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Postgraduate

MA Fashion Journalism

A selection of photos of students at home
MA Fashion Journalism. Project titled, 'Around Us magazine No1' by student, Ke Zhang.
College
London College of Fashion
Start date
September 2023
Course length
15 months

This fashion journalism masters course equips students with the skills to become an articulate and aware fashion writer in the current media landscape.

Applications closed 2023/24

We are no longer accepting applications for 2023/24 entry to this course.

Visit the Courses with places available page for a full list of UAL courses that are open for application.

Why choose this course at London College of Fashion

  • Career opportunities: graduates have gone on to work across magazine and newspaper journalism, magazine styling and image making, for the likes of Harrods and Dash magazine.
  • Industry links: strong networking links facilitate freelance opportunities in the industry. Students will have access to events and industry speakers such as Lucinda Chambers.
  • Professional skills: students are equipped to set up their own media products as businesses on completion of the course.

Course overview

MA Fashion Journalism is a well-established course that has been designed for graduates/professionals who wish to explore the changing face of fashion journalism, whether that be from an academic, consumer or entrepreneurial perspective.  

The course offers a proactive approach to the rapidly changing global landscape that challenges the role of the fashion media and examines how, as a practitioner, you can successfully disseminate an editorial message within it.  

In the light of globalisation and numerous ongoing controversies surrounding the fashion industry, the course examines a number of sociological and ethical issues that are emerging for journalists and content creators.  

Students are encouraged to challenge the current fashion system and develop disruptive editorial strategies that could potentially have both social and politically active outcomes. 

Focusing on both the written word and the curated fashion image, the course teaches expertise in both commercial content creation and traditional journalism as well as publishing; in short, how to be a commentator, editor and entrepreneur, both digitally and in print. 

Students engage with the subject matter on a number of different levels, from theoretical discourse, to vocational publishing and digital projects, developing a skill base that fosters a broad variety of expertise.  

Course content encompasses an in-depth knowledge of the fashion industry globally (in both western and non-western contexts), to practical editorial and technical skills that enable students to assemble and create multi-platform products that incorporate both traditional journalistic skills and more experimental methodologies.

Successful applicants will have the opportunity to engage with a number of industry professionals from a variety of fields (digital, creative, editorial, publishing), but will also examine broader market forces that are contextualising the industry commercially and creatively.  

The MA culminates in a self-negotiated project with a number of different  potential outcomes, from a traditional dissertation or book proposal to commercial media products that can potentially offer a combination of print and online elements as well as a business model that will theoretically enable the student to make their Master’s Project a commercial reality upon graduation. 

Climate, Social and Racial Justice

We are committed to developing ethical journalistic practices. To achieve this, we are working to embed UAL’s Principles for Climate, Social and Racial Justice into the course.

Contact us

Register your interest to receive information and updates about studying at UAL.

Contact us to make an enquiry.

Course units

Fashion Journalism in a Global Context (40 Credits) 
Collaborative Challenge (20 credits) 
Exploring Commercial Fashion Content (20 Credits) 
Risk, Experiment and Speculation in the Fashion Media (20 Credits) 
Research Proposal (20 credits) 
Master’s Project (60 credits) 

Learning and teaching methods

During your course you will engage with learning and teaching that includes both online and face-to-face modes. The scheduled activity for the course will be delivered through a combination of live, synchronous and asynchronous on-line learning. This is often described as blended learning. These sessions will include lectures, seminars, workshops, tutorials, peer review, technical sessions and masterclasses with industry practitioners.

For your final master’s project you will be expected to engage with independent research and set your own programme of work under the guidance of a designated supervisor/Course Leader. The method of research, development of ideas and organisation of material will depend on your chosen subject area and your negotiated project outcome for assessment. You will be expected to engage in regular progress meetings with your supervisor/Course Leader.
 

Graduate Showcase

Explore work by our recent students on the UAL Graduate Showcase

Student and graduate work

  • Cynthia-Jreige-JDEED-Magazine.jpg
  • Fiona-Ma.jpg
  • Nico-Papasavva.jpg
  • Robyn-Turk.jpg
  • Anelia-Thomas.jpg

Latest news from this course

  • Introducing LCF's new public facing Cultural Programme
    Visitors during a recent LCF graduate exhibition. Photographer: © Ana Blumenkron

    Introducing LCF's new public facing Cultural Programme

    LCF is excited to announce that from September 2023, when it opens the doors to its new home as part of East Bank, it will offer a brand-new, free, cultural programme open to the public.

  • Meet our LCF Newsroom Content Creators
    MA22 Exhibition at Victoria House Basement. Photography by Ana Blumenkron.

    Meet our LCF Newsroom Content Creators

    We’re excited to introduce you to our first cohort of Content Creators. Hear from them on why they applied for the role and what they are looking forward to covering.

  • LCF23: Jodi Clarke 'Battersea's Doddy’
    Image of Doddington and Rollo tower blocks at night | by Jodi Clarke - MA Fashion Journalism 2023

    LCF23: Jodi Clarke 'Battersea's Doddy’

    We got in touch with graduate Jodi Clarke from MA Fashion Journalism on her project ‘Battersea’s Doddy’ where she shares the stories of local residents of the tower block in Doddington and Rollo in Southwest London.

  • Celebrating LCF Postgraduate Class of 2023
    LCF Postgraduate Class of 2023. Artwork by Lauren Chalmers.

    Celebrating LCF Postgraduate Class of 2023

    LCF are excited to introduce LCF Postgraduate Class of 2023, demonstrating how LCF students look beyond the traditional notions of fashion to imagine a new and exciting future.

  • Reflecting on our recent postgraduate showcases
    LCFMA22 at Victoria House Basement - Photography by Eilwen Jones @eilijonesphotography

    Reflecting on our recent postgraduate showcases

    With LCF Postgraduate Class of 2023 around the corner, we reflect on some of LCF’s previous postgraduate shows.

Andrew Tucker, Course Leader

A fashion journalist, author and consultant with almost three decades of working in the industry, Andrew Tucker has covered some of the most renowned fashion shows in history and interviewed the world’s greatest creative luminaries – from Alexander McQueen and Gianni Versace to John Galliano and even Martha Stewart. With contributions to magazines like The Gentlewoman and Fantastic Man, Tucker continues his career as a journalist, as well as an author of fashion books and a creative advisor for British Fashion Council and LOCOG, the organisation he helped plan cultural aspects of the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Read Andrew Tucker's full profile Read Andrew Tuckers full profile here.

Carrie Mok, Programme Director

Both as an educator and a creative director, Carrie Mok focuses her work on driving innovation through connection, co-creation and collaboration as well as nurturing creativity in its purest forms. Throughout her career, Mok has worked with leading global brands including Burberry, Louis Vuitton and Gucci, along with major educational institutions. She is also the founder of Soft Launch, a creative community incubator that supports emerging talent through mentoring, thoughtful partnerships and entrepreneurial development.

Hannah Zeilig Phd, Lecturer

A widely published researcher and an enthusiastic teacher, Hannah Zeilig is Reader in Arts and Health at London College of Fashion and a visiting research fellow at the University of East Anglia. Her work is transdisciplinary and influenced by her own experience of living with bipolar disorder. Throughout it, Zeilig explores co-creativity as an approach to support agency, wellbeing, and citizenship for people with dementia and severe mental illnesses. She supervises multiple PhD students and gives lectures on ethics, qualitative research, as well as older people and fashion.

Fees and funding

Home fee

£12,700

This fee is correct for 2023/24 entry and is subject to change for 2024/25 entry.

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

£25,970

This fee is correct for 2023/24 entry and is subject to change for 2024/25 entry.

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 MA Fashion Journalism are as follows: 

  • 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. 

APEL (Accreditation of Prior (Experiential) Learning)

Applicants who do not meet these course entry requirements may still be considered in exceptional cases. 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 (minimum of three years) 
  • The quality of the personal statement 
  • A strong academic or other professional reference 
  • OR a combination of these factors 

Each application is considered on its own merit. 

English Language Requirements 

IELTS level 7.0 with a minimum of 6.0 in reading, writing, listening and speaking.  

Historically, applicants come from the following academic and professional backgrounds. 

BA (Hons) - English, History, Economics, French etc – humanities as a whole 

Or 

BA (Hons) - Fashion, Textiles etc – applied and fine arts as a whole 

Or 

BA (Hons)  Journalism or Media Studies. 

MA Fashion Journalism regularly recruits working journalists looking to widen their professional experience into the fashion sector, given the specific skill set it requires. It is envisaged that the revalidated degree, with its emphasis on content creation and future scoping, will continue to attract such applicants.

Selection criteria

The course seeks to recruit students who can demonstrate:

  • A strong commitment and motivation towards a career in an aspect of fashion media
  • Awareness and relevant experience of fashion 

Appropriate knowledge and skills commensurate with planned entry into the course. 
 

Apply now

Applications closed 2023/24

We are no longer accepting applications for 2023/24 entry to this course.

Visit the Courses with places available page for a full list of UAL courses that are open for application.

This section includes all the information you need on how to apply, how your application is considered and what happens next.

UK/EU students can apply to a postgraduate course at LCF by completing a direct application.

Deferring your place

This course accepts requests from offer holders to defer their place for one academic year. Deferral requests are granted on a first-come, first-served basis until all deferral places are filled, or a deadline has been reached, whichever is sooner. Read our Admissions Policy for details, including how to request a deferral and by when.

External Student Transfer Policy

If you are currently studying at another institution and if you have successfully completed 60 credits in the equivalent units/modules on your current PG course and wish to continue your studies at London College of Fashion, you can apply to transfer. The Admissions Tutor will consider applications on a case by case basis, subject to places being available. You must apply directly to the course via the course webpage as early as possible.

Please check our Student Transfer Policy for more important information and be ready to provide us with your current course handbook and transcripts.

Please be ready to provide an official document (translated into English if necessary) from your current university, explaining the learning outcomes of the units you have completed.

Start your application now

Extra information required for applications to this course


When you are submitting your application form, you will also need to provide the following pieces of documentation in support of your application:

Curriculum Vitae

You will be required to submit a Curriculum Vitae (C.V.) in support of your application. This should include your full education and employment history.

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.
  • Explain 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).

Written assignments

You will be required to submit two written assignments:

1) Industry analysis

Please select one of the following topics, and write a piece of between 500 and 1000 words in length. Please use Harvard style to cite any research that is relevant to your chosen topic.

  • Has the explosion in fashion blogging been beneficial or detrimental to the online reader experience?
  • You have been given £100,000 to launch a fashion magazine (either print or online) Identify a gap in the market and how you would fill it.
  • By what criteria would you judge a fashion publication (either print or online) to be successful/unsuccessful and why? Please analyse two publications of your choice that are aimed at different market sectors.
  • Is celebrity culture largely beneficial or detrimental to the fashion media industry?

2) Journalistic style

Please select one of the following topics and write a piece of between 500 and 1000 words in length and write in the journalistic style of your choice, outlining the publication (print or online) you would be aiming your piece at.
Please ensure that your journalistic tone reflects that of your chosen publication and explain why this piece is relevant to the reader of your chosen publication. Please do not write in the first person.

  • A profile or interview with someone working in the fashion industry.
  • An analysis of a trend that goes beyond simple catwalk references that can also reflect societal, economic, or technological change.

Portfolio

You may submit a digital portfolio of any previous journalism work if you think it will enhance your application; the most important part of your application is the two assignments as detailed above.

You may include a URL link to your portfolio within your personal statement.

What happens next

All application forms, personal statements and relevant documents are read and considered by the course team against the selection criteria listed in the Entry requirements and Selection Criteria sections.

If the course team wish to consider your application further, you will be invited to attend an interview. If you are selected for interview, these will take place online using Teams from Microsoft – please ensure that you download this software prior to the interview date; this is available as a free download from the Microsoft website. We will send you further details at a later point about how we will connect with you for your interview.

If you are successful at the interview stage you will be offered a place. Please note that applicants are not guaranteed an interview.

Please note that if you are unable to attend, the College may not be able to re-schedule.

How we notify you of the outcome of your application

The result of your application will be communicated to you through your UAL Portal. If your application has been successful, you will receive a full offer pack including details of accommodation, fees, and other important information.

Applications for this course can only be accepted for this year of entry. Applications for deferred entry cannot be accepted.

Application deadline

19 December 2022 and 3 April 2023

Our equal consideration deadlines have now passed. This course will remain open to applications for 2023 entry until places have been filled. Please be aware that courses can close without notice.

We recommend you submit your application as early as possible to allow the Admissions team to resolve any initial queries about your application as quickly as possible.

When you'll hear from us

If this course requires a digital portfolio as part of the application process, you will be invited to submit this through UAL’s online submission tool, PebblePad. We will request this separately after initial processing of your application is complete. Once we request your portfolio, you will have 7 days to submit it.

Once you’ve sent in your application, this will be sent through to our course teams for review. Find out more about what happens after you apply.

Applications closed 2023/24

We are no longer accepting applications for 2023/24 entry to this course.

Visit the Courses with places available page for a full list of UAL courses that are open for application.

This section includes all the information you need on how to apply, how your application is considered and what happens next.

There are 2 ways international students can apply to a postgraduate course:

Read our immigration and visa information to find out if you need a visa to study at UAL.

You can only apply to the same course once per year. Any duplicate applications will be withdrawn.  Read the UAL international application advice for further information on how to apply.

Deferring your place

This course accepts requests from offer holders to defer their place for one academic year. Deferral requests are granted on a first-come, first-served basis until all deferral places are filled, or a deadline has been reached, whichever is sooner. Read our Admissions Policy for details, including how to request a deferral and by when.

External Student Transfer Policy

If you are currently studying at another institution and if you have successfully completed 60 credits in the equivalent units/modules on your current PG course and wish to continue your studies at London College of Fashion, you can apply to transfer. The Admissions Tutor will consider applications on a case by case basis, subject to places being available. You must apply directly to the course via the course webpage as early as possible.

Please check our Student Transfer Policy for more important information and be ready to provide us with your current course handbook and transcripts.

Please be ready to provide an official document (translated into English if necessary) from your current university, explaining the learning outcomes of the units you have completed.

Start your application now

Extra information required for applications to this course


When you are submitting your application form, you will also need to provide the following pieces of documentation in support of your application:

Curriculum Vitae

You will be required to submit a Curriculum Vitae (C.V.) in support of your application. This should include your full education and employment history.

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.
  • Explain 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).

Written assignments

You will be required to submit two written assignments:

1) Industry analysis

Please select one of the following topics, and write a piece of between 500 and 1000 words in length. Please use Harvard style to cite any research that is relevant to your chosen topic.

  • Has the explosion in fashion blogging been beneficial or detrimental to the online reader experience?
  • You have been given £100,000 to launch a fashion magazine (either print or online) Identify a gap in the market and how you would fill it.
  • By what criteria would you judge a fashion publication (either print or online) to be successful/unsuccessful and why? Please analyse two publications of your choice that are aimed at different market sectors.
  • Is celebrity culture largely beneficial or detrimental to the fashion media industry?

2) Journalistic style

Please select one of the following topics and write a piece of between 500 and 1000 words in length and write in the journalistic style of your choice, outlining the publication (print or online) you would be aiming your piece at.
Please ensure that your journalistic tone reflects that of your chosen publication and explain why this piece is relevant to the reader of your chosen publication. Please do not write in the first person.

  • A profile or interview with someone working in the fashion industry.
  • An analysis of a trend that goes beyond simple catwalk references that can also reflect societal, economic, or technological change.

Portfolio

You may submit a digital portfolio of any previous journalism work if you think it will enhance your application; the most important part of your application is the two assignments as detailed above.

You may include a URL link to your portfolio within your personal statement.

What happens next

Immigration History Check

After you have applied, you will need to complete an Immigration History Check to identify whether you are eligible to study at UAL. Do be aware, if you do not complete the Immigration History Check we will not be able to proceed with your application.

Initial application check

All application forms, personal statements and relevant documents are read and considered by the course team against the selection criteria listed in the Entry requirements and Selection Criteria sections.

Depending on the quality of your application, you may be asked to submit a number of images of your work. For this course your portfolio could include: drawings; photographs of realised designs; speculative design; sketch work; process; and photographs. Label and present any visual work with care, including dates and captions.

If the course team wish to consider your application further, you will be invited to attend an interview. If you are selected for interview, these will take place online using Teams from Microsoft – please ensure that you download this software prior to the interview date; this is available as a free download from the Microsoft website. We will send you further details at a later point about how we will connect with you for your interview.

If you are successful at the interview stage you will be offered a place. Please note that applicants are not guaranteed an interview.

Please note that if you are unable to attend, the College may not be able to re-schedule.

How we notify you of the outcome of your application

The result of your application will be communicated to you through your UAL Portal. If your application has been successful, you will receive a full offer pack including details of accommodation, fees, and other important information.

Applications for this course can only be accepted for this year of entry. Applications for deferred entry cannot be accepted.

Application deadline

19 December 2022 and 3 April 2023

Our equal consideration deadlines have now passed. This course will remain open to applications for 2023 entry until places have been filled. Please be aware that courses can close without notice.

We recommend you submit your application as early as possible to allow the Admissions team to resolve any initial queries about your application as quickly as possible.

When you'll hear from us

This course receives a high volume of applications. We need to make sure that we give all applications equal consideration, so the course team will review them in two rounds. This means that offers won’t be sent to successful applicants until after the relevant application deadline date. Outcomes for Round 1 will be released by 31 March 2022 and outcomes for Round 2 will be released by 30 June 2022.

Remember to check the outcome of your application in the UAL Portal. If you apply in Round 1 and don’t hear back from us, we will consider your application within Round 2.

Find out more about what happens after you apply.

After you apply

After you’ve submitted your application, you’ll receive a confirmation email providing you with your login details for the UAL Portal. We’ll use this Portal to contact you to request any additional information, including inviting you to upload documents or book an interview, so please check it regularly.

Once we’ve reviewed and assessed your application, we’ll contact you via the UAL Portal to let you know whether your application has been successful.

Careers

All our postgraduate courses offer career development, so that you become a creative thinker, making effective contributions to your relevant sector of the fashion industry.

LCF offers students the opportunity to develop Personal and Professional Development (PPD) skills while studying through:

  • Access to to speaker programmes and events featuring alumni and industry.
  • Access to careers activities, such as CV clinics and one-to-one advice sessions.
  • Access to a graduate careers service
  • Access to a live jobsboard for all years.
  • Advice on setting up your own brand or company.

Career paths

Master's graduates have an acknowledged advantage in the employment market, obtaining work in a wide range of vocational and academic fields related to fashion. Previous MA Fashion Journalism graduates are now working in areas such as magazine and newspaper journalism, magazine styling and image making, lecturing in cultural studies and researching and developing concepts for television.

The MA also provides an excellent preparation for higher level research degrees (MPhil or PhD), with an increasing number of graduates undertaking research in fashion related subjects, in practice or theory or entering into education as lecturers.