Undergraduate BSc (Hons) Data Analytics for Retail

Data analytics has become central to fashion retail and informs the whole fashion industry. Data analysts create and interrogate data that supports all areas of a business, from buying and merchandising to marketing and operations. The ever-evolving fashion industry needs trained data analysts to analyse findings and develop creative solutions to challenges facing the industry, such as the rapid growth in consumer demand and the need to address sustainable and ethical production.  

By choosing to study BSc (Hons) Data Analytics for Retail, you’ll learn the essential data gathering, analysis and management skills needed to effectively interpret data and create innovative solutions to business problems. Data analysis involves more than just number-crunching and is a key element of every fashion and retail business. 

BSc (Hons) Data Analytics for Retail is a three-year undergraduate degree. This course will teach you the practical skills in data analytics, data management and data-driven decision making, tailored specifically for the retail industry. Whether the focus is on customer insight, data management, or data visualisation, this course will equip you with the skills to tackle real -word retail challenges.

You’ll explore the technical and practical aspects of gathering data and look at the measures you need to take to ensure that you are practising ethically. By combining data-driven techniques with a keen understanding of consumer psychology, graduates will be well-prepared to make informed decisions that cater to the fast-evolving retail market. 

Data analytics can focus on a variety of areas in the industry, including researching consumer behaviour, identifying future business needs, trend research, and ensuring effective buying and merchandising strategies. 

This course requires a laptop capable of running: Excel, Power BI and related analytics software

BSc (hons) Data Analytics for Retail MODULES 

Our BSc (Hons) Data Analytics for Retail course includes specialist modules*: 

YEAR 1  

• Fundamentals of Data Analytics (40 Credits): This module demystifies the core concepts of data analysis, with a central focus on harnessing the power of Excel - one of the most widely used analytics tools in the industry. Develop a foundational knowledge in retail data analytics with the ability to utilise Excel effectively in various business contexts. Learn to identify, understand, and solve problems facing brands, understand how to interpret trends and how to analyse your findings to highlight new opportunities for a business in any area of industry.
• Market Research (40 Credits): Discover how to combine academic research methods with practical business insights, and learn about research design, including quantitative surveys and qualitative techniques like focus groups and interviews. Understand how research practices have a direct impact on business strategies and learn to harness academic methods to address real-world business challenges. Delve into research design, spanning both quantitative surveys and qualitative techniques such as focus groups and interviews.

YEAR 2 

• Big Data & Emerging Technologies in Business (40 Credits): Examine how effective and ethical management techniques are evolving. Explore the value of big data and the working relationship with emerging technologies to effectively analyse big data for businesses. Receive an introduction to the R programming language and AI tools, to assist and enhance your coding and analytical procedure.
• Data Management & Visualisation (40 Credits): Explore many of the most widely used techniques in the field for cleansing, storing, manipulating and displaying data. Learn how to transform data into compelling narratives and effectively communicate data-driven insights to diverse audiences. 

YEAR 3

• Personal Professional Project (40 Credits): Complete an individual project that represents the knowledge and skills you have learnt during the degree. This is a self-directed project, and you will receive guidance from your tutor.  
• Live Project & Industry Experience - Data Analytics (40 Credits): Complete a live project, working with a brand. Gain knowledge and insights from industry enrichment throughout the project. Explore a range of business problems relating to areas such as customer segmentation, product positioning, market trend analysis and consumer behaviour.

All 40 credit modules receive 100 hours of teaching time.

CORE MODULES

There are core modules that are taught across all undergraduate courses*:  

YEAR 1  

• Study & Research Skills (20 Credits): Develop the knowledge and skills necessary for studying fashion at undergraduate level. Complete a research project that allows you to practice creative research techniques in your specialist area. Explore theories on decolonisation, equity, diversity, and inclusion.  
• Database Marketing (20 Credits): Receive an introduction to the strategic use of databases in crafting targeted marketing campaigns and optimising customer relationship management (CRM) strategies. Delve into the nuances of collecting, segmenting and analysing customer data, and learn how to harness this information to design personalised marketing initiatives and enhance CRM systems. Learn about Structured Query Language (SQL) and understand how to efficiently query and manipulate databases. 

YEAR 2  

• Consumer Behaviour (20 Credits): Explore how consumer behaviour impacts all aspects of a fashion business and understand how individual and collective consumer habits are influenced by cultural, social, and economic factors.  
• Consumer & Data Insights (20 Credits): Learn how to gather, collate and analyse important data, and discover how to use your findings in evidence-based decision-making. Explore the legal and ethical implications of working with consumer data.

YEAR 3

• Global Markets (20 Credits): Develop your understanding of global markets and the international business landscape. Learn about the impact of globalisation on businesses and consumers, and how business models are changing in reaction to social and political change. Learn about the diversity, complexity, and vibrancy of the international business landscape for fashion, and how each element of the industry is connected.  
• Entrepreneurial Practice (20 Credits): Discover the core elements that make a business entrepreneurial and how the business ecosystem can drive change. Explore the theoretical and practical entrepreneurial capabilities for start-ups and established businesses.   

All 20 credit modules receive 50 hours of teaching time.

*Course structures and modules can change as part of our curriculum enhancement and review processes

We work with over 250 brands at the FRA. Each of our degree courses includes practical, industry-focused content taught by some of fashion’s biggest names to give you valuable skills and work experience.

INDUSTRY MENTOR

We match every undergraduate student with their own dedicated industry mentor. You’ll meet a minimum of once a term, and they’ll be there to support and guide you, and give you insight into working life. They’ll share their professional experience and personal connections to top names in fashion. Current students are working with mentors from brands like Jigsaw, Whistles, Burberry and Lipsy.

INDUSTRY EXPERIENCE

As part of our undergraduate programmes, you’ll have industry experience with one of our partner brands each year. You’ll be assigned to an industry manager either individually or as a small group, and you’ll work remotely or in the office. You’ll be given tasks to complete, providing you with an understanding of a specific job role and its place within an organisation. You could be working in a single team, or across multiple areas of the business.

In your first year, you’ll complete three weeks of experience. In your second year, your work placement will be either 3 weeks full time or two days a week over 3 months. You’ll earn practical, professional skills that give a valuable boost to your CV.

YOU 2.0 ASSESSMENT CENTRE BOOTCAMP 

All graduating students will pass through our unique assessment centre bootcamp, designed to give you experience of industry interviews and assessment days. You’ll learn what to expect and how to prepare for interviews. We’ll teach you how to stand out from the crowd, so you'll know exactly what talent acquisition teams are looking for and feel confident applying for industry roles.

When you graduate from one of our undergraduate degree programmes, you'll be ready to progress straight into employment in the fashion industry.

Graduates from BSc (Hons) Data Analytics for Retail are able to work in a wide variety of job roles, including:

• Analyst
• Data Analyst
• Trend Forecaster
• Problem Analyst
• Sustainability Merchandising Analyst
• Data Administrator

All applications are processed through UCAS.

UCAS Code: DAR1

Our offers are usually between 104 and 120 UCAS points for our undergraduate courses, from Level 3 equivalent qualifications such as:

• A levels
• a BTEC Extended Diploma
• a Foundation Diploma

You can check how many points your qualifications are worth using the online UCAS Tariff Calculator.

For more details on applying for our undergraduate degrees, please see our Undergraduate Application Process.

Due to the creative nature of our courses, you'll be considered on your own individual merit and potential to succeed. We encourage you to get in touch if you're predicted fewer than 104 UCAS points, thinking about transferring from another institution, or if you have other qualifications or relevant experience.

International Students

We are currently unable to accept international applications for our undergraduate degree courses. If you'd like to study at the Fashion Retail Academy, please apply for one of our Level 4 diploma programmes. 

Assessment Methods

This course is assessed via a mix of coursework and exams. The assessment tools include, but aren’t limited to, professionally relevant projects, essays and presentations. 

Course fees

• £9,250 per year
• Student tuition and maintenance loans are available

Fees & Funding

Tuition fees are set annually and are subject to review each year. Therefore, tuition fees may rise in the second or subsequent years of a course, in line with inflation and/or the maximum permitted by law or Government policy. Students will be notified of any changes as soon as possible.

Delivery 

You’ll attend the Fashion Retail Academy for 2 full days per week (totalling an average of 12 hours per week) leaving the remaining days free for part-time work or independent study. You’ll be expected to complete 50 hours work per 20 credit module, and 100 hours work per 40 credit module. 

This course is subject to validation by our awarding institution, Falmouth University

Our data analytics for retail undergraduate degree programme has been exclusively developed in partnership with Falmouth University.

All our undergraduate courses are taught at our Central London campus by our team of leading academics and industry professionals. Throughout your studies, you will be part of Falmouth University's Student Union and have access to their library facilities alongside our own. Once you have graduated your degree, you will be awarded by Falmouth University at a Fashion Retail Academy graduation ceremony.

2025-2026

• TBC

From September 2024, the Fashion Retail Academy will be located at our new campus at Electra House in Liverpool Street, Central London.   

The listed building is currently undergoing a £30 million refurbishment, created to our exact specifications.    

There will be:   

• 8 floors (Electra House is double the size of our current campus)  
• A bigger library and more workspaces  
• 35 classrooms  
• Bespoke studio spaces  
• 6 lecture theatres  
• Dedicated fashion design wing  
• IT hub and self-service laptop lockers  
• "Speakeasy" student common room and on-site cafe  
• 2 specialist exhibition and event spaces  
• Wellness spaces and communal areas  
• Discovery nook  

Liverpool Street has excellent transport links to the rest of London and beyond, and Electra House is situated directly across from Moorgate tube station. There is a bus stop outside the building, and Liverpool Street Station is a short walk away. 

Students starting their course in September 2023 will start at our Gresse Street campus and move to Electra House for their second year. We will be there to support you throughout the transition, and provide any help and guidance wherever needed.   

Click here for more information about Electra House and how our new campus will benefit you.