Kickstart your career in fashion with an accelerated two-year undergraduate degree or specialist one-year Level 4 diploma in fashion buying or merchandising at the Fashion Retail Academy.
Buying and merchandising roles are some of the most popular jobs in the industry; exciting, faced-paced and rewarding, they are at the centre of fashion brand. All of our fashion buying and merchandising courses offer unparalleled industry enrichment from over 250 brand partners, ranging from work placements to personal mentors, enabling you to build your contacts ahead of employment.
Our courses
Our buying and merchandising courses are one of the quickest ways to get into the fashion industry. All courses at the FRA have unparalleled industry enrichment included, ranging from masterclasses to mentoring and work placements, so you'll have the opportunity to build industry contacts ahead of employment.
Level 3 Fashion Retail
Gain a comprehensive understanding of how fashion businesses are structured with our Level 3 Fashion Retail diploma. You'll learn about the roles different departments play within a brand, and develop skills in fashion buying and merchandising, as well as in areas including marketing and visual merchandising.
Level 4 Fashion Buying
Learn the essential skills you need to start work as an entry-level BAA in just one year. You'll learn how to source garments from across the world, and how to design range plans that maximise sales. Explore how brands target new and emerging regions, and how to manage cultural and language differences within the supply chain.
Level 4 Fast Track Buying & Merchandising
Fast Track Buying & Merchandising is a condensed, 22-week course that will prepare you for entry-level roles as either a merchandising or buying admin assistant. This is the perfect choice for those looking to upskill or retrain whilst working part-time!
BA (Hons) Buying & Merchandising
Discover how to plan and trade a fashion season from concept to customer, and how trends, consumer profiling and consumer behaviour inform your business decisions. Learn about the garment manufacturing process, fabric sourcing and the ethical considerations and principles of supply chain management.
BA (Hons) Sustainability In Fashion
Learn about political, social and environmental elements that make up a truly sustainable supply chain and look at the social responsibility of the fashion industry on a global scale. Explore the technical and practical aspects of creating products from design to store and look at the benefits and negatives of onshore and offshore production and the cost of logistics.
Online Buying & Merchandising
Studying Buying & Merchandising [Online], you'll learn the essential skills you need for a career as a fashion buyer or merchandiser. Discover how to plan and trade a fashion season from concept to customer; and how trends and consumer behaviour inform your business decisions.
The Fashion Retail Academy's extensive links with the fashion industry are one of the best parts of the Buying & Merchandising course. They've given me the confidence that when I graduate I'll be completely ready for a job!
Atinuke
BA (Hons) Buying & Merchandising
The Fashion Retail Academy gave me a great opportunity to explore both buying and merchandising. The support from all the tutors in each class was incredible, and the course was very easy to manage around a part-time work schedule.
Joseph
Level 4 Fast Track Buying & Merchandising alumni and BAA at River Island
I chose the Fashion Retail Academy because of the amazing work placements, industry projects and direct links straight into the industry.
Ryan
Level 4 Fashion Buying
I made some really wonderful friends at the Fashion Retail Academy and got the chance to meet many people from industry. After completing my work placement at Dorothy Perkins, I was offered a job there part-time until I finished my course. I've now gone full-time!
Lucy
Level 4 Merchandising for Fashion alumni and MAA at Dorothy Perkins
