technology and Adobe Creative Suite to communicate your ideas
  • unpack key theories and challenge contemporary issues within fashion
  • attend guest lectures from industry experts, including company CEOs, marketing directors and authors
  • gain crucial work-like experience in your second year, and have the choice to get an additional Certificate or Diploma in Professional Practice during an optional placement year
  • collaborate with students from other disciplines like fashion design in Year Two to develop a brand launch pack for a new business, identifying key strategic areas including values, competitors, appropriate channels and branding
  • tailor your degree with optional modules covering the breadth of fashion marketing and branding – from merchandising and live event production, to clothing longevity and creative coding
  • showcase your learning in final year with an individual research project which expresses your style, incapsulates your skills, and aligns with your career aspirations.

There is an opportunity for students to undertake a placement year, and transfer to the Sandwich route, please see further details in the ‘Year Three’ section below.

Here’s a full breakdown of the modules you’ll be studying.

Visual and Cultural Influences

(20 credit points, first half of the year)

Learn about fashion and the trends in our society that influence what, where and how products are marketed and how consumers respond. You will study the significance of fashion and how it has evolved as a system of communication. You’ll look at how interconnected media, such as music, film and photography, as well as wider political, social and cultural factors inform important conversations around current challenges such as sustainability and consumption for brands. You will also develop your understanding of visual communication, building your skills in a range of tools and practices.

Principles of Fashion Marketing and Branding

(80 credit points, full year)

This module introduces you to the principles and theories that underpin the global fashion and lifestyle industry. You will begin to explore the psychological and personal motivations of consumer behaviour, and develop market research skills such as data analytics to explore how brands inform and construct key fundamentals such as brand identity, positioning and value.

Visual and Self Identity

(20 credit points, second half of the year)

You will explore how sub-cultures are represented visually to understand how one signifies an identity from the myriad of influences that exist in the contemporary world. This will inform your own research as you consider the importance of identification from a variety of standpoints. Working collaboratively you will look at the ways we identify ourselves with tribes from an ideological standpoint, in relation to the medium of publications.

Marketing Strategy and Insight

(40 credit points, first half of the year)

This module will simulate industry practice and explore how marketing strategy, which lies at the heart of all key business decisions is translated into actionable insight. Working with brands via a team and individual project you will demonstrate strategic decision-making by understanding competitor analysis, integrated marketing strategies, project and marketing planning and situational analysis to develop creative business solutions.

Brand Environments

(40 credit points, second half of the year)

Option 1: Brand Development and Promotion gives you the opportunity to work in collaboration with another course from NTU to launch and craft a new brand which fuses differing disciplines together.

Option 2: Placement in Professional Practice is a work placement option giving you the chance to apply theory to real-life business situations and evidenced solutions while gaining first-hand experience of the roles and responsibilities within the fashion and lifestyle industry.

CoLab: Research, Exploration and Risk-taking

(20 credit points, second half of the year)

Through active participation with team-based problem solving, you will work together in mixed teams on a project where you will use your creative ideas to generate solutions to the challenge or brief. Your project will allow you to explore how creativity can make an impact in society, as you choose a theme of sustainability, social justice, enterprise and innovation or community. This collaborative learning experience will expose you to a range of new processes and approaches that will develop your creative thinking.

Optional module

You will also choose one 20-credit module from:

  • Trend Forecasting
  • Buying, Merchandising and Product Fundamentals
  • Digital Marketing and Communication
  • Creative Live Event Production
  • Web3 & Creative Autonomy
  • Beauty Industry: Innovation to Impact
  • Fashion Photography: Cover Shoot
  • Fashion Styling

Optional Placement Year (Sandwich)*

We have an option for all of our students to undertake a placement year (Sandwich) and allow you to decide whether this is right for you once you have completed years 1 and 2 of your course. This time spent working in industry provides our students with crucial work experience, which is highly prized and much sought after by employers upon graduation. If you are successful in securing a placement you will have the chance to gain an additional Certificate or Diploma in Professional Practice, dependent on duration.

The additional placement year incurs a fee.  For international students considering the transfer to the 4-yr SW route it’s important to seek advice from the International Student Support team and the Home Office regarding any potential visa implications and costs. For UK students, advice should also be sought regarding SLC eligibility, if applicable.

* If you choose to take the sandwich route option, you will still need to apply for this course with the full-time UCAS code: WN25

Strategic and Creative Solutions

(100 credit points, full year)

This three-part module will see you challenged on your understanding of trends, research, debates and popular opinions as you identify significant trends or shifts in behaviour and their likely future consequences upon the fashion and lifestyle industry. You will then develop your individual research project, which will inform a full body of work in the form of either a focused research paper, a business plan presenting an innovative concept, or the realisation of the concept into functioning prototypes or mock ups.

Project Me

(20 credit points, full year)

Personal and professional development and reflection is embedded through the course. This module combines all your learnings and focuses on developing a career strategy that will take you from graduation into industry or further study. With a focus on understanding the contemporary fashion marketing landscape and transferrable skills, you will consider your own strengths and where your aspirations lie, showcasing your own unique selling points through a digital space.

We regularly review and update our course content based on student and employer feedback, ensuring that all of our courses remain current and relevant. This may result in changes to module content or module availability in future years.

Don’t just take our word for it, hear from our students themselves

Student Profiles

Mina Berntsen

The reason why I would recommend my course to others is because it has the perfect balance between individual and group work. We also get to work with great brands, which is very important for the industry that we’re going into.

George Shapland

FMB has encouraged me to commercialise my creative and out-the-box thinking.

Chloe Subitte

I really enjoy the creativity the course gives you, along with the marketing and branding knowledge.

Hasina Hoque

Fashion Marketing and Branding covers a wide range of topics so you get a good insight into what is available within the fashion industry.

Sarah South

The course gives you an in-depth understanding of marketing and the fashion industry. It encourages you to think about fashion alongside other industries and the cultural influence of fashion.

Natasha Watt

Gaining these placements has given me invaluable experience to put on my CV. I learnt that in the fashion industry, experience is vital! Having high grades but no experience compared to a lower grade with experience is more attractive to employers.

Emily Hutchin

Having the opportunity to visit New York on a study trip was definitely one of the highlights of my first year at NTU!

Sophie Marrow

I couldn’t see myself studying anything else other than Fashion Marketing and Branding with the best of both worlds with creative and strategic thinking.

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How you're taught

On this fashion marketing and branding degree, you’ll be taught by a team with over 300 years of combined teaching and industry experience. You’ll also learn from impressive guest lecturers – previously, these have included Angelique Green (CEO of The Mighty Shed), Anthony Tasgal (author of The Storytelling Book) and Ari Peralta (founder and CEO of Arigami).

You’ll learn through a mix of:

  • lectures, exploring fundamental fashion theory and answering the all-important question: what is fashion marketing and branding?
  • seminars for learning key skills, like how to use immersive technology to develop and communicate your ideas
  • live projects, usually set by marketing or brand directors during a visit to their company’s headquarters, with the chance to present your finished work to a panel of high-ranking employees at that organisation
  • small-group tutorials and workshops, for focused discussion and homing in on your ongoing projects
  • Co Lab, bringing together students from different disciplines to collaborate on projects set by industry partners
  • field trips to brand headquarters, exhibitions and trade fairs across the UK and Europe to learn about industry practice, as well as a residential trip to a European destination.

Study trips and exchange opportunities

Fashion marketing and branding is a global business, and international impact is at its core. On this course, you’ll get to experience the industry firsthand on local and overseas field trips to exhibitions, museums and trade fairs, including an optional visit to a European fashion capital – think Milan, Paris or Berlin.

The costs of essential field trips are covered by your course fees.

You can also do an international exchange at institutions such as Fashion Institute of Technology in New York or Amsterdam Fashion Institute for one semester in Year Two. If you’re interested in studying abroad, we’ll support you at every step of arranging it.

How you're assessed

People excel in different ways, and we want everybody to have the best possible chance of success. On NTU’s fashion marketing and branding course, you will be assessed on a range of individual and group presentations, marketing reports, and your final year project.

Visit our ‘We Are Creatives’ showcase to see this year's graduating students’ work.

Staff Profiles

Yvonne Richardson - Senior Lecturer

Nottingham School of Art & Design

Yvonne is a Senior lecturer on BA (Hons) Fashion Marketing and Branding. Yvonne’s marketing expertise is reflected in her teaching focus (i.e. Innovation, creativity, brand development, consumer psychology and research).…

Naomi Braithwaite - Associate Professor

Nottingham School of Art & Design

Dr Naomi Braithwaite is an Associate Professor in Fashion and Material Culture at Nottingham School of Art and Design. Naomi is an active researcher at NTU leading on projects that…

Rachael Hobbs - Senior Lecturer

Nottingham School of Art & Design

Rachael Hobbs is a Lecturer on BA (Hons) Fashion Marketing and Branding, with her main focus being working with 2nd year students.

Mandy Machray - Senior Lecturer

Nottingham School of Art & Design

Mandy Machray is a Senior Lecturer for BA (Hons) Fashion Marketing and Branding, specialising in International Brand Marketing.

Marion Snow - Senior Lecturer

Nottingham School of Art & Design

Marion is a Senior Lecturer in Fashion Marketing and Branding and fellow of the HEA. As the Year Lead for Level 5, her role goes beyond the classroom, focusing on…

Katie Turner - Senior Lecturer

Nottingham School of Art & Design

Katie is a senior lecturer on BA (Hons) Fashion Marketing & Branding and a fellow of the HEA. As a year lead for level 5, she is dedicated to building

Sarah Lewington - Senior Lecturer

Nottingham School of Art & Design

I have worked at NTU for over 16 years and was the level 6 level leader and also module leader for Professional Development and Professional Practice on FCP. I was…

Timothy Rundle - Principal Lecturer

Nottingham School of Art & Design

Principle Lecturer across the Department of Fashion Management, Marketing and Communication, contributing to 6 Undergraduate course and 4 Postgraduate programmes. Subject specialist in Visual Literacy and design communication, with a…

Jen Bell - Senior Lecturer

Nottingham School of Art & Design

I am module leader for FMBR30004 Strategic and Creative solutions on Fashion Marketing and Branding and I use my experience as a researcher to guide final year students through their…

Scarlett Dickinson - Senior Lecturer

Nottingham School of Art & Design

Scarlett is a Senior Lecturer on Fashion Marketing and Branding. Scarlett currently acts as Year Lead for the Fashion Marketing and Branding first year cohort. Alongside this Scarlett is a…

Careers and employability

Fashion marketers and fashion branding experts will always be in demand, even in today’s technological landscape. That’s because those with fashion branding and fashion marketing degrees harness vital qualities which AI can’t replicate: human creativity, and the ability to formulate and communicate innovative strategies. At NTU, you’ll learn a plethora of transferable and adaptable skills – futureproofing your career in fashion and marketing, and enabling you to thrive in these ever-changing fields.

The work you’ll complete is designed to set you up with an impressive portfolio and an extensive network of industry contacts, preparing you for life after graduation.

Our BA Fashion Marketing and Branding graduates have gone on to fill job roles such as:

  • Assistant Marketing Manager at Boots No.7
  • Global Ecommerce Content and Production Manager at Jimmy Choo
  • Nike Customer Journey Manager at Frasers Group
  • Marketing Graduate at JD sports
  • Partner Coordinator at Mercedes Benz Formula 1 Team
  • Senior Brand Manager at Nescafe, Nestle

Every NTU student can access tailored support from our Employability team for three years after graduation, as well as our comprehensive online career resources for life.

Placements

Industry experience is highly prized and sought after by employers – that’s why work-like practice is built into this course, in the form of live briefs and placements. You’ll also have the option to carry out a year-long placement in your third year, during which you can complete a Certificate or Diploma in Professional Practice.

Brands and fashion marketers which students have previously conducted placements with include:

  • Gymshark
  • Urban Outfitters
  • Dior
  • Phase Eight
  • Adidas
  • Gung Ho (brand and PR company)
  • Converse

Showcase

You will exhibit your work to members of the creative industries at a showcase, and you may be selected to showcase at Graduate Fashion Week in London – where many of our previous students have won awards. These events are an excellent way to connect with potential employers, and some students secure jobs as a direct result of them.

Campus and facilities

As a BA Fashion Marketing and Branding student, you’ll mainly be based in our contemporary Barnes Wallis building on the City Campus. You’ll study alongside likeminded members of NTU’s fashion community in a range of comfortable creative spaces, including purpose-built editing suites and workshops.

Our City Campus has everything you’ll need to keep occupied between lectures. As well as the Boots Library and its beautiful roof garden, there’s a 100-station gym; a whole host of cafés, bars and restaurants catering to every taste; our Students’ Union and popular Global Lounge; plenty of relaxed spaces to tackle your assignments or catch up with friends; and much, much more!

If that’s not enough, just take a few steps off campus, and you’ll find yourself in the beating heart of Nottingham: one of Britain’s top 10 student cities, and a hub of creative activity. Get inspired by famed vintage fashion outlets such as Cow and Braderie, quirky independent businesses, and vibrant cultural hotspots like Nottingham Contemporary and Broadway Cinema.

Entry requirements

UK students

  • Standard offer: 112 UCAS Tariff points from up to four qualifications
  • Contextual offer: 104 UCAS Tariff points from up to four qualifications

To find out what qualifications have tariff points, please use our tariff calculator.

International students

Academic entry requirements: 112 UCAS Tariff points from up to four qualifications.

We accept equivalent qualifications from all over the world. Please check your international entry requirements by country.

English language requirements: See our English language requirements page for requirements for your subject and information on alternative tests and Pre-sessional English.

Policies

We strive to make our admissions procedures as fair and clear as possible. To find out more about how we make offers, visit our admissions policies page.

Fees and funding

UK students

- see the fees for this course, as well as information about funding and support.

£9,535 per year

If you choose to do a placement year, you'll pay a reduced fee for that year of £1,850.

Find out about the extra support we may be able to provide to help pay for uni, including NTU bursaries and scholarships.

The School will cover the costs of any mandatory study trips.

In Final Year, the Nottingham School of Art & Design will provide infrastructure costs for your Showcase. If you’re selected to showcase your work at Graduate Fashion Week in London, the School will cover the cost of transporting your work and the exhibition stand.

You will need to pay tuition fees for each year that you are at university. The tuition fees, including the placement year and study abroad options are subject to government policy and may change in future years of study.

Preparing for the financial side of student life is important, but we don’t want you to feel anxious or confused about it. Visit our fees and funding pages if you have any concerns.

International students

- see the fees for this course, as well as payment advice and scholarships.
  • £18,250 per year
  • If you choose to do a placement year, you'll pay a reduced fee for that year of £1,850

The School will cover the costs of any mandatory study trips.

In Final Year, the Nottingham School of Art & Design will provide infrastructure costs for your Showcase. If you’re selected to showcase your work at Graduate Fashion Week in London, the School will cover the cost of transporting your work and the exhibition stand.

You will need to pay tuition fees for each year that you are at university. The tuition fees might increase from the second year of your undergraduate course, in line with inflation and as specified by the UK government.

Scholarships

We offer international scholarships of up to 50% of your tuition fee. You can apply for a scholarship when you have an offer to study at NTU.

Living costs

See our advice on managing your money and the cost of living as an international student in Nottingham.

Paying fees

As an international student, you'll need to make an advance payment of £6,000 when you've accepted your offer to study at NTU. You'll then need to pay your tuition fees in full, or have an agreement to pay in two further instalments, before the start date of your course.

Find out how and when to pay your fees, including information about advance payments, instalment dates and how to make payments securely to the University.

Enquiries

If you have any queries relating to advance payments or arrangements to pay, please contact our friendly and experienced international enquiries team.

Additional costs

Your course fees cover the cost of studies and include loads of great benefits, such as the use of our library, support from our expert Employability team and free use of the IT equipment across our campuses. There are just a few additional things you may need to budget for:

Textbooks and library books

Most modules will recommend one or more core textbooks, which most students choose to purchase. Book costs vary and further information is available in the University’s bookshop. Our libraries provide a good supply of essential textbooks, journals and materials (many of which you can access online) - meaning you may not need to purchase as many books as you might think! There may also be a supply of second-hand books available for purchase from previous year students.

Printing and photocopying costs

The University allocates an annual printing and copying allowance of £20 depending on the course you are studying. For more details about costs for additional print and copying required over and above the annual allowance please see the printing and photocopying information on the Library website.

Placements

If you're undertaking a placement year, you'll need to budget for accommodation and any travel costs you may incur whilst on placement. Many of our placement students do earn a salary whilst on placement which can help to cover these living costs.

Field trips

All essential field trip costs will be included in your course fees. There may be the opportunity to take part in optional field trips, which do incur additional costs.

Fees and funding advice

For more advice and guidance, you can email our Student Money Team or phone us on +44 (0)115 848 2494.

Cost of living information and support

Managing your money can help you make the most of life at NTU. Here's how we can support you, and now you can make your funding go further.

How to apply

Apply through UCAS.

Optional Placement Year (Sandwich)*

Please be aware that all enrolments onto the Course will initially be for the full time 3-year route. There is however an opportunity for you to internally transfer to the 4-year SW route if you secure a placement. The placement would need to be confirmed and transfer agreed during your 2nd year to enable you to commence the placement in year 3. It is important that you seek advice regarding any funding and financial implications before making any changes to your course structure.

You can apply for this course through UCAS. If you are not applying to any other UK universities, you can apply directly to us on our NTU applicant portal.

Application advice

Apply early so that you have enough time to prepare – processing times for Student visas can vary, for example.  After you've applied, we'll be sending you important emails throughout the application process – so check your emails regularly, including your junk mail folder.

Writing your personal statement

Be honest, thorough, and persuasive – we can only make a decision about your application based on what you tell us:

Would you like some advice on your study plans? 

Our international teams are highly experienced in answering queries from students all over the world. We also have members of staff based in Vietnam, China, India and Nigeria and work with a worldwide network of education counsellors.

Optional Placement Year (Sandwich)*

Please be aware that you will need to apply for the three-year full-time course. There is however an opportunity for you to internally transfer to the 4-year SW route if you secure a placement. The placement would need to be confirmed and transfer agreed during your 2nd year to enable you to commence the placement in year 3. It is critical to consult with the NTU International Student Support Team and the Home Office for updated visa regulations and requirements before making any changes to your course structure.

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