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Undergraduate

BA (Hons) Fashion Visual Merchandising and Branding

Digital exhibition
BA (Hons) Visual Merchandising and Branding © Maximilien Dirand | London College of Fashion | University of Arts London
College
London College of Fashion
UCAS code
5P60
Start date
September 2024
Course length
3 years / 4 years (with placement year in industry)

The course is a unique educational experience reflecting the current demands in industry through a contemporary curriculum to equip students for industry. Today's marketplace requires multidisciplinary visual merchandising and branding experience, you will master a wide arrange of design skills that includes all aspects of visual retail display and fashion branded spaces. Students develop expertise in visual merchandising, digital visual merchandising, spatial design and branding practices through a curriculum that explores the design process from conceptualization through fabrication.

Why choose this course at London College of Fashion

  • The course is future facing and a leader in its field.
  • You’ll partake on live and collaborative briefs with clients and project partners developing a professional network.
  • You can take the opportunity to interrupt your course after two years full time study to do a work placement and qualify additionally for the Diploma in Professional Studies.
  • Our graduates work across a wide spectrum of careers in visual merchandising, digital visual merchandising, experiential visual designers, set-designers, spatial designer, visual branding and brand developers / managers.

Open days

There are currently no Open Days scheduled for this course, please check back at a later date.

Scholarships, bursaries and awards

Course overview

Introduction

Your BA (Hons) Fashion Visual Merchandising and Branding course will prepare you for the challenges and expectations of  industry by responding to the current and emerging demands of the sector within the contemporary curriculum. 

Today’s challenging and competitive professional environment requires multidisciplinary visual merchandising and branding experience, you will master an extensive variety of practical and digital design skills that include all aspects of visual retail display and branding for fashion spaces.  

What to expect 

  • You will develop expertise in visual merchandising, digital visual merchandising, spatial design and branding practices through a curriculum that explores the design process from conceptualisation through fabrication. 
  • The course covers trend research, design development, store design and digital visual merchandising that will gives you the necessary understanding and professional skills to become a confident visual merchandiser and branding expert across omni-channel environments. 
  • Engagement with the strategic contribution of visual merchandising and branding to the long-term development of retail businesses, supported by studying internationalism, sustainability, innovation, strategy and entrepreneurship.  
  • You will engage and interact with National and International professionals with the course on projects and industry visits
  • The dynamic curriculum is delivered through challenging industry-focused projects including Work Experience Based learning opportunities, it combines theory and practice and allows you to personalise your learning with a variety of topics and assessment types. 

Work experience and opportunities

There are opportunities for collaborative projects where students will gain industry relevant knowledge and practice by working with a prestigious company. There is an opportunity to undertake an optional industry or enterprise placement year between the second and final year of the course which will enhance the employability of students by offering valuable experience and contacts within the industry as well as earning an additional Diploma in Professional Studies qualification.  You also have the opportunity to work with industry in your second year as part of the curriculum.

Mode of study

BA (Hons) Fashion Visual Merchandising and Branding runs for 90 weeks in full time mode. It is divided into 3 stages over 3 academic years. Each stage lasts 30 weeks. 

Climate, Social and Racial Justice

We are committed to developing ethical Fashion Business practices. To achieve this, we are working to embed UAL’s Principles for Climate, Social and Racial Justice into the course.

Course units

Year 1

The units you will study in Year 1, Stage 1, Level 4 are as follows:

  • Introduction to Visual Merchandising & Branding; 20 credits
  • Principles of Fashion Visual Merchandising; 40 credits.
  • Fashion Branding for the Physical Environment; 20 credits
  • Fashion Cultures and Histories; 20 credits
  • Fashion Branding for the Digital Environment; 20 credits

Year 2

The units you will study in Year 2, Stage 2, Level 5 are as follows:

  • Critical Issues in Fashion Research; 20 credits
  • Curating the Consumer Experience; 40 credits
  • Brand Development: Fashion Store Design; 20 credits.
  • Work Experience Based Learning; 20 credits
  • Futures and Innovations; 20 credits.

Optional Diploma Year

Industry DIPS

This optional diploma can be taken between years 2 and 3. With support from your tutors, you’ll undertake an industry placement for a minimum of 100 days/20 weeks. As well as developing industry skills, you’ll gain an additional qualification upon successful completion.

Enterprise DIPS

This optional diploma can be taken between years 2 and 3. With support from your tutors, you’ll undertake an enterprise placement year where you will explore a business idea from proposal to minimal viable product (MVP). As well as developing enterprise skills, you’ll gain an additional qualification upon successful completion.

CCI Creative Computing

Between years 2 and 3, you can undertake the year-long Diploma in Creative Computing. This will develop your skills in creative computing alongside your degree. After successfully completing the diploma and your undergraduate degree, you’ll graduate with an enhanced degree: BA (Hons) Fashion Visual Merchandising and Branding (with Creative Computing).

CCI Apple Diploma 

Between years 2 and 3, you can undertake the year-long Diploma in Apple Development. This will give you an opportunity to become an accredited apple developer alongside your degree. After successfully completing the diploma and your undergraduate degree, you’ll graduate with an enhanced degree: BA (Hons) Fashion Visual Merchandising and Branding (with Apple Development).

Year 3

The units you will study in Year 3, Stage 3, Level 6 are as follows:

  • Project Proposal; 20 credits
  • Fashion Visual Merchandising and Branding Strategy; 40 credits
  • Final Major Project; 60 credits

Learning and teaching methods

The following teaching and learning methods are employed to support the integrated achievement of the course outcomes: 

  • Lectures
  • Seminars
  • Critiques
  • Studio based workshops
  • Collaborative Learning
  • Online learning
  • Workshop practice
  • Open access work
  • Visiting speakers
  • Demonstrations
  • Self-directed study

Graduate Showcase

Explore work by our recent students on the UAL Showcase

  • Pangaia's Universal Sanctuary
    Pangaia's Universal Sanctuary, Jennifer Al-Araibi, 2023 BA (Hons) Fashion Visual Merchandising and Branding, London College of Fashion, UAL
  • More-than-human design in a fashion environment
    More-than-human design in a fashion environment, Emily Sayle, 2023 BA (Hons) Fashion Visual Merchandising and Branding, London College of Fashion, UAL
  • Dover Street Market Metaverse Pop-Up
    Dover Street Market Metaverse Pop-Up, Natalie Sin, 2023 BA (Hons) Fashion Visual Merchandising and Branding, London College of Fashion, UAL
  • Gamified Experience with Blockchain Integration
    Gamified Experience with Blockchain Integration, Natalia Miklosovicova, 2023 BA (Hons) Fashion Visual Merchandising and Branding, London College of Fashion, UAL
  • The Metaverse for brand engagement
    The Metaverse for brand engagement, Lara Hyder, 2023 BA (Hons) Fashion Visual Merchandising and Branding, London College of Fashion, UAL

Student work

  • VMB-Alexander-McQueen.jpg
    Student work exploring the visual brand identity of Alexander McQueen BA (Hons) Fashion Visual Merchandising and Branding Photography by Sarah Bailey
  • VMB-Alexander-McQueen-1.jpg
    Alexander McQueen BA (Hons) Fashion Visual Merchandising and Branding Photography by Sarah Bailey
  • VMB-Alexander-McQueen-2.jpg
    Student work exploring the visual brand identity of Alexander McQueen BA (Hons) Fashion Visual Merchandising and Branding Photography by Sarah Bailey

Student and graduate work

  • Nadeen-Elwi-Graduate-Showcase-2021.png
    Student work by Nadeen Elwi | BA (Hons) Fashion Visual Merchandising and Branding | London College of Fashion | 2021
  • Leah-Coles-Graduate-Showcase-2021.png
    Student work by Leah Coles | BA (Hons) Fashion Visual Merchandising and Branding | London College of Fashion | 2021
  • Mattis-Rump-Graduate-Showcase-2021.jpg
    Student work by Mattis Rump | BA (Hons) Fashion Visual Merchandising and Branding | London College of Fashion | 2021

Winning Design Proposal for Stella McCartney

BA (Hons) Fashion Visual Merchandising and Branding student, Mattis Rump

BA (Hons) Visual Merchandising and Branding final year student work by Miriam Dunn

BA (Hons) Visual Merchandising and Branding final year student work by Rhianna Mounsey

What's it like to study BA (Hons) Fashion Visual Merchandising and Branding at LCF?

BA (Hons) Visual Merchandising and Branding talk about their window displays

Collaborative Student Project with ASOS - Fashion Business School

Latest news from this course

Staff

Demetra Kolakis

Demetra Kolakis is the Course Leader for BA (Hons) Fashion Visual Merchandising and Branding at the University of the Arts London.She holds a BA from Columbia University, a BFA from Concordia University, and a MA from UAL and is currently pursuing a PhD at UAL.  Research interests include the interplay between consumption, production and experience in relation to contemporary fashion, modernism, visual culture and cultural processes.  Her current research interests are the sensory characteristics and atmospheric qualities of the built fashion environment and their relationship to behaviour.Her work has been exhibited at pop ups, galleries, and international shows including Project, Premiere Vision NYC, Trunk, Atelier, Who’s Next, Ideal Berlin, Best Shop Berlin, Designers Against Aids, and Premium Berlin. She has been a speaker at international conferences and a visiting lecturer in universities worldwide teaching fashion spatial design literacy and practices. In 2018, she received the UAL Teaching Award for excellence in teaching. In 2019, received a fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.

Edward Stammers

Edward Stammers is the programme director for the Fashion Business Programme and has an MA in Fashion Merchandise Management and a PG Cert in Education. He is a fellow of the British Display Society and has worked in the visual merchandising industry for twenty-five years, managing global visual merchandising and marketing campaigns as design and project manager for Rootstein Display Mannequins. His research interests centre on the function and perception of the mannequin form and the challenges to the mannequin that are developing from the increased use of digital technology within the fashion retail environment.

Jonathan Baker

Jonathan Baker is a senior lecturer and subject specialist in Fashion Visual Merchandising. He is also a freelance industry consultant, writer and blogger and former Chief world Expert in Visual Merchandising for Worldskills.org. Jonathan previously worked within the retail and visual merchandising industry across 18 high street brands, including Topman, Topshop, Burtons, and has taught for 22 years. He studied MAs in Design at Central St. Martin’s and Art in Architecture (UEL) has also taught Visual Merchandising at several international universities and presented as a guest speaker at conferences in New York, Moscow, Beijing, Herfei, Shanghai, Amsterdam, London, Dubai, Rome, Panama, Guatemala, Lisbon, and Cape Town. Jonathan is the Author of Fashion Visual Merchandising published by Bloomsbury Press in (1stEd.) 2014 and (2ndEd.) 2021.

Sarah Bailey

Sarah Bailey is a Senior Lecturer at London College of Fashion where she specialises in working collaboratively with industry fashion brands such as Liberty and Stella McCartney. She is a leading Visual Merchandising and Creative Consultant with more than 20 years global fashion and retail experience. Her clients have included: Fenwick, Charlotte Tilbury, Harrods, and Museum of London. Previously she was former course director at London College of Fashion, where she launched the BA Fashion Visual Merchandising and Branding Degree. Sarah has a master's degree in Academic Practice in Art, Design and Visual Communications and is a fellow of The Higher Education Academy. Sarah is author of Visual Merchandising for Fashion book published by Bloomsbury Press, and has been featured in The Financial Times, Vogue, Drapers Record and on the BBC.

Fees and funding

Home fee

£9,250 per year

This fee is correct for entry in autumn 2024 and is subject to change for entry in autumn 2025.

Tuition fees may increase in future years for new and continuing students.

Home fees are currently charged to UK nationals and UK residents who meet the rules. However, the rules are complex. Find out more about our tuition fees and determining your fee status.

International fee

£28,570 per year

This fee is correct for entry in autumn 2024 and is subject to change for entry in autumn 2025.

Tuition fees for international students may increase by up to 5% in each future year of your course.

Students from countries outside of the UK will generally be charged international fees. The rules are complex so read more about tuition fees and determining your fee status.

Scholarship search

Entry requirements

The standard minimum entry requirements for this course are:

One or a combination of the following accepted full level 3 qualifications.

  • 112 UCAS tariff points from two or more A Levels (preferred subjects include Art, Design, English and Maths);
  • Distinction, Merit, Merit at BTEC Extended Diploma (preferred subjects Art & Design);
  • Distinction at Foundation Diploma in Art and Design;
  • Merit at UAL Extended Diploma;
  • Access Diploma or 112 new UCAS tariff points from the Access to HE Diploma;
  • 112 new UCAS tariff points from a combination of the above qualifications or an equivalent full Level 3 qualification;
  • or equivalent EU or non-EU qualifications such as International Baccalaureate Diploma
  • and Six GCSE passes at grade A*-C or grade 9-4, with a grade C or 4 for Maths.

Entry to this course will also be determined by assessment of your portfolio.

APEL (Accreditation of Prior (Experiential) Learning)

Applicants who do not meet these course entry requirements may still be considered in exceptional cases. The course team will consider each application that demonstrates additional strengths and alternative evidence. This might, for example, be demonstrated by:

  • Related academic or work experience
  • The quality of the personal statement
  • A strong academic or other professional reference
  • OR a combination of these factors 

Each application will be considered on its own merit but we cannot guarantee an offer in each case.

English Language Requirements

IELTS level 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in reading, writing, listening and speaking. Please check our main English Language Requirements

Selection criteria

The course team seeks to recruit students who can demonstrate:

  • A strong interest in and understanding of retail branding and visual merchandising
  • The potential for creating original visual merchandising concepts
  • Fashion industry experience
  • An ability to work as part of a team
  • An ability to undertake self-directed study
  • A motivation to succeed on the course  

Apply now

Application deadline

31 January 2024 at 18:00 (UK time)

If there are places available after this date, the course will remain open to applications until places have been filled.

Apply to UAL

Home students can apply to this course through UCAS with the following codes:

University code:

U65

UCAS code:

5P60

Start your application

Apply now

Application deadline

31 January 2024 at 18:00 (UK time)

If there are places available after this date, the course will remain open to applications until places have been filled.

Apply to UAL

International students can apply to this course through UCAS with the following codes:

University code:

U65

UCAS code:

5P60

Start your application
or

Apply with a UAL Representative

Based across the world, our local UAL representatives can support you with your application from your home country. Check to see if there is a representative available in your country currently.

Find your representative

How to apply

Follow this step-by-step guide to apply for this course

Step 1: Initial application

You will need to submit an initial application including your personal statement.

Personal statement advice

Your personal statement should be maximum 4,000 characters and cover the following:

  • Why have you chosen this course? What excites you about the subject?
  • How does your previous or current study relate to the course?
  • Have you got any work experience that might help you?
  • Have any life experiences influenced your decision to apply for this course?
  • What skills do you have that make you perfect for this course?
  • What plans and ambitions do you have for your future career?

Visit the UCAS advice page and our personal statement advice page for more support.

Step 2: Digital portfolio

We will review your initial application. If you have met the standard entry requirements, we will ask you to submit a digital portfolio.

You’ll need to submit this via PebblePad, our online portfolio tool.

Digital portfolio advice

Your portfolio should consist of recent work that reflects your creative strengths.

It should:

  • be maximum 30 pages
  • showcase your technical skills and ability to think and work in 3D
  • include work in progress to illustrate how you experiment and develop ideas from initial concepts to final outcomes
  • include research to highlight your knowledge and awareness of the cultural contexts behind the contemporary fashion industry
  • demonstrate your ability to effectively present ideas through visual communication.

For more support, see our Portfolio advice and PebblePad advice.

Step 3: Interview

You may be invited to an interview following our review of your application. All interviews are held online and last 15 to 20 minutes.

For top tips, see our Interview advice.

You also need to know

Communicating with you

Once you have submitted your initial application, we will email you with your login details for our Applicant portal.

Requests for supplementary documents like qualifications and English language tests will be made through the applicant portal. You can also use it to ask questions regarding your application. Visit our After you apply page for more information.

Visas and immigration history check

All non-UK nationals must complete an immigration history check. Your application may be considered by our course teams before this check takes place. This means that we may request your portfolio and/or video task before we identify any issues arising from your immigration history check. Sometimes your history may mean that we are not able to continue considering your application. Visit our Immigration and visas advice page for more information.

External student transfer policy

UAL accepts transfers from other institutions on a case-by-case basis. Read our Student transfer policy for more information.

Alternative offers

If your application is really strong, but we believe your strengths and skillset are better suited to a different course, we may make you an alternative offer. This means you will be offered a place on a different course or at a different UAL College.

Deferring your place

You must apply in the year that you intend to start your course. If you are made an offer and your circumstances change, you can submit a deferral request to defer your place by 1 academic year. You must have met your conditions by 31 August 2024. If you need an English language test in order to meet the entry requirements, the test must be valid on the deferred start date of your course. If not, you will need to reapply. Requests are granted on a first-come, first-served basis.

Contextual Admissions

This course is part of the Contextual Admissions scheme.

This scheme helps us better understand your personal circumstances so that we can assess your application fairly and in context. This ensures that your individual merit and creative potential can shine through, no matter what opportunities and experiences you have received.

Careers

All of our undergraduate courses offer career development, so that you become a creative thinker, making effective contributions to your relevant sector of the fashion industry.

LCF offers students the opportunity to develop Personal and Professional Development (PPD) skills while studying through:
  • An on-course work experience or placement year. Please note, this is not available on every course; please see the Course Details section for information about work placement opportunities.
  • Access to to speaker programmes and events featuring alumni and industry.
  • Access to careers activities, such as CV clinics and one-to-one advice sessions.
  • Access to a graduate careers service
  • Access to a live jobsboard for all years.
  • Advice on setting up your own brand or company.
Graduates who wish to continue their education at postgraduate level can progress to suitable courses within the College, the University or elsewhere.

Career paths

Graduates from this course have gone on to work in a number of interesting roles including: Digital Visual Merchandiser, Junior Retail Space and Installation Designer, Retail Space and Events Designer, and Senior Store Planning Project Manager. Graduates have found employment with notable brands such as: Burberry, Axel Arigato and Alexander McQueen.

Industry accreditations and support

British Display Society

BA (Hons) Fashion Visual Merchandising and Branding is recognised by the British Display Society as a UK ‘Centre of Excellence’: graduates may receive the award of ProDip.BDS upon successful completion of the course and have the opportunity of membership of the British Display Society whilst studying at LCF.

Industry projects

Oltre Frontiera Progetti

LCF collaborated with global Visual Merchandising and Retail Design specialists Oltre Frontiera Progetti to offer a once in a lifetime Visual Merchandising Student Award exclusive to BA Fashion Visual Merchandising & Branding final year students 2019-20.

One final year student was given the opportunity to be mentored and supported by key industry professionals and receive an award of £3000, plus the opportunity to take an internship in Milan after graduation.

Students were asked to pitch a presentation summarizing a range of their previous Visual Merchandising and Retail Design experience and present their Final Year creative project proposals.

Final year student Ashvini Sivakumar was delighted to be selected as the winner of the Oltrefrontiera Progetti Visual Merchandising Award.

LCF VM Students X Stella McCartney Collaboration 2020

Students from the BA Fashion Visual Merchandising and Branding degree course at London College of Fashion worked in collaboration with the Stella McCartney Global Visual Merchandising team to design a new Pop Up branded space to launch the new Shared Capsule which is part of the Members & Non Members Only Collection at Stella McCartney.

The Shared Capsule explores the idea of shared objects between people who share the same sense of style and values. Themes of sustainability, digital activity, and narrative environments were explored by the students to create a commercially viable and interactive customer experience. MNMO is a material response to achieving fluidity and the innate need to be connected and personified by the next generation. The aim of the visual merchandising student design project was to design a collective space to celebrate individual style whilst encompassing values of diversity and inclusivity.

The pop up was intended to launch in Beijing, China and then to 10 other main city locations around the world including Old Bond Street in London. The students were mentored by the Head of Visual Merchandising & Instore Experience at Stella McCartney and Sarah Bailey Senior Lecturer at London College of Fashion.