Skip to main content
Postgraduate

MA Fashion Communication: Fashion Journalism


College
Central Saint Martins
Start date
January 2025
Course length
One year full-time (45 weeks)

MA Fashion Communication: Fashion Journalism is for writers and editors who want to shape the future of their field.

Applying for more than 1 course

You can apply for more than 1 postgraduate course at UAL but we recommend that you apply for no more than 3. Find out more in the Apply Now section.

MA Fashion Communication is for dynamic students looking to thrive within the industry at the highest level. The course offers three pathways: Fashion Image, Fashion Journalism and Histories and Theories.

This course is part of the Fashion Programme.

Why choose this course at Central Saint Martins

  • Joint projects: The course has opportunities for joint projects with other programmes across the College as well as with international media and fashion brands.
  • Expert teaching: The course team is made up of high-profile academics and industry professionals.
  • Established networks: MA Fashion Communication has extensive links with industry both in the UK and on a global stage.
  • Design in process: As part of the Fashion programme, you will have access to students on MA and BA Fashion, providing first-hand experience of how fashion designers work.

Open days

There are currently no open days scheduled for this course, please check back at a later date.

Recordings

Watch a recording of the recent MA Fashion Communication open day.

Scholarships, awards and funding

Course overview

Over the last three decades, fashion has broadened its influence across the creative industries and many art forms. In parallel, new technologies have transformed how the fashion sector communicates with consumers. With the industry in a state of transition, it's more important than ever to analyse the impact of emergent media and to explore the needs of new consumers.  

MA Fashion Communication at Central Saint Martins embodies these paradigm changes.  

  • Explore the discipline through new digital platforms and media as well as more traditional modes of communication. The course helps you to develop the professional skills to join the next generation of fashion theorists, analysts, writers, journalists, image-makers and visual communicators. We invite you to apply a creative approach to the platforms through which you produce your work and help you to anticipate and respond to fluid, fluctuating global communication channels.   
  • MA Fashion Communication offers three pathways. Fashion Image is for innovative image-makers, while Fashion Histories and Theories offers an academic approach to the study of fashion. Fashion Journalism is aimed primarily at writers and editors. It offers the opportunity to focus on fashion writing for different media and markets. You will explore writing for traditional magazines and newspapers, alongside digital publishing including newsletters, websites, e-commerce and social media.  
  • While the majority of time and teaching is concentrated on your pathway study, there are opportunities to work with colleagues from other pathways and courses. This structure reflects the collaborative approach of the fashion industry. Across all pathways, the curriculum focuses on the realities of the modern industry as well as fashion theory, ensuring your work is informed by current knowledge and debates in your specialist area.   

In the Central Saint Martins Fashion Programme, we work to be at the heart of debate about the future of fashion. Our students are designers, communicators and academics. Teaching is our core purpose and our research and, industry and external relationships enrich our approach. We are committed to developing ethical fashion practices. To achieve this, we are working to embed UAL's Principles for Climate, Social and Racial Justice into the course. Our outlook is international, inclusive and diverse, reflecting the global nature of our community. We believe we must constantly challenge ourselves to shape fair and ethical opportunities in fashion. We believe in the power of cooperation, collaboration and partnerships through both analogue and digital experiences.

Course units

MA Fashion Communication is designed to further progress your specialist skills. The course equips you with the skills needed for employment in the fashion communication industry at the highest level. Strong emphasis is placed on personal and professional development. The curriculum is enhanced by the energy that derives from the fusion of students across three pathways; as such, some (shared) units are delivered to all pathways on the course.  

You will interact with students from a wide range of backgrounds and cultures. As part of this, you will be expected to learn and problem-solve from their experience as well as your own. You will be expected to build your own relationships and networks externally to the college with the wider industry, taking advantage of the resources within the Kings Cross Knowledge Quarter and those further afield.  

At an early point in the course, you will interact with students on the MA Fashion course, learning about the design process and developing your collaborative skills.  You will also collaborate with students from the Grad Dip Fashion course and with other Central Saint Martins courses (which may vary from year to year). 

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 communication 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 involves analysis of the designers’ collections and the creation of visual or written content as a 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 at Central Saint Martins. 

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 the University’s social purpose ‘to change society through our knowledge and creativity’.  

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 Phase   

Having completed Unit 3, during the final unit of the course you 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. 

Mode of study  

MA Fashion Communication is offered in full-time mode that runs for 45 weeks over 12 months. You will be expected to commit 40 hours per week to study, which includes teaching time and independent study.  

Credit and award requirements  

The course is credit-rated at 180 credits.   

On successfully completing the course, you will gain a Master of Arts (MA degree).   

Under the Framework for Higher Education Qualifications, an MA is Level 7. All units must be passed in order to achieve the MA but the classification of the award is derived from the mark for the final unit only.   

If you are unable to continue on the course, a Postgraduate Certificate (PG Cert) will normally be offered following the successful completion of 60 credits, or a Postgraduate Diploma (PG Dip) following the successful completion of 120 credits. 

Learning and teaching methods

The learning and teaching methods devised for this course include: 

  • Student-centred learning 
  • Critiques 
  • Peer learning 
  • Individual studio tutorials 
  • Group tutorials 
  • Research sessions 

Student Perspectives: MA Fashion Communication Journalism

Fashion Communication stories

  • Designs l to r: Noa Nomad, Ciaran MacDougall and Finn Barker Flower. Photography: Jake Saint Love Axler and Ellie Hoffmann.

    READY SET: BA Fashion declares a reset

    On 7 December 2023, BA Fashion Design and BA Fashion Communication first year students presented READY, SET, a reset of the Central Saint Martins White Show tradition.

  • Photography: Cameron Young

    MA Fashion Communication prophesises the future of fashion

    The MA Fashion Communication exhibition returns from 23 to 25 November within the Central Saint Martins King's Cross building. This year marks the 30th anniversary of MA Fashion Journalism, from which the rest of the course has sprung.

  • Photo: Sophie Stalder, BA Fashion Communication and Promotion

    Anna Wintour and Linda Evangelista visit Central Saint Martins

    Vicki Liang, an MA Fashion Communication: Fashion Journalism student, reflects on an afternoon with Anna Wintour and Linda Evangelista at Central Saint Martins.

  • Credit: Elmira Ismukhamedova

    MullenLowe NOVA Awards 2023: the nominees

    Announcing the nominations for this year's MullenLowe NOVA Awards for Fresh Creative Talent, as part of CSM Shows 2023. This year, 52 nominated students present projects across art, design, fashion, architecture, materials and performance.

Facilities

Staff

Fees and funding

Home fee

£13,910

This fee is correct for entry in January 2024 and is subject to change for entry in January 2025.

Tuition fees may increase in future years for new and continuing students on courses lasting more than one year. For this course, you can pay tuition fees in instalments.

Home fees are currently charged to UK nationals and UK residents who meet the rules. However, the rules are complex. Find out more about our tuition fees and determining your fee status.

International fee

£29,330

This fee is correct for entry in January 2024 and is subject to change for entry in January 2025.

Tuition fees may increase in future years for new and continuing students on courses lasting more than one year. For this course, you can pay tuition fees in instalments.

Students from countries outside of the UK will generally be charged international fees. The rules are complex so read more about tuition fees and determining your fee status.

Scholarship search

Entry requirements

The standard entry requirements for this course are as follows:

  • First-class or upper second-class honours degree from similar BA courses in Fashion Journalism or Communication but more typically from humanities subjects at university
  • 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.

English language requirements

IELTS level 7.0 or above, with at least 6.0 in reading, writing, listening and speaking (please check our main English language requirements webpage).

Selection criteria

We select applicants according to potential and current ability in the following areas:

  • High quality written English
  • Evidence of an original, enquiring mind
  • Excellent research and analytical skills
  • Awareness of different audiences
  • Evidence of genuine interest and engagement with fashion journalism.

What we are looking for

We are looking for students who may have graduated from similar BA courses in Fashion Journalism or Communication, but more typically will have studied humanities subjects at university. The pathway also recognises the benefits of recruiting students who have studied fashion design as undergraduates, which provides them with significant core skills for analysing fashion.

Apply now

Application deadline

Deadline

Round 1:

Not applicable

Round 2:

25 October 2024

Digital portfolio deadline

Round 1:

Not applicable

Round 2:

7 days after digital portfolio and/or video task request

Decision outcome

Round 1:

Not applicable

Round 2:

12 December 2024

Round 1
Round 2
Deadline
Not applicable
25 October 2024
Digital portfolio deadline

Not applicable

7 days after digital portfolio and/or video task request
Decision outcome

Not applicable

12 December 2024

All applications received by 25 October 2024 will be treated equally. If there are places available after this date, the course will remain open to applications until places have been filled.

Read more about deadlines

Apply now

Application deadline

Deadline

Round 1:

Not applicable

Round 2:

25 October 2024

Digital portfolio deadline

Round 1:

Not applicable

Round 2:

7 days after digital portfolio and/or video task request

Decision outcome

Round 1:

Not applicable

Round 2:

12 December 2024

Round 1
Round 2
Deadline
Not applicable
25 October 2024
Digital portfolio deadline

Not applicable

7 days after digital portfolio and/or video task request
Decision outcome

Not applicable

12 December 2024

All applications received by 25 October 2024 will be treated equally. If there are places available after this date, the course will remain open to applications until places have been filled.

Read more about deadlines

Apply to UAL

Start your application
or

Apply with a UAL Representative

Based across the world, our local UAL representatives can support you with your application from your home country. Check to see if there is a representative available in your country currently.

Find your representative

You also need to know

Communicating with you

Once you have submitted your initial application, we will email you with your login details for our Applicant portal.

Requests for supplementary documents like qualifications and English language tests will be made through the applicant portal. You can also use it to ask questions regarding your application. Visit our After you apply page for more information.

Applying to more than 1 course

You can apply for more than 1 postgraduate course at UAL but we recommend that you apply for no more than 3 courses. You need to tailor your application, supporting documents and portfolio to each course, so applying for many different courses could risk the overall quality of your application. If you receive offers for multiple courses, you'll only be able to accept 1 offer. UAL doesn't accept repeat applications to the same course in the same academic year.

Visas and immigration history check

All non-UK nationals must complete an immigration history check. Your application may be considered by our course teams before this check takes place. This means that we may request your portfolio and/or video task before we identify any issues arising from your immigration history check. Sometimes your history may mean that we are not able to continue considering your application. Visit our Immigration and visas advice page for more information.

External student transfer policy

UAL accepts transfers from other institutions on a case-by-case basis. Read our Student transfer policy for more information.

Alternative offers

If your application is really strong, but we believe your strengths and skillset are better suited to a different course, we may make you an alternative offer. This means you will be offered a place on a different course or at a different UAL College.

Deferring your place

We do not accept any deferral requests for our postgraduate courses. This means that you must apply in the year that you plan to start your course and you will not be able to defer your place to start at a later date.

Application deadlines

For postgraduate courses at UAL there are 2 equal consideration deadlines to ensure fairness for all our applicants. If you apply ahead of either of these deadlines, your application will be considered on an equal basis with all other applications in that round. If there are places available after the second deadline, the course will remain open to applications until places have been filled.

Careers

Students from the Fashion Journalism pathway typically move on to careers in fashion media worldwide, ranging from Vogue (UK, US, China, India) and The Times to Net-a-Porter and a variety of internet startups.