One of our most frequently asked questions is whether prospective students should choose to study one of our Level 4 diplomas or an undergraduate degree.
27th March 2025
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Date 28th October 2025
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All information is accurate at the time of publication. Please check individual course pages for the most up-to-date information.
We recently spoke to Evangeline McGeever, a Level 4 Visual Merchandising Diploma student, to hear all about her experience on the course so far! Here's a look inside what it's really like to study Visual Merchandising at the Fashion Retail Academy - what she's learned, her highlights so far and her advice for future students.
Why the FRA?
Evangeline shared that she chose to join the FRA after researching her options following A Levels.
I found that most fashion universities and colleges around the UK required previous experience studying fashion or a portfolio, but the courses at the FRA were open to anyone, regardless of previous experience. - Evangeline McGeever, Level 4 Visual Merchandising student
Why Level 4 Visual Merchandising?
Passionate about fashion and creativity, Evangeline wanted to dive deeper into what makes retail displays so impactful - exploring everything from consumer psychology and current trends to marketing techniques used by luxury and high street brands.
Highlights So Far
When asked about her favourite parts of the course so far, Evangeline said that, beyond the great friends she's made, she's loved the industry trips and creative projects so far.
Recently, her class visited Spitalfields Market and Brick Lane for their primary research, exploring unique examples of visual merchandising and window displays to inspire their own projects.
What’s Evangeline Working On Now?
Currently, Evangeline is developing a brand collaboration project for her chosen high street brand. After completing a business SWOT analysis, she's now working on a visual proposal to bring her concept to life.
Skills Gained So Far
Since starting the course, Evangeline has developed a strong set of creative and professional skills, including:
- Using industry tools like WGSN and GlobalData for business analysis and trend forecasting
- Building confidence in presenting and proposing creative ideas
- Applying retail and marketing insights to develop visually engaging brand collaborations
She's also planning to take part in the Future Pathways Programme's Placement Pathway this March to gain work experience in fashion communications or PR. This will help her boost her CV and portfolio, and prepare for an industry role after graduation!
Advice For Future Students
To any new students, I would say to be yourself, as everyone is very welcoming, regardless of your background in Visual Merchandising, and to make your projects unique, as it will benefit you in building up your portfolio for future jobs. - Evangeline McGeever, Level 4 Visual Merchandising student
If you're creative, love fashion and want to learn how brands bring their ideas to life through eye-catching displays - this could be the perfect course for you. Explore the Level 4 Visual Merchandising Diploma and apply today!
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