MA Global Fashion History
Global Fashion History at UCA
Gain a deeper understanding of the role of fashion in wider culture, and its global impact as an industry, on UCA's pioneering MA in Global Fashion History.
This online course - the first of its kind in the UK - has been developed with a global outlook in mind and enables students from across the world to join and learn from the comfort of their own homes.
Expanding on what's currently available within post-graduate fashion studies, you will have an opportunity to develop a critical understanding of fashion as:
- A means to establish and maintain diverse identities through dress and adornment.
- An industry based on a global flow of goods and ideas.
- Embedded in international consumer and digital media culture.
What you'll learn will help you become a true expert, with skills and knowledge you can use to advance your career in fashion or progress to PhD study and further your research.
The course will be delivered online using the UCA integrated teaching and learning platforms. You will have access to extensive online library resources, including a wide range of the latest electronic books and journals, databases, image banks, and moving image resources.
You will be supported by experienced staff with excellent teaching skills, expertise, extensive knowledge, and a wide range of interests in fashion theory, cultural theory, and related disciplines.
Please note, this course has previously been titled MA Global Fashion Cultures.
What you'll study
What you'll
study
The content of the course may be subject to change. Curriculum content is provided as a guide.
Launch
Launch week is a cross-school event bringing together postgraduate students across all disciplines within the School of Fashion and Textiles to get to know each other and form an international, cross-functional, dynamic postgraduate community.
Global Fashion Cultures
This unit is an introduction to style-fashion-dress in a global, diverse, and interconnected world, and will explore the historical roots, contemporary developments and challenges that impact on how style/fashion/dress is produced, consumed, and marketed around the world.
Critical thinking for Creative Practice
Within this unit you will be introduced to historical and contemporary debates that underpin your creative practice. You will be given the opportunity to expand your historical and contextual knowledge, examine ethical frameworks, and be introduced to social and cultural approaches to fashion and textiles.
Opportunity Week
Opportunity Week is cross-school event bringing together all postgraduate students across all disciplines within fashion and textiles to formally present their work in progress and major project proposal to their postgraduate community. Students will be encouraged to give formative feedback and identify shared interest and potential collaboration opportunities.
Research Methods & Materials
This unit will guide you through the process of exploring the impact and the different outcomes and results that the use of different research methods and materials can produce.
You’ll develop and submit your research project proposal which outlines your plans for your final project.
Collaborative Professional Practice
Within this unit you will be introduced to markets, industry connections, contexts and future facing professional development within your discipline, to complete a two-stage collaborative professional project. This can be either within your course remit or working with students from the Business School for the Creative Industries for a creative start-up.
Major Project
The culmination of your studies, you’ll continue the work you’ve developed throughout the year to realise your project proposal - a thesis that evidences an advanced skill set and sophisticated research outcomes that demonstrate awareness of the emerging global, ethical, and sustainable challenges which shape the fashion industry.
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.
Fees & funding
Fees & financial support
Tuition fees
- 2024/25 entry: £10,500
Tuition fees
- 2024/25 entry: £10,500 (see fee discount information)
Tuition fees
- 2024/25 entry: £18,000
Please note: the fees listed here are correct for the stated academic year only. For more detailed information about our course fees please see our fees and finance pages.
UCA scholarships and fee discounts
At UCA we have a number of scholarships and fee discounts available to assist you with the cost of your studies.
Current UCA students and alumni may be eligible for a tuition fee discount.
Financial support
There are lots of ways you can access additional financial support to help you fund your studies - both from UCA and from external sources. Discover what support you might qualify for please see our financial support information.
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.
Career opportunities
Career
opportunities
Graduates of this unique online course may choose to continue their studies and research with a PhD or further their career in fashion in a number of different roles.
These might include:
- Fashion features director
- Designer
- Data analysist
- Fashion & merchandise manager
- Garment researcher
- Stylist and fashion buyer
You may want to undertake further study or research to specialise even more.
Entry & portfolio requirements
Entry & portfolio
requirements
MA course
- A good honours degree or equivalent qualification in 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.
Portfolio requirements
For this course we will need to see your portfolio for review. You can either submit a digital portfolio or request an in-person portfolio review with the course team. Further information will be provided once you have applied.
MA course
The entry requirements for this course will depend on the country your qualifications are from, please check the equivalent qualifications for your country:
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.
Portfolio requirements
You will be required to submit a portfolio for review. Further information on specific portfolio requirements and how to submit your portfolio will be sent to you after we have reviewed your application.
MA course with Integrated International Pre-Masters course
- A recognised bachelor degree or 3 year diploma with a strong portfolio in a relevant subject.
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.
Portfolio requirements
You will be required to submit a portfolio for review. Further information on specific portfolio requirements and how to submit your portfolio will be sent to you after we have reviewed your application.
English language requirements
To study at UCA, you'll need to have a certain level of English language skill. And so, to make sure you meet the requirements of your course, we ask for evidence of your English language ability, please check the level of English language required:
Don't meet the international entry requirements or English language requirements?
You may be able to enter the course through the following entry pathways:
Apply now
Please use the following fields to help select the right application link for you: