Undergraduate BA (Hons) Sustainable Fashion

Sustainability is now a key focus for fashion brands, and it has become a highly competitive and fast-developing area of the fashion industry. The global markets have recognised need for increasingly sustainable methods of production, distribution and consumption, and the talent needed to find solutions and implement change is urgently required. 

By choosing to study BA (Hons) Sustainable Fashion, you’ll 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.  

On this accelerated two-year undergraduate degree, you’ll be introduced to the core principles of the fast-evolving ethical and legal sustainability frameworks effecting the fashion industry.  

You’ll study modules including Fundamentals of Environmental, Social Governance (ESG) for Fashion, Economics of ESG in Fashion and Production Management and Ethical Supply Chains. For example, you could look at the structure of a brand's supply chain, find areas to improve, and create an innovative strategy that will both improve any environmental or social impact and be cost-effective for the brand. You’ll look at the social responsibility of the fashion industry and the role of the retail sector from an ethical perspective. You'll work with a dedicated industry mentor throughout the course and complete work placements.

You’ll 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. Sustainable fashion is a quickly developing area of industry, and with this course you’ll develop the skills and knowledge you need to make an impact and drive change. 

ACCELERATED LEARNING

Our accelerated degrees are taught over three teaching semesters a year instead of the traditional two. This means you'll learn the same academic content as a three-year course, whilst saving on tuition fees and living costs. You can also start your career a year earlier than your peers.

*This course is subject to change 

BA (HONS) SUSTAINABLE FASHION MODULES 

Our BA (Hons) Sustainable Fashion course includes 6 specialist modules*: 

YEAR 1 

• Fundamentals of Sustainability and ESG for Fashion (40 Credits): Explore the core principles of environmental, social and governance framework and the fast-evolving ethical and legal requirements effecting the fashion industry and the impact of consumer demand. You'll explore the need for changing practices and the impact of brand policy compliance.  
• The Economic Impact of Sustainable Practices (40 Credits): Consider the costs of creating effective and sustainable ESG policies and practices and look at how this impacts finances. Explore the economics of ESG in fashion, the benefits and costs of ethical and sustainable practice and look at whether operating models of fast fashion can ever result in a profitable and ethical brand. 
• Production Management & Ethical Supply Chains (40 Credits): Look at the technical and practical aspects of creating products from design to delivering them to store. Discover the benefits and negatives of onshore and offshore production, how to source sustainable and ethical materials and the costs of logistics. Understand the policies and practices that need to be in place to ensure that the supply chain is ethical. 

YEAR 2

• Technology & the Future of Sustainable Fashion (40 Credits): Explore the role of technology in sustainable practice and look at how emerging technologies for production and distribution will impact ESG. Look at circular design, zero waste and demand-based manufacturing as well as the roles of AI (Artificial Intelligence) and VR (Virtual Reality) in fashion. 
• Personal Professional Project (40 Credits): Complete an individual project that represents the knowledge and skills you have learnt during the degree. This is a self-directed project, and you will receive guidance from your tutor.   
• Live Project & Industry Experience: Circularity in the Supply Chain (40 Credits): Complete a live project, working with a brand, focused on product strategies. Gain knowledge and insights from industry enrichment throughout the project.

All 40 credit modules receive 100 hours of teaching time.

CORE MODULES 

There are core modules that are taught across all undergraduate courses*:  

YEAR 1  

• Study & Research Skills (20 Credits): Develop the knowledge and skills necessary for studying fashion at undergraduate level. Complete a research project that allows you to practice creative research techniques in your specialist area. Explore theories on decolonisation, equity, diversity, and inclusion.  
• The Fashion Industry (20 Credits): Learn about the contemporary fashion industry in all aspects. Explore the business structures across luxury, mid-market, and high street to identify differences and commonalities of how brands operate. Discover the relationship between marketing and brand management.  
• Consumer & Data Insights (20 Credits): Learn how to gather, collate and analyse important data, and discover how to use your findings in evidence-based decision-making. Find out how to gain important insights into consumers’ habits and learn how to incorporate your findings into your strategies.  

YEAR 2  

• Consumer Behaviour (20 Credits): Explore how consumer behaviour impacts all aspects of a fashion business and understand how individual and collective consumer habits are influenced by cultural, social, and economic factors.   
• Global Markets (20 Credits): Develop your understanding of global markets and the international business landscape. Learn about the impact of globalisation on businesses and consumers, and how business models are changing in reaction to social and political change. Learn about the diversity, complexity, and vibrancy of the international business landscape for fashion, and how each element of the industry is connected.  
• Entrepreneurial Practice (20 Credits): Discover the core elements that make a business entrepreneurial and how the business ecosystem can drive change. Explore the theoretical and practical entrepreneurial capabilities for start-ups and established businesses.   

*This course is subject to validation.

All 20 credit modules receive 50 hours of teaching time.

We work with over 140 brands at the FRA. Each of our degree courses includes practical, industry-focused content taught by some of fashion’s biggest names to give you valuable skills and work experience.

INDUSTRY MENTOR

We match every undergraduate student with their own dedicated industry mentor. You’ll meet a minimum of once a term, and they’ll be there to support and guide you, and give you insight into working life. They’ll share their professional experience and personal connections to top names in fashion. Current students are working with mentors from brands like Jigsaw, Whistles, Burberry and Lipsy.

INDUSTRY EXPERIENCE

As part of our undergraduate programmes, you’ll have industry experience with one of our partner brands each year. You’ll be assigned to an industry manager either individually or as a small group, and you’ll work remotely or in the office. You’ll be given tasks to complete, providing you with an understanding of a specific job role and its place within an organisation. You could be working in a single team, or across multiple areas of the business.

In your first year, you’ll complete three weeks of experience. In your second year, your work placement will be either 3 weeks full time or two days a week over 3 months. You’ll earn practical, professional skills that give a valuable boost to your CV.

YOU 2.0 ASSESSMENT CENTRE BOOTCAMP 

All graduating students will pass through our unique assessment centre bootcamp, designed to give you experience of industry interviews and assessment days. You’ll learn what to expect and how to prepare for interviews. We’ll teach you how to stand out from the crowd, so you'll know exactly what talent acquisition teams are looking for and feel confident applying for industry roles.

When you graduate from our accelerated fashion marketing degree programme, you'll be ready to progress straight into employment in the fashion industry.

Graduates of the BA (Hons) Sustainable Fashion course could work in a wide variety of job roles, including:

• Sustainability Officer
• Sustainability Coordinator
• Ethical Trade/Sustainable Sourcing Manager
• Product Sustainability Consultant
• Sustainable Buyer
• Corporate Social Responsibility Manager

The British Retail Consortium have identified a huge skills gap in Sustainability across the fashion industry, and there are many potential opportunities for rapid career progression for strong candidates.

All applications are processed through UCAS.

UCAS Code: SUF1

Our offers are usually between 104 and 120 UCAS points for our undergraduate courses, from Level 3 equivalent qualifications such as:

• A levels
• a BTEC Extended Diploma
• a Foundation Diploma

You can check how many points your qualifications are worth using the online UCAS Tariff Calculator.

For more details on applying for our undergraduate degrees, please see our Undergraduate Application Process.

Due to the creative nature of our courses, you'll be considered on your own individual merit and potential to succeed. We encourage you to get in touch if you're predicted fewer than 104 UCAS points, thinking about transferring from another institution, or if you have other qualifications or professional experience.

International Students

We are currently unable to accept international applications for our undergraduate degree courses. If you'd like to study at the Fashion Retail Academy, please apply for one of our Level 4 diploma programmes. 

Assessment Methods

This course is assessed via 100% coursework. The assessment tools include, but aren’t limited to, professionally relevant projects, essays and presentations. 

Course fees

• £11,100 per year
• Student tuition and maintenance loans are available

Fees & Funding

This course is subject to validation by our awarding institution, Falmouth University

Our sustainable fashion undergraduate degree programme has been exclusively developed in partnership with Falmouth University.

All our undergraduate courses are taught at our Central London campus by our team of leading academics and industry professionals. Throughout your studies, you will be part of Falmouth University's Student Union and have access to their library facilities alongside our own. Once you have graduated your degree, you will be awarded by Falmouth University at a Fashion Retail Academy graduation ceremony.

2024-2025

Term dates to be confirmed.

From September 2024, the Fashion Retail Academy will be located at our new campus at Electra House in Liverpool Street, Central London.   

The listed building is currently undergoing a £30 million refurbishment, created to our exact specifications.    

There will be:   

• 8 floors (Electra House is double the size of our current campus)  
• A bigger library and more workspaces  
• 35 classrooms  
• Bespoke studio spaces  
• 6 lecture theatres  
• Dedicated fashion design wing  
• IT hub and self-service laptop lockers  
• "Speakeasy" student common room and on-site cafe  
• 2 specialist exhibition and event spaces  
• Wellness spaces and communal areas  
• Discovery nook  

Liverpool Street has excellent transport links to the rest of London and beyond, and Electra House is situated directly across from Moorgate tube station. There is a bus stop outside the building, and Liverpool Street Station is a short walk away. 

Students starting their course in September 2023 will start at our Gresse Street campus and move to Electra House for their second year. We will be there to support you throughout the transition, and provide any help and guidance wherever needed.   

Click here for more information about Electra House and how our new campus will benefit you.