KPU launches new pathway for fashion marketing graduates to study in the U.K.
The partnership between KPU and NTU will allow graduates to transition their fashion marketing diploma into a bachelor’s degree
The new degree pathway between KPU and Nottingham Trent University adds to the institution's list of global partnerships. (Submitted/Diego Minor Martínez)
Kwantlen Polytechnic University students in the fashion marketing diploma program can complete a bachelor’s degree in Nottingham Trent University (NTU) in the U.K. through a newly established degree pathway between the two institutions.
The partnership allows KPU students who completed the two-year diploma to transition into the international fashion business program at NTU to get a full bachelor of arts honours degree.
The one-year pathway, also called the top-up program, will give KPU students the opportunity to get a scholarship covering 25 or 50 per cent of their tuition fees to support their studies in the U.K. through the NTU Excellence Scholarship.
There is also a 20-per-cent fee discount for those who want to pursue a master’s degree afterwards, with programs including fashion communications, fashion marketing, luxury fashion brand management, and international fashion management.
The two universities have been exchange partners since 2019, with KPU students going to study abroad for one term in the U.K. and KPU welcoming NTU’s students in Canada, says Zainab Al-koubaisi, director of global engagement at KPU.
NTU has connections and partnerships across the U.K. and Europe, Al-Koubaisi says, which will allow KPU students the opportunity to take part in summer programs and internships not only through NTU but also its partner institutions.
“This definitely supports the career goals for any student who would like to pursue their fashion passion and degrees beyond just studies, but also networking [and] being able to get exposed to different fashion industries across different sectors in Europe,” Al-koubaisi says.
She adds the partnership is an opportunity to streamline different pathways for KPU students to study abroad and complete not only KPU degrees but international ones, too.
“It really supports their learning, their career aspiration, and this is definitely going to also allow [students] to really immerse themselves in a globally diverse learning community. That’s very important for our team and for our institution,” Al-koubaisi says.
Beyond student engagement, the partnership also offers a chance to explore other options such as faculty mobility opportunities or getting other funding and scholarships for students.
“I think this is a great opportunity for us to showcase how beyond the student exchange agreement, there’s also opportunities for us to look at other avenues in exploring this partnership,” Al-koubaisi says.
“[It] is really important to support these types of experiences and to gain interest from our students to also engage in these types of diverse and global learning opportunities.”
The university has two other similar partnerships, Al-koubaisi says. One allows students in the business graduate diploma program to complete their master’s degree in Switzerland, while the other provides science-degree students with a pathway to medical and veterinary degrees at a partner university in Grenada in the Caribbean.
“We’re always welcoming the opportunity to discuss it and see whether it’s a viable option to add to our list of pathways for our KPU students.”
For more information about the partnership between KPU and NTU, visit www.kpu.ca/articulation/nottingham-trent-university-ntu.
