Fashion Design MA

Course overview

Become a fashion designer with a brand identity, a full collection and a commercial business strategy - plus all the tools to promote yourself in the international market - on our MA Fashion Design course at UCA Rochester.

Focusing on a collection you’ve already created, or starting a new one from scratch – you’ll develop your signature style and transform your fashion line to match. You’ll gain business insight and explore ways to externalise your practice, all within a creative and supportive environment.

As you study, you'll work in course-specific fashion studios, sewing and textile print workshops, as well as making use of campus-wide facilities such as digital printing and photography studios.

You’ll also benefit from our close connections within the fashion industry, with opportunities to hear from exciting guest lecturers and access individual help and guidance from professional mentors.

Your studies will culminate in the creation and launch of your brand – the springboard to your career in the fashion industry.

Course entry options

Select from the options below to find out more about the different study options available for this course:

What you'll study

The content of the course may be subject to change. Curriculum content is provided as a guide.

Integrated International Pre-Masters (if undertaken)

For our students coming from a non-UK educational background, UCA has launched an Integrated International Pre-Masters year.

On this course you’ll prepare for postgraduate study with a mix of online and face-to-face learning that will give you the study skills required to complete a Master’s, and you’ll also improve your English for academic study.

Term one

In this first semester, you’ll study two units concurrently.

Professional Fashion Practice
With your existing fashion range created through your undergraduate studies, or starting from new, you’ll analyse and reflect on your research to identify the fashion brand you wish to develop. As part of a community of staff and students exploring design ideas, you’ll develop your professional practice in a discursive, cross-disciplinary studio environment. As you develop your brand identity, you’ll strengthen your CAD skills, identify target consumers and competitors, and modify your collection to fit your brand aesthetic.

Research and Critical Enquiry
Through research, critical enquiry and understanding of a range of cultural, social ,economic and industry contexts, you’ll underpin and enhance your brand development. A range of analytical tools and research methodologies will assist you as you investigate contemporary and future innovations in design, materials and processes. Market positioning, consumer research and brand identity will be explored, with an emphasis on critical thinking and reflection.

Term two

Collection Development and Consolidation
You’ll apply your skills from term one to support and inform the design and modification of your fashion brand. Your body of work must be appropriate for an intended market, target consumer and season and should clearly demonstrate an evolving practice as a fashion designer and entrepreneur. An understanding of sustainability is an essential component of the design development, and you’ll collaborate with industry mentors to develop a commercial business plan. Working with external manufacturers, industry specialists, mentors and your tutors, you’ll demonstrate key skills in design practice, range planning, manufacturing and industry collaboration.

Term three

Final Project Resolution and Brand Launch
The culmination of your studies, you’ll develop your own business platform post-graduation, including a marketing strategy, and brand e-commerce website.

Fees and additional costs

Tuition fees - 2023 entry

UK students:

Integrated Pre-Masters course - £10,500
MA course - £10,500

EU students:

Integrated International Pre-Masters course - £10,500 (see fee discount information)
MA course - £10,500 (see fee discount information)

International students:

Integrated International Pre-Masters course (30 weeks) - £17,500
Integrated International Pre-Masters course (15 weeks) - £8,750
MA course - £17,500

Additional course costs
In addition to the tuition fees there may be other costs for your course. The things that you are likely to need to budget for to get the most out of a creative arts education will include books, printing costs, occasional or optional study trips and/or project materials. These costs will vary according to the nature of your project work and the individual choices that you make. Please see the Additional Course Costs section of your Course Information for details of the costs you may incur.

Further information
For more detailed information about our course fees and any financial support you may be entitled to please see our fees and finance pages.

The fees listed here are correct for the stated academic year only. Costs may increase each year during a student’s period of continued registration on course in line with inflation (subject to any maximum regulated tuition fee limit). Any adjustment for continuing students will be at or below the RPI-X forecast rate.

Fee discounts and scholarships

To support our students and alumni to progress to the next level of study, we have developed a new range of fee discounts across a range of courses.

Read more about fee discounts

Course specifications

Please note, syllabus content indicated is provided as a guide. The content of the course may be subject to change in line with our Student Terms and Conditions for example, as required by external professional bodies or to improve the quality of the course.

Jiachen Di, MA Fashion Design, UCA Rochester

Wenxin Tu, MA Fashion Design, UCA Rochester

Tanmaya Jain, MA Fashion Design, UCA Rocheste

JiYoon Kyung, MA Fashion Design, UCA Rochester

Suyi Chen, MA Fashion Design, UCA Rochester

Chloe Newman, MA Fashion Design, UCA Rochester

Yu Sun, MA Fashion Design, UCA Rochester

Xuehua Ma, MA Fashion Design, UCA Rochester

Yige Yang, MA Fashion Design, UCA Rochester

Yu Cao, MA Fashion Design, UCA Rochester

Yi-Sian Lee, MA Fashion Design, UCA Rochester

Molly Roy, MA Fashion Design, UCA Rochester

Facilities

Our campus has a range of facilities to support you. On the course you’ll make use of our fashion studios, sewing workshops, textile print studios and study areas with technical support. There’s also a modern library with a wealth of books, journals, special collections and online resources. The campus has additional facilities to support you including digital printing, photography studios and a media store for hiring digital and photography equipment.

View 360 virtual tour

Fashion studios, UCA Epsom

Photography studios, UCA Epsom

Library, UCA Epsom

Career opportunities

Industry links

Taught by lecturers and sessional staff with direct experience in the fashion industry, our course has a number of high profile industry links, including:

Avery Dennison RBIS (UK): Global Retail Branding and Information Services
Twine-s (Israel): Technology company offering a revolutionary digital on-demand thread dyeing system and a digital dye-to-match colour application
Tasker Apparel (UK): Leading ethical garment manufacturer supplying independent fashion designers and brands
Fashion Scout: the UK's largest independent showcase for emerging and established design talent during London Fashion Week. Fashion Scout is renowned for championing, nurturing and showcasing creative design talent from around the globe

Sessional staff

Phil Rowland - course leader
Alice Clarkson - Head of Global Trend at Avery Dennison; Insights & Brand Partnerships, Senior Editor, Print & Graphics at WGSN and Designer of Graphics & Prints: Criminal Brand.
Toby Benjamin - Creative Director of Spill The Tea Ltd Fashion Streetwear label 2018, Managing Director of Softwear Industries Ltd
Chris Gadd - Menswear Design Consultant, Senior Men’s Designer at Marks & Spencer, Senior Designer at Hackett, Senior Menswear Designer at DAKS, Freelance Visual Merchandiser at HERMES UK Stores
Delyth Gadd - Senior Fabric & Trend Sourcing Manager at Debenhams PLC, Textile Industry specialist consultant at Premiere Vision UK, Trend Specialist at Textile Seoul, Textile Trend & Development Specialist at Marks & Spencer, Assistant Product Manager at Hacket, Cloth Development Buyer at DAKS.
Phil Jones - Design Manager at F&F Clothing (Tesco PLC), Menswear Design Consultant at Marks & Spencer, Creative Design Director at Peter Worth, Design Director at Focus International, Senior Menswear Designer at Full Circle, Senior Menswear Designer at River Island.

Further study

You may also like to consider continuing your studies at MPhil or PhD level with us at UCA

Explore our Gradshow

Visit our grad show site to see the incredible work created by our graduating students

Visit the Gradshow website

Riddhi Masrani

"I find that my tutors are extremely helpful and supportive. Being part of a creative university, there is a lot great work that is exchanged on campus and this keeps me up-to-date with what is happening in all the different areas, which is really important to me."

Entry requirements

UK entry requirements

MA course

An honours degree or equivalent qualification in the subject or a related discipline

and/or

Relevant work experience, demonstrating your ability to study at postgraduate level.

Consideration will also be given to applicants who can make a strong case for admission in relation to a particular project and can demonstrate their potential to satisfactorily complete the course.

International and EU entry requirements

Check the equivalent qualifications for your country and the English language requirements:

Non-UK equivalent qualifications

English language requirements

Any additional entry requirements listed in the UK requirements section, e.g., subject requirements, work experience or professional qualifications, also apply to international applicants applying with equivalent qualifications.

MA course with Integrated International Pre-Masters course
A recognised bachelor degree or 3 year diploma with a strong portfolio in a relevant subject.

Don't meet the international entry requirements or English language requirements?
You may be able to enter the course through the following entry pathways:

Portfolio requirements

MA course
MA course with Integrated International Pre-Masters course

For these courses, we’ll need to see your visual or written portfolio for review. We’ll invite you to upload your portfolio online via your Applicant Portal – further information will be provided once you have applied. If you would prefer to meet the Academic Team in person for a review of your work on campus, this can also be arranged for you.

More portfolio advice