Fashion Industry Insight
Postgraduate
MA
Fashion Business and Marketing
Salford School of Arts, Media and Creative Technology
Attendance
Full-time
Part-time
Course
One year
Two year
Next enrolment
September 2024
In a nutshell
MA Fashion Business and Marketing will enable you to learn and test the fundamentals of strategic promotion and sales. This course provides the opportunity to create a live business plan, and you will be supported in the development and launch of that business idea.
This course will guide you to become an ethical leader in fashion business and marketing. You will learn how to become agile and adept in meeting the needs of consumers whilst championing sustainability.
Studying within an award-winning fashion department, including commendation at London Graduate Fashion Week and presentations of student work in Paris and New York.
You will benefit from specialists in fashion and business. Manchester, Salford, and the wider north-west provide a vibrant commercial fashion environment in which to learn and apply essential skills and knowledge.
Want to know more about this programme? Come along to an Open Day
International applicants: Please check the international intakes page for the latest information and application dates.
You will:
- learn essential business and marketing skills
- introduced to the contemporary fashion industry and gain an understanding of commercial fashion practices internationally and within the UK
- have the opportunity to develop your own business or start-up enterprise
International
students accepted
This is for you if...
1.
you’re ready to develop your entrepreneurship and marketing skills to bring your fashion business ideas to life
2.
you’re passionate about meeting the needs of consumers while championing sustainability
3.
you want access to outstanding studio, photography, and workshop facilities and to work alongside a team of industry experts and experienced guest speakers
All about the course
MA Fashion Business and Marketing is a collaboration between the School of Arts, Media and Creative Technology and Salford Business School.
The course is vocationally focused and will develop your entrepreneurial skills from development to the launch of an actual independent business venture.
You will focus on the ways in which new business models create innovative approaches to circular supply chains, and how businesses explore innovative approaches to advertising and promotion.
You will be introduced to industry models including B2C, B2B, export and wholesale. You will engage with the essentials of funding for start-ups and will be guided on key areas of business and law.
This course aims to create innovative leaders in either business or marketing. You will benefit from studying within a region that is home to a range of contemporary fashion brands.
Find out what is covered in each module by reading the full course breakdown below. The modules are listed as they would be delivered full time over one year.
Trimester one
In this module you will research, explore, and develop creative and innovative ideas around your proposed business model.
You will undertake investigative customer research, market analysis, employing innovative problem solving and reflective decision making to ensure you move your business idea forward.
Resourcing Your Business
On this moduel:
You will explore internet-based forms of finance for new businesses and evaluate the tools you need to manage your finances.
You will learn to read prevailing economic conditions and their impact on business growth.
You will also consider the finance needed for new business ventures and develop an understanding of modern accounting practices.
Trimester two
Entrepreneurial Business Simulation
This module represents the incubation stage of your business. You will be able to test the potential of your business and consider how to secure funding whilst being introduced to a variety of business models, and will explore the methods and ideological frameworks around marketing and promotion.
You will look at the tools available to help you develop your strategy and learn to evaluate the impact of different strategic scenarios.
Throughout the module you will learn and develop techniques to explore successful marketing and promotion of your business, while understanding the role of the consumer and the levels, pitch and overall aesthetic of your business and marketing campaign.
Circular Economy and Responsible Management
This module looks at the role of the circular economy specifically in response to environmental concerns.
You will gain an understanding of the role of the circular economy as a model of production and consumption and how this model employs sharing, leasing, reusing, repairing, refurbishing, and recycling existing materials and products through an ethos of sustainability.
You will learn how to adopt methods and processes to respond to the challenges of climate change and how conversely these challenges have led to enhanced ethical approaches of business management within the fashion industry.
Trimester three
Marketing pitch and industry launch
In this 60 credit module you will create a full and complete ready to market business plan for your product.
You will devise an ambitious marketing pitch directed at your ideal consumer highlighting the value and merits of your product(s).
You will complete a full package of marketing materials ready to actively launch your business. The outcome of the project will be negotiated with your tutor whilst industry experts will offer feedback and advice. Your project will be evaluated in a launch event where you will present your business before a panel of industry experts and academic staff.
Please note that it may not be possible to deliver the full list of options every year as this will depend on factors such as how many students choose a particular option. Exact modules may also vary in order to keep content current. When accepting your offer of a place to study on this programme, you should be aware that not all optional modules will be running each year. Your tutor will be able to advise you as to the available options on or before the start of the programme. Whilst the University tries to ensure that you are able to undertake your preferred options, it cannot guarantee this.
Fashion Facilities
This fashion programme is based at our £55 million New Adelphi building, the home of design and creativity on campus.
Facilities include:
Studio space – dedicated areas for each course, giving you room to think and create.
Photography studios - industry-standard photographic studios, which you can use in conjunction with darkrooms and digital printing facilities.
Workshops – from print to textiles, wood to metal, our range of workshops allow you to take your ideas from page to reality and work in a variety of media.
High spec computer labs - equipped with the industry-standard software you’ll need during your studies and in the world of work.
Seminar and lecture spaces
What about after uni?
EMPLOYMENT AND FURTHER STUDY
Graduates from this programme will have the opportunity to pursue employment and self-employment in a wide range of fashion industry roles.
There will be options to develop aspects that emerge from the experimentation undertaken on the course to PhD level study.
Career Links
Fashion companies inform the course through industry specialist talks and inform the development of modules. Our partners include:
KOHR
Harvey Nichols
Selfridges
Patagonia
Regatta,
Sosander
Tommy Hilfiger
What You Need To Know
A typical applicant to this course will either be a graduate of an undergraduate course in a Fashion or Fashion related subject. Applications are encouraged from those who have experience of the fashion industry or related industries.
The application process will involve a short interview and portfolio review:
Portfolio:
If you have a design related degree, please upload a portfolio of your best work.
If you have a business-related degree, please upload a recent business/project work from degree course, this can be in the format of a written or visual overview of a final major project assignment.
and
We will want to see a brief overview of a fashion business idea.
Once you’ve made your application to study with us, we’ll contact you and let you know the next steps.
Standard entry requirements
Standard entry requirements
To join this MA you should have a second class honours degree, 2:2 or above in a fashion design, creative technology or fashion related subject.
International students
If you are an international student and not from a majority English speaking country, you will need IELTS 6.0 with no element below 5.5. We accept qualifications from all around the world. Find your country to see a full list of entry requirements.
We also accept a range of other English language qualifications. If you do not have the English language requirements, you could take our Pre-Sessional English course.
Alternative entry requirements
Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL)
We welcome applications from students who may not have formal/traditional entry criteria but who have relevant experience or the ability to pursue the course successfully.
The Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL) process could help you to make your work and life experience count. The APL process can be used for entry onto courses or to give you exemptions from parts of your course.
Two forms of APL may be used for entry: the Accreditation of Prior Certificated Learning (APCL) or the Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning (APEL).
How much?
| Type of study | Year | Fees |
|---|---|---|
| Full-time home | 2024/25 | £9,450.00per year |
| Full-time international | 2024/25 | £16,380.00per year |
| Part-time | 2024/25 | Part time costs will be calculated on a pro rata basis |
Additional costs
You should also consider further costs which may include books, stationery, printing, binding and general subsistence on trips and visits.
Scholarships for International Students
If you are a high-achieving international student, you may be eligible for one of our scholarships. Explore our international scholarships.