BA (Hons) Fashion Branding and Communication

On this course, you’ll gain practical skills and explore the thinking behind fashion branding and communication. You’ll create image and film, and develop visual identities using the latest creative software. We’ll also teach you the theory behind everything from creating a narrative for an image to building a global brand identity.

Great fashion communication comes about through collaboration. In AUB’s creative community, you’ll have the chance to do just that. You’ll be introduced to, and work with, students on other BA (Hons) courses, including Fashion, Commercial Photography, Textiles, Film Production and Make-up for Media and Performance, so the opportunities are limitless to apply your skills and collaborate.

According to the British Fashion Council, the UK Fashion Industry supports 797,000 jobs. With a degree from AUB, you will also make your own unique mark in this exciting space.

We’ve recently been awarded Gold by the TEF (Teaching Excellence Framework).

Our teaching staff are exceptional. They're inspiring teachers, industry practitioners, technicians and researchers who are here to support you with your studies and help you to achieve outstanding outcomes.

All undergraduate courses at AUB offer an optional placement year, to be taken between your second and third years of study.

If you’re unsure about this optional placement, you don’t need to decide now. Once you’re here and studying with us, the course team will discuss the placement options with you, so when the time comes, you can make a decision that’s right for you.

If you’re required to have a Student Visa to study in the UK, it won’t be possible to undertake the one-year placement option; there’ll be other opportunities for you to engage with industry during your study at AUB.

Exploration

Through the journey of the course, you’ll experience challenges and new possibilities whilst seeking innovative solutions to concept origination, application and final outcomes. On this course, you’ll develop key skill sets which will underpin and inform your professional growth and develop your sense of place in the industry.

You’ll critically reflect on the study of fashion branding and communication from the beginning of the course, with historical design studies and academic theory are embedded across the two terms. These two units define through investigation and experience the range of possible practices and areas of study you may want to engage with as a fashion communicator during your time on the course.

At the end of your first year, you’ll create an individual project concept which may involve aspects of collaboration, where you’ll begin to define strengths and specialist choices through the production of a publication or digital equivalent that embeds the core skills learned in the first two terms.

The Level 4 journey will not only shape your experience through learning new skills and knowledge, but will identify your strengths, interests and areas of specialisms, as well as introducing you to professional practices. It will also ensure that you engage with a broad range of experiences, which will support specialist decisions in the future.

Innovation

During your second year, you’ll be able to undertake a UK or international work experience placement or take part in an AUB in-house ‘Live Project’ with a current brand or design company. Both options will help prepare you for the professional world by giving you firsthand experience of commercial businesses and the expectations around professional industry practice.

You’ll also undertake a trip to a major fashion capital that will broaden your professional experiences and networking skills.

You’ll develop a critical understanding of consumer awareness and market diversity, whilst directly informing focused communication development and market analysis. You’ll engage with distinct and challenging research methods and visual communication, while at the same time preparing for a professional role in industry.

You’ll be encouraged to question existing practices and look for new solutions, exploring diversity, niche market opportunity and develop empathic consideration for the local and global fashion industry. You’ll develop a portfolio of visual and written material to promote yourself in your continued professional development.

You’ll produce a written document, in the form of an article or editorial piece or whole publication, with supporting collaborative images which embed your design philosophy and narrative.

Application

In your final year, you’ll undertake Final Major Project units relevant to your desired future career or postgraduate study. Your Project will be appropriate for Graduate Fashion Week, relevant exhibitions and related fashion events.

Where possible, you’ll have the opportunity to be involved with exhibitions or events in the Bournemouth locality, Graduate Fashion Week or produce a publishable branding and communication outcome.

In the first term, you’ll also produce either a dissertation, or a focused business proposal, in which you demonstrate an advanced range of research and writing skills.

You’ll also undertake a Personal Branding unit, preparing you further for your career by developing a professional portfolio of your best work, along with supported learning around CV, role application, personal presentation, interview techniques and further engagement with the industry.

Ultimately the final year requires you to define the final direction of your theory and practice. It encourages you to be focused and innovative. You'll graduate with the knowledge, understanding, professional skills and creative agility necessary to further develop your specialist practices, in professional environments.

We actively encourage you to form collectives and start-up businesses, organise events, complete internships, enter competitions and work collaboratively.

All students are registered for the award of BA (Hons). However, exit awards are available if you leave the course early, having successfully completed one or two levels. If you successfully complete a level of the course, you'll automatically be entitled to progress to the next level.

For the award of a Certificate of Higher Education (CertHE), you must have achieved a minimum of 120 credits at Level 4. This qualification may be awarded if you leave the University following successful completion of the first year of your course.

For the award of a Diploma of Higher Education (DipHE), you must have achieved a minimum of 240 credits of which a minimum of 120 must be at Level 5. This qualification may be awarded if you leave the University following successful completion of the second year of your course.

For the award of a BA (Hons) you must have achieved a minimum of 360 credits of which a minimum of 240 must be at Level 5 or above, of which a minimum of 120 credits must be at Level 6. This qualification will be awarded upon successful completion of your course.

A BA without Honours may be awarded if you have achieved 300 credits, at least 180 of which are at Level 5 or above, and at least 60 of which are at Level 6.

Students have won prestigious and high-profile awards, such as:

• Graduate Fashion Week Awards: Menswear, Styling, Publication, Catwalk to High Street, Portfolio
• FAD
• Sophie Hallette Lace
• ID Diversity Now