MA Fashion Entrepreneurship and Innovation

Course detail

MA Fashion Entrepreneurship and Innovation equips fashion creatives and entrepreneurs with the essential skills and toolkit to launch and scale new businesses effectively, and offers unrivalled networks across all sectors of the fashion industry.

In-depth studies of innovative emerging designers in the UK provide an understanding of the British fashion industry while extra-curricular international study tours provide valuable insights into the global fashion market. Industry presentations and factory tours have taken place previously in Paris, Milan and Shanghai and have explored everything from French Haute Couture to Italian craftsmanship and Asia’s luxury fashion boom.

MA Fashion Entrepreneurship and Innovation is a dynamic and interactive learning experience that is built through key collaborative relationships in education (such as IFM in Paris) and industry. Through a supported and structured programme that includes entrepreneurial practice, new business models and planning and management of creative enterprise, participants are encouraged to develop new thinking and innovative concepts. Former alumni have launched their own fashion businesses or taken on entrepreneurial roles in fields such as buying, corporate sustainable responsibility and international brand building for perse fashion companies that span luxury to high street.

Course structure

Proposed new unit structure subject to revalidation

12 months -  3 terms -  level 7 -  180 credits 

Term one

Building Effective Teams (20 credits)

Viable Fashion Ventures (20 credits) 

Leadership for Entrepreneurs (20 credits)

Term two

Coaching for Entrepreneurial Leaders (20 credits)

Business Modelling (20 credits)

International Collaborative Project (20 credits) - find out more

Term three

Masters Project (60 credits)

Travelling across London

The renowned London College of Fashion library is at our John Prince’s Street site, and you will need to travel to this site, and possibly others, during your course to use the library, which is open seven days a week in term time, and for tuition and special events.

Course structure

The information outlined is an indicative structure of the course. Whilst we will aim to deliver the course as described on this page, there may be situations where it is desirable or necessary for the University to make changes in course provision, for example because of regulatory requirements or operational efficiencies, before or after enrolment. If this occurs, we will communicate all major changes to all applicants and students who have either applied or enrolled on the course.

Please note that due to staff research agreements or availability, not all of the optional modules listed may be available every year.

In addition, the provision of course options which depend upon the availability of specialist teaching, or on a placement at another institution, cannot be guaranteed. Please check this element of the course with the course team before making a decision to apply.

Webpage updates

We will update this webpage from time to time with new information as it becomes available. In the meantime, if you have any questions, please contact a member of the course team.

Course units

Viable Fashion Ventures (20 credits)

This unit explores the process and practical steps in the building of a viable fashion venture through a “learning by doing” methodology. Working with a team of entrepreneurs, you will apply theories of opportunity analysis, client segmentation, viability assessment and entrepreneurial strategy to form or sustain a new venture in fashion design, media or tech. You will participate in shared training sessions that provide practical, in-depth analysis of the key issues encountered in the projects that support the groundwork in founding a new fashion venture. The shared training sessions are supported by the team coach, stakeholder and peer feedback.

Building Effective Teams (20 credits)

This unit aims to explore the process of team learning and effective team formation. At the start of the course, you will be allocated into a cross-disciplinary group of independent thinkers. The process of team learning and formation will be assessed in practical activities such as: managing business challenges, running entrepreneurial projects, research and critical reflection. Your team learning and development is supported by the team coach, stakeholder and peer feedback in shared training sessions. As team fashion entrepreneurs, you will lead the training sessions to learn new ideas and share experiences.

Leadership for Entrepreneurs (20 credits)

This unit explores the foundations of leadership for entrepreneurs including personal mastery, developing entrepreneurial skills and mindset. The process of acquiring leadership attributes will be assessed through self-awareness, reflection, skills audit and the development of individual learning goals in the context of team entrepreneurship. Your learning in this unit will be supported by a team coach, stakeholders and team entrepreneurs.

Business Modelling (20 credits)

Building on the foundation in entrepreneurship from the Viable Fashion Ventures unit, you will practice your analytical skills in more depth to evaluate and sustain the survival and growth of new and existing businesses. You will learn how to apply key entrepreneurial tools, metrics and frameworks from the Lean Start up perspectives, Business Planning and Capital Raising & Pitching. This unit is underpinned by a team coaching approach where you will actively support and contribute to the learning of your team members.

Coaching for Entrepreneurial Leaders (20 credits)

This unit explores the practice of coaching for entrepreneurial leaders. It is concerned with understanding and using a range of coaching tools and techniques in coaching interventions to build commitment to the process and achievement of the strategic objectives in team projects and/or their own Masters Project. The practice and theory of coaching will be assessed through reflection and self-awareness of the coaching cycle, the use of appropriate coaching tools and techniques to develop the coaching relationship, assessment of coachees engagement and lastly the development of coaching interventions to achieve specific strategic objectives. Your learning in coaching theory and practice is supported by a team coach, stakeholders and team entrepreneurs.

International Collaborative Project (20 credits)

This unit aims to explore the process of team learning in international collaborations. Your team will collaborate with an international partner for a particular purpose that uses your strengths for mutual benefit. The process of team learning in international collaboration will be assessed in practical activities such as: building professional networks and strategic alliances, negotiating contracts, setting up communication channels, agreeing team objectives, research and critical reflection. Your team learning is supported by the team coach, stakeholder and peer feedback in shared training sessions. As team fashion entrepreneurs, you will lead the training sessions to learn new ideas, share experiences and coach each other.

Master’s Project (60 credits)

The Master’s Project is an important piece of work central to achieving the course aims, which will provide an opportunity for you to demonstrate your knowledge and skills in relation to the course learning outcomes. Throughout the Master’s Project, you are guided and supported by tutorials and peer and staff evaluation at interim stages. You will be allocated a supervisor for your project and will complete a learning contract outlining how you intend to develop and deliver your project. The Master’s Project may take a variety of forms by negotiation and is assessed by presentation in an agreed format.

Showing your work

All students are advised to set up a profile on portfolio.arts.ac.uk, UAL’s new portfolio platform, which can be done at any point during your time at LCF and will last for up to 12 months after graduation. This platform is often used to source student work for promotional use on the website, social media and for print and can be a great way of getting your work seen. You may also be asked to have a portfolio profile for the selection process when it comes to degree shows.

Fees and funding

Home / EU fee

£9,500

This applies for the 2018/19 academic year.

UAL Home/EU alumni receive a £1,000 discount.

Course fees may be paid in instalments.

ELQ

Home/EU students whose chosen course is at a level equivalent to, or lower than, a qualification that they already hold, will be charged the fees shown above, plus an additional £1,100 (called the 'ELQ' fee). Students in receipt of Disabled Students' Allowances (DSAs) are exempt from ELQ fees and will pay the original fee, regardless of the highest qualification held. For enquiries relating to ELQ fees, please complete the course enquiry form.

International fee

£19,350

This applies for the 2018/19 academic year.

UAL International alumni receive a £1,000 discount.

Course fees may be paid in instalments.

Additional costs

In addition to tuition fees you are very likely to incur additional costs such as travel expenses and the cost of materials. Please read the information on our additional costs page.

Accommodation

Find out about the accommodation options available and how much they will cost.

Scholarships and awards

There are a number of scholarships and awards available to students on this course. Use our search tool to find out more information.