Life at the FRA

ABOUT US

THE FRA EXPERIENCE

The Fashion Retail Academy is a unique, industry-led college. Founded by fashion and retail giants, we offer a range of specialist fashion courses with unparalleled industry involvement. We’ll make sure you graduate with the skills and network you need to successfully start your career in fashion.

OUR FOUNDING PARTNERS

A UNIQUE PRIVATE & PUBLIC PARTNERSHIP

The Fashion Retail Academy was established in 2005 by our Founding Partners with support from the UK Government. In the last 18 years, we have revolutionised fashion education in the UK, becoming well-known amongst employers for creating industry-ready graduates.

RETAIL SUPPORTERS

HOW WE WORK WITH INDUSTRY

We’re extremely proud of our exceptional industry network at the Fashion Retail Academy. We work with over 140 brands to deliver the highest quality of teaching and learning opportunities to our students.  

All our courses are designed to meet specific industry needs and match employer expectations, helping our graduates to secure the best jobs. During their studies, our students receive exceptional industry support including personal mentors, industry experiences, brand-led projects and talks and masterclasses from fashion leaders.  

LOCATED IN THE HEART OF LONDON

One of the fashion capitals of the world, London is known for its diverse and creative fashion trends, both on and off the catwalk. A thriving city with an abundance of art, culture and entertainment, it's an exciting and vibrant place to study.

Fashion Retail Academy
15 Gresse Street,
London,
W1T 1QL

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FASHION CAPITAL

London is one of the major fashion capitals of the world, hosting London Fashion Week twice a year in September and February. It’s also home to many brand head offices and flagship stores, as well as galleries and museums. Studying in London means you’ll have amazing access to networking and work experience opportunities, setting you up with the best possible start to your career.

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CULTURE

London has plenty of museums and galleries that are free to visit, displaying world-class exhibitions and collections. The V&A has the largest fashion collection in the world, with a brilliant schedule of temporary exhibitions. The Saatchi Gallery, Whitechapel Gallery, Tate Modern and The National Portrait Gallery are also within easy reach of the Academy's new campus.

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ENTERTAINMENT

With over 100 cinemas and 350 live music venues, London has plenty to do. There are over 7000 bars and pubs and 5000 restaurants to choose from. See a show in the West End, watch world-class artists perform, or see the city from the sky at the top of the Shard. From brunch restaurants to rooftop bars, board game cafes to escape rooms, London has it all.

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TRAVEL

London is a large city but is very well connected. You can use tubes, buses and trains to get around, even at night. Students can enjoy discounted travel too, with railcards and oyster cards giving you access to reduced fairs. The closest tube stations to our Gresse Street campus are Tottenham Court Road (4-minute walk) and Oxford Circus (9-minute walk). We are a short journey away from many major train stations, including Euston, Kings Cross, Waterloo, Charing Cross and Victoria.

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GREEN SPACE

No matter where you are in London, you’re never far from a garden or park. In fact, nearly 20% of the city is green space! Our current campus is a short walk from Soho Square Gardens and Electra House is close to Finsbury Circus Gardens, which is the perfect spot for a break on a sunny day. Larger areas like Richmond Park, Hampstead Heath and Hyde Park are all easily accessible by public transport.

Virtual Tour


Watch our virtual reality video to see inside our brand new central London campus, Electra House. Look around our classrooms and lecture theatre, and our other specialist facilities, including:

  • A bigger library and more workspaces
  • 28 multi-purpose classrooms
  • Bespoke studio spaces
  • 6 lecture theatres
  • Dedicated fashion design wing and photography studio
  • Discovery nook for group work and collaboration
  • Specialist event and exhibition spaces

SPECIALIST STAFF

LEARN FROM OUR EXPERT TUTORS

Everything we do at the Fashion Retail Academy is made possible by our outstanding team of teaching staff. Almost all our tutors have worked in the fashion and retail industries themselves, and many still do.

They have a vast amount of industry knowledge and experience to share with students, with contacts and brand access to support them at every stage of their learning.  

Join our team
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PROGRESSION

YOUR PATHWAY TO A CAREER

Our 16 bespoke courses cover a wide variety of specialisations within the fashion retail industry. Our goal is to make sure that everyone can secure their dream career in fashion.

We teach diplomas at Level 2, 3 and 4, including a 22-week Fast Track course for adults aged 19+. We also have a number of accelerated two-year undergraduate degree courses, which save you time and money compared to a traditional degree. Our brand-new online courses are perfect if you'll looking to retrain and launch a new career in fashion. You could also choose to study on one of our Apprenticeship programmes.

ALUMNI

PROGRESS INTO YOUR DREAM FASHION JOB

At the Fashion Retail Academy, it's our goal to get you to your dream career in the fashion industry. Our courses are designed with input from our brand partners, to make sure we're teaching our students the most relevant and in-demand skills for the job market. Our alumni can be found working in nearly every fashion head office in the UK.

Want to know more?

Download our 2024-25 course guide

Download Course Guide