MA Fashion mediates between possibilities, ideals, and imagination. The curriculum brings together students from a wide range of fashion and textiles backgrounds as well as different cultures, significantly enhancing the energy of the curriculum. You will be expected to learn and problem solve from the experience of your peers, as well as your own. Strong emphasis is placed on creativity, personal and professional development and developing the skills necessary for employment in the fashion industry at the highest level.
Unit 1: Diagnostic Phase
This unit consists of project work and a number of taught programmes designed to identify your abilities. This phase challenges assumptions and aims to broaden your creative thinking and knowledge of your specialist pathway. You will develop your design and communication skills and your market awareness in order to gain an informed perspective on the fashion industry whilst simultaneously refining your own practice.
Projects will run simultaneously. You are expected to become more independent and experimental, initiating and managing your own projects in negotiation with the course team.
Unit 2: Pre-collection; Independent Major Project Part 1 – Rationale, Research and Design Development
This unit begins with the Pre-collection project, it will give you the opportunity to innovate and risk-take, while testing out possible design ideas and solutions in preparation for the start of your Independent Major Project.
The skills and critical perspectives acquired during Unit 1 and in the Pre-collection project will inform the direction of your Independent Major Project, Part 1. The project, which will include a written rationale, a consistent body of preliminary research and initial design development, must result in a comprehensive portfolio appropriate for its intended specialist audience, showing a clear understanding of both its related market and context.
Unit 3: Independent Major Project Part 2 – 3D Realisation and Portfolio
The rationale, research and design development produced in Unit 2 will form the basis of this final course unit. You will realise these ideas in a garment or textile collection or want to negotiate an equivalent proposal in another medium. An accompanying comprehensive portfolio will also be required.
Mode of study
MA Fashion is offered in full-time mode which runs for 45 weeks over 17 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.
