Program Overview

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Fashion Marketing and Branding (MA)

About this course

This master's degree in fashion marketing and branding is a career-focused programme. You'll gain an understanding of the modern fashion world and build your expertise in marketing strategies and branding.

The content you'll study is centred around the latest industry developments from a global and sustainable perspective. You’ll have the opportunity to analyse fashion brands and consumers from a range of cultures.

You’ll cover topics like:

• fashion consumer behaviour and trends
• data analytics
• sustainability and ethics
• fashion brand building and management
• digital and traditional marketing strategies

On this MA fashion marketing and branding course, you'll have lectures and seminars aimed at helping you move into your chosen job role. After completion, you’ll be in the perfect position to work in the global fashion industry or follow your research interests at PhD level.

This fashion branding course is highly relevant to students seeking careers as:

• global fashion and luxury fashion brand managers
• fashion marketing strategists
• fashion marketing communication managers
• digital fashion brand managers
• fashion entrepreneurs
• fashion data analysts
• fashion market researchers
• fashion sustainability marketing managers

Entry requirements

You’ll need a 2:1 degree or equivalent international qualification in a relevant subject, such as:

• advertising
• architecture
• business
• communication
• economics
• fashion design
• history, including history of art
• human resources
• journalism
• management
• marketing
• politics
• psychology
• public relations
• sociology
• textile design

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

Course structure

Throughout this masters in fashion marketing and branding, you’ll study a combination of core and optional modules. Your core modules provide in-depth knowledge of specialist concepts, and your optional modules will offer further context to these subject areas.

You’ll apply the knowledge and skills you develop towards your final project, which gives you the opportunity to choose an area of personal expertise.

Semester 1 overview

In your first semester you’ll study modules where you’ll learn key branding principles and academic theories. With these insights, you’ll gain an advanced understanding of marketing and branding strategies, including sustainability marketing.

You’ll also develop your knowledge of:

• the fashion industry and fashion consumer behaviour
• fashion branding and communication strategies
• data analytics to support decision making in modern fashion marketing
• inclusive, ethical and sustainable fashion industry practices

Semester 2 overview

Your second semester includes one optional module of your choice. You’ll focus on exploring key digital strategies and emerging trends in the fashion industry.

Within this semester your Research Methods for the Fashion Industry module will help you prepare for your final project. You’ll improve academic literacy and proposal writing skills through planned workshops, lectures, and seminars, ready for your project submission.

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.

Year 1 modules

You must study the following modules:

• Data Analytics for the Fashion Industry
• Digital and Sustainable Marketing Strategies for Fashion
• Fashion Branding and Strategic Communications
• Fashion Consumer and Industry Insights
• Final Major Project (Fashion Marketing and Branding)
• Research Methods for the Fashion Industry

You must also choose from the following modules:

• Experimental Publishing
• Exploring the Visual Language of Display
• Professional / Collaborative Projects
• Visual Culture

Learning and assessment

You’ll learn through a combination of:

• lectures
• seminars
• tutorials
• independent study
• group exercises
• guest lectures
• study visits

Assessment methods will vary according to your choice of modules, but could include:

• individual and group presentations
• essays
• reports
• final project
• digital and visual assignments

You'll complete a final project that puts the research and analytical skills you’ve developed into practice. You might choose to look at a practical issue affecting a real organisation, including your own company, or undertake a more general academic study on a relevant topic.

At the end of the project, you’ll write a report – including a series of recommendations – intended to demonstrate your powers of critical analysis and original thinking.

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 £27,800.

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.

Winchester School of Art Progression Scholarship

This scholarship is available to all eligible UK and international Winchester School of Art graduates who go directly from an undergraduate to a master's degree within the school. You will get either £1500, £2,500 or £3,000 depending on the grade you get for your undergraduate degree.

Learn more about the Winchester School of Art Progression Scholarship.

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

UK students

The deadline to apply for this course is Tuesday 9 September 2025, midday UK time.

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

International students

The deadline to apply for this course is Tuesday 26 August 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

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.

Related courses

Fashion Marketing and Branding (MA) is a course in the Art, design and fashion subject area. Here are some other courses within this subject area:

• E-textiles and Wearable Technologies (MSc)
• Design Innovation and Technology (MSc)
• Design Innovation and Technology (MA)
• Arts and Cultural Leadership (MA)
• Communication Design (MA)
• Contemporary Curating (MA)
• Creative Technologies (MSc)
• Design Management (MA)
• Digital Media Practices (MA)
• Fashion Management (MA)
• Fine Art (MA)
• Global Advertising and Branding (MA)
• Global Media Management (MA)
• Luxury Brand Management (MA)
• PGCE Art and Design
• PGCE Design and Technology
• Textile Design (MA)