MFA Fashion
Course overview
Start date
September 2020
Subject area
Fashion
Attendance
Full-time
Part-time
Learning
On campus
Course summary
MFA Fashion hinges on the concept of the designer as pioneer, identifying and developing new terrains beyond the frontier of the industry as we know it today. Integral to its philosophy is that it is a space for creative minds to consider what the future of fashion looks like, shaping their learning and knowledge to become leaders and innovators for the industry.
Through a phenomenological approach, the reading and analysis of the zeitgeist, seminars, workshops, industry briefs and collaborative interdisciplinary projects students will investigate new creative landscapes encompassing the study of historical and contemporary craft, design and technologies.
They will be encouraged to develop their perception, ideas and skills in an instinctive and intuitive manner to experiment, subvert, hybridize and determine what lies on the edge of their practice and their subject.
The students will be able to test the viability of their ideas through fashion industry contacts and networks, as well as engage creatively with community groups through collaborative, interdisciplinary projects as well as during industrial placement.
Contact Us
If you have any questions, please contact our Applicant Enquiries team on +44 (0) 20 8223 3333 or email study@uel.ac.uk
Get in touchHands-on approach
Our course will give you the chance to develop an innovative and distinct performance practice to set you on the road to success in the world of acting and the performing arts.
Kick-start to your career
We’ll give you the chance to work with a mentor, an experienced professional actor who will offer you support and advice and help you make the step into the professional creative world.
Flexible study
You can study in the evening to allow access for those of you who are working or have family commitments.
What we're researching
Among our renowned academic team are Senior Lecturer Faisal Abdu'Allah, whose extraordinary work crosses the borders of photography, the printed image and lens-based installation. He’s exhibited at Tate Britain and the National Portrait Gallery.
Senior Lecturer Susan Stockwell has also enjoyed critical acclaim for her elegant drawings, sculptures and installations, which have been exhibited all over the world from London’s Victoria and Albert Museum to the Turbine Hall at Tate Modern to China’s Shenghua Art Centre.
Susan was commissioned by the National Army Museum to lead a two-year research project exploring the interconnected themes of the Army, conflict and rehabilitation.
Working in workshops with soldiers from two UK recovery centres, encouraging them to use drawing, sewing and quilting to unlock their memories, the collaboration led to the creation of a remarkable patchwork quilt, entitled Peace Makers – a symbolic flag for peace, justice, equality and humanity.
Professor Grenville Davey, the Turner Prize-winning sculptor who leads our MA course, has produced a number of high-profile public art projects, including Well, which was commissioned by Yorkshire Sculpture Park, and Inter Alia – a commission for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. The latter was an installation reflecting human presence in the form of a series of hand prints cast in aluminium bronze.
Making a difference
UEL is one of the UK’s leading modern research universities. In the most recent Research Excellence Framework (REF), 17 per cent of our overall research submission was classified as ‘world-leading’ for its quality and impact – almost double our previous REF score. A further 45 per cent of our work was considered ‘internationally excellent’.
Elizabeth Bond
MA Fine Art
My advice to MA students would be to make use of the freedom and the general friendliness of UEL to try out lots of different things, to grab tutors and technicians in the corridors and ask them for advice.
Also make use of what London offers — major galleries with major collections, all free! Read a lot, think a lot, draw a lot, go to exhibitions a lot and put a website together.
It can be a long, difficult haul, particularly in these hard times, but I couldn’t do anything else.
Fees and funding
£10,280 to fund your Masters Programme under the Postgraduate Loans (PGL) scheme
Postgraduate Loans (PGL)
The Postgraduate Loan (PGL) provide non means-tested loans of up to £10,906 to taught and research masters students. It will be paid to students as a contribution towards tuition fees, living costs and other course costs.
Applications are made directly through Student Finance England
Eligibility
Whether you qualify depends on:
• if you’ve studied on a postgraduate course before
• your course
• your age
• your nationality or residency status
Full eligibility can be found here
Please take a look at the Postgraduate Loans for an overview of the new funding.
The scholarship is open to full-time and part-time UK and EU students of taught postgraduate courses. *Exclusions apply.
Find out more about full eligibility criteria and how to apply.
Terms and conditions apply.How we can help you
Did you know that with a postgraduate qualification you can expect to earn more than someone who only holds an undergraduate degree?If you want to build new skills, change career paths, or further your career prospects, a postgraduate degree can help you. Our range of scholarships and bursaries will make financing your education that much easier. Below is some of the funding available to support you in your studies:
- Alumni Discount – up to 15% fee waiver *exclusions apply. Please see Alumni Discount page for information.
- Early Payment Discount – 5% fee waiver
- Asylum Seekers scholarship – 100% fee waiver
- Civic Engagement – £1,000
- Hardship Bursary – up to £2,000
- Sport Scholarships – Up to £6,000
Terms and conditions apply.
• By telephone
• In person at our Docklands or Stratford campus
• Bank transfer
- Apply for a Postgraduate Loan
- Take advantage of UEL scholarships and bursaries
- Ask your employer to sponsor your study
- Study part-time so you can work at the same time (applicable to courses that have a part-time mode)
- Look at UK Research and Innovation funding options
The Student Money Advice and Rights Team (SMART) are here to help you navigate
your finances while you're a student at the University of East London.
We can give you advice, information and guidance on government and
university funds so that you receive your full funding entitlement.
Email: study@uel.ac.uk
Phone: 020 8223 4444
Fees per year:
Year 1 (180 credits) - £9,420
Year 2 (120 credits) - £6,820
£10,280 to fund your Masters Programme under the Postgraduate Loans (PGL) scheme
Postgraduate Loans (PGL)
The Postgraduate Loan (PGL) provide non means-tested loans of up to £10,906 to taught and research masters students. It will be paid to students as a contribution towards tuition fees, living costs and other course costs.
Applications are made directly through Student Finance England
Eligibility
Whether you qualify depends on:
• if you’ve studied on a postgraduate course before
• your course
• your age
• your nationality or residency status
Full eligibility can be found here
Please take a look at the Postgraduate Loans for an overview of the new funding.
The scholarship is open to full-time and part-time UK and EU students of taught postgraduate courses. *Exclusions apply.
Find out more about full eligibility criteria and how to apply.
Terms and conditions apply.How we can help you
Did you know that with a postgraduate qualification you can expect to earn more than someone who only holds an undergraduate degree?If you want to build new skills, change career paths, or further your career prospects, a postgraduate degree can help you. Our range of scholarships and bursaries will make financing your education that much easier. Below is some of the funding available to support you in your studies:
- Alumni Discount – up to 15% fee waiver *exclusions apply. Please see Alumni Discount page for information.
- Early Payment Discount – 5% fee waiver
- Asylum Seekers scholarship – 100% fee waiver
- Civic Engagement – £1,000
- Hardship Bursary – up to £2,000
- Sport Scholarships – Up to £6,000
Terms and conditions apply.
• By telephone
• In person at our Docklands or Stratford campus
• Bank transfer
- Apply for a Postgraduate Loan
- Take advantage of UEL scholarships and bursaries
- Ask your employer to sponsor your study
- Study part-time so you can work at the same time (applicable to courses that have a part-time mode)
- Look at UK Research and Innovation funding options
The Student Money Advice and Rights Team (SMART) are here to help you navigate
your finances while you're a student at the University of East London.
We can give you advice, information and guidance on government and
university funds so that you receive your full funding entitlement.
Email: study@uel.ac.uk
Phone: 020 8223 4444
Per 30 credit module
As part of the Tier 4 student visa requirements, UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) estimate that you will need £1,265* per month to cover your living costs. It includes expenses for accommodation, food and drink, travel within London, text books, entertainment, clothing, toiletries and laundry. Most Tier 4 students are required to show they have sufficient funds to cover the first nine months of the course before they start- a total of £11,385- in addition to the tuition fees. You can find more information about the specific requirements of the Tier 4 student visa here. The amount that you will spend can vary depending on your lifestyle. The UKCISA International Student Calculator can help you plan and manage your money.
* Please note the Immigration Rules are subject to change and this figure is likely to be increased by UKVI year on year. Please therefore check our ISA page for more information at the time of preparing your visa application.International students are required to pay a deposit prior to being issued a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS).
Your remaining balance will be paid in five monthly instalments over your first term. The first of these instalments must be paid when completing your enrolment on arrival at UEL. Please follow the payment instructions here.
After the required payment has been made, you will be asked to complete the online International Student Reply Form to confirm your acceptance of our offer and of our terms of admittance and fees policy.
Our International team at UEL are available for advice and guidance on studying in London, fees, scholarships and visa requirements.
Email: international@uel.ac.uk
Fees per year
Year 1 (180 credits) - £13,200
Year 2 (120 credits) - £8,800
Entry requirements
INTERNATIONAL
(Including European Union)
We accept a range of qualifications from across the world. Please see our country pages for information on specific entry requirements for your country.
If you don’t quite meet the academic requirements for this course, you can apply with an additional foundation year. Read more about the International Foundation Programme. SEE YOUR COUNTRYIf you do not meet the academic English language requirements for your course, you may be eligible to enrol onto a pre-sessional English programme. The length of the course will depend on your current level of English and the requirements for your degree programme. We offer a 5-week and an 11-week pre-sessional course. Find out more here.
What you'll study
We consistently review and develop our courses and modules to ensure they are up-to-date with sector and industry graduate skills demands. Course structure, modules and options are subject to change.
- Identify: New Concepts and Technologies (Core)
- Define: Concepts and Technologies (Core)
- Define: Live Industry Project (Core)
- Professional Life: Advanced Fashion Portfolio (Mental Wealth) (Core).
- Consolidate: Concept and Technologies (Core)
- Fashion Consultancy Project/Internship (Core)
- MFA Creative Practice (Core)
- MFA Professional Platform (Core)
How you'll be assessed
Assessment is by portfolio and coursework, with formative work demonstrated in portfolio submission and critical reflection. Regular feedback is given in workshops for all practice-based programmes in the school. All assessment will be conducted in accordance with the UEL’s Assessment and Feedback Policy.
How you'll learn
All of the programmes in the MFA suite will follow learning and teaching methods geared towards Master’s level achievement, and in particular in the 60 credit MFA modules will have the following key outcomes regarding creative practice and professional engagement:
1.Identifying theoretical issues, range of voices, elements, and techniques used in their chosen creative practice and how they will be transferred to professional engagement.
2.Identify and explore those key contextual issues relevant to their practice as contemporary artists and to their professional context.
3.Critically develop their own work in the context of a rigorous intellectual climate and in relation to the creative industries and artistic context.
4.Apply an understanding of elements and theoretical issues at an advanced level, engaging in contemporary creative practice in their chosen discipline and how it relates to a professional context.
5.Work at the highest possible standards in their work, so that they can develop the confidence, maturity and intellectual and interpersonal skills necessary to function as successful creative practitioners in their chosen field.
6.Work with a high degree of confidence and more sophistication and experimentation in their artistic practice in order to prepare it for professional dissemination.
7.Demonstrate and refine further critical thinking and knowledge of the professional development of their practice, leading to professional engagement in the creative industries.
Assessment and examination policies, practices and procedures will provide disabled students with opportunities equal to those of their peers to demonstrate the achievement of learning outcomes. Where study or assessment is negatively affected as a direct result of a disability-related cause, reasonable adjustments will be made to ensure the academic progress of the student is not unjustifiably impeded.
What you'll learn
The entire programme will be designed around mixed delivery of seminars, workshops, residencies, industry briefs and collaborative interdisciplinary projects and. Visits to collections, galleries, practitioners, museums community groups which will ensure the field of study is both global and local.
Knowledge is developed through
•Practically based design projects developing the key skills (research, design, recording information, exhibiting and presenting work
•Lectures, seminars and practical demonstrations
•Live client project work and visiting professionals
Thinking skills are developed through
•Reading and Research, both primary and secondary, quantitative and qualitative
•Essays, reports and action plans
•Formulations of judgements with presentations and exhibitions
•Self directed study
Practical skills are developed through
•Working with academic, visiting and support staff
•New technologies, CAD digital media, digital fabric printing, photography and digital imagery
•Competitions, national and international
Skills for life and work (general skills) are developed through
•Presentations, individually and in groups
•Industrial placement, working with professionals as part of a team
•Working in teams and group situations in project and assignment work
•Organisational skills and time management
Your future career
We’re proud that our students go on to make their names as designers, design coordinators, pattern cutters, fashion technologists, product developers and retail managers.
As one of our graduates Lucy Johnson, who now owns streetwear label Brahboys, says of the course, “It was a fun and emotional experience that I’d recommend to anyone thinking of a career in fashion."
At Graduate Fashion Week 2016, one of our students, Antonia Nae, won the prestigious Lipsy Red Carpet Award for her sweeping black dress.
The quality of our students’ work is held in such high regard that a
group of our undergraduates were commissioned to create the costumes for a pivotal scene in the hit movie, Absolutely Fabulous.
UEL Fashion and Textiles area has strong links with industry that have been developed over the past 30 years and have worked with companies such as Erdem, Polo Ralph Lauren, Jenny Packham, The Collection, Asos, Marks and Spencer, Timothy Everest to name some. UEL fashion students are in high demand in industry for placement candidates as well as graduate employees due to their high level of skills and professionalism.
Explore the different career options you can pursue with this degree and see the median salaries of the sector on our Career Coach portal
