Program Overview

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Fashion Design (MA)

Award

Master of Arts

Typical Offer

2:2 degree

Duration

1 year

Course Type

Full-time

Campus

Winchester

Next course starts

September 2025

About this course

Collaborate with renowned designers on our fast-paced and highly creative MA Fashion Design course. You’ll complete a comprehensive exploration of advanced fashion design and develop essential industry skills.

Within this fashion degree, you’ll consider ethical and sustainable practices in the context of contemporary fashion design. Other topics and themes include:

• zero-waste creative cutting
• the impact of material consumption
• interdisciplinary collaborations and professional teamwork
• critical analysis
• sustainability and responsibility

Through practical experience in the studio, you’ll build enhanced technical knowledge. This includes learning specialist pattern-cutting and construction techniques. You’ll learn independently and collaboratively to experiment with new ways of working within an evolving industry.

On this fashion design course, you'll have the opportunity to take part in live projects. These projects create real-world scenarios where you can practice your skills and work with experienced designers.

You’ll plan and execute photoshoots and catwalk shows, working alongside professional photographers, stylists, and make-up artists. You may also get the chance to participate in industry events such as London Fashion Week and Africa Fashion Week.

As a fashion master’s student, you’ll become a confident problem solver with a considered and refined design identity. With your skills and practical experience, you’ll be prepared for a range of career routes within the fashion and textile design industry.

Course lead

Your course leader is Reem Alasadi. Reem is a Principal Teaching Fellow and has made a significant impact on the fashion scene. Alongside her role as an academic, she has a successful career as a fashion designer.

Facilities

Our workshops contain a wide range of facilities and equipment to meet the needs of students specialising in fashion, knitwear, printed textiles and woven textiles.

Awarding body

This qualification is awarded by the University of Southampton.

Download the Course Description Document

The Course Description Document details your course overview, your course structure and how your course is taught and assessed.

Entry requirements

You’ll need a 2:2 degree or equivalent international qualification or significant suitable work experience and to submit a portfolio that articulates your interests and exploration of contemporary, ethical fashion design. Your portfolio should demonstrate your artistic ability relevant to fashion and include evidence of the process behind your work.

English language requirements

If English isn't your first language, you'll need to complete an International English Language Testing System (IELTS) to demonstrate your competence in English. You'll need all of the following scores as a minimum:

• overall score: 6.5
• reading: 6.0
• writing: 6.0
• speaking: 6.0
• listening: 6.0

If you do not meet the English language requirements through a test or qualification, you may be able to meet them by completing one of our pre-sessional English programmes before your course starts.

Recognition of professional experience

If you don't have the exact entry requirements, but you have significant work experience in this sector we’ll assess your relevant professional experience, your subject knowledge and your aptitude for learning.

Your application will be considered on individual merit and you may be asked to attend an interview.

Course structure

This fashion design master’s is full-time for 1 year. You’ll study studio-based modules with the support of technical staff and make use of specialist equipment and machinery.

Semester 1 overview

In your first semester you’ll research, explore and demonstrate your advanced design ability. You'll get an introduction to fashion design principles through a combination of projects and technical workshops.

From your module in Contextual Practice, you'll get to deepen your understanding of historical and contemporary contexts relating to fashion design.

Your core modules include:

• Introduction to Design Principles
• Professional Attributes: The Fashion Industry
• Contextual Practice

Semester 2 overview

Your second semester will focus on your final project. You’ll be able to promote your project through an exhibition relevant to your work and design identity.

During this semester, you’ll also engage in a self-directed project that represents a real-world scenario.

You’ll cover the following core modules:

• Final Major Project
• Professional practice: The Company
• Creative Experimentation: Pre-collection

Modules

The modules outlined provide examples of what you can expect to learn on this degree course based on recent academic teaching. As a research-led University, we undertake a continuous review of our course to ensure quality enhancement and to manage our resources. The precise modules available to you in future years may vary depending on staff availability and research interests, new topics of study, timetabling and student demand.

For entry in academic year 2025 to 2026

Year 1 modules

You must study the following modules:

Contextual Practice (Fashion Design)

This compulsory module aims to deepen your understanding of historical and contemporary contexts relating to fashion design. You will learn to critically reflect upon and analyse your work within a contextual framework through visual, verbal and written communication.

Creative Experimentation: Pre-collection (Fashion Design)

This module offers you the opportunity for further investigation, risk-taking and critical self-assessment as you develop and define your unique fashion identity. Working towards a pre-collection will allow you to examine new ideas and test innovative approaches to fashion design.

Final Major Project (Fashion Design)

This is your final Masters module, in which you are required to identify, develop and present a unique and cohesive collection of contemporary design outcomes that capitalise on, and are demonstrative of, the Masters skills and experience you have accrued throughout the course.

Introduction to Design Principles (Fashion Design)

This compulsory module introduces you to enhanced fashion design principles and encourages you to develop an innovative and exploratory perspective on your studio practice, through a combination of projects and technical workshops. This considered approach will enable you to develop a deeper understanding of the design process and its application to fashion.

Professional Attributes: The Fashion Industry

Within this compulsory module and in conjunction with your studio practice, you will begin to explore your unique design identity. You will be introduced to crucial entrepreneurial skills required for self-promotion and employability as a professional creative practitioner.

Professional Practice: The Company (Fashion Design)

The Company is a cross-programme, collaborative and student-led initiative that celebrates creativity, inclusivity, diversity and community in live, real-world scenarios and which demonstrate relationships informed by expertise within and beyond the university.

You must also choose from the following modules:

Experimental Publishing

The consideration of what publishing actual means today remains a relevant question for any creative practitioner. Over the past few years we have seen a huge rise in self-publishing, print on-demand services, tweeting and social media, from post-digital publishing to the rise of the artist book.

Exploring the Visual Language of Display

The module provides thematic examples of the theories and practices of visual presentation and display explored through interdisciplinary and critical contexts appropriate to the MA pathways. It offers a number of critical “tools”, enhanced through referenced examples, to enable you to develop a deeper understanding of the visual language of display.

Professional / Collaborative Projects

In this module, students gain first-hand experience of professional work in the arts. The module adopts a DIY ethos, which has been fundamental to the development of the visual arts in the UK, through artist collectives, collaborative studio provision and alternative exhibition spaces.

Visual Culture

We live in a world that is saturated by images, from the far reaches of space to the sub-atomic level and just about everything in between. Images seem to have a special power in our lives, playing a part in the constructions of who and what we are and the world we inhabit.

Learning and assessment

Learning

You’ll learn through lectures, seminars, tutorials and workshops, as well as studio practice and individual study. You’ll also attend shows and exhibitions in London and attend special guest lectures.

This course welcomes a small group of new students each year, so your lecturers will take a personal approach to teaching and work more closely with you to help develop your ideas. Our supportive and informal environment is created so you can approach academics to further your learning. You’ll receive feedback on a weekly basis, ensuring your learning is on track.

On this course, you’ll develop your team working skills, strengthen your planning and project skills and learn to think critically and analytically.

You can attend workshops covering a range topics, such as:

• primary research
• developing a sketchbook
• CAD (computer aided design)

Assessment

Assessment methods will vary between modules. Generally you will be assessed on coursework including:

• your portfolio
• final project collection
• evidence of the research towards your studio practice
• reflective assignments

Academic Support

Every student has a personal academic tutor, who is your contact for any queries about the course or for personal support. Tutors are in the studio every week, working with you on a one-to-one basis and in groups. They will run workshops and discussions, and lead peer-to-peer feedback sessions.

The school’s technical team is also available to help you use studio equipment and learn new techniques.

Careers and employability

The employability and enterprise skills you'll gain from this course are reflected in the Southampton skills model. When you join us you'll be able to use our skills model to track, plan, and benefit your career development and progress.

Download skills overview

Work experience opportunities

Choosing to do work experience is a great way to enhance your employability, build valuable networks, and evidence your potential. Learn about the different work and industry experience options at Southampton.

Read more

Careers services and support

We are a top 20 UK university for employability (QS Graduate Employability Rankings 2022). Our Careers, Employability and Student Enterprise team will support you. This support includes:

• work experience schemes
• CV and interview skills and workshops
• networking events
• careers fairs attended by top employers
• a wealth of volunteering opportunities
• study abroad and summer school opportunities

We have a vibrant entrepreneurship culture and our dedicated start-up supporter, Futureworlds, is open to every student.

Your career ideas and graduate job opportunities may change while you're at university. So it is important to take time to regularly reflect on your goals, speak to people in industry and seek advice and up-to-date information from Careers, Employability and Student Enterprise professionals at the University.

More about careers support

Fees, costs and funding

Tuition fees

Fees for a year's study:

• UK students pay £9,250.
• EU and international students pay £25,400.

Check fees for other versions of this course.

Deposit

If you're an international student on a full-time course, we'll ask you to pay £2,000 of your tuition fees in advance, as a deposit.

Your offer letter will tell you when this should be paid and provide full terms and conditions.

Find out about exemptions, refunds and how to pay your deposit on our tuition fees for overseas students page.

What your fees pay for

Your tuition fee covers the full cost of tuition and any exams. The fee you pay will remain the same each year from when you start studying this course. This includes if you suspend and return.

Find out how to pay your tuition fees.

Accommodation and living costs, such as travel and food, are not included in your tuition fees. There may also be extra costs for retake and professional exams.

Explore:

• accommodation costs
• living costs
• budgeting advice
• fees, charges and expenses regulations

10% alumni discount

If you’re a graduate of the University of Southampton, you could be eligible for a 10% discount on your postgraduate tuition fees.

Postgraduate Master’s Loans (UK nationals only)

This can help with course fees and living costs while you study a postgraduate master's course. Find out if you're eligible.

Southampton Arts and Humanities Deans Global Talent Scholarship

40 scholarships of £10,000 each are available to international students studying for an undergraduate degree or a postgraduate master’s degree in Arts and Humanities.

Find out more about the Southampton Arts and Humanities Deans Global Talent Scholarship, including eligibility, deadlines and how to apply.

Other postgraduate funding options

A variety of additional funding options may be available to help you pay for your master’s study. Both from the University and other organisations.

Funding for EU and international students

Find out about funding you could get as an international student.

How to apply

1. Use the blue 'apply for this course' button on this page to take you to our postgraduate admissions system.
2. Create an account which gives you access to your own application portal.
3. Search for the course you want to apply for.
4. Complete the application form and upload any supporting documents.
5. Pay the £50 application assessment fee, (there are some exemptions, check terms and conditions).
6. Submit your application.

For further details of our admission process, read our step by step guide to postgraduate taught applications.

Application deadlines

There are different application deadlines for this course. Applications are expected to close:

• International students: Tuesday 29 July 2025, midday UK time
• UK students: Tuesday 9 September 2025, midday UK time

We advise applying early as applications may close before the expected deadline if places are filled.

Application assessment fee

We’ll ask you to pay a £50 application assessment fee if you’re applying for a postgraduate taught course.

This is an extra one-off charge which is separate to your tuition fees and is payable per application. It covers the work and time it takes us to assess your application. You’ll be prompted to pay when you submit your application which won’t progress until you've paid.

If you're a current or former University of Southampton student, or if you’re applying for certain scholarships, you will not need to pay the fee. PGCE applications through GOV.UK and Master of Research (MRes) degree applications are also exempt. Find out if you’re exempt on our terms and conditions page.

Supporting information

Portfolio guidance

Your portfolio is one of the most important parts of your application. It is your opportunity to show us your work, and it is our opportunity to find out more about you.

Your portfolio should contain your most recent and relevant work. It should be clear, logical and a professional presentation of your work.

You can submit your portfolio in any of the following formats:

• PDF file under 10mb in size
• PowerPoint presentation
• blog
• website
• YouTube video

We understand you may not be coming straight from an undergraduate course and we will accept older work in your portfolio. However, please include as much of your recent work as possible. We welcome and assess each application individually.

MA Fashion Design

• Evidence of the process behind final pieces e.g. drawing and sketches; try to include figurative drawings and Computer Aided Design (CAD) work.
• Examples of practical work including toiles/muslins and final garments or outfits.
• Images of your final work e.g. catwalk/runway show, ‘look-book’ or photo-shoot.
• Please include a variety of projects in your portfolio. Approximately 4-6 is recommended.

Personal statement

When you apply you’ll need to submit a personal statement explaining why you want to take the course.

You’ll need to include information about:

• your knowledge of the subject area
• why you want to study a postgraduate qualification in this course
• how you intend to use your qualification

References are not required for this programme.

Please include the required paperwork showing your first degree and your IELTS English language test score (if you are a non-native English speaker) with your application. Without these, your application may be delayed.

You may also be asked to provide:

• an art portfolio

What happens after you apply

You'll be able to track your application through our online Applicant Record System.

We receive a high volume of applications for this course. This means you may not receive a response to your application for up to 12 weeks.

Unfortunately, due to number of applications we receive, we may not be able to give you specific feedback on your application if you are unsuccessful.

Equality and diversity

We treat and select everyone in line with our Equality and Diversity Statement.