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Postgraduate

MA Fashion Marketing and Sustainability

Bethany Williams, 'All our Stories' Collection | Flag Installation at Coal Drops Yard, London | Making or Change Poplar Works | London College of Fashion | University of Arts London
College
London College of Fashion Start date
September 2025 Course length
12 months

Develop analytical, communicative and entrepreneurial skills to create a positive impact on communities and the environment through fashion marketing.

Course summary

Applying for more than 1 course

From October 2024, you can only apply for a maximum of 3 postgraduate courses each year at UAL (excluding online or low-residency courses and Graduate Diplomas). Find out more in the Apply Now section.

Why choose this course at London College of Fashion

  • This MA is currently the only Master’s programme in the UK to apply strategic fashion marketing with sustainability.
  • This course develops analytical, communicative, and entrepreneurial skills and knowledge to enable graduates to create a positive impact on communities and the environment through fashion marketing.
  • This course showcases our strong partnerships with a wide range of fashion organisations through live project briefs, industry visits, workshops and speakers
  • Course units are aligned with LCF's expert innovation and research centres, including the Centre for Sustainable Fashion, giving students the opportunity to focus on academic depth and rigour.
  • Through a commitment to UN’s PRiME (Principles of Responsible Management Education) this course provides an in-depth appreciation of the complexity and dynamics of sustainable and ethical marketing management issues in the contemporary global fashion industry.

Course overview

The unique structure and scale of the industry ensures fashion is faced with a multitude of complex sustainability challenges. Marketing and communication practices have the potential to play a significant role in promoting sustainable practices within the fashion industry, contributing to a more social, ethical, and environmentally conscious society. By adopting sustainable marketing strategies, fashion brands can encourage consumers to make informed choices, reduce their impact, and foster a more sustainable future for the industry.

The MA Fashion Marketing and Sustainability is a dynamic and forward‐thinking postgraduate program that equips students with the knowledge and skills to develop and implement sustainable marketing strategies for fashion brands. The program is designed to help students explore fashion marketing through a sustainability lens, and equip students with an understanding of the social, ethical, and environmental implications of the fashion industry. Through a focus on current topics within the sustainability umbrella, and through embedding SDGs and PRME principles into the curriculum, student will learn how to develop innovative solutions for creating sustainable marketing and communication solutions. 

Throughout the course students will develop a critical understanding of the fashion industry and its impact on society and the environment; gain knowledge of sustainable fashion practices and principles; develop skills in marketing research and consumer behaviour and learn how to create sustainable marketing campaigns for fashion brands.  

What to Expect: 

  • Cutting edge research: Learn directly from academic and business leaders at the forefront of fashion marketing, communication and sustainable fashion 
  • In-demand skills and knowledge: Increase your understanding of how sustainability marketing has the power to drive transparency and positively change consumption patterns through evidence-based communication 
  • Industry informed curriculum: Academic content is continuously revised to adapt to current developments in industry  
  • Knowledge Exchange: Take part in industry-led workshops, expert speaker series, and work together with students across LCF 
  • Enterprise: Proactively engage in innovative problem-solving to tackle real-world challenges 

Industry experience and opportunities: 

Course curriculum will be supported by projects with purpose-led industry partners, allowing you to directly apply theory to practice. You will be encouraged to engage with extra-curricular opportunities involving industry partners.

Climate, Social and Racial Justice

We are committed to developing ethical Fashion Business practices. To achieve this and promote awareness, we have embedded the UAL’s Principles for Climate, Social and Racial Justice into the course. The units Debates in Sustainable Fashion, Advanced Sustainability Strategy and the Final Major Project directly address these principles. 

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Register your interest to receive information and updates about studying at UAL.

Contact us to make an enquiry.

Course units

This course will run across three blocks and including shared units in Block 1 and Block 2 and completed with an independent-research unit in Block 3. The final award classification is based upon the Masters Project only.  

The units are detailed as follows:  

Block 1   

Debates in Sustainable Fashion (20 credits)

The global fashion industry needs a sustainable transformation. This unit explores how communication and marketing can be powerful tools in this journey. On this unit, you will examine the challenges facing the industry and discover how communication strategies can be used to promote sustainable practices and influence consumer behaviour. You will develop the analytical skills needed to critically evaluate fashion's environmental, social, and ethical impact, and explore creative solutions to resolving sustainability challenges. This unit will provide you with a foundation of knowledge on sustainable fashion from a theoretical as well as an industry perspective. 

Fashion Marketing Strategy (20 credits)

Fashion is a truly global industry in which political, economic, social, legal, environmental and technological developments are causing the reinvention of traditional business models. Fashion marketeers of the future need to be at the forefront, provoking and inspiring change. This unit allows you to think strategically about markets and marketing activities and understand how fashion marketing strategy works in practice, its influence on its various stakeholders and how it’s situated in the context of the overall strategic direction of a business. The emphasis is on how fashion businesses adapt and change for future success in a globalised and cross-cultural industry. You are expected to develop knowledge and awareness of national, local and global audiences, within the context of different cultures, understanding how this can influence strategic planning and key performance indicators for fashion products and services. 

Consumer Insights for Communication (20 credits)

In a dynamic and digitally driven fashion industry, effective communication is the key to success. This unit adopts a customer-centric approach enabling you to identify, evaluate and respond to consumer motivations and emotions elicited by fashion brands. This unit equips you with the theoretical and practical knowledge to formulate and manage communication strategies that resonate with consumers and drive business growth. You will also explore the competitive landscape of the global fashion industry and explore the financial implications of integrated marketing communication strategies.

Block 2  

Elective Units(20 credits) 

Individual unit descriptors can be found in the Electives Handbook. 

Advanced Strategy for Sustainability (20 credits) 

In today's dynamic fashion industry, success demands more than just creativity and design prowess. Fashion businesses must operate with a keen understanding of macroeconomic trends, societal expectations, and their impact on strategic decision-making. This unit delves into the intricacies of  advanced strategy in sustainable fashion, equipping students with the tools and insights to navigate the complex interplay of external factors and internal business imperatives. 

This unit looks at contemporary issues affecting the global fashion industry and provides opportunity to explore traditional and contemporary models and theories in corporate strategy, applying these in the context of sustainability. You will develop your understanding of change within the fashion industry from a global perspective and the resulting sustainability strategies and areas of focus emerging in response to changing societal demands for business conduct, socio-economic trends, innovative technologies, and cultural changes. The course will emphasize the interconnectedness of fashion businesses with the broader economic and social landscape, equipping students with the ability to develop and implement effective sustainability strategies that align with both business objectives and societal expectations. 

Advanced Research Methods for Fashion Business (20 credits) 

Developing effective approaches to research is crucial for success in your Master's project (MAP) and in your wider career. In this unit you will start to develop and explore your individual research project in preparation for your MAP. You will start to build a theoretical framework for your project and isolate the purpose of the research through the development of a project aim and objectives. You will also decide the research philosophy and design you wish to implement for your MAP, developing a robust theoretically justified research proposal. In the process of developing your research proposal you will consider a range of research methodologies, methods and approaches, evaluating how you will utilise primary research tools effectively in your MAP. 

Block 3  

Masters Project (60 credits) 

The Masters Project is the final stage of your Masters’ course and is the culmination of your studies. It provides you with a space to synthesise all the knowledge and skills you have gained on the course so far. Your project will be self directed and you will negotiate the shape and direction of your project at the outset with your supervisor. This important final phase of your studies is where you will effectively communicate your work along with your ability to critically interrogate your practice with robust approaches to research and theoretical analysis. Upon completion of your project, you will have generated a high-level Masters’ quality piece of work that will showcase your practice, academic literacy and the professional standards that will act as a platform for your future career and professional development. 

Programme specification

Download course specification (PDF File 567.8 KB)

Learning and teaching methods

  • Lectures 
  • Seminars  
  • Workshops 
  • Tutorials  
  • Visiting speakers 
  • Online learning  
  • Self-directed study 
  • Collaboration  
  • Field trips

 

Assessment methods

  • A wide variety of methods are employed for formative and summative assessments including: 
  • Reports; 
  • Reflections; 
  • Examinations;  
  • Individual presentations; 
  • Team presentations;  
  • Business reports; 
  • Visual outputs;
  • A final major project in the form of a dissertation or a practice-based project (e.g. business plan).  

Showcasing at LCF

There are a range of showcasing opportunities students can take part in whilst studying at LCF. End year showcasing at London College of Fashion, UAL, is one of the moments students can celebrate graduating from their courses. However, degree shows are not part of the learning outcomes in a course curriculum and are therefore not guaranteed as part of studying with us. Students must register by a deadline to take part, and we are not able to show all student work so submitting students will have their work curated.

Nina Van Volkinburg | Development lead | MA Fashion Marketing and Sustainability

Trousers mage of sustainable material floating in the sky.
Joao Marachin, TRUTH FICTION collection | @joaomaraschin | London College of Fashion | University of Arts London

Facilities at LCF

Staff

Dr Nina Van Volkinburg

She is passionate about circular economy and fashion’s transformation towards sustainable strategies through emerging technologies. She is an ethnographer by training with her research focusing on value co-creation and service ecosystems and has written multiple published case studies. Additionally, Nina has consulted for various organisations focused on sustainable practice including The Sustainable Angle and Fashion4Development (amongst others). She regularly comments on the wider fashion industry for platforms including BBC World News, as well as fashion-focused press including Elle, Showstudio, Achtung, and Wardrobe Crisis. Her work within fashion sustainability has been featured in Vogue, Textilwirtschaft, Tank Magazine, and The Telegraph. Moreover, Nina is the co-founder of the world’s first B2C fashion upcycling platform, RETURE, which grew a global community of fashion designers to revive and transform customers’ garments from old to new. Within 1 year of launching, the company welcomed over 60 designers to the platform, collaborated with sustainable organisations including Fashion Revolution, and were invited to take part in in-person pop-ups including Selfridges & Co. and Westfield.  She holds a BA and PhD in Marketing from the University of Exeter, as well as a MA in Strategic Fashion Marketing from London College of Fashion.

Kelly Darcy

Kelly Darcy has worked as a fashion business consultant in the fashion industry for 10 years as a researcher, coach and experienced facilitator. She is a Lecturer in Management: Retail Strategy, Innovation and Operations and an Associate Lecturer in the areas of Fashion Business, Psychology, Sustainability, Marketing, Innovation and Entrepreneurship at the London College of Fashion and London Southbank University. Kelly is currently part of an MBA programme in Sustainability Leadership where she campaigns for policy change, bringing sustainable practices into her own life and consumer behaviours, and is also an Associate Fellow with the Higher Education Academy (AFHEA) and a Fellow of the Royal Society of the Arts (FRSA). Alongside her academic work, Kelly is an entrepreneurship coach, runs wellbeing workshops in fashion and body positivity, and in 2020, began running her own courses on starting a sustainable fashion business.

Sabinna Rachimova

Featured in such publications as Forbes, VOGUE, Huffington Post, ELLE, WWD, Eco-Age and more, Sabinna Rachimova, is a forward-thinking designer with a brand that constantly challenges the status quo of the industry. Sabinna is a graduate of Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design, and before launching her eponymous label, she worked for the leading Parisian Fashion house Christian Dior and London brand Mary Katrantzou. In 2017 Sabinna’s brand won the Fashion Futures award presented by Decoded Fashion and the British Fashion Council for the project in collaboration with FIA and Reactive Reality. In 2020 the label was part of RYOT's 'The Fabric of Reality', a first-of-its-kind VR fashion show where we had the opportunity to create a ‘storyworld’ in collaboration with a VR artist. In 2019, Sabinna was named one of Forbes 30under30 DACH. As an immigrant woman, Sabinna is incredibly passionate about inclusivity, equal opportunities and being an opinion leader for the future generation of creatives. She also works as a public speaker, spreading the word about both FashTech and sustainable fashion, as well as a consultant with a focus on fashion start-ups and education.

Dr Shahpar Abdollahi

Dr Shahpar Abdollahi holds a Ph.D. in Management Science from King’s College London. Her Doctoral research focused on innovation and the role of networks in the success of new product development. She holds a M.Sc. in International Business from the University of Groningen, with a specialisation in International Marketing. Before joining LCF, Shahpar held research, lecturing and supervisory positions at King’s College London, Cranfield Business School, University of Essex, London College of Fashion (LCF) and Instituto Marangoni. Given her professional background, Shahpar is particularly interested in Luxury Branding, Fashion Marketing and Fashion Management.

Dr Francesca Bonetti

Dr Francesca Bonetti is a Senior Lecturer (Associate Professor) in Marketing at the London College of Fashion, University of the Arts London, London, UK, and a Visiting Lecturer at universities across Europe, the USA and Asia. She is currently a Visiting Scholar at USC Marshall School of Business, conducting a research project on technological innovation in the fashion and creative industries across the USA West Coasts (Los Angeles area), UK (London area) and Europe. Her research interests focus on business technological innovation across cultures in the fashion and creative industries, and the digital transformation of retailing. Her PhD (University of Manchester, UK, 2020) explored the adoption of consumer-facing technologies in fashion retail settings from a managerial perspective. Her interests also include luxury fashion retailing in China and the consumption of fashion goods by Asian consumers. Her work is published in academic journals such as the Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services and the International Journal of Technology Marketing, among others, and in a number of books. She has international industry experience in marketing communications and retail and business development in the fashion and apparel sector. She currently consult for fashion brands, retailers and startup companies on distribution strategies, communications strategies and the use of consumer-facing technology.

Dr Shuyu Lin

Dr Shuyu Lin’s expertise lies in value creation and appropriation in the fashion ecosystem. Her research aims to extend the application of network-based strategic management and social capital theories to the discipline of aesthetic innovation. Exploring both structural and relational mechanism in open innovation has been at the centre of her research interest. Following a BA in Journalism, Shuyu pursued her career in the fashion industry as a PR consultant and fashion editor. She then received the degree of MSc in Management with Marketing and PhD in Management from the University of Bath.

Julie Dennison

Julie Dennison is a senior lecturer and academic, having extensive experience of teaching and curriculum development at undergraduate and postgraduate level since joining UAL in 2007. Julie currently holds the role of Senior Lecturer in Fashion Business Research Methods, focusing on developing specialist research methodologies with students to enable them to complete diverse advanced level research outputs at postgraduate level. Prior to her teaching career, Julie worked for over a decade in product design and development as a Senior Fashion Buyer, specialising in CMT operations for major UK High Street brands such as River Island and Arcadia. Her published research focuses on consumer behaviour in digital environments. She holds a BA (Hons) in Textiles and Fashion, a Masters in Strategic Fashion Marketing, a PG Cert in Academic Practice and is a Fellow of the HEA.

Fees and funding

Home fee

£14,000

This fee is correct for 2025/26 entry and is subject to change for 2026/27 entry.

Tuition fees may increase in future years for new and continuing students on courses lasting more than one year. For this course, you can pay tuition fees in instalments.

Students from countries outside of the UK will generally be charged international fees. The rules are complex so read more about tuition fees and determining your fee status.

International fee

£29,990

This fee is correct for 2025/26 entry and is subject to change for 2026/27 entry.

Tuition fees may increase in future years for new and continuing students on courses lasting more than one year. For this course, you can pay tuition fees in instalments.

Students from countries outside of the UK will generally be charged international fees. The rules are complex so read more about tuition fees and determining your fee status.

Additional costs

You may need to cover additional costs which are not included in your tuition fees, such as materials and equipment specific to your course. Typical approximate costs for this course include: ​

  • Laptop or desktop computer
  • Adobe Creative Cloud: £42 per year

For a list of general digital equipment you may need (and how you can borrow equipment), visit our Study costs page.​

Accommodation

Find out about accommodation options and how much they will cost, and other living expenses you’ll need to consider.

Scholarships, bursaries and awards

If you’ve completed a qualifying course at UAL, you may be eligible for a tuition fee discount on this course. Find out more about our Progression discount.

You can also find out more about the Postgraduate Masters Loan (Home students only) and scholarships, including £7,000 scholarships for Home and International students. Discover more about student funding.

If you’re based in the UK and plan to visit UAL for an Open Event, check if you’re eligible for our UAL Travel Bursary. This covers the costs of mainland train or airline travel to visit UAL.

How to pay

Find out how you can pay your tuition fees.

Scholarship search

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Entry requirements

The standard entry requirements for this course are as follows: 

  • An Honours degree at 2.1 or above in a related discipline 
  • OR Equivalent qualifications; 

APEL (Accreditation of Prior (Experiential) Learning) 

Applicants who do not meet these course entry requirements may still be considered in exceptional cases. The course team will consider each application that demonstrates additional strengths and alternative evidence. This might, for example, be demonstrated by: 

  • Related academic or work experience (minimum of three years) 
  • The quality of the personal statement
  • A strong academic or other professional reference 
  • OR a combination of these factors 

English Language Requirements 

IELTS level 7.0 with a minimum of 6.0 in reading, writing, listening and speaking. Please check our main English Language Requirements. 

Selection criteria

The course seeks to recruit students from diverse socio- economic and cultural backgrounds and welcomes applications from mature students.

The course team seeks to recruit students who can demonstrate:

  • the potential to develop their practical and critical abilities through academic study;
  • critical knowledge of a subject area;
  • a capacity for intellectual enquiry and reflective thought;
  • an openness to new ideas and a willingness to participate actively in their own intellectual development;
  • initiative with a developed and mature attitude to independent study.

Information for disabled applicants

UAL is committed to achieving inclusion and equality for disabled students. This includes students who have:

     
  • Dyslexia or another Specific Learning Difference
  • A sensory impairment
  • A physical impairment
  • A long-term health or mental health condition
  • Autism
  • Another long-term condition which has an impact on your day-to-day life

Our Disability Service arranges adjustments and support for disabled applicants and students.

Read our Disability and dyslexia: applying for a course and joining UAL information.

Apply now

Application deadline

Deadline

Round 1:

10 December 2024 at 1pm (UK time)

Round 2:

26 March 2025 at 1pm (UK time)

Video task deadline

Round 1:

8 January 2025 at 1pm (UK time)

Round 2:

9 April 2025 at 1pm (UK time)

Decision outcome

Round 1:

21 March 2025

Round 2:

20 June 2025

Round 1
Round 2
Deadline
10 December 2024 at 1pm (UK time)
26 March 2025 at 1pm (UK time)
Video task deadline
8 January 2025 at 1pm (UK time)
9 April 2025 at 1pm (UK time)
Decision outcome
21 March 2025
20 June 2025

We have 2 rounds of deadlines for postgraduate courses: one in December and one in March. If there are still places available after 26 March, this course will remain open to applications until all places have been filled.

Read more about deadlines

Apply to UAL

Start your application

Apply now

Application deadline

Deadline

Round 1:

10 December 2024 at 1pm (UK time)

Round 2:

26 March 2025 at 1pm (UK time)

Video task deadline

Round 1:

8 January 2025 at 1pm (UK time)

Round 2:

9 April 2025 at 1pm (UK time)

Decision outcome

Round 1:

21 March 2025

Round 2:

20 June 2025

Round 1
Round 2
Deadline
10 December 2024 at 1pm (UK time)
26 March 2025 at 1pm (UK time)
Video task deadline
8 January 2025 at 1pm (UK time)
9 April 2025 at 1pm (UK time)
Decision outcome
21 March 2025
20 June 2025

We have 2 rounds of deadlines for postgraduate courses: one in December and one in March. If there are still places available after 26 March, this course will remain open to applications until all places have been filled.

Read more about deadlines

Apply to UAL

Start your application
or

Apply with a UAL Representative

Based across the world, our local UAL representatives can support you with your application from your home country. Check to see if there is a representative available in your country currently.

Find your representative

How to apply

Follow this step-by-step guide to apply for this course

Step 1: Initial application

You will need to submit an initial application including your personal statement, CV and study proposal.

Personal statement advice

Your personal statement should be maximum 500 words and include:

  • your reasons for choosing the course
  • your current creative practice and how this course will help you achieve your future plans
  • any relevant education and experience, especially if you do not have any formal academic qualifications.

Visit our personal statement page for more advice.

CV advice

Please provide a CV detailing your education, qualifications and any relevant work or voluntary experience. If you have any web projects or other media that you would like to share, please include links in your CV. If English is not your first language, please also include your most recent English language test score.

Study proposal advice

Please provide a summary of your study proposal (500 words).

It should:

  • state the background for your proposal, including a working title
  • determine the precise area of study
  • set out the aims and objects for your proposal within the course structure
  • refer to critical discourses that may underpin your practice and how your work may contribute to these
  • outline your intended methodology including how you intend to conduct your project and who you intend to address
  • include any research sources as well as details or any libraries, exhibitions museums etc. that you have visited as part of your research
  • include a bibliography using Harvard referencing and an appendix for any additional material if necessary. This will not be included in the word count.

Please note, your proposal serves to inform your application and we understand that your ideas will develop and change throughout your studies.

Step 2: Video task

We will review your initial application. If you have met the standard entry requirements, we will ask you to submit a video task.

You’ll need to submit this via PebblePad, our online portfolio tool.

Video task advice

We’d like you to submit a 2-3 minute video to help us learn more about you. When recording your video, please face the camera and speak in English.

What to include in your video task

  • Tell us why you have applied to MA Fashion Marketing and Sustainability and how it will help you achieve your career ambitions.

Read our guidance for how to submit your video task and which file types we accept.

Step 3: Interview

You may be invited to an interview following our review of your application. All interviews are held online and last 15 to 20 minutes.

For top tips, see our Interview advice.

You also need to know

Communicating with you

Once you have submitted your initial application, we will email you with your login details for our Applicant portal.

Requests for supplementary documents like qualifications and English language tests will be made through the applicant portal. You can also use it to ask questions regarding your application. Visit our After you apply page for more information.

Applying to more than 1 course

From October 2024, you can only apply for a maximum of 3 postgraduate courses each year at UAL. This excludes online or low-residency courses and Graduate Diplomas, which you can apply to in addition to 3 other postgraduate courses.

If you apply for more than 3 postgraduate courses between October 2024 and August 2025, we won’t accept the 4th application. It’s not possible to withdraw an application to replace it with another.

You need to tailor your application, supporting documents and portfolio to each course, so applying for many different courses could risk the overall quality of your application. If you receive offers for multiple courses, you'll only be able to accept 1 offer.

Visas and immigration history check

All non-UK nationals must complete an immigration history check. Your application may be considered by our course teams before this check takes place. If your course requires a portfolio and/or video task, we may request these before we identify any issues arising from your immigration history check. Sometimes your history may mean that we are not able to continue considering your application. Visit our Immigration and visas advice page for more information.

External student transfer policy

UAL accepts transfers from other institutions on a case-by-case basis. Read our Student transfer policy for more information.

Alternative offers

If your application is really strong, but we believe your strengths and skillset are better suited to a different course, we may make you an alternative offer. This means you will be offered a place on a different course or at a different UAL College.

Deferring your place

We do not accept any deferral requests for our postgraduate courses. This means that you must apply in the year that you plan to start your course and you will not be able to defer your place to start at a later date.

Application deadlines

Most of our postgraduate courses have 2 rounds of deadlines: one in December and one in March.

As long as you apply ahead of each deadline we will consider your application alongside all the other applications in that round. We always make sure to hold enough places back for round 2 to make sure we can consider your application fairly, no matter which round you apply in.

If there are still places available after the second deadline, the course will remain open to applications until all places have been filled.

Careers

All our postgraduate courses offer career development, so that you become a creative thinker, making effective contributions to your relevant sector of the fashion industry.

LCF offers students the opportunity to develop Personal and Professional Development (PPD) skills while studying through:

  • Access to to speaker programmes and events featuring alumni and industry.
  • Access to careers activities, such as CV clinics and one-to-one advice sessions.
  • Access to a graduate careers service
  • Access to a live jobsboard for all years.
  • Advice on setting up your own brand or company.

Career paths

Masters graduates have an acknowledged advantage in the employment market, obtaining work in a wide range of vocational and academic fields related to fashion, including working as a Marketing Executive, Brand Manager, Marketing Communications Manager.

The MA also provides an excellent preparation for higher level research degrees (MPhil or PhD), with an increasing number of graduates undertaking research in fashion related subjects, in practice or theory or entering into education as lecturers.

Graduate Futures

Graduate Futures provides a comprehensive career management service supporting our students to become informed and self-reliant individuals able to plan and manage their own careers.

LCF alumni

Many of our alumni are now impressive, leading industry figures.

London College of Fashion

Contact

Telephone

+44 (0)20 7514 7400

Address

105 Carpenter's Road
London

E20 2AR