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Course
Information

Level of Study

Postgraduate

Mode of Study

1 year Full Time

Department

Northumbria School of Design, Arts and Creative Industries

Location

City Campus, Northumbria University

City

Newcastle

Start

September 2025

Fees

Overview

Please note that whilst we are accepting applications, this course is subject to validation.

Fashion Design MA encourages you to creatively challenge the traditional boundaries of fashion and develop your individual fashion practice through a rigorous understanding of applied research processes. 

On this flexible and diverse course, you will conduct a self-directed research project relevant to your chosen professional career path that explores and responds to new dialogues in design; investigating innovative materials, techniques and technologies that are shaping our evolving world. 

From our dedicated MA Fashion studio, you will have access to premium facilities including a machine room, photographic studio, textile studio, knit studio, and digital fashion programs, all supported by specialist staff and technicians.  

Assessed by portfolio, process book, artefacts and thesis, this full-time research-driven course responds to significant demand from industry and academia for graduates who are fashion thinkers. 

See other similar courses you may be interested in: MA Sustainable and Ethical Fashion

Research Power - Art and Design at Northumbria is ranked 4th in the UK for research power (REF, 2021). This is a rise of 6 places compared to 2014.

Top 20 University - Art & Design at Northumbria is ranked 17th in the UK by the Complete University Guide for 2024, rising 4 places since last year.

Northumbria University is the largest provider of postgraduate taught education in the North East and the 9th largest provider in the UK. *HEIDI PLUS Student FPE 2022/23

Course
Information

Level of Study

Postgraduate

Mode of Study

1 year Full Time

Department

Northumbria School of Design, Arts and Creative Industries

Location

City Campus, Northumbria University

City

Newcastle

Start

September 2025

Fees

Entry Requirements 2025/26

Standard Entry

Applicants should normally have:

A minimum of a 2:2 honours degree in a relevant discipline such as Fashion Design, Textiles, Fashion Communication, Product and other creative industry courses that include design development through reflective practice.  

 

International qualifications:

If you have studied a non UK qualification, you can see how your qualifications compare to the standard entry criteria, by selecting the country that you received the qualification in, from our country pages. Visit www.northumbria.ac.uk/yourcountry

 

English language requirements:

International applicants are required to have a minimum overall IELTS (Academic) score of 6.5 with 5.5 in each component (or approved equivalent*).

 *The university accepts a large number of UK and International Qualifications in place of IELTS.  You can find details of acceptable tests and the required grades you will need in our English Language section. Visit www.northumbria.ac.uk/englishqualifications

 

 

Plus one of the following:

  • Additional:

    Applicants are required to submit an online portfolio with their application

Fees and Funding 2025/26 Entry

Full UK Fee: £9,700

Full International Fee: £19,350



Scholarships and Discounts

Discover More about Fees, Scholarships and other Funding options for UK and International applicants.

ADDITIONAL COSTS

There are no Additional Costs

else

northumbria school of Design Arts and Creative Industries

The School of Design, Arts and Creative Industries is a leading centre for supporting and energising creative practice and academic study. Our inter-disciplinary research and experiential education is committed to the betterment of people, place, cultures, and societies. Our programmes are defined by the way we collaborate with communities, industry, and external partners to inform curriculum, your learning and contribute to wider society.


Your Career

You will graduate with the expertise and knowledge required to become a world-class designer and design change-maker. 

Throughout the year, you will have the opportunity to engage in a range of events such as conferences and guest lectures to help further your knowledge and build networks to further your future career aspirations. You will also work on industry-led, collaborative projects that practically reflect the nature of working within the design industry.  

This flexible course provides the opportunity to follow a variety of career paths, including research-focused roles such as in Ph.D. or fashion research, as well as exciting opportunities as designers, product developers or entrepreneurs within the fashion industry. 

 

 

Student Work

Our MA Fashion Design course nurtures the creative freedom to explore a self-initiated area of research that is reflective of your expertise and future career aspirations, developing your creative practice and knowledge of design theory and research principles. You will explore your chosen field of study through experimental and diverse approaches to fashion design, improving your communication skills through collaborative research and engagement with the creative industries.  

Here are some examples of our graduates’ impactful work that demonstrate the diversity and creativity you can expect to be part of. 

Teaching Staff

Our skilled and experienced teaching team have expertise in Fashion Higher Education combined with a broad experience of the Fashion Design Industry, creating engaging projects through their academic and professional connections and supporting your learning through their knowledge and research interests. 

Facilities

The MA Fashion course offers an immersive learning environment. As a Masters student, you will have access to a dedicated studio space and 'MA Fashion Lab', equipped with industrial sewing equipment, pattern cutting tables and Macs running the latest creative software.  

Additional large capacity fashion workshops are equipped to industry standards, facilitating traditional and digital pattern cutting methods, printed textiles, and constructed knitwear. You also have access to photo-studios, laser-cutting, and 3D printing, supported by skilled technical staff.  

The 24/7 library contains a comprehensive collection of fashion design reference, accessible through the 'Blackboard' eLearning Portal, to support independent research. 

All information is accurate at the time of sharing. 

Full time Courses are primarily delivered via on-campus face to face learning but could include elements of online learning. Most courses run as planned and as promoted on our website and via our marketing materials, but if there are any substantial changes (as determined by the Competition and Markets Authority) to a course or there is the potential that course may be withdrawn, we will notify all affected applicants as soon as possible with advice and guidance regarding their options. It is also important to be aware that optional modules listed on course pages may be subject to change depending on uptake numbers each year.  

Contact time is subject to increase or decrease in line with possible restrictions imposed by the government or the University in the interest of maintaining the health and safety and wellbeing of students, staff, and visitors if this is deemed necessary in future.

 

Useful Links

Find out about our distinctive approach at 
www.northumbria.ac.uk/exp

Admissions Terms and Conditions
northumbria.ac.uk/terms

Fees and Funding
northumbria.ac.uk/fees

Admissions Policy
northumbria.ac.uk/adpolicy

Admissions Complaints Policy
northumbria.ac.uk/complaints



If you’d like to receive the latest updates from Northumbria about our courses, events, finance & funding then enter your details below.

* At Northumbria we are strongly committed to protecting the privacy of personal data. To view the University’s Privacy Notice please click here

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