Fashion Management
MA
Postgraduate degree
Change fashion. Change society. Become a leader in the business of sustainable fashion with our Fashion Management degree.
- Join an inspiring community of changemakers and learn how to create a positive impact within the fashion industry.
- Use your final project to make a real impact in fashion, whether through business, politics, entrepreneurship or a piece of research.
- Accredited by the DMI, this degree also follows the UNPRME, a United Nations initiative for responsible management education.
DMI accreditation
We’ve partnered with the Digital Marketing Institute (DMI) to offer Certified Digital Marketing Associate (CDMA) certification. Learn more about our business degree accreditations.
Our fashion management Master's builds the leadership skills you need to identify and address the key fashion management issues of our time.
We develop your academic and research skills alongside a practical understanding of business, marketing, and communication. You’ll explore fashion retail and buying, fashion marketing, and leadership in fashion – all from a sustainable perspective. Along the way, you’ll earn additional accreditation from the Digital Marketing Institute (DMI).
Your final project is your chance to explore an area of the fashion industry that interests you and through which you could make real change in fashion – whether through starting your own business, partnering with a fashion brand or not-for-profit, getting involved in politics, or conducting a piece of research overseas. You could:
- set up a sustainable import business
- campaign for fairer policies and practices in fashion
- contribute to a white paper
- build a social enterprise, or
- research circular fashion and brand ecosystems.
Ultimately, you’ll create an ambitious fashion project with your sights firmly set on a more sustainable fashion industry.
What you'll learn
In the first trimester, you’ll get to know your peers and form a fashion community. You’ll learn about the buying and selling of clothing, whilst adhering to sustainable principles. Lectures and seminars will cover key topics such as fashion buying and retail, strategic brand management and digital marketing.
In the second trimester, you’ll deepen your understanding of fashion management through further inquiry into marketing, leadership and sustainability. You’ll prepare for your final project by applying for residencies or trips, and financial grants to support these (please note: some Bath Spa grants are available; however, these are competitive and not guaranteed. We encourage you to organise and prepare your finances as soon as possible). You could benefit from our connections with partner schools in India, the USA, Namibia, Denmark, or Poland.
In the final trimester, you’ll complete the Fashion Impact Project. Begin by collecting data in the UK or overseas, normally for 3-4 weeks, then write up your findings and design a visually appealing document or portfolio of your work. You can undertake much of this module as distance learning, with online tutorials.
At the end of the course, you’ll come together with your fellow students for the fashion symposium. There, you'll present your work and celebrate the contribution you've made to the future of fashion.
This course includes or offers the following modules. Please check the programme document for more information.
- Entrepreneurship
- Fashion Marketing
- Sustainability
- Strategic Brand Management
- Digital Marketing
- Fashion Leadership
- Fashion Buying and Retail
- Fashion Impact Project
You’ll be assessed in a range of ways including reports, marketing plans, portfolios, action learning and dissertations or projects.
You’ll be taught through lectures, seminars, and one-one-one tutorials with your personal tutor.
To find out more about how we teach and how you'll learn, please read our Learning and Teaching Delivery Statement.
Opportunities
You can apply for funding for your trips and research. For example, the UK government's Turing Scheme funds international education and training opportunities worldwide. With our partners, we offer a range of scholarships, bursaries and awards.
Graduates of this course will be well-suited to a wide range of careers in the business of fashion. They may become fashion entrepreneurs, policymakers in the industry, or work in NGOs (non-government organisations).
Develop a wealth of indispensable digital skills that you can take into your future career. One of only three Adobe Creative Campuses in the UK, we provide all Bath Spa students with access to the full Adobe Creative Suite, giving you the tools to communicate creatively, whatever your course or chosen professional field.
Facilities and resources
You’ll be based at Newton Park campus, and benefit from access to specialist facilities, including:
- Well-stocked Library
- Photography studios, Mac suites and creative co-working spaces
- Technical art and design workshops
- Student service point at Locksbrook Campus, where you can buy subsidised art and design materials, hire equipment for free and collect Library resources.
Fees
Student | Annual tuition fee |
---|---|
UK full time | £9,950 |
UK part time | £4,975 |
International full time | £18,560 |
Additional course costs
You may need to pay additional course costs over and above your tuition fees, for example, for specialist equipment or trips and visits. Please check the course Programme Document (linked under the main image on this page) for details of any additional costs. You can also read our Additional Course Costs Policy for further information.
Interested in applying?
We’re looking for candidates who are keen to make waves in the fashion industry. You’ll know why you want to study MA Fashion Management and how your existing skillset or undergraduate degree will support this next phase of your studies. Having a final project in mind or something you're already working on is helpful, but not necessary, when applying. Maybe you have a startup brand or arrange fashion events for friends.
Most applicants need a bachelor's degree, but relevant work experience can also be considered as an equivalent. We welcome students from disadvantaged or non-traditional backgrounds, and those currently working in the fashion industry.
You will normally have a good undergraduate degree in any academic subject. Applicants with relevant work experience and/or non-standard entry qualifications will be considered individually. You may be considered without an undergraduate degree, if you can demonstrate considerable relevant experience. You may be asked to attend an interview. See our Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL) web page to learn more.
You'll be asked to write a personal statement to illustrate your knowledge on an aspect of the fashion industry and positive impact that could be made. This should be related to the programme and could include buying and retail, supply chain, fashion marketing, forecasting, fashion leadership or other topics.
If English is not your first language, you'll need to provide evidence of proficiency in the English language. The Admissions Team assesses applications individually, but for postgraduate courses we're looking for an IELTS score of 6.5 with a minimum of 5.5 in each component (Writing, Listening, Reading and Speaking).
Ready to apply? Click the "apply now" button in the centre of this page.
Need more guidance? Head to our how to apply pages.
International students should visit our international pages for more information about our entry requirements, fees, scholarships and student support.
You may wish to read Blum, P. (2021) Circular Fashion - Making the Fashion Industry Sustainable. Laurence King Publishing: UK.
When to apply
Many of our postgraduate courses have a limited number of student spaces. To avoid the disappointment of the course being full, we recommend that you apply now.
Late applications (generally those made after 31 July) will only be considered if places remain on the course.
Need more information or still have questions? Contact us to discuss your situation.
Course leader: Joshua Williams
Email: j.williamsB@bathspa.ac.uk
- Award
- MA Fashion Management
- School/s
- Bath Business School
- Campus or location
- Newton Park
- Course length
- One year full-time or two years part-time.
Entry requirements
Entry requirements for our postgraduate courses vary. We're generally looking for a good honours degree or equivalent.
Some courses also require an interview or the submission of a portfolio of work.
Please contact our admissions team for more information: admissions@bathspa.ac.uk.