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Course Information

UCAS Code

W239

Level of Study

Undergraduate

Mode of Study

1 year Full Time

Department

Northumbria School of Design, Northumbria School of Design, Arts and Creative Industries

Location

City Campus, Northumbria University

City

Newcastle

Start

September 2025 or September 2026

GOOD UNIVERSITY GUIDE 2025 MODERN UNIVERSITY OF THE YEAR

Overview

Please note: This course is subject to validation.

This Fashion Business Top-Up course prepares you for a dynamic career in the fashion industry, combining elements of fashion communication, marketing and management.

You can develop a broad range of skills, including marketing strategy, multimedia consumer engagement, brand development, market research, trend analysis, buying and merchandising and retail management, digital data management, business ethics and responsible fashion commerce. The course encourages creativity and critical thinking, challenging you to think about the fashion business responsibly while solving real-world problems.

You’ll be encouraged to refine your skills across various disciplines, from management to marketing, preparing you for a successful career in the fashion business.

A collaborative environment supports practical and theoretical projects, giving you the competitive edge needed to succeed in the fashion business.

 

Course Information

UCAS Code

W239

Level of Study

Undergraduate

Mode of Study

1 year Full Time

Department

Northumbria School of Design, Northumbria School of Design, Arts and Creative Industries

Location

City Campus, Northumbria University

City

Newcastle

Start

September 2025 or September 2026

GOOD UNIVERSITY GUIDE 2025 MODERN UNIVERSITY OF THE YEAR

Entry Requirements 2025/26

Standard Entry

BTEC HND or Foundation degree with overall pass in a related subject such as fashion communication-style, fashion design, business or marketing backgrounds 

International Qualifications: 

We welcome applicants with a range of qualifications which may not match those shown above. 

If you have qualifications from outside the UK, find out what you need by visiting?www.northumbria.ac.uk/yourcountry 

English Language Requirements: 

International applicants should have a minimum overall IELTS (Academic) score of 6.0 with 5.5 in each component (or an approved equivalent*). 

*The university accepts a large number of UK and International Qualifications in place of IELTS. You can find details of acceptable tests and the required grades in our English Language section:?www.northumbria.ac.uk/englishqualifications 

Entry Requirements

Entry Requirements 2026/27

Standard Entry

BTEC HND or Foundation degree with overall pass in a related subject such as fashion communication-style, fashion design, business or marketing backgrounds 

International Qualifications: 

We welcome applicants with a range of qualifications which may not match those shown above. 

If you have qualifications from outside the UK, find out what you need by visiting?www.northumbria.ac.uk/yourcountry 

English Language Requirements: 

International applicants should have a minimum overall IELTS (Academic) score of 6.0 with 5.5 in each component (or an approved equivalent*). 

*The university accepts a large number of UK and International Qualifications in place of IELTS. You can find details of acceptable tests and the required grades in our English Language section:?www.northumbria.ac.uk/englishqualifications 

Fees and Funding 2025/26 Entry

UK Fee in Year 1: £9,535

* This is the tuition fee for your first year of study. You should expect to pay tuition fees for every year of study. The University may increase fees in the second and subsequent years of your course at our discretion in line with any inflationary or other uplift, as decided by the UK Government, up to the maximum amount for fees permitted by UK law or regulation for that academic year. To give students an indication of the likely scale of any future increase, the UK government has recently suggested that increases may be linked to RPIX ( Retail Price Index excluding mortgage interest payments)


International Fee in Year 1: £19,350


Please see the main Funding Pages for 25/26 scholarship information.

 


ADDITIONAL COSTS

There are no Additional Costs

Fees and Funding 2026/27 Entry

UK Fee in Year 1*: TBC

* Government has yet to announce 26/27 tuition fee levels.  As a guide, 25/26 fees were £9,535 per year.


International Fee in Year 1: TBC


Scholarships for 26/27 have not yet been announced.  Please see the main Funding Pages for 25/26 scholarship information.

 


ADDITIONAL COSTS

TBC

else

To start your application, simply select the month you would like to start your course.

Fashion Business (Top up Award) BA (Hons)

Home or EU applicants please apply through UCAS

International applicants please apply using the links below

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YEAR

Features & Benefits

  • Top Department - Northumbria is ranked 11th in the UK for Fashion & Textiles (Guardian University League Table, 2025).
  • Top University - Design at Northumbria is ranked 4th in the UK (Daily Mail University Guide, 2025).
  • Student Rated - Over 95% of Students studying Design at Northumbria believed their course positively challenged them to achieve their best work (NSS, 2024).
  • Research Power - Art and Design at Northumbria is ranked 4th in the UK for research power (REF, 2021). This is a rise of 6 places compared to 2014.

Careers & Employability

This course aims to equip you with a diverse skill set that opens a wide range of career opportunities in the fashion industry. The course fosters employability by aligning projects with industry needs, promoting responsible, globally-conscious business practices. Graduates from our fashion courses have secured roles with top brands such as Gucci, Vogue, and Adidas, and go on to work in roles like design, brand concept, trend forecasting, marketing, and creative direction.

We have a fantastic service for students' to use to gain advice and tips on furthering careers and enhancing their employability.

a person using a laptop computer sitting on top of a desk

Careers and Employment Services

Staff

You’ll learn from award-winning staff with professional experience in design, marketing, illustration, and photography. The course offers exciting briefs through industry connections, including the British Fashion Council and Graduate Fashion Foundation, giving you valuable real-world experience.

Facilities

As a student, you can be supported by a range of resources designed to foster the development of both digital and creative skills. You'll have the opportunity to engage with cutting-edge technologies and resources that enhance your learning experience. Our expert technical staff will guide you through the tools and resources available, ensuring you have the necessary support to build expertise in the fashion business field. Additionally, our comprehensive library and eLearning portal will serve as essential resources for your independent research and academic preparation.

All information is accurate at the time of sharing. 

Full time Courses are primarily delivered via on-campus face to face learning but could include elements of online learning. Most courses run as planned and as promoted on our website and via our marketing materials, but if there are any substantial changes (as determined by the Competition and Markets Authority) to a course or there is the potential that course may be withdrawn, we will notify all affected applicants as soon as possible with advice and guidance regarding their options. It is also important to be aware that optional modules listed on course pages may be subject to change depending on uptake numbers each year.  

Contact time is subject to increase or decrease in line with possible restrictions imposed by the government or the University in the interest of maintaining the health and safety and wellbeing of students, staff, and visitors if this is deemed necessary in future.

 

Useful Links

Find out about our distinctive approach at 
www.northumbria.ac.uk/exp

Admissions Terms and Conditions
northumbria.ac.uk/terms

Fees and Funding
northumbria.ac.uk/fees

Admissions Policy
northumbria.ac.uk/adpolicy

Admissions Complaints Policy
northumbria.ac.uk/complaints



If you’d like to receive the latest updates from Northumbria about our courses, events, finance & funding then enter your details below.

* At Northumbria we are strongly committed to protecting the privacy of personal data. To view the University’s Privacy Notice please click here

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