Course Overview
Course summary
This course will equip you with the strategic decision-making, leadership and problem-solving skills you'll need to become an entrepreneurial and visionary fashion business leader of the future. It continues the University’s fashion tradition of a commitment to excellence in developing highly effective, talented and committed professional fashion graduates.
Working closely with fashion industry professionals, role models and mentors, you'll receive a relevant, well-grounded, high-quality education and skill base that will enable you to have a broader, clearer understanding of the global fashion industry. The course offers inside knowledge of industry strategies and global fashion cultures, combined with key business skills and essential management knowledge.
This course prepares you for a career in fashion business management across various industry disciplines and business types. Delivered by a teaching team with a wide range of experience both in industry and academia, the course offers an innovative and relevant fashion business curriculum that focuses on preparing your entry into senior roles in business and management within the industry.
Top reasons to study with us
- Live project work – You'll work on a live project with niche and exclusive fashion brands. These projects are often with new up and coming brands and entrepreneurs, which have previously included AOC-Absence of Colour, MAES London, SIRPLUS, Bags of Ethics and LOCI
- Circularity and sustainability in the fashion business – Sustainability and the circular economy are embedded into many aspects of this course, with a focus on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. The Sustainable Fashion Supply Chain module, for example, provides opportunities for industry visits and lectures from international guest experts
- Visit top fashion brands – You’ll have the opportunity to go on fashion retail visits to top UK based brands which have in the past included Adidas, Fortnum & Mason and Selfridges for behind-the-scenes guest lectures, as well as field visits to London-based fashion manufacturers
- Annual Retail & Luxury Conference – You’ll have the option to attend the Annual Retail & Luxury Conference at Columbia University in New York, which brings together students and industry professionals in the luxury retail industry
Course structure
The Fashion Business Management MA is part of the University of Westminster's broad postgraduate portfolio in fashion. Our diverse programme allows students to shape their learning through interdisciplinary core and optional modules shared across the five postgraduate fashion courses. These courses address contemporary challenges, advanced digital approaches, specialised professional contexts and facilitates collaborative and cross-disciplinary learning opportunities.
The following modules are indicative of what you will study on this course.
Core modules
This module investigates the key stakeholders in the fashion and clothing supply chain whilst examining different supply chains, ranging from linear to circular models. With technological and material advancements recognising both efficiency and agility, the supply chain can be examined through the lens of speed, cost and sustainable impact and debated with reference to all of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Sustainable development is fundamental to the fashion supply chain -UN SDGs (United Nations Sustainable Development Goals see https://sdgs.un.org/goals).
Sustainable business development throughout the fashion supply chain, from raw material to end-of-life (with a zero-waste goal), is essential to understanding the challenges and opportunities for developing better fashion products and solutions that mitigate the negative impacts of fashion on those involved in the global supply chain, and the dimensions of people, planet and profit. This module will help you to critically evaluate transparency in the supply chain and discuss how to prevent overproduction and manage waste while investigating circular and closed-looped systems.
This module is designed to introduce you to the issues involved in the strategic management of fashion businesses. Lectures will introduce critical and contemporary views of the fashion industry through relevant business theories, strategy models and management frameworks, including evaluation of the competitive environment, value chain analysis, corporate portfolio strategy, management of strategic business units, and global operating models. You will also learn about corporate sustainability, Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) strategies, business model development and business leadership. Students will examine complex strategic issues using annual reports, industry analysis and case studies. This module will explore United Nations Sustainability Goals (SDG) Decent Work and Economic Growth (SDG 8), Industry, Infrastructure and Innovation (SDG 9), Reduced Inequalities (SDG 10), Sustainable Cities and Communities (SDG 11), Responsible Production and Consumption (SDG 12).
With competition in the fashion business at its fiercest and most volatile, it is imperative that companies develop successful and effective brand and marketing strategies to maximise competitive advantage. This module is designed for you to explore and critically evaluate the marketing and promotional activities within the fashion businesses. Lectures will introduce marketing concepts, consumer theories, activation strategies, and creative outputs that connect with target customers across a mix of sales channels. This module is run as a live project with a fashion brand, subject to availability. This module will explore the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure (SDG 9), Reduce Inequalities (SDG 10), Sustainable Cities and Communities (SDG 11) and Responsible Consumption and Production (SDG 12).
This module combines practical knowledge of business development and planning with theory and finance models, where relevant, to the fashion industry. It also provides a practical, real-world approach to entrepreneurship by presenting problems and solutions that entrepreneurs often face in the fast -moving fashion business world. Undertaking thorough research and presenting a successful business plan or brand outcome is crucial to the success of a fashion business. A solid grounding in the principles and techniques of marketing and finance are essential for successful fashion business ventures. This module will explore the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure (SDG 9), Sustainable Cities and Communities (SDG 11), and Responsible Production and Consumption (SDG 12).
The MA Fashion Business Management Final Project is designed as the capstone module of the MA Fashion Business Management course. In this comprehensive year-long module, you will be encouraged to select topics of professional interest and independently direct your own research. The research will be a process of investigation, both academic and practice-based, enabling new ideas, concepts and knowledge related to the fashion industry. This module aims to build your confidence and curiosity, develop critical exploration skills, encourage creative visualisation and foster original analysis. The module objective is to prepare you as future leaders in the fashion industry for a successful career that provides intellectual, professional, and personal fulfilment. You will be guided and supported through the research and the writing process through lectures, seminars, workshops and personal supervision.
Option modules
This module will provide you with an insider view of the key roles of a Fashion Buyer and Fashion Merchandiser operating in a complex, global retail environment. The digital transformation of fashion retail has created intense competition, and fashion retailers need to devise the perfect cross-channel experience for their customers that takes advantage of digitalisation to provide targeted, commercial fashion products, applying relevant trends to retail strategy to maximise sales and KPIs and minimise risk. This module will explore the UN Sustainable Development Goals, Decent Work and Economic Growth (SDG 8), Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure (SDG 9) and Responsible Consumption and Production (SDG 12).
This module has been designed to give you a critical understanding of the theories of consumer behaviour, innovation and trend management within fashion and broader business contexts. The module will introduce the evolution and relationship between trends and consumer behaviour and their impact on the fashion industry. It will examine social, cultural and environmental change and how this impacts shifting consumer values. Lectures will explore consumer behaviour theories related to the fashion business and the important role of data and insights in trend management. Seminars will combine theory and practice to investigate consumer insight into the fields of consumer buying behaviour and motivation linked to product development, store and phygital environment, brand building and marketing communication. This module will explore the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG): Sustainable Cities and Communities (SDG 11) and Responsible Consumption and Production (SDG 12).
This module will provide you with a comprehensive understanding of the processes and tools fashion businesses use to assess and manage various types of risk in fashion manufacturing and product development. The module will cover topics such as quality assurance standards, the purpose and implementation of a Quality Management System, risk-based thinking and analysis, organisational structures in apparel manufacturing and governance, and KPIs and their impact. Additionally, you will learn about the plan-do-check-act (PDCA) cycle and strategies for internal and external auditing in a fashion manufacturing context. The module will also explore the tensions between social and environmental responsibilities and the nature and limits of these in the business environment. It will examine how companies express their responsibilities to stakeholders beyond shareholders, and examine how these responsibilities may lead to serious consequences. Ultimately, this module aims to cultivate a strong and critical awareness of how fashion companies address social and environmental responsibilities while also recognising the nature and limitations of such responsibilities. This module will explore the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), Decent Work and Economic Growth (SDG 8), Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure (SDG 9), Responsible Production and Consumption (SDG 12), Climate Action (SDG 13).
The module explores the intersections between social justice, activism and fashion. Fashion has long been utilised by activists in the social justice sphere as an important instrument for expressing values and ideologies, challenging the status quo and enacting transformation. In this module, fashion, fashion production and the fashioned body are centred as a site of social, environmental and political meaning production, with material culture as an arbiter of activism. Fashion is investigated as a means of, political and social expression, identification with a specific ideological group or political movement, while the practices of fashion are considered as a means of activism in and of themselves. The focus is on understanding how social, political, and philosophical values contribute to, are used by, or come into conflict with, fashion, its production and its multiple stakeholders.
The module considers the dynamic social, political and environmental changes in society that have catalysed activists and impacted consumer empowerment. These are be considered in the context of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals 2023 (SDGs). This module will explore SDGs, Gender Equality (SDG 5), Decent Work and Economic Growth (SDG 8), and Reduced Inequalities (SDG 10). You will develop skills to systematically analyse, evaluate, organise and communicate social justice principles, concepts, theoretical frameworks and approaches. Material cultural methodologies and engagement with archival garments is encouraged. The module encourages students to systematically understand an advanced awareness of social justice and activism’s ability to utilise fashion and the fashioned body as a tool for communicating and enacting dissent and change.
For more details on course structure, modules, teaching and assessment Download the programme specification (PDF).
To request an accessible version please email [email protected]
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+44 (0)20 7911 5000 EXT 65511
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Careers
This course will equip you for a business management career in the domestic or international fashion industry. It offers an innovative and relevant fashion business curriculum that focuses on preparing you for senior roles in business and management within the industry.
Our graduates have gone on to work in senior positions all over the world in many fashion roles, including well-known brands such as Burberry, Jimmy Choo, Perry Ellis, and Saks Fifth Avenue.
Many of our graduates have also gone on to study at PhD level and to further academic research, while others have set up their own businesses such as LSAHA and AOC.
Industry knowledge
You’ll be taught by a teaching team with a wide range of experience both in industry and academia, as well as working closely with fashion industry professionals, role models and mentors.
Live project work
You'll work on a live project with exclusive fashion brands. These projects are often with new up-and-coming brands and entrepreneurs.
Employers around the world
The University’s Careers and Employability Service has built up a network of over 3,000 employers around the world, helping all our students explore and connect with exciting opportunities and careers.
Industry links
We maintain important links with the fashion industry to ensure that our Fashion Business Management MA stays at the forefront of education for the future leaders in the fashion industry. We work closely with the UK Fashion & Textile Association (UKFT), the largest network for fashion and textile companies in the UK.
We invite guest speakers from the industry to participate in the modules, ensuring that the course remains relevant, informed, and up-to-date with current industry practice.
Guest speakers have previously included:
- Angela Farrugia, Founder Brand X Society
- ASOS
- BFC
- EDITED
- MAES London
- Marie Oakes, Founder at Trend Academy
- Natalie Binns, Buying and Fashion Retail Consultant
- Sacha Milazzo Mercier, Founder of G&M and an international careers consultant
- Stylus
- WGSN
- V&A
- Zedonk
Job roles
This course will prepare you for roles such as:
- Creative director
- E-commerce manager
- Fashion retail manager
- Marketing manager
- Merchandising manager
- Product development manager
- Senior allocator
- Senior luxury fashion analyst
- Senior project manager
Graduate employers
Graduates from this course have found employment at organisations including:
- Boston Consulting Group (BCG)
- Burberry
- Common Objective (NGO)
- Fenwick
- Jimmy Choo
- Li& Fung
- Perry Ellis
- Saks Fifth Avenue
Westminster Employability Award
Employers value graduates who have invested in their personal and professional development – and our Westminster Employability Award gives you the chance to formally document and demonstrate these activities and achievements.
The award is flexible and can be completed in your own time, allowing you to choose from a set of extracurricular activities.
Activities might include gaining experience through a part-time job or placement, signing up to a University-run scheme – such as mentoring or teaching in a school – or completing online exercises.
Read more about our Westminster Employability Award.
Course Leader
Rayne Mickele Reed
Lecturer
Rayne Reed brings over 25 years of industry experience to the MA program, having worked in major fashion capitals across North America, Europe, and Asia. Her portfolio includes global brands like Gap, Banana Republic, and Old Navy, as well as high-growth e-commerce platforms such as Zalora and Modanisa. Rayne specializes in corporate strategy, organisational design, merchandise development, and business model innovation. She joined Westminster in 2016, holds a BSc in Business Finance, MA in Cultural Leadership, and is an HEA fellow with research interests in cultural representation and inclusivity in fashion education. Rayne also volunteers for fashion non-profits and serves on the Board of Trustees for Little Hands Design, an educational charity promoting sustainable fashion to children.
Our course offers an inclusive, innovative fashion business curriculum that equips students with a strong understanding of the global industry, preparing them to succeed in both entrepreneurial ventures and multinational corporations.
Course Team
Why study this course?
Visit top fashion brands
You’ll have the opportunity to go on fashion retail visits to top UK-based brands for behind-the-scenes guest lectures, as well as field visits to London-based fashion manufacturers.
Fantastic location
With central London only a 20-minute tube ride away, you’ll enjoy the benefits of studying in a major fashion capital.
International perspective
This course offers inside knowledge of industry strategies and cultures on a global basis, combined with key business skills and essential fashion industry management knowledge.
Entry Requirements
A minimum of a lower second class honours degree (2:2) and a minimum of two years of full-time working experience in the fashion business is required. Applicants will be expected to include a CV with their application. Non-standard applicants may be considered if with extensive work experience. Applicants will be interviewed.
If your first language is not English, you should have an IELTS 6.5 with at least 6.0 in writing and no element below 5.5.
Applicants are required to submit one reference, particularly if the application is based on assessing work experience.
Recognition of prior learning and experience
If you have previously studied at university level, or have equivalent work experience, academic credit may be awarded towards your course at Westminster. For more information, visit our Recognition of Prior Learning page.
Application process
Visit our How to apply page for more information on:
- the application process
- what you need to apply
- deadlines for applications
A minimum of a lower second class honours degree (2:2) and a minimum of two years of full-time working experience in the fashion business is required. Applicants will be expected to include a CV with their application. Non-standard applicants may be considered if with extensive work experience. Applicants will be interviewed.
If your first language is not English, you should have an IELTS 6.5 with at least 6.0 in writing and no element below 5.5.
Applicants are required to submit one reference, particularly if the application is based on assessing work experience.
Recognition of prior learning and experience
If you have previously studied at university level, or have equivalent work experience, academic credit may be awarded towards your course at Westminster. For more information, visit our Recognition of Prior Learning page.
Application process
Visit our How to apply page for more information on:
- the application process
- what you need to apply
- deadlines for applications
More information
University preparation courses
Our partner college, Kaplan International College London, offers Pre-Master’s courses that may help you gain a place on a postgraduate degree at Westminster.
To find out more, visit University preparation courses.
Live project work
Students on this course have benefited from developing projects to a live brief in their Marketing and Innovation modules.
Students are briefed by a brand owner or founder and they develop original research for them, which has in some cases resulted in work placements and prizes for the best students.
Brands involved have ranged from sportswear to children’s wear and accessories as well as men’s and women’s apparel.
- Henri Lloyd – sailing and leisure & casual wear
- Tatty Devine – bespoke jewellery
- Kovert Designs – tech jewellery
- Exo – Fitness sportswear
- Blacks – luxury accessories
- Belinda Robertson – cashmere
- Simon Carter – menswear
Student involvement in these live projects provides an extra dimension and insight for them to realise the challenges and opportunities of owning a fashion brand. How to maximise this and turn their ideas into realistic strategies and a potentially successful direction for a brand.
Learn new skills
Volunteer and gain new skills
We offer a number of different volunteering opportunities for you to learn new skills, create connections, and make a difference in the community.
Develop your entrepreneurial skills
Our award-winning Westminster Enterprise Network offers industry networking events, workshops, one-to-one business advice and support for your start-up projects.
Get extra qualifications
We provide access to free online courses in Adobe and Microsoft Office applications, as well as thousands of specialist courses on LinkedIn Learning.
Fees and Funding
UK tuition fee: £11,700 (Price per academic year)
When you have enrolled with us, your annual tuition fees will remain the same throughout your studies with us. We do not increase your tuition fees each year.
Find out how we set our tuition fees.
Paying your fees
If you don't wish to pay the whole amount of your fees at once, you may be able to pay by instalments. This opportunity is available if you have a personal tuition fee liability of £2,000 or more and if you are self-funded or funded by the Student Loans Company.
Find out more about paying your fees.
Alumni discount
This course is eligible for an alumni discount. Find out if you are eligible and how to apply by visiting our Alumni discounts page.
Funding
There is a range of funding available that may help you fund your studies, including Student Finance England (SFE).
Find out more about postgraduate student funding options.
Scholarships
The University is dedicated to supporting ambitious and outstanding students and we offer a variety of scholarships to eligible postgraduate students.
Find out if you qualify for one of our scholarships.
Additional costs
There is an optional visit to the Annual Retail & Luxury Conference at Columbia University in New York. If you wish to attend you'll need to pay for the full cost of this visit.
See more information on what you may need to pay for separately and what your tuition fees cover.
International tuition fee: £15,500 (Price per academic year)
When you have enrolled with us, your annual tuition fees will remain the same throughout your studies with us. We do not increase your tuition fees each year.
Find out how we set our tuition fees.
Paying your fees
If you don't wish to pay the whole amount of your fees at once, you may be able to pay by instalments. This opportunity is available if you have a personal tuition fee liability of £2,000 or more and if you are self-funded or funded by the Student Loans Company.
Find out more about paying your fees.
Alumni discount
This course is eligible for an alumni discount. Find out if you are eligible and how to apply by visiting our Alumni discounts page.
Funding
There are a number of funding schemes available to help you fund your studies with us.
Find out more about funding for international students.
Scholarships
The University is dedicated to supporting ambitious and outstanding students and we offer a variety of scholarships to eligible postgraduate students.
Find out if you qualify for one of our scholarships.
Additional costs
See what you may need to pay for separately and what your tuition fees cover.
Facilities
Teaching and Assessment
Below you will find how learning time and assessment types are distributed on this course. The graphs below give an indication of what you can expect through approximate percentages, taken either from the experience of previous cohorts, or based on the standard module diet where historic course data is unavailable. Changes to the division of learning time and assessment may be made in response to feedback and in accordance with our terms and conditions.
How you’ll be taught
Teaching methods across all our postgraduate courses focus on active student learning through lectures, seminars, workshops, problem-based and blended learning, and where appropriate practical application. Learning typically falls into two broad categories:
- Scheduled hours: examples include lectures, seminars, practical classes, workshops, supervised time in a studio
- Independent study: non-scheduled time in which students are expected to study independently. This may include preparation for scheduled sessions, dissertation/final project research, follow-up work, wider reading or practice, completion of assessment tasks, or revision
How you’ll be assessed
Our postgraduate courses include a variety of assessments, which typically fall into two broad categories:
- Practical: examples include presentations, podcasts, blogs
- Coursework: examples include essays, in-class tests, portfolios, dissertation
Data from the academic year 2024/25
Supporting you
Our Student Hub is where you’ll find out about the services and support we offer, helping you get the best out of your time with us.
- Study support — workshops, 1-2-1 support and online resources to help improve your academic and research skills
- Personal tutors — support you in fulfilling your 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 our creative and cultural hub, home to most of our arts, media and digital courses. It houses state-of-the-art facilities for every discipline, including project and gallery spaces, film studios, creative labs, collaborative learning spaces, and the Westminster Enterprise Network.
Harrow Campus is based in north-west London, just 20 minutes from the city centre by train.
For more details, visit our Harrow Campus page.
Contact us
Call our dedicated team on:
+44 (0)20 7911 5000 ext 65511
Opening hours (GMT): 10am–4pm Monday to Friday
Opening hours (GMT): 10am–4pm Monday to Friday
More information
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