MA Fashion Entrepreneurship and Innovation

The ethos that entrepreneurship serves as a catalyst for economic development underpins the philosophy of this specialist course. Strengthened by London College of Fashion’s unparalleled external and internal industry networks, MA Fashion Entrepreneurship aims to develop new fashion concepts through to commercialisation. Addressing the need for the fashion entrepreneur who can identify market opportunities in the industry, this programme is firmly aligned to 21st century, global business with all the challenges and potential this brings.

This course will enable individuals to build and capitalise on existing strengths both in the UK and internationally. 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 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

Full Time 12 months 3 terms level 7 180 credits
Flexible up to 5 years level 7 180 credits 

Full Time mode

Term One

Fashion Branding (20 credits)
Entrepreneurship and Innovation (20 credits)
Research Methods (20 credits)

Term Two

Managing Creative Enterprise (20 credits)
Business Development and Planning (20 credits)
Collaborative Unit (20 credits)

Term Three

Masters Project (60 credits)

Flexible mode

The same units are taught at the same times in the year as on the full time mode but you can complete the 20 credit units in any order and you have the option of taking longer to complete the course. You may build credits towards a Postgraduate Certificate, a Postgraduate Diploma, or a Masters. If you get offered a place on the Flexible route your Course Leader will advise you on the best possible combination of units and when best to take them.

Please note that 120 credits must be successfully completed before the Masters Project is started. 

The Masters must be completed within five years.

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.

Additional costs

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

Course structure

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.

Examples of expected Graduate destinations:

• A role within a creative service based industry both physical and virtual; start up or mature
• An entrepreneurial role in an existing organisation
• A business development role using entrepreneurial thinking to develop and extend business through innovation. This could be in retail, design, production or media.
• Working in Research and Development in a leadership/management role within service and design-led industries
• A leadership/management role within an existing business or group
• Establishing a new business venture

Graduates of MA Fashion Entrepreneurship (the predecesor of this course) have gone on to work in many roles within the industry, at companies including Stella McCartney, Cos and WGSN.

LCF Careers

LCF Careers provides a comprehensive career management service supporting our students to become informed and self-reliant individuals able to plan and manage their own careers.

• Visit LCF Careers

Course entry requirements

Entry to this course is highly competitive: applicants are expected to achieve, or already have, the course entry requirements detailed below.

• An Honours degree at 2.1 or above in a related discipline. Applicants with a degree in another subject may be considered, depending on the strength of the application.

OR

• Equivalent qualifications

OR

• Relevant and quantitative industrial experience for a minimum of three years

Selection for interview will be made on the basis of your application, including the personal statement, the reference, and the supporting written statement. If you are selected for interview you will be asked to bring examples of previous written work and to undertake a written aptitude test. 

Student selection criteria

The course seeks to recruit students from diverse socio-economic and cultural backgrounds, and welcomes applications from mature students.

What we look for

The course seeks to recruit students who can demonstrate:

• Clear academic interest in the study of fashion opportunities within fashion through entrepreneurship and a multidisciplinary approach
• Awareness and relevant experience of fashion and the fashion industry at large
• Appropriate knowledge and skills commensurate with planned entry into the course.

English language requirements

All classes are conducted in English. The level required by the University for this course is IELTS 7.0 with a minimum of 6.0 in any one skill. 

For more information, read the University's English Language requirements page.

International applicants

The International Recruitment Office at the London College of Fashion will help to guide you through the application process and answer any specific questions that you may have regarding our courses. This may include portfolio advice, the application process and fee advice. We offer a ‘drop-in’ facility for applicants who may be in London and wish to obtain further course and admissions information. Please contact us for further information on this facility. We can also arrange a tour of our facilities if we are given prior notice.

To find out more about studying in London, please visit the International students section of the London College of Fashion website.

You can apply for this course using our online application form – the link to this is below. Before you apply, we recommend you take some time to read the following details about the application process, including guidance on the extra information we will ask you to provide.

Required information for all postgraduate course applications

You will need to enter the following information in the online application form:

• Personal details (including full name; date of birth; nationality; permanent address and English language level)
• Current and/or previous education and qualification details
• Employment history
• Referee details (this course requires two references, one of which should be academic)

Before you can submit the form, you’ll also need to agree to the terms and conditions for how we process your data – these are explained in the form.

Please note, if you’re an international applicant we will need to contact you separately to ask for copies of certain documents (for example, English language qualification/certificate and copies of any previous UK study visas).

Extra information required for applications to this course

Once you have submitted the form, you will receive a confirmation email that includes links to where you should submit the extra information we require for the selection process:

Personal statement

The personal statement is your opportunity to tell us about yourself and your suitability for the course that you intend to study.

Some key points to consider:

• Make sure that personal statement is your own work and is about you
• Why you want to study the course you are applying to
• Try to link your skills and experience required to the course
• Demonstrate your interest and enthusiasm for the course and link these with your personality
• Make sure it is organised and literate (grammar, spelling, punctuation check)

Essay

Write a 500 word essay (excluding references/bibliography) on the following topic:

‘Define and discuss the role of Entrepreneurs in the creative industries’ management in the 21st century.’

Study proposal

Your study proposal should be a maximum of 300 words (excluding research sources, bibliography and appendices). The proposal should include the following:

• A title
• Rationale (reason for interest in topic)
• Overall aim of research
• A brief outline of methodology
• References/ bibliography.

Portfolio

If you’re a designer, you may submit a digital portfolio containing six images. Ensure all work is carefully labelled.

You may include examples of:

• Fashion Apparel
• Accessory Design
• Illustration
• Styling
• Artefacts / window displays.

Please note, you can submit text and as many website links as you need to, but the portfolio form does not allow you to upload files.

Start your application now

Applications are accepted, and offers made, throughout the year. Early application is advised.

Apply now for the full-time study mode

Apply now for the flexible study mode

The application form can be saved as you fill it out, so you don’t need to complete it all at once. You will also have the chance to review all the information and make any necessary amendments before you submit the application form.

We will send you emails as you progress through the application process, so do check your inbox (and junk folder, just in case). These emails will contain important information about your application, and links to the online forms you should use to submit the extra information required. 

Fashion Branding

The international fashion consumer increasingly seeks the tangible and intangible benefits of a wide variety of local and international fashion brands. Fashion brands and their associated marketing communications have now reached revered status throughout the global economy. The design, development, marketing and retailing (DDMR) of fashion brands have now become an increasingly important and integrated part of many fashion businesses. You will investigate and examine all aspects of international fashion brand marketing and look at its significant modern growth from both a European and global perspective. This will enable you to acquire a sound theoretical and practical understanding of strategic fashion brand development and management.

Entrepreneurship & Innovation

In a highly competitive global fashion marketplace, entrepreneurs generate new business models and seek disruptive ways to offer value through products and services in the fashion industry. Small and medium sized enterprises are the catalysts for economic growth and employment and require managers who are skilled at understanding market and business trends, handling uncertainty, measuring progress and building sustainable businesses through continuous innovation. This unit explores theories of business modelling, innovation and opportunity analysis and examines their application to fashion start-ups, SMEs and established companies. The skills of critical thinking, analytical evaluation and real-time decision-making will be explored and applied where possible through live projects with fashion companies to enhance the development of your entrepreneurial mindset through experiential learning.

Research Methods

The purpose of this unit is to introduce you to the range of research methods, approaches and tools that are available to you in order to conduct your post graduate project. The unit will cover philosophy and ethics in research, primary and secondary research methods, including quantitative, qualitative and visual research methods, and how to analyse, evaluate and disseminate research findings. The unit will consider research in a range of contexts relevant to the cultural and creative industries and enable you to understand the relationship between theory and practice.

Managing Creative Enterprise

The management of a fashion enterprise requires knowledge of business and project management, competencies in digital communication and online platforms as well as leadership and collaborative team working skills. The ability to define, create and run a successful enterprise in fashion is linked to the effective management of creativity and continuous innovation and the development of a proactive organisational environment. This unit investigates the capabilities, conditions and resources that sustain entrepreneurial strategies and harvests creative and innovative solutions in fashion companies. You will begin to build knowledge and understanding of the diverse creative and sustainable enterprise business models, and identify the organisational and funding models for enterprise creation that are particular to the sector.

Business Development and Planning

This unit encourages you to explore the commercial parameters, techniques and tools of business development and entrepreneurial strategic planning in theory and in practice. You will be able to acquire a focused understanding of an innovation within a particular fashion industry context and explore the concept of feasibility including forecasting, financial planning and resource management as tactics that support the implementation of an entrepreneurial strategy in fashion. You will begin to build a sound theoretical and practical understanding of benchmarking for business development and the techniques of planning for the survival and growth of new and existing businesses.

Collaborative Unit

This unit is designed to enable you to innovate, engage in developmental processes and participate in collaborative working practices. You will be encouraged to develop the professional negotiating and networking skills that you will need in order to be successful in the cultural and creative industries.
The nature of this collaboration may be within your own course, with students on other courses or with industry. The project that you undertake will depend upon your discipline and the specific requirements of your course. Further details will be available in your unit handbook.

Masters Project

The Masters 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 Masters 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 Masters Project may take a variety of forms by negotiation and is assessed by presentation in an agreed format.

If you haven’t found the information you’re looking for or want to ask us a question about this course, please fill out our enquiry form.

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