Fashion Buying and Brand Management (with Foundation Year)

This is a four-year programme that includes a year of foundational study and leads directly into the degree course. Our foundation year offers the chance to strengthen your skills, knowledge and confidence, before you advance to stage one of your honours degree.

Ready to turn your love for fashion into a career? If you dream of building a career in buying, merchandising or brand management within the global fashion industry, our Fashion Buying & Brand Management degree could be your perfect fit.

This dynamic course blends business strategy with creativity, preparing you to create trend-led collections, develop products that reflect brand identity and make informed decisions that influence what consumers buy.

You'll gain in-depth knowledge and skills in brand and product management, exploring every level of the industry from fast fashion and sustainable brands to international luxury labels, gaining a deep understanding of how brands position themselves in a fast-paced industry. Through hands-on projects, trend analysis and research opportunities, you’ll graduate with the confidence and expertise to build, manage and grow fashion brands in a global marketplace.

Developed with the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM), our industry-aligned curriculum ensures you’re on the cutting edge of industry knowledge and practical skills.

You’ll also develop a thorough understanding of sustainability and responsibility within the fashion industry and supply chain management across the globe. You’ll work on globally relevant projects, with opportunities to jet off for study trips or exchange visits.

By understanding the ethical issues facing the fashion industry, you’ll emerge as a strategic and responsible fashion buying and brand professional, equipped with the creative expertise and visual skills to build ranges, develop products and shape the future of fashion.

Our lecturers, who are both research-active and industry-experienced, will teach you the key skills you need for the workplace after graduation. Get hands-on with specialist industry software and put theory into practice during your Fashion Buying in Practice module in your second year. Spending a year in industry after completing your second year is also an option to kick-start your career. Past placements include Very, Ralph Lauren and River Island.

We offer this degree with two study options. You can choose four years full-time or five years full-time which would include a one-year industry placement before your final year that will give you hands-on experience in a real-life working environment. This year in industry gives you practical skills that many employers seek, giving you a competitive edge upon graduation.

There’s still time to secure an award-winning university experience at Cardiff Met, ranked a top 3 Welsh university (Uni Compare Rankings 2026).

Whatever your goals, you’ll be supported to reach your full potential through expert teaching and a supportive environment. Gain real-world experience via placements and live briefs, and graduate with the skills to make a positive impact.

Professionally accredited courses prepare you for the world of work, alongside year-round careers support, entrepreneurship opportunities and options to study abroad.

Cardiff is also one of the UK’s most affordable cities (NatWest Student Living Index 2025), offering vibrant food, nightlife, green spaces and more on a student budget.

Into sport? Cardiff Met is a leading UK university for student sport, supporting both academic and athletic success.