BA (Hons) Fashion Business

Type of course: Full time

Modes of study: On campus, online learning, industry/live briefs.

The academic year for the course follows our undergraduate calendar:

• Autumn Term: September to January 
• Spring Term: February to June

Students with disabilities can contact the dedicated disability officer for advice and adjustments during the course and for internships. handicap@atelier-chardon-savard.com

Entry requirements

There are two routes of entry to the BA courses with distinct requirements:

• Route 1: Integrated Foundation Entry at Year 0

Students complete the Integrated Foundation Year (Level 3) before progressing to Level 4 of one of two BA pathways: Fashion Design or Fashion Business. Graduates for this course pathway receive a BA (Hons) Fashion Design or Business with Foundation.

This route is for applicants who do not yet meet the Level 4 entry requirements, or who wish to build their creative, digital, and academic foundations in order to confirm their choice of specialisation.  In accordance with the Atelier Chardon Savard Academic Admissions Policy, applicants who meet English language proficiency but do not meet the academic requirements for admission at Level 4 may still be offered a place at Level 3.

• Route 2: Direct Entry to Year 1

This route is for applicants who meet the academic and English language requirements for honours-degree-level study, who have identified a definitive pathway, and who demonstrate the creative aptitude and subject knowledge needed to enter directly at Level 4. 

Direct entrants join one of the two BA pathways without completing the Foundation Year. Graduates for this course receive a BA (Hons) Fashion Design or Business.
This route is designed for applicants who already hold qualifications equivalent to the Level 4 standard, demonstrate the required English language proficiency, and can evidence creative aptitude through submission of a portfolio of creative ideas or a written piece of work. Direct entrants must indicate their chosen pathway (Design or Business) at the point of application.

The following entry requirements apply: 

Route 1:

• Hold a secondary school leaving qualification that provides access to higher education, such as the International Baccalaureate or another internationally recognised equivalent qualification
• Submission of a signed Personal Statement
• For applicants who are not native English speakers, proof of minimum English language proficiency is required (comparable to a CEFR B1 or IELTS score of 5.0 overall with a minimum of 4.5 in each component, or an equivalent English language qualification).

Route 2: 

• Hold a secondary school leaving qualification that provides access to higher education, such as the International Baccalaureate or another internationally recognised equivalent qualification, typically equivalent to a minimum of 12 years of formal education. 
• Submit a signed Personal Statement
• Submit a piece of fashion related written work (as defined in the Atelier Chardon Savard application brief). 
• For applicants who are not native English speakers, proof of minimum English language proficiency is required (comparable to a CEFR B2 or IELTS score of 6.0 overall with 5.5 in each component, or an equivalent English language qualification : TOEIC, TOEFL, Cambridge).

Admission based on application

The application must include the supporting documents, included in the application form.

Learn more about the application process

Application deadlines

Applications are accepted from October to August for the September intake. Applications are processed within a maximum of 5 working days of receipt of the complete application pack. Enrolment is possible up until the start date, subject to availability.

By way of exception, enrolment may be permitted after the start date of the course, within a maximum of one month after the start of the course.

In addition to your tuition fees, you should plan for some equipment  to support your work throughout the course. These may include:

• CVEC – a mandatory administrative fee required for students enroling in higher education in France (approximately €105 per year, depending on the applicable fee)
• Computer – suitable for the digital tools and software used during the course. We recommend a computer with the following specifications: 64-bit Windows 10, Intel Core i7 processor, 7th generation or later, 16 GB RAM, Graphics card with 4 GB of dedicated memory, 512 GB SSD, Screen resolution of 1920 × 1080 or higher. As a guide, expect to pay around €1,000 for a new computer, before any sales or special offers. A second-hand computer can also be a good alternative.

Graduates can continue their studies at Atelier Chardon Savard by enroling in our Master in Fashion Communication, pursue a postgraduate degree abroad, or work in fashion marketing, brand management, retail, communication, entrepreneurship and luxury business.

Educational Objectives

The BA (Hons) Fashion Business prepares future professionals to understand, manage, and develop fashion businesses by combining strategic thinking, commercial expertise, and a deep understanding of the creative dynamics that drive the fashion industry.

Throughout the course, students acquire:

• A strong understanding of the fashion industry, developed through the study of its history, ecosystem, key stakeholders, market dynamics, and the economic, social, and environmental challenges shaping its future.
• A solid foundation in fashion marketing and communication, enabling them to analyse consumer behaviour, define brand positioning, and develop effective marketing and communication strategies across various markets and channels.
• A comprehensive understanding of fashion business operations, from product development to distribution, including merchandising, retail management, e-commerce, and customer experience.
• The ability to analyse markets and business performance, identify growth opportunities, formulate strategic recommendations, and support informed decision-making within fashion organisations.
• Practical business and entrepreneurial skills applied to fashion, including project management, business development, financial awareness, and the creation of innovative business models and fashion ventures.
• The capacity to design, manage, and lead fashion projects, coordinating multiple stakeholders while integrating creative, commercial, digital, and operational dimensions.
• A clear understanding of responsible and sustainable fashion practices, incorporating environmental, social, ethical, and regulatory considerations into business strategies and decision-making.

Our teaching approach emphasises:

• Experiential and hands-on learning, through real-world projects, case studies, industry collaborations, business simulations, and professional challenges.
• An international and multicultural perspective, preparing students to operate within the global fashion industry and understand the specificities of diverse markets and consumer profiles.
• The development of strategic, entrepreneurial, and innovative thinking, equipping graduates to anticipate industry changes and contribute to the transformation of fashion businesses.
• Progressive professionalisation, through group projects, industry engagement, and expert-led workshops that foster both operational skills and career readiness.

The course aims to lead to the ‘Fashion Business’ qualification. It prepares students to become specialists in fashion business. Upon completion of the course, participants will be able to apply the skills required for the following activities:

• Develop and implement a marketing and communication strategy for products and services.
• Develop and implement a marketing and communication action plan for a product, service, or portfolio of products and services.
• Monitor and optimize marketing and communication performance
• Managing those involved in marketing and communications projects

In details : 

• Conduct market, commercial, technological, regulatory and consumer trend monitoring.
• Analyse the characteristics and expectations of the organisation’s target audiences by collecting and interpreting qualitative and quantitative data.
• Contribute to the development of new products or services by participating in creative processes alongside different departments (sales, R&D, production and finance).
• Define a marketing and communications strategy for a product or service.
• Present a marketing and communications strategy, justifying strategic decisions and recommendations.
• Develop a marketing action plan for a product or service by defining objectives, target audiences, actions, resources and key performance indicators.
• Select distributors and external partners (digital agencies, influencer agencies, event marketing agencies, content creation agencies, marketing automation platform providers, etc.).
• Develop a communications plan for a product or service by defining objectives, target audiences, key messages, actions, appropriate communication channels and implementation timelines.
• Create communication content and materials in line with the brand’s or organisation’s visual identity and editorial guidelines.
• Manage and engage online communities by producing impactful content, using a variety of engagement tools, and moderating online interactions to enhance brand visibility across social media channels and strengthen the organisation’s online reputation.
• Analyse the customer journey for a product or service using customer data analysis and management tools, sales feedback and customer journey mapping techniques to assess and improve the customer experience.
• Design and manage customer satisfaction surveys by defining objectives, developing questionnaires and establishing administration and monitoring procedures.
• Evaluate the performance of marketing and communications activities by defining and monitoring key performance indicators, including visibility, profitability, customer satisfaction and customer experience.
• Coordinate multidisciplinary teams comprising internal and/or external stakeholders by communicating project objectives, defining roles and setting targets.

• Face-to-face lectures, seminars and workshops developed and delivered by lecturers and industry professionals with expertise in fashion marketing, brand strategy, buying and merchandising, retail, communication, finance, data analytics and entrepreneurship.
• An applied, project-based teaching approach that enables students to address real challenges faced by fashion businesses. Students progressively develop their professional skills through research, analysis, decision-making, project development and critical reflection.
• Professional projects based on structured briefs and real or simulated business contexts, including market research, consumer analysis, brand strategies, campaign plans, buying and distribution proposals, financial plans, KPI dashboards, business plans and investor pitches.
• Individual and small-group tutorials providing regular opportunities to discuss work in progress, receive constructive feedback, identify areas for improvement and develop greater autonomy in the management of projects.
• Group projects, peer reviews, presentations and professional simulations designed to develop collaboration, negotiation, leadership, project management, communication and shared responsibility. Individual contributions are identified within group assessments.
• Case studies and simulations based on the French and international fashion industries, enabling students to analyse business models, consumer behaviour, distribution networks, regulatory frameworks, leadership challenges and commercial decision-making in professional contexts.
• Industry engagement through guest lectures, visits to fashion companies, trade events, showrooms and retail environments, allowing students to gain first-hand insight into current professional practices and develop their industry network.
• Use of professional digital tools and resources for market research, data analysis, financial modelling, campaign development, project management and visual presentation. Students are also taught to use AI-assisted tools critically, responsibly and ethically.
• Independent study involving academic and market research, reading, data collection and analysis, the preparation of reports and proposals, project development, presentation preparation.
• Progressive professionalisation throughout the course, culminating in the final-year development of a complete fashion venture. Students conduct strategic research, create a brand and business model, prepare a financial plan, develop a management and promotional strategy, and present their project to a professional panel.

Number of hours (face-to-face teaching)

Total volume is 1,640- 2,048 hours depending on whether you enter the BA (Hons) through the Foundation Year. Teaching hours include distance and in-person learning, master classes, evaluation time and professional support.

• Year 0 (Foundation Year) includes 408 hours of teaching
• Year 1 comprises 600 hours 
• Year 2 has 536 hours
• Year 3 has 504 hours 

Assessment is carried out according to a number of criteria tailored to the type of course, in the form of:

• Professional scenarios (work-based simulations)
• Case study

These assignments are to be completed individually or in groups. Successful completion of these assignments is required to obtain the qualification.

B1 & B2 Assessment methods

Assessment methods include coursework submissions, written examinations, and individual or group presentations

B3 Assessment methods 

Validating the acquisition of the certification’s competencies through projects and professional scenarios.

• Professional scenario-based assessments focused on a business development challenge, the creation of a new product or service, and the definition of a marketing and communications strategy.
• Professional scenario-based assessments focused on the development of marketing and communications plans, the selection of distributors and partners, the creation of communication content and materials, and the management of social media platforms.
• Professional scenario-based assessments focused on customer experience and customer satisfaction analysis, as well as the evaluation of the effectiveness of marketing and communications activities.
• Case studies focused on team coordination, overseeing the quality of deliverables produced by creative teams, and supporting the professional development of team members.

For entry into Year 1:

• Applicants must meet the course entry requirements.
• In addition, they must have completed a 36-month course of study preparing them for the assessment and achievement of the qualification delivered by the awarding body or an approved partner institution.

For entry into Year 2:

• Applicants must meet the course entry requirements.
• In addition, they must have completed a 24-month course of study preparing them for the assessment and achievement of the qualification delivered by the awarding body or an approved partner institution.

For entry into Year 3:

• Applicants must meet the course entry requirements.
• In addition, they must have completed a 12-month course of study preparing them for the assessment and achievement of the qualification delivered by the awarding body or an approved partner institution.

Please refer to the link below for the terms and conditions governing student status, as well as further information regarding the Consumer Contracts Regulations (CCRs).