MA Fashion Business and Marketing

1 Year On Campus Masters Program

University of Salford

Program Overview

The MA Fashion Business and Marketing at Salford is perfect for anyone looking to turn a passion for fashion into a real business or career. Whether you’re dreaming of launching your own brand, working for a global fashion company, or exploring sustainable and ethical practices, this course gives you the creative insight and practical business skills to succeed.

Curriculum Structure

Early Stage: You’ll start with Fashion Industry Insight, diving into market research and customer analysis to shape your fashion business ideas. Resourcing Your Business teaches you how to manage finances and funding, while Innovation for Growth helps you spot opportunities to create something truly unique in the fashion world.
Middle Stage: Through Entrepreneurial Business Simulation, you’ll test your ideas in a realistic business “incubator” and develop marketing, strategy, and funding plans. Circular Economy and Responsible Management introduces sustainable practices, while The Digital Customer shows you how consumers behave online, helping you craft strategies for e-commerce and social media.
Final Stage: In Marketing Pitch and Industry Launch, you’ll create a full, ready-to-market business plan and marketing pitch for your product or brand. This final project gives you practical experience and a professional showcase to impress potential employers or investors.

Focus areas: fashion business strategy, sustainable & ethical fashion, entrepreneurial business development, fashion marketing & branding, consumer behaviour in fashion, digital fashion marketing, circular economy in fashion

Learning outcomes: develop and launch a fashion business, conduct market and consumer research, implement sustainable practices, create marketing strategies and brand positioning, understand global supply chains and funding, and deliver a professional business plan ready for industry launch

Professional alignment (accreditation): Delivered jointly by Salford Business School and the School of Arts, Media & Creative Technology, blending business skills with creative and industry relevance

Reputation (employability / rankings): Located near Manchester’s thriving fashion and creative hub, Salford gives you strong industry connections and exposure, boosting employability and entrepreneurial opportunities.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

This MA is designed so you don’t just learn theory — you actually get to create, test, and launch fashion business ideas. From day one, you’ll be gaining hands-on experience using real tools, working on live projects, and receiving guidance from industry experts, so by the time you graduate, you’ll have practical skills that make you job-ready or launch-ready.

Here’s how your learning will come to life:

Hands-on business planning: In modules like Fashion Industry Insight, Resourcing Your Business, and Innovation for Growth, you’ll research customers, analyse markets, and build business and finance plans — essentially bringing your fashion ideas to life.
Business simulation experience: The Entrepreneurial Business Simulation lets you test your business model and marketing strategies in a realistic “incubator” setting, learning how to adapt and make decisions like a real entrepreneur.
Digital marketing and consumer insight: With The Digital Customer, you’ll explore how people behave online and learn how to design digital campaigns that really connect with consumers.
Sustainable fashion practices: Through Circular Economy and Responsible Management, you’ll learn to develop ethical, sustainable business models, helping you create a fashion brand that’s responsible and forward-thinking.
Launch-ready final project: In Marketing Pitch and Industry Launch, you’ll produce a full business plan and marketing pitch, complete with materials and feedback from industry professionals — a perfect portfolio piece.
Top-notch creative and production facilities: You’ll have access to Salford’s £55 million New Adelphi building, including MakerSpace workshops with 3D printers, laser cutters, CNC machines, photography studios, print & textile workshops, and Mac suites with industry-standard software.
Industry connections and support: The course blends expertise from the School of Arts, Media & Creative Technology and the Business School, giving you both creative and commercial skills. Guest lectures and collaborations with real fashion brands provide invaluable industry insight.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Graduating with an MA in Fashion Business and Marketing from Salford opens up a world of exciting career paths. You could become a fashion entrepreneur, a brand manager, a fashion marketing specialist, or a business consultant — all roles that value your mix of creative flair, commercial insight, and understanding of sustainable fashion. Because the course focuses on real-world projects, digital marketing, and practical business planning, you’ll finish ready to step straight into the industry or launch your own venture:

Careers and Employability Support: Salford’s Careers & Employability Team will guide you through placements, internships, and live projects. They also help with CVs, interview prep, and networking, giving you a head start in building professional connections.
Strong graduate outcomes: Many graduates go on to start their own brands, work in fashion consultancy, or take up management roles in established companies, thanks to hands-on business experience and a portfolio of projects.
Industry links: The program connects you with real fashion companies, giving insight into wholesale, retail, and e-commerce business models — all valuable experience for your future career.
Launch-ready skills: By graduation, you’ll have developed a full business plan and marketing pitch — a concrete showcase of your abilities that can impress employers or investors.
Flexible career options: Roles could include fashion entrepreneur, brand manager, marketing consultant, digital content creator, or social media/e-commerce manager — letting you tailor your path to your passions.

Further Academic Progression:
If you’re looking to continue your studies, this MA provides a strong foundation for further postgraduate research, professional qualifications in fashion business or marketing, or even a PhD in areas like consumer behaviour, sustainable fashion, or business strategy. Its mix of creative and commercial skills also positions you well for interdisciplinary postgraduate study.