(Full time) 2023 start
Fashion, Enterprise and Society MA
Overview
Prepare for a career as a successful innovator in the fashion business with this varied and engaging course. You’ll develop an in-depth knowledge and understanding of strategic business design, fashion enterprise and social impact.
Delivered collaboratively between School of Design and the Centre for Enterprise and Entrepreneurship Studies in Leeds University Business School, the course will equip you with the skills to view the fashion industry from social and cultural as well as commercial perspectives.
Along with concepts such as consumer behaviour, branding and marketing, you’ll also study the principles of business and entrepreneurship and how they relate to social enterprise. You’ll also address the challenges of sustainability.
You’ll mix design, business and market-centred innovation to gain a broad base of skills to thrive in a complex, fast-paced and rapidly evolving industry.
Specialist facilities
We have a range of facilities to help you make the most of your time at Leeds. You’ll be able to develop your practice in well-equipped studios and purpose-built computer clusters so you can build your skills on both PC and Mac. There is also a dedicated suite for computer-aided design and manufacture (CAD/CAM), providing you with access to the latest design software and some of the latest design technology, such as digital printing and laser cutting facilities, clothing engineering and colour analysis/prediction labs.
We also have an impressive range of resources you can use for research. We house the M&S Company Archive including documents, advertising, photos, films, clothing and merchandise from throughout Marks & Spencer’s history, offering a fascinating insight into the changing nature of branding and advertising over time. The International Textile Collections, also housed on campus, collects, preserves and documents textiles and related areas from around the world.
Course content
Throughout the course, you’ll explore the concepts of entrepreneurship, enterprise and social responsibility as well as different ethical, social and sustainable approaches. You’ll study the challenges faced by social enterprises today and even the process of setting up a new business.
At the same time, you’ll learn about consumer behaviour and the fashion marketing cycle. You’ll research and develop prototype garments to explore how innovative design ideas can meet the challenges of sustainability and ethics, or make the most of emerging technologies.
In addition, you can tailor your degree to suit your interests and career plans with a choice of optional modules on topics such as fashion photography, fashion industry analysis and sustainability. You will be presented with a range of research methods to develop research skills by applying them in your independent Masters project, through discussion with the tutors and potential supervisors.
Your independent project can be developed as a traditional dissertation on a fashion related topic of your choice, or a more creative based Professional and Contextual Studies project. In the contextual route you’ll research and develop your own design solution – which you’ll exhibit at the end of the year – supported by case studies and other independent work.
The Programme Leader for this course is Dr Caroline Hemingray.
Course structure
The list shown below represents typical modules/components studied and may change from time to time. Read more in our Terms and conditions.
Modules
Year 1
Compulsory modules
- Fashion Marketing 15 credits
- Research Methods 15 credits
- Fashion Futures 15 credits
- Enterprise and Society 15 credits
- New Venture Creation 15 credits
- Entrepreneurship and Enterprise Creation 15 credits
Optional modules (selection of typical options shown below)
- Brand Design and Management 15 credits
- Fashion Communication and Photography 15 credits
- Fashion Industry Analysis 15 credits
- Sustainability and Fashion 15 credits
- Fashion Product Development 15 credits
- Fashion Research and Contextualisation 60 credits
- Dissertation: Fashion Enterprise and Society 60 credits
- Internationalisation in the Fashion Industry Context 15 credits
- Textile Product Design, Innovation and Development 15 credits
Learning and teaching
This diverse degree gives you a wide range of skills, and the variety of teaching methods used reflects this. We use workshops, seminars, presentations, lectures, practical sessions, tutorials, online learning, seminars and group learning sessions. Independent study is also vital to this degree, allowing you to develop your own designs and build your skill set.
On this course you’ll be taught by our expert academics, from lecturers through to professors. You may also be taught by industry professionals with years of experience, as well as trained postgraduate researchers, connecting you to some of the brightest minds on campus.
Assessment
We use a range of assessment techniques, including presentations, exams, essays, group and individual project work and portfolios of research and practical work.
Applying, fees and funding
Entry requirements
You’ll need a bachelor degree with a 2:1 (hons) or equivalent qualification specialising in one the following subjects: fashion design, marketing, management, business or textiles.
You’ll also be required to respond to the questions in the supporting statement section of the online application form.
Please note that meeting the entry requirements of this course doesn't guarantee an offer of a place.
English language requirements
IELTS 6.5 overall, with no less than 6.0 in any component. For other English qualifications, read English language equivalent qualifications.
Improve your English
International students who do not meet the English language requirements for this programme may be able to study our postgraduate pre-sessional English course, to help improve your English language level.
This pre-sessional course is designed with a progression route to your degree programme and you’ll learn academic English in the context of your subject area. To find out more, read Language for Business Management and Enterprise (6 weeks) and Language for Business: Business Management and Enterprise (10 weeks).
We also offer online pre-sessionals alongside our on-campus pre-sessionals. You could study a part-time online course starting in January, or a full-time course in summer. Find out more about online pre-sessionals.
You can also study pre-sessionals for longer periods – read about our postgraduate pre-sessional English courses.
How to apply
Application deadline:
We operate a staged admissions process for our courses, with selection deadlines throughout the year.
If you do not receive an offer at a particular stage in the process, you will be either notified that your application has been unsuccessful, or that is has been carried forward to be considered at the next stage.
Please see our How to Apply page for full details and the application deadlines for each stage.
This link takes you to information on applying for taught programmes and to the University's online application system.
If you're unsure about the application process, contact the admissions team for help.
Documents and information you’ll need
- A copy of your degree certificate and transcripts, or a partial transcript if you’re still studying (including an official English translation if necessary)
- A personal statement in response to the questions asked in the supporting statement section of the application form, which explains why you wish to study this particular course and your future career plans
- Evidence of your English language qualifications, if English is not your first language
Next steps
Applicants may be invited to attend an interview with the programme manager either by phone, Skype or in person.
The Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Cultures receives very large numbers of high-quality applications and regrets that it cannot make offers to all of its applicants. Some particularly popular schools may have to reject many that hold the necessary academic qualifications.
Read about visas, immigration and other information in International students. We recommend that international students apply as early as possible to ensure that they have time to apply for their visa.
Admissions policy
University of Leeds Taught Admissions Policy 2023
Fees
- UK: £14,500 (total)
- International: £27,500 (total)
Read more about paying fees and charges.
For fees information for international taught postgraduate students, read Masters fees.
Additional cost information
Computers and digital equipment
To ensure you can make the most of your studies at Leeds, you’ll need to make sure your laptop meets the system requirements for your course.
Depending on your circumstances you can benefit from a laptop loan or further support from our Financial Assistance Fund.
There may be additional costs related to your course or programme of study, or related to being a student at the University of Leeds. Read more about additional costs.
Scholarships and financial support
If you have the talent and drive, we want you to be able to study with us, whatever your financial circumstances. There may be help for students in the form of loans and non-repayable grants from the University and from the government. Find out more at Masters funding overview.
Career opportunities
This course is designed to give you a broad knowledge base and a wide range of skills to help you become a forward-thinking, market-conscious innovator in the fashion industry.
You’ll have a lot to contribute to the thriving global fashion industry – as well as other sectors – in a range of social, commercial, marketing, management and enterprise careers. Past students have obtained positions with Harper’s Bazaar (China), Nike (China), Propoganda Agency Ltd (UK), TJX Europe and the Kuoni Group among others, or they have created their own business.
You’ll also be well-prepared to continue studying at postgraduate researcher level and several of our graduates have gone on to complete PhD research at both Leeds and other institutions.
Careers support
We encourage you to prepare for your career from day one. That’s one of the reasons Leeds graduates are so sought after by employers.
The Careers Centre and staff in your faculty provide a range of help and advice to help you plan your career and make well-informed decisions along the way, even after you graduate. Find out more at the Careers website.