Programme overview
The MA Fashion Enterprise and Society programme aims to prepare students for a range of careers within the fashion industry. Students will develop in-depth knowledge and understanding of the rapidly evolving fashion industry and develop their own creative, enterprising, and strategic business design skills.
Students will be equipped to challenge existing business practice and propose new and innovative solutions for a more sustainable and socially responsible fashion industry. They will study the challenges faced by social enterprises and the process of setting up a new business. Students will also learn about new opportunities for the fashion industry, such as innovations in fashion product development, advancements in fashion marketing and communication, and the digitalisation of the fashion industry.
This programme is delivered collaboratively between School of Design and Leeds University Business School, enabling students to view the fashion industry from a range of perspectives, including social, cultural, and commercial dimensions.
Student will develop advanced research skills with their learning culminating in a final major research project, which can be tailored to the students’ own research interests and career aspirations. This independent research project can take a variety of forms. For example, students may produce a traditional dissertation on a fashion related topic of their choice, or a more creative, industry-led piece of research, such as a business proposal.
MA Fashion Enterprise and Society is built upon the three pillars of design, business and research.
Students will study three design-led specialist fashion modules: Fashion Marketing and Creative Realisation, Fashion Sustainability and Society, and Fashion Futures. They will also study two business-led modules: Entrepreneurship and Enterprise Creation and New Venture Creation. Research in Design and Enterprise will provide students with the skills for their Major Research Project and the industry.
Programme details
Throughout the MA Fashion Enterprise and Society course, students will develop key skills and knowledge relating to the fashion industry, enterprise and research. Taught by both the School of Design and Leeds University Business School (LUBS), students will acquire industry-relevant skills and knowledge across the year-long programme, equipping students to work within a variety of roles and sectors on completion of the MA programme.
Within the School of Design, in Semester 1, students will explore the current state of the global fashion industry, developing their understanding of fashion supply chains and management, and their understanding of the impact of the fashion industry on both the environment and society. Students will also learn key fashion marketing and consumer theories and practices, and build upon this learning in Semester 2, utilising critical and creative thinking to reflect on existing fashion business practice and propose new industry-relevant solutions. Students will also develop creative design and communication skills in Semester 2 to professionally present innovative and original concepts and proposals to industry audiences.
Two LUBS modules, studied across Semester 1 and 2, provide specialist knowledge of entrepreneurship and enterprise in Semester 1, and students apply this knowledge in Semester 2 to formulate a business plan for a new venture.
Students will develop advanced research skills across semester 1 and 2, developing their understanding of the research process, quantitative and qualitative data, and primary and secondary research methods. This learning will enable students to understand, problem-solve and address real-world challenges, supported by research, in both academic and industry contexts.
In Semester 3, students will apply the knowledge and skills acquired throughout the programme to complete their final major research project, tailoring
both the subject and type of output to individual research interests and career aspirations.
[Learning Outcomes, Transferable (Key) Skills, Assessment]
View Timetable
Candidates will be required to study the following compulsory modules
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DESN5115M | Research in Design and Enterprise | 30 | Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) | |
| DESN5138M | Fashion Marketing and Creative Realisation | 30 | Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) | |
| DESN5143M | Fashion Futures | 15 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| DESN5184M | Fashion Sustainability and Society | 15 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
| DESN5270M | MA FES Final Major Project | 60 | 1 May to 31 Aug | |
| LUBS5537M | New Venture Creation | 15 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| LUBS5963M | Entrepreneurship and Enterprise Creation | 15 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) |
Last updated: 30/04/2026 15:55:37
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