Rebecca Simmons

Why did you choose to study at Manchester Fashion Institute?

– The diverse curriculum – there was the opportunity to study different topics within the Buying & Merchandising specialism.

– The course features & benefits – I felt excited to discover the benefits and features that the course offered, such as the department facilities and the opportunity to take part in study trips.

– I felt that studying this course would highly prepare me for employment within the fashion industry and provided me with the skills and knowledge to start my own business.

Study Support

– Within the university library, our course had access to an extensive category of fashion literature and also a dedicated fashion librarian who was very helpful and knowledgeable.

– Alongside my lectures/seminars, I had access to study skills workshops such as report writing and critical reading which helped me tremendously throughout my time studying the course, allowing me to feel more confident when writing academically. Also, the career & employability department offered mock interviews, help with CV & applications and job opportunities within the university.

– While studying my course, I had access to the laboratory and industry standard facilities/equipment within MFI and also the Mac suite with industry-standard software and various university databases.

– I had lectures and seminars which meant that the teaching was varied and informative, encouraging different ways of learning through individual and group learning.

– Studying this course would enable me to be supported by a dynamic team of staff during my time at university who are industry professionals.

Favourite Projects 

One of my favourite projects was writing academic pieces when studying Fashion Cultures in year 2. I gained invaluable knowledge regarding the historical and contextual ideologies of fashion including the influence of politics, cultures, class, and capital on fashion. In year 3, I really enjoyed the sustainability project which involved creating a piece of work revolving around a research question relating to fashion sustainability. I really liked having the opportunity and freedom to explore a topic surrounding fashion sustainability that was interesting and important to me. Also, the Buying & Merchandising Leadership project was another favourite of mine. During the project I was able to critically analyse & examine the global fashion environment while learning about people, project, and change management strategies. I highly enjoyed this project as I felt that it related to industry as I could use the information learnt if in a managerial job role in the future.

What other opportunities have you gotten involved in during your time at university?

In January 2020, I went on a study trip to New York. During my time in New York, the university had arranged various industry visits, presenting us with invaluable opportunities and experiences such as visiting the UN (learning about sustainable development goals), concept stores and businesses.

What advice would you give to prospective students considering studying here?

My biggest piece of advice to prospective students is to be organised, dedicated, and make use of all the facilities/extra-curricular activities that the course/university offers. Also, be confident in yourself and your abilities – if you need help, don’t be afraid to ask and try your best not to compare yourself to your peers. Finally, be proactive when searching for a graduate role in your final year – make the most of the support offered by the tutors/university during this time.