Fashion Business & Creative Arts Diploma
Develop the creative, technical, and business skills needed to navigate today’s fashion industry with confidence.
The Fashion Business & Creative Arts Diploma is an 11-month focused program designed for students who want to understand how the fashion industry operates—from concept to consumer.
You’ll build practical knowledge in retail operations, buying, merchandising, branding, marketing, and entrepreneurship, while developing core creative skills in illustration, textiles, and visual presentation.
Through two structured modules and a practicum experience, you’ll gain the operational insight, industry perspective, and professional tools needed to begin a career in fashion buying, merchandising, marketing, or brand support.
Program Overview
Learning Outcomes
Graduates of this program develop a working understanding of how fashion businesses operate—from product development and textiles to retail strategy, merchandising, marketing, and entrepreneurship. Students refine their creative communication skills while building the operational knowledge needed to cost, merchandise, and position a collection within today’s multi-channel marketplace.
By the end of the program, students leave with a professional portfolio, practical industry insight, and the foundational skills to pursue early-careers roles or entrepreneurial pathways within the fashion sector.
This program has been approved by the Private Training Institutions Regulatory Unit (PTIRU) of the Ministry of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills.
Program FAQs
How much does the program cost?
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Tuition is $19,900 CAD.
Additional costs include a $250 application fee, textbooks, course materials, school supplies, and required software (Adobe Creative Cloud and Microsoft Excel).
For a full breakdown of program costs, please see our tuition page.
What do I need to apply?
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Applicants must have completed Grade 12 or be 19 years of age or older and meet language proficiency requirements. All applicants are required to submit a Letter of Intent and participate in an interview with an Admissions Advisor as part of the application process.
Do you offer financial aid?
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Yes. JCI Institute is a designated institution, which means eligible Canadian students may apply for government student loans and grants through the Canada Student Financial Assistance Program.
When you apply through your province or territory, your eligibility for loans and grants will be assessed based on factors such as income, tuition, and living expenses. Grants do not need to be repaid, while loans are repaid after graduation.
Our Financial Aid Officer is available to guide you through the process.
How long is the program?
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The program runs for approximately 11 months (45 weeks/900 hours of instruction) and includes a 48-hour practicum.
Career Progression in Fashion
Careers in fashion business develop through experience, responsibility, and industry exposure. Most professionals begin in support or assistant roles, building cross-functional knowledge before specializing or advancing into leadership.
This program is designed to support that first stage—equipping graduates with both creative awareness and commercial understanding.
Graduates may pursue roles such as:
Buying or Merchandising Assistant
Product Development Assistant
Brand or Marketing Assistant
Ecommerce Assistant
Retail or Operations Coordinator
These roles focus on learning how fashion teams operate, supporting planning and merchandising functions, and building foundational industry experience.
Early Career Roles
With Experience
With continued experience, professionals may move into roles such as:
Assistant Buyer or Merchandiser
Brand or Marketing Coordinator
Product Developer
Ecommerce or Digital Merchandiser
Production or Supply Chain Coordinator
At this stage, responsibilities typically include greater ownership, planning, and decision-making.
Longer-Term Paths
Over time, some professionals advance into management or leadership roles, while others launch their own ventures, consult independently, or pursue specialized areas within fashion business and brand development.
There is no single path—careers in fashion business are shaped by experience, performance, and industry conditions.
Where JCI Grads are Working
Connect with an advisor
Share a few details and our team will follow up to help you explore programs, answer questions, and understand what comes next. After submitting, you’ll receive a text and email with options to book a call or visit the campus.