MA Fashion Journalism is unique in its merging of cultural theory with fashion journalism. It is a multidisciplinary framework for independent study that leads to an original body of written and/or visual work. You can choose to position your aspirations and your work on a spectrum from media journalism to theoretical study, for example: a dissertation on the presentation of fashion on television; a book surveying the fashion industry in Canada; a new concept for a fashion magazine; a cultural analysis of the current position of masculinity in society.

The course aims to develop highly articulate and aware fashion commentators who have sound research ability and strong written and visual communication skills. Cultural theory and journalism strands run in parallel through the first stage of the course. Three of the four pathway units are focused on the practice of journalism, a key feature being visiting speakers from industry.

Course Structure

Full Time mode

Part Time Mode

Year One

Year Two

Outline of the course

Master’s Project Proposal

This unit supports the development of your project proposal. You will be able to work on your initial ideas discussed at interview, through reviewing and revising your focus in line with developing interests synthesised from your work within the specialist units of your MA course. A staged process of development and review culminates in the presentation of the proposal for assessment. Individual and original results must be underpinned by sound research methodologies, and you will be expected to consult a wide range of specialist resources. You will be introduced to a broad range of research methodologies and skills, including presentations, workshops and practitioner case studies. This unit will support you in the completion of your coursework assignments and will prepare you for the development of your Master’s Project.

Contextual Studies

The contemporary fashion and creative industries require multi-skilled and flexible individuals who understand the complexities of the global fashion industry. This unit enables you to appreciate the perspectives of both your own and other disciplines at work in fashion today, and to understand and analyse the complex economic, technical, ethical and business issues that affect the future of the creative industries. The unit is a focal point for all MA students, both full and part time, from all courses. It underpins your specialist studies by providing a common forum for debate on issues arising from the study of fashion. Aspects of design, technology, communication, marketing and the cultural industries are explored, and a programme of visiting speakers from industry and leading researchers supports the unit.

Cultural Studies: Approaches to Contemporary Fashion

Within the multinational and multicultural environment across the graduate school, this unit will help you to establish a common language and look at a set of theoretical issues. These can be employed in your analysis of, and writings about, fashion through theoretical and methodological interventions established in the interdisciplinary field of cultural studies.

Understanding Writing

This unit gives you an overview of the fashion media through the development of your journalistic skills, with a particular relationship to the fashion industry, and provides you with the necessary underpinning of industry knowledge. The current fashion marketplace is examined through linking appropriate genres of journalism to key events during the fashion calendar. You will examine different types of journalistic output, including consumer and business publications related to the fashion industry, and you will consider the role of the stylist and the fashion editor. Basic and advanced writing skills will be combined with visual media throughout the course. This will enable you to produce a series of written and visual pieces that combine sound journalistic practice with fashion awareness, and facilitate the development of an individual voice. You will learn basic presentation skills and portfolio building techniques that will underpin your future career. Opportunities will exist for working on live projects and/or self-motivated freelance work.

Beyond the Grid: The Role of Magazine Design within Contemporary Fashion Media

This unit examines the role of magazine design within fashion media through considering various approaches to page layout and design from both historical and contemporary perspectives. You will look at the capacity of key computer graphics packages through project work, and will dissect the power of the fashioned image, alongside its appeal to the consumer within the fashion industry. This will be examined in a number of markets and contexts, including trade, consumer, magazine, newspaper and web design.

The Rationale of Publishing: Behind the Printed Word

In this unit you will analyse the importance of the publishing industry as the backbone which supports both book-based and magazine-based fashion literature. You will analyse the relative successes and failures within recent international magazine publishing, the financial realities driving consumer titles, both in terms of editorial stance and magazine design, as well as the advertising revenue and the physical costs of production. You will examine how media is marketed to the consumer in English-speaking markets, both prior to and after a new launch. This will involve aspects of market research, and an analysis of new publishing trends within the marketplace. You will be expected to gain a broad understanding of fashion publishing methods and their relative advantages and disadvantages. This will enable you to develop skills in identifying existing potential markets and developing underexploited areas within contemporary fashion media and publishing.

Master’s Project

This unit is the culmination of your work on the course and allows you to concentrate on producing your major media work, which can take a variety of forms by negotiation with your tutors. You will consolidate the ideas that have been developing since the beginning of the course, and you will bring to fruition an independently-motivated, original and professional body of work, which makes a contribution to a specific aspect of fashion media, within a specified context and for an identified audience. 

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.

Showing your work

All final year students are given the opportunity to profile their work online via Showtime. London College of Fashion can make no guarantee that your work (either in sum or in part) will be shown, exhibited or profiled in any way as part of your course. All student work appearing in College organised events, catwalk shows, exhibitions and other forms of showcase, is selected by a panel of senior staff and, in some instances, external industry judges.

For details of the wide range of careers support provided for students, please visit our Careers Support page.

Student Selection Criteria

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

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.

What We Look For

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.

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.

Home/EU Applicants

Applications to study for a Postgraduate course should be made directly to the College using the Postgraduate Application Form, accompanied by two references (one of which should be academic) and a copy of your highest qualification to date.

Most postgraduate courses require you to submit a detailed study proposal and / or essay. Please read the specific guidance notes before applying to this course.

• Download Graduate School Application Form [PDF - 502kb]
• Download Graduate School Application Form [Word doc - 254kb]
• Download MA Fashion Journalism Guidance Notes [PDF - 58kb]

Alternatively, you can request an application form by calling +44 (0)20 7514 7563 / 7582 / 7344. If you have a question, you can ask us through our Course enquiry form.

Please send your completed application form to the following address:

• Download Postgraduate International Application Form [PDF - 200kb]
• Download Postgraduate International Application Form [Word doc - 234kb]
• Download MA Fashion Journalism Guidance Notes [PDF - 58kb]
• Download Tier 4 Student Visa: UK Immigration History Form Guidance Notes for Students [PDF - 63kb] 

Please send your completed application form to the following address:

Selection Process

The course team will review your application and you may be called to interview. If you are selected for interview you will be asked to bring examples of previous written work and to undertake a written aptitude test. From this work, the test and the interview the course team will decide if you are to be offered a place on the course.

Applicants have the right to ask for feedback if their application is unsuccessful. Requests must be made in writing to the Student Administrator, and we will respond within 20 working days.