Fashion Communication with Business Studies

A Brighton Fashion Communication with Business Studies degree prepares you for a range of rewarding career paths including roles including fashion styling, buying, photography, publishing and forecasting, as well as creative and art direction and visual promotion.

Art and Design at Brighton is ranked in the top 20 in the UK in the QS World University Rankings 2025.

Studying here at Brighton, you’ll be part of a creative community that helps you grow, no matter what your background. This course is packed with opportunities to build real-world experience, including a paid placement after year two. Our inclusive approach to learning will help you go further; we’ll make sure you play to your strengths and learn in ways that suit you best.

Here at Brighton, we have an excellent reputation in the fashion industry for producing creative, innovative and hard-working graduates – our alumni have worked at organisations including Burberry, Victoria Beckham Calvin Klein and Max Mara.

Top reasons to choose this course

• From your second year you’ll have the opportunity to specialise in fashion photography and styling, fashion imaging, film and interaction or visual promotion.

• We want you to become forward-thinking in your ideas and to challenge the boundaries of fashion communication. You will be encouraged to approach your work creatively and experimentally!

• Business studies are integrated throughout the degree, meaning you will leave ready to enter the business of fashion, whether that’s starting your own company or working as part of a team within international brands and design houses.

• Talks from industry professionals throughout your studies will give you both business insight and creative inspiration.

• An optional placement year gives you the chance to put your learning into practice in a professional environment, strengthening your portfolio and industry contacts.

• Learn in a creative, diverse and supportive community right in the centre of Brighton.

Why Brighton is a great place to study Fashion Communication with Business
Brighton is a city with creativity at its heart, making it the perfect setting to study Fashion Communication with Business Studies. Home to independent fashion brands, art galleries and design festivals, the city offers endless inspiration and opportunities to engage with the creative community.

Our long heritage in art and design education means you’ll be part of a vibrant network of makers, with access to exhibitions and industry connections that extend beyond campus. Living and studying here gives you the chance to explore new ideas in a supportive, open-minded city known for its culture, innovation and craft.

Named one of the best cities on the planet and third best city in the UK by Time Out, Brighton is also a bustling hub for music, media and technology.

Year 1
You’ll explore the foundations of fashion communication, from photography, styling and illustration to visual promotion and trend forecasting. Through market research and business studies, you’ll gain insight into the creative industries and how culture, identity and society shape fashion.

Core modules
Introduction to Fashion Photography and Styling
Study Skills in the Creative Industries
Design and Culture Under Scrutiny
Introduction to Fashion Illustration and Imaging
Introduction to Visual Promotion
Market Research and Business in the Creative Industries

Year 2
You will choose to specialise in one of three areas: fashion photography and styling, fashion imaging, film and interaction or visual promotion. You’ll take on collaborative, industry-focused projects, exploring contemporary roles in photography, styling, visual promotion and fashion imaging. Alongside this, you’ll build valuable business knowledge, learning about sustainability, branding and supply chain models, and strengthen your understanding of fashion’s cultural, historical and global contexts.

Core modules
Editorial Brief
Creative Enterprise in the Community
Fashion Futures Pathways: Experiences and Spaces
Design and Culture: Critical Studies and Research Skills

Optional Placement Year
You can gain valuable industry experience and earn money on an optional placement year, returning to your final year with confidence, hands-on experience and valuable contacts. Our students have completed placements at brands including Harper’s Bazaar, Selfridges and Big Sky Studios.

Final year
You’ll define your creative direction and bring it to life through an independent project and a professional portfolio that showcases your skills and style. You’ll conduct in-depth research to inform your creative practice, explore the business side of fashion by developing a detailed business or marketing plan, and complete a written research project on a topic that inspires you.

Core modules
Fashion Communication Research, Investigation and Proposal
Design Management and Business Plan
Historical and Critical Studies Research Project
Fashion Communication Final Major Project
Professional Portfolio