MA Fashion Communication: Histories and Theories

• First-class or upper second-class honours degree from art and design BA courses or from disciplines such as history, literature, languages, history of art, visual culture, film studies and media studies
• Or an equivalent EU/international qualification.

AP(E)L – Accreditation of Prior (Experiential) Learning

Exceptionally applicants who do not meet these course entry requirements may still be considered. The course team will consider each application that demonstrates additional strengths and alternative evidence. This might, for example, be demonstrated by:

• Related academic or work experience
• The quality of the personal statement
• A strong academic or other professional reference
• Or a combination of these factors.

Each application will be considered on its own merit but cannot guarantee an offer in each case.

For fees and funding information, please see website 

The Histories and Theories pathway responds to new and expanding employment opportunities in the fashion industry and beyond, whereby academic research skills are required for research roles in museums, business and education. Students will find employment in media as journalists and researchers, in business as archivists and brand managers, in museums and galleries as curators and researchers, in academia as researchers and lecturers. Some students will go on to pursue advanced research towards a PhD in this area.

Unit 1: Investigation 

Unit 1 is devised to challenge your assumptions and broaden your thinking. It will encourage you to develop a greater knowledge of your specialist subject, as well as the international aspects of the fashion communications industry. You will also study fashion and its histories within the context of art and design theory and practice. This will deepen your understanding of the impact of the social, economic and cultural role of fashion in society. You will explore the disciplines, rigour, operational aspects and the inter-disciplinary nature of the fashion industry. You will acquire a commercial and market awareness in order to gain an international perspective.  

This is complemented by first-hand observation of how fashion collections are created and how fashion designers work. A project in this unit gives you the opportunity to work collaboratively with MA Fashion designers as they prepare for their show during London Fashion Week or their course-end exhibition. This mutually beneficial project may involve analysis of the designers’ collections and the creation of visual or written content as an academic or creative response to their collections. 

Unit 2: Collaborative Practices for Common Good  

Unit 2 runs alongside Unit 1 and provides opportunities for inter- and cross- disciplinary research and practice co-operation with other postgraduate courses. 

You will undertake this college-wide collaborative unit during the Spring term. This unit is designed to offer a robust framework for developing practice across the College in relation to our social purpose.  

Unit 3: Specialist Major Project – Planning, Preparation and Negotiated Phase 

The skills, knowledge and new approaches you acquire during the first three units will support and inform your direction in the planning, preparation and negotiation of your self-initiated Major Project in Unit 4.   

Unit 4: Specialist Major Project – Realisation and Presentation  

Having completed Unit 3, during the final unit of the course you will fully realise and present your Major Project.   

Important note concerning academic progression through your course:

If you are required to retake a unit you will need to cease further study on the course until you have passed the unit concerned. Once you have successfully passed this unit, you will be able to proceed onto the next unit. Retaking a unit might require you to take time out of study, which could affect other things such as student loans or the visa status for international students.