BA (Hons) in Fashion Communication and Branding Anglia Ruskin University

In an increasingly competitive, commercial and technological environment, communication and branding professionals have never played such a central role in buying, retail, import and export, digital marketing and more.

Study our BA (Hons) Fashion Communication and Branding degree at ARU, and develop the skills, understanding and knowledge that are critical to international fashion design and business functions. You’ll gain a broad understanding of the fields of fashion, branding, journalism, PR, marketing and management in a global context and develop an understanding of the complex issues surrounding sustainable fashion and environmental impact.

What does a Fashion Communication and Branding student do?

As a Fashion Communication and Branding student in Cambridge, you’ll be able to select from one of the three-degree pathways – Luxury Branding, Fashion Journalism and PR, and Fashion Marketing and Management – so you can become a specialist and stand out from the crowd. Alongside this, you'll learn about the ethics of the fashion industry, and consider issues of sustainability that will help you to develop as a responsible professional.

You’ll work closely with students from across our University, including the Faculty of Business and Law on marketing and events, and Cambridge School of Creative Industries and Cambridge School of Art to create eye-catching campaigns and digital content. Perhaps most importantly, you’ll get time, guidance and support from our experienced staff who, as well as launching and managing their own brands, has worked with companies such as Chloe, Alexander McQueen, Warner Bros Records, and London Records.

Talks from visiting lecturers and live briefs from the industry are built into our Fashion and Communication Branding degree. They focus on areas including event management, brand identity, entrepreneurship, sustainability, marketing and promotion. We'll encourage you to build your profile by entering national and international competitions, as well our as own competitions such as the Sustainability Art Prize. You'll have the chance to develop a business plan and pitch for start-up funding through our annual competition, The Big Pitch. And you can get involved in our Student Creative Careers Conference.

There's also the opportunity to find placements and internships as part of your degree and visit trade fairs and conferences.

Fashion communication or fashion design?

At ARU we offer degree courses in Fashion Communication Branding and Fashion Design.

Our Fashion Design degree will help you develop as a designer of womenswear or menswear. You'll create your own fashion designs from day one.

Meanwhile, our Fashion Communication and Branding course focuses on fashion journalism and PR, marketing and management, and luxury branding.

Year 1

• Fundamentals of Fashion Marketing
• Fashion Styling
• Web Design and Digital Content Creation
• Luxury Fashion: Strategies for Prestige
• Integrated Fashion Communication

Year 2

• Cool Hunting: Identity Socioeconomics and Psychology in Fashion
• Visual Merchandising for Luxury Brands
• Visual Identity Systems for Fashion Brands
• Ruskin Module (15 credits)
• Teenage Kicks: Youth Culture and Media
• Digital Media Theory: Social Media, AI, and the Cultures of the Internet
• Brand Management
• Commercial Context and Employability for the Creative Industries

Year 3

• Sensorial Marketing
• Personal Enterprise: Inspiration and Commercialisation
• Major Project
• Working in the Creative Industries
• Research Project

The global apparel market is projected to grow in value from £1 trillion in 2020 to about £1.6 trillion by 2025, showing that consumer demand is on the rise across the world (Statista, 2021).

As a BA (Hons) Fashion Communication and Branding graduate, you could consider career opportunities as a:

• creative director
• brand manager
• retail manager
• account manager (wholesale)
• branding consultant
• global supply chain manager
• fashion buyer
• fashion PR
• journalist
• fashion editor
• stylist
• visual merchandiser
• trend forecaster
• studio manager
• product developer
• colour developer

You might also consider the areas of fashion marketing, promotions and events management – or branch out on your own as an entrepreneur.

Graduation doesn't have to be the end of your time with us. You might decide to stay at ARU and study for a master's such as our MSc in Marketing or Master of Business Administration MBA. Take advantage of our Alumni Scholarship and get 20% off your fees.