MSc International Fashion Retailing

Course overview

• Specialise in fashion retailing and strengthen your strategic business skills for a career in a substantial, competitive sector.
• Undertake an extensive research project and deepen your knowledge in an area of your interest.
• 80% of our research activity was defined as `internationally excellent' or `world leading' in the most recent Research Excellence Framework (REF 2014).

Course description

The International Fashion Retailing programme is one of three MSc Fashion Business programmes. Depending on your career aspirations and personal interests, we recommend that you also consider our MSc in International Fashion Marketing and our MSc in International Fashion Retailing (Entrepreneurship and Innovation). International Fashion Marketing is a good option if you are interested in advertising, promotions, brand management and any other aspect of marketing. In contrast, International Fashion Retailing focuses more on retail, sales, and operations management. The further option is International Fashion Retailing (Entrepreneurship and Innovation) which is similar to International Fashion Retailing but emphasises how change and innovation can be managed within organisations and is also designed for those who wish to start their own business. Please note: you should only apply for one of these Fashion courses.

Our exciting and innovative International Fashion Retailing master's course aims to equip the global fashion-retail managers of the future with skills in omnichannel retailing, technology and international business strategy. You will be joining a community of creative innovators who want to challenge their potential and make an impact on the fashion world.

The course will teach you how to be adaptive and will equip you with the managerial and subject know-how that will enable you to innovate and create original and attractive products and services for an increasingly competitive international market. You will explore the evolution of retail from traditional 'bricks and mortar' stores through to the contemporary omnichannel strategy, and examine growth strategies and innovation in the global fashion and retail industry.

The wide range of industry-relevant themes provide you with the opportunity to learn from insider experience including gaining an in-depth understanding of the fashion consumer and fashion retail channels to market. You will develop critical skills such as strategic retail management processes that will support your future career in the contemporary international fashion business environment.

This course is suitable for students from most academic backgrounds and equips graduates with the necessary management skills vital for a career in the fast-paced world of international fashion retailing.

Aims

The course aims to:

• Equip students with the knowledge, understanding and skills to enable graduates to take a leading role in the continued success of fashion businesses by addressing the challenges facing the fashion industry.
• Provide in-depth understanding of fashion retail channels to market focusing on the evolution of retail from traditional 'bricks and mortar' stores through to the contemporary omnichannel strategy, focusing on growth strategies and innovation in the fashion and retail industry.
• Develop students' capacity for critical thinking and ability to present sound, well-justified arguments and solutions to complex problems, recognising the interconnected nature of fashion business practice.
• Enable students to explore new insights in areas such as sustainable development and strategic management of fashion businesses by drawing on the world-class research, teaching and practical experience of the Department of Materials, together with our excellent links to the industry.
• Provide an intellectually challenging and stimulating learning environment, involving both independent and collaborative online learning activities.
• Support employability in the fashion industry, with a strong focus on developing commercial awareness and a wider understanding of global citizenship.

Teaching and learning

The course is delivered through a mix of lecturing, blended small and small group tutorials.

We use a range of teaching and learning methods, including tutorials, workshops, seminars and research projects. These are supported by an e-learning infrastructure that includes online feedback, lecture and lab podcasting and close academic supervision.

Coursework and assessment

We will assess your progress using:

• written reports
• oral presentations
• examinations
• dissertation project

The employment prospects for graduates from this programme are excellent. Recent graduates have been employed by IBM, Marks and Spencer, Oasis, Mercedes Benz, Next, Charnos, National Westminster Bank, Shell, Milliken and Harrods.