The MA International Fashion Management provides broad content in disciplines relevant to the global fashion sector.  The programme aims to provide you with the opportunity to achieve sound theoretical and conceptual grounding in the processes, models and metrics of fashion management.  You will develop skills in understanding trend prediction, product development, sourcing and supply chain management, buying, merchandising, operations management, visual merchandising, integrated marketing communications management, branding, brand management, international business strategy in addition to personal development skills.

MA International Fashion Management at UEL is developed in response to research by the British Fashion Council and Oxford Economics (2010) that the fashion industry in an increasingly global economy needs more graduates with relevant business skills.  The provision also recognises the skills needed by overseas students seeking career progression in the international fashion sector. 

The programme aims to equip you with relevant skills and an innovative curriculum which balances theoretical constructs with commercial pragmatic solutions.  In addition to formal learning and teaching; you will engage with industry professionals, case studies, guest speakers, field trips and study trips to ensure a rich experience.  The provision builds on the existing undergraduate expertise in fashion management at UEL and is developed in collaboration with the Royal Docks Business School, who have a wide portfolio of postgraduate provision.

The approach of this programme is to ensure graduates understand the relative context of their chosen career or further study specialism in the wider industry.  The programme will promote enquiry, strategic thinking, international engagement and innovation.  The programme aims to blend focus on detail and business metrics with expansive vision of industry opportunities and developments.   The programme will establish a networked community of professionals working in the sector.

The programme is suitable for:

• Candidates with a 2.2 or above honours degree, with evidenced knowledge of the fashion industry.
• Returning alumni from the BA (Hons) Fashion Design with Marketing degree who are looking to increase their skills for career progression purposes
• Working professionals with work experience in the fashion industry who seek career progression

Applications are welcomed from the EU and overseas.
Students whose first language is not English will have achieved a score of 6 in IELTS or equivalent. Eligibility for students without degree equivalent qualifications will be assessed on the basis of the personal statement and application form.  Places will be offered after a successful interview (in person or online) with a member of the programme team.

Accredited Learning
Students that apply to enter stages of the programme may be admitted through normal Accreditation of Experiential Learning (AEL) or Accreditation of Certificated Learning (ACL) processes, or through an approved articulation agreement. Therefore such applicants must be able to demonstrate and evidence that they have the required learning outcomes as listed in the modules for which they are seeking exemption.

MA International Fashion Management will be delivered at the UEL Docklands campus.  It forms a collaboration between the School of Architecture and the Visual Arts and the Royal Docks Business School.  The programme will use all the facilities offered at Docklands including the Learning Resource Centre, English Language Centre and Student Services.  The programme will use the VLE and all material will be uploaded to UEL plus.  You will be encouraged to use UEL Connect as a social networking site.

Personal Tutorials / Group Tutorials
Formative feedback will be provided during tutorials.  To develop skills in self management students will often set the agenda for tutorials.

Group Forums/Peer Reviews:
You will present work in a formal setting to other students on the programme.  All students will participate in peer review, contributing to formative feedback and peer review.

Seminars:
You must be prepared for seminars bringing relevant material or having read preparatory texts or papers.

Lectures:
Formal lectures will be the core method of delivery for programme content.   These will take place in lecture theatres at the Docklands campus.  You will join the MSc International Business Management cohort for the SMM206 module in International Business Strategy.

Workshops:
Workshops will be delivered to support the curriculum in areas such as digital technologies, presentation skills, research methods etc

Field Trips / Study Trips
Field trips and study trips will be a key learning tool in this programme. You will also be expected to undertake independent field trips to widen your fashion awareness and industry knowledge. 

Studio Engagement
You will be encouraged to integrate with the MA Fashion and MA Print Design students to attend catwalk shows, exhibitions etc to further your fashion awareness and appreciation of the design process which would support your understanding of supply chains and the buying process.

All coursework for assessment is double marked; seminar papers and presentations - essay assignments are supervised and double marked.

All work for assessment is monitored / moderated by external examiners.

All modules contribute to the final award classification.

MA International Fashion Management has been designed to meet the needs of the fashion industry by up-skilling graduates or working professionals in the business skills required to work in the international sector.  The processes, business models, case studies and business metrics used by the industry are core to the curriculum.  The professional development skills of effective self-management and effective communication are embedded in the delivery and assessment.  The programme will foster pragmatic reliance on ‘common sense’ (stated by industry as a skill requirement).

The dissertation module provides the opportunity to engage in a research topic of your choice and formulate a research proposal with formative feedback.  You will review relevant literature and theoretical models and devise appropriate methods for data collection and analysis.  You will self-manage and demonstrate learning through a reflective journal.  Students who wish to pursue an academic career will build on this learning.

This programme is responding to a recognised skill gap in the fashion sector.  It has post graduate provision design integrity, by following the QAA Subject Benchmark Statement for Business and Management and by working with the Royal Docks Business School.  The collaboration adds value to the provision and widens your experience which will further support your learning.  In addition the MA International Fashion Management has been designed by academics that have worked in the industry and have a sound knowledge of industry and the practical needs of the global sector.

Students will seek management careers in international fashion organisations or smaller businesses with an international orientation.  The programme will develop a skill-set relevant to such employment.  Research by the British Fashion Council and Oxford Economics 2010 shows that graduates with sound fashion knowledge and applied business skills are needed in the sector.  Roles include:

• Merchandising,
• Buying,
• Product development,
• Marketing,
• Logistics,
• Operations and
• Visual Merchandising. 

The fashion industry remains highly competitive and successful completion of the programme will provide a sound platform for career progression.

The university provides a comprehensive range of support services for students which include: residential/student finance advice/careers advice/study skills development/IT/learning resources. The programme provides strong module leadership.  Guest lecturers and other professional practitioners regularly visit the programme and field trips / study trips are fully embedded in the delivery.  You will also be supported by a personal tutor.

UEL is a campus university in East London offering unrivalled access to the highly important resources of London.  It is close to the new Westfield Stratford, opening in 2011 housing over 300 brands, the largest urban shopping centre in Europe.  UEL has its own station on the Docklands Light Railway and has excellent international links from the neighbouring City Airport.  London plays a vital role in the International Fashion Industry; it is a haven for design, street fashion, fashion entrepreneurs, London Fashion Week, iconic shopping destinations and the headquarters of key fashion industry organisations.
  
UEL is very committed to extending the reach of its Fashion provision and values the reputation fashion has in the education sector and the resultant success in employability, industry engagement and high profile competitions.  You will join other MA programmes in the Area, and across the School, enhancing and contributing to the post graduate culture and intellectual community.

The School of Architecture and Visual Arts have established links with GAFA and Tsinghua  (China), NAFA (Singapore), Legenda (Malaysia), Vantan Design Institute (Japan) and Tallinn Institute Estonia.  These links enhance the international engagement of the School.  The Royal Docks Business School has a large portfolio of post graduate provision, international links and overseas students.  They are actively collaborating in the delivery of MA International Fashion Management.