Program Overview

Fashion Accessories Design MA

Overview

The Fashion Accessories Design MA addresses contemporary challenges through material innovation and cutting-edge design. This course equips students with the creative, conceptual, and critical skills needed to excel in the international fashion accessories industry.

Course Structure

This course is part of a suite of MA Fashion courses, which include Fashion Business Management MA, Fashion Sustainability MA, Fashion Manufacturing MA, and Menswear MA (with Professional Experience MFA). Students will shape their learning through a set of shared optional modules that address contemporary challenges, advanced digital approaches, and specialized professional contexts while facilitating collaborative and cross-disciplinary learning opportunities.

Core Modules

Sustainable Supply Chain Management

This module aims to provide students with a deep understanding of sustainable supply chains, key stakeholders, and the issues affecting the fashion industry through rigorous and systematic research.

Concept to Prototype

This module is designed to enable students to conceptualize their future design output informed by a critical awareness of current practice both within their own discipline and the wider cultural landscape.

2D-3D Live Project

Working with an industry partner, students will research the company's history, market position, price point, design and/or aesthetic DNA, producing a presentation aimed at addressing the company's core market and/or consumer and proposing a series of future objects.

Final Project: Collection and Portfolio

The Final Project should be viewed as a single unit that progressively develops students' confidence and encourages imaginative, practical, and critical knowledge to the highest level.

Optional Modules

Fashion Entrepreneurship

This module aims to engage students in the realities of fashion entrepreneurship, applying advanced business concepts, branding theories, competitive analysis, marketing practices, and financial principles to create a comprehensive business plan for their fashion business idea.

Archive Research for Design

This module is designed for students to undertake research within the Westminster Menswear Archive, focusing on one garment or object to critically research its materiality in relation to its cultural context and meaning.

Specialist Techniques

This module is designed to focus on the creation of the appropriate specialist techniques, working processes, and context that establishes students as influential and informed design professionals.

Fashion Activism and Social Justice

The aim of this module is to introduce students to a broad range of activism and social justice practices and allow them to understand how social, political, and philosophical values contribute to current issues in the fashion industry while broadening their skills and knowledge of activism.

Industry Practice

This module encourages and enhances employability skills with industry experience, providing students with professional work experience and supporting them through the job application process.

Entry Requirements

• A minimum of a lower second-class honors degree (2:2) or a lower second-class honors degree (2:2) and more than 2 years of experience is compulsory.
• Applicants are required to submit a portfolio, and if this does not contain sufficient accessories design content, applicants will then be required to create a virtual portfolio of three design projects that best evidence individual inspiration and how this is developed through the process of designing.
• If the first language is not English, applicants should have an IELTS 6.5 with at least 6.0 in writing and no element below 5.5.

Fees and Funding

• UK tuition fee: £11,700 (Price per academic year)
• International tuition fee: £15,500 (Price per academic year)
• Alumni discount: This course is eligible for an alumni discount.
• Funding: There is a range of funding available that may help students fund their studies, including Student Finance England (SFE).
• Scholarships: The University is dedicated to supporting ambitious and outstanding students and offers a variety of scholarships to eligible postgraduate students.

Facilities

• The Westminster Menswear Archive has examples of some of the most important and exciting menswear garments covering the last 100 years.
• The archive includes garments from Alexander McQueen, Craig Green, Stone Island, Ralph Lauren, Tommy Nutter, Liam Hodges, Carol Christian Poell, C.P. Company, Jean Paul Gaultier, Calvin Klein, Meadham Kirchhoff, Kim Jones, Aitor Throup, Vivienne Westwood, Mr Fish, Irvine Sellars, Umbro, MA.Strum, adidas, Nanamica, Belstaff, Barbour, Burberry, Maison Margiela, Jeremy Scott, Vexed Generation, Aquascutum, Levis, Jeremy Scott, Berghaus, Penfield, Griffin, and Comme Des Garcons.

Teaching and Assessment

• Teaching methods across all postgraduate courses focus on active student learning through lectures, seminars, workshops, problem-based and blended learning, and where appropriate practical application.
• Assessments typically fall into three broad categories: written exams, practical, and coursework.

Supporting You

• The Student Hub is where students will find out about the services and support the University offers, helping them get the best out of their time with the University.
• Study support: workshops, 1-2-1 support, and online resources to help improve academic and research skills.
• Personal tutors: support students in fulfilling their academic and personal potential.
• Student advice team: provide specialist advice on a range of issues including funding, benefits, and visas.
• Extra-curricular activities: volunteering opportunities, sports and fitness activities, student events, and more.

Course Location

• Harrow is the University's creative and cultural hub, home to most of its arts, media, and digital courses.
• Harrow Campus is based in north-west London, just 20 minutes from the city center by train.