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*The Sunday Times Best Places to Live Guide, 2026
Leeds Beckett University - City Campus,
Woodhouse Lane,
LS1 3HE
Course overview
-
L27 -
City Campus -
Full-Time -
1 Year -
21 Sep 2026
As part of this master's in fashion design, you'll:
- Refine your design thinking and craftsmanship into commercially viable fashion prototypes using industry-standard facilities
- Discover a range of traditional and/or experimental pattern cutting and construction processes
- Align your creative identity and practice with your career aspirations
- Develop your practice to become an autonomous, innovative, and critically minded professional with a specialist, in-demand skill set
- Produce a capsule collection or single product targeted towards a specified audience and/or practice, considering sustainable and responsible methods
- Become a curious learner with an appreciation for lifelong development and the ability to forecast change in your sector
- Build a portfolio of work to demonstrate your research, development, and technical skills to potential employers and clients
Find out more about fashion courses by following us on Instagram @leedsbeckettfashion.
Specialist facilities
Leeds Beckett fashion courses grant you access to industry-standard studios packed with specialist equipment. Here, you'll expand your practical, technical, and digital skills, guided by expert tutors.
Experience the industry
Throughout the course, you'll actively engage with influential industry connections. Via a responsive curriculum, driven by industry-set live briefs, you'll be part of a culture of professionalism and agency.
We work closely with globally renowned fashion brands, such as McQueen, and organisations like Fashion Revolution who advocate for ethical working practices within the fashion industry. We're also co-founders of Fashion Alliance North, a student-centred, industry-facing, cross-regional, multi-institutional beacon for graduate fashion talent in the North of England.
Boost your career
Our postgraduate fashion design course provides everything you need to make your next career move. If you aspire to launch your own label, you can create sealed sample-quality pieces to show buyers and clients. This includes the supporting technical information, ready for outsourced production sampling and subsequent small to medium-sized production runs.
If you plan on finding a role within the global fashion industry, MA Fashion Design equips you with high-level creative and technical capabilities. You'll quickly become a desirable choice within the fashion design and garment sector.
Why study the MA Fashion Design course at Leeds Beckett University?
- Tailor your skill set and expertise to an area you're passionate about
- Develop a portfolio of work to show potential employers or clients
- Close links to design and creative businesses in Yorkshire, the UK, and beyond
- Access a vast range of ideas, skills and facilities to take your work in your own direction
- Leeds is home to a thriving creative and fashion sector, offering opportunities for fashion graduates on our doorstep
Explore videos and blogs
MA Fashion Design (formerly MA Fashion) | Staff and student view Staff and students share their experiences of what studying MA Fashion Design at Leeds Beckett is all about.
Fashion: In conversation with Matty Bovan and Lisa Stansbie Fashion designer Matty Bovan is interviewed by Professor Lisa Stansbie.
Everything you need to know
Discover all there is to know about the course, from entry requirements and fees to exploring the school you’ll be joining - we’ve got it covered.
Entry requirements
Applicants should either have at least a second class honours degree in the cognate subject of fashion design, or have equivalent experience or training, normally from within the work environment.
In your personal statement, as well as the reason for your application, your interest and experience in the field and your future ambitions within the subject area, you should also include a section titled ‘Statement of Intent'. Under this heading you should cover the following criteria in around 500 words:
- Visual inspiration for your personal project (what format will this take and where will it be sourced, if it will build on existing work then please reference this)
- Conceptual inspiration (the narrative/meaning behind the project)
- Process (the technical processes you plan to use/combine throughout the project)
- Materials (the materials palette you plan to explore)
- Audience (who is your intended customer, viewer, reader?)
- Outcome (e.g. a fashion collection, installation, accessories, magazine, series of written publications, visual merchandising plan, photography, styling consultancy, etc.)
All suitable candidates who meet the entry requirements will be required to submit a portfolio of creative work related to the cognate areas. Your portfolio should include examples from your previous education, professional experience, or personal work.
All applications should be supported by a reference, either academic or professional; you can download our reference template for completion.
All applicants should satisfy our English Language requirements. Please note the IELTS requirement for this course are IELTS 6.5 with no skill below 6.0. Further details about acceptable equivalent qualifications can be found on our International Student information pages.
Entry requirements
Applicants should either have at least a second class honours degree in the cognate subject of fashion design, or have equivalent experience or training, normally from within the work environment.
In your personal statement, as well as the reason for your application, your interest and experience in the field and your future ambitions within the subject area, you should also include a section titled ‘Statement of Intent'. Under this heading you should cover the following criteria in around 500 words:
- Visual inspiration for your personal project (what format will this take and where will it be sourced, if it will build on existing work then please reference this)
- Conceptual inspiration (the narrative/meaning behind the project)
- Process (the technical processes you plan to use/combine throughout the project)
- Materials (the materials palette you plan to explore)
- Audience (who is your intended customer, viewer, reader?)
- Outcome (e.g. a fashion collection, installation, accessories, magazine, series of written publications, visual merchandising plan, photography, styling consultancy, etc.)
All suitable candidates who meet the entry requirements will be required to submit a portfolio of creative work related to the cognate areas. Your portfolio should include examples from your previous education, professional experience, or personal work.
All applications should be supported by a reference, either academic or professional; you can download our reference template for completion.
All applicants should satisfy our English Language requirements. Please note the IELTS requirement for this course are IELTS 6.5 with no skill below 6.0. Further details about acceptable equivalent qualifications can be found on our International Student information pages.
IELTS
All applicants should satisfy our English Language requirements. Please note the IELTS requirement for this course are IELTS 6.5 with no skill below 6.0. Further details about acceptable equivalent qualifications can be found on our International Student information pages.
Selection Criteria
We may use selection criteria based on your personal attributes; experience and/or commitment to the area of study. This information will be derived from your personal statement and reference and will only be used if you have met the general entry requirements.
Independent study is a crucial part of learning at university and you will be required to undertake many hours of self-directed research and reading, and preparation and writing of assessments. Your course is delivered through a number of modules, which will help you to plan your time and establish a study routine. Outside of your lectures, workshops and tutorials, a range of support is available to assist with your independent study. Our subject-specific librarians will be on hand to direct you to the specialist learning and study-skill resources. You’ll also be assigned an academic advisor to give you tailored feedback and support.
Modules, teaching and learning
What you'll learn
This module introduces key frameworks for design as a method of enquiry, enabling you to apply creative thinking, critical approaches, and reflective practices to your existing knowledge and experience. Through a choice of individual and group activities, you'll explore research methods, fieldwork, co-design, prototyping, and problem-solving. These approaches will help you examine intersections between fashion and other disciplines and industries, broadening your perspective and enriching your specialist practice. Building on both established and emerging theoretical and practical concepts, the module supports your engagement with contemporary and historical contexts, challenges, and opportunities. You'll be encouraged to position your practice as a responsive and evolving space for enquiry, agency, and innovation. By the end of the module, you'll have defined a personalised direction of study, identifying key research and methods that will shape your postgraduate journey. You'll also develop a critically informed and adaptable practice, equipping you for further exploration of research, technologies, and interdisciplinary methods.
Discover and apply the practices, processes, and tools involved in developing responsive and insightful design projects. This module offers a programme of structured activities and independent research, enabling you to reflect on complex issues and contexts, define your enquiry, test methods, and realise proposals. Responding to real-world design challenges and opportunities, you'll deepen your knowledge of established technologies and processes, while exploring emerging tools, frameworks, and methodologies. You'll be encouraged to question conventional definitions and disciplinary boundaries within both global and local contexts. Through contextual research, iterative prototyping, and critical reflection, you'll cultivate a distinctive and creative approach to communication and engagement – tailored to a range of audiences, users, and stakeholders relevant to your specialist practice. By the end of the module, you'll have developed an advanced, research-informed approach to practice that reflects your critical engagement with contemporary issues and interdisciplinary thinking. Your work will be documented through a combination of practical projects, reflective writing, and research-led inquiry, culminating in a specialist body of postgraduate-level work.
This module marks the culmination of your study, bringing together the skills, knowledge, and critical thinking developed throughout the course. It enables you to establish a specialist area of enquiry, integrating research, practice, and the substantial realisation of a self-directed project and critical study. Your work should demonstrate an advanced understanding of subject-specific practices, histories, theories, and contemporary issues, with clearly defined motivations, research questions, and methods. It should also reflect an informed response to wider local and global contexts, connecting your research and practice with your emerging professional positioning. You'll be encouraged to critically reflect on established mechanisms and ways of working in your field, using this insight to shape your decision-making, develop your voice, and clarify the purpose of your work. By making connections between your project and its professional dimensions, you'll begin to engage with relevant communities of practice and explore opportunities to establish your presence within the field. This module aims to prepare you for professional practice or further research, equipping you with the ability to navigate complexity, initiate subject-specific activities, and communicate your practice with clarity and impact. You'll continue to consider diverse perspectives and approaches, fostering an informed and inclusive understanding of contemporary challenges in relation to your work. Your final outcomes should demonstrate critical analysis, thoughtful evaluation, and responsible decision-making around resources, participation, collaboration, and external engagement – reflecting your capacity to manage and articulate your practice within the broader context of your discipline.
Fees and funding
£10,400
UK
The tuition fee for the year for students entering in 2026/27 is £10400. The amount you will pay may increase each year to take into account the effects of inflation.
£18,440
International 2026
The tuition fee for the year for students entering in 2026/27 is £18440. The amount you will pay is fixed at this level for each year of your course.
Fees and funding
£10,400
For students entering in 2026
The tuition fee for the year for students entering in 2026/27 is £10400. The amount you will pay may increase each year to take into account the effects of inflation.
Additional course costs
Tuition Fees
Your tuition fees cover the cost of registration, tuition, academic supervision, assessments and examinations.
The following are also included in the cost of your course:
- 24/7 Library and student IT support
- Free wifi via eduroam
- Skills workshops and resources
- Library membership, giving access to more than 500,000 printed, multimedia and digital resources
- Access to software, including five free copies of Microsoft Office 365 to install on your PC,laptop and MAC, and access to free high-end software via the Leeds Beckett remote app
- Loan of high-end media equipment to support your studies
Access to course resources, equipment and facilities, including:
- The latest garment production equipment and machinery, including digital embroiderer.
- Free entry to Inside/Out guest lecture series.
- Fashion studio Macbooks with Clo3D.
In many cases, costs associated with your course will be included in your course fee. However, in some cases there are ‘essential’ additional costs (those that you will be required to meet in addition to your course fee), and/or ‘optional’ additional costs (costs that are not required, but that you might choose to pay). We have included those essential or optional additional costs that relate to your course, below.
Essential Costs
- Printing / production (costs will vary); compulsory depending on chosen specialist route and research project undertaken.
- Materials (costs will vary); compulsory depending on chosen specialist route and research project undertaken.
Optional Costs
- Educational visits; the details and location will vary but the costs you'll need to pay could include travel, accommodation and subsistence. When attendance is compulsory, travel, accommodation and tickets are paid for by the department.
Other study-related expenses to consider: materials that you will need to complete your course such as books (whilst the library provides access to readings recommended for your modules, you may wish to purchase your own copies of some books); you can also make suggestions for books to be added to Library stock; placement costs (these may include travel expenses and living costs); student visas (international students only); printing, photocopying and stationery (you may need to pay for multiple copies of your dissertation or final project to be printed and bound); events associated with your course such as field trips; study abroad opportunities (travel costs and accommodation, visas and immunisations). Other costs could include academic conferences (travel costs) and professional-body membership (where applicable). The costs you will need to cover for graduation will include gown hire and guest tickets, and optional extras such as professional photography.
As well as your mobile phone, you will also need access to a desktop computer and/or laptop to complete assignments and access university online services such as MyBeckett, your virtual learning environment. You can book and borrow AV equipment through the media equipment service accessed online via the student hub and located in the library at each campus. Equipment includes: 360 Cameras, iPads, GoPros, MacBooks, portable data projectors, portable projection screens, flipchart stands, remote presenters, digital cameras and camcorders, SLR cameras, speakers, microphones, headphones, headsets, tripods, digital audio recorders and PC/laptops (a laptop loans service is provided on campus in the library on both campuses). Student laptops are also available from the laptop lockers located in the libraries.
This list is not exhaustive, costs are approximate and will vary depending on the choices you make during your course. Any rental, travel or living costs are also in addition to your course fees. If you choose to study via distance learning, you may not be able to access all of the facilities listed if you are not able to visit us on campus.
£18,440
For students entering in 2026
The tuition fee for the year for students entering in 2026/27 is £18440. The amount you will pay is fixed at this level for each year of your course.
Additional course costs
Tuition Fees
Your tuition fees cover the cost of registration, tuition, academic supervision, assessments and examinations.
The following are also included in the cost of your course:
- 24/7 Library and student IT support
- Free wifi via eduroam
- Skills workshops and resources
- Library membership, giving access to more than 500,000 printed, multimedia and digital resources
- Access to software, including five free copies of Microsoft Office 365 to install on your PC,laptop and MAC, and access to free high-end software via the Leeds Beckett remote app
- Loan of high-end media equipment to support your studies
In many cases, costs associated with your course will be included in your course fee. However, in some cases there are ‘essential’ additional costs (those that you will be required to meet in addition to your course fee), and/or ‘optional’ additional costs (costs that are not required, but that you might choose to pay). We have included those essential or optional additional costs that relate to your course, below.
Access to course resources, equipment and facilities, including:
- The latest garment production equipment and machinery, including digital embroiderer.
- Free entry to Inside/Out guest lecture series.
- Fashion studio Macbooks with Clo3D.
Essential Costs
- Printing / production (costs will vary); compulsory depending on chosen specialist route and research project undertaken.
- Materials (costs will vary); compulsory depending on chosen specialist route and research project undertaken.
Optional Costs
- Educational visits; the details and location will vary but the costs you'll need to pay could include travel, accommodation and subsistence. When attendance is compulsory, travel, accommodation and tickets are paid for by the department.
Other study-related expenses to consider: materials that you will need to complete your course such as books (whilst the library provides access to readings recommended for your modules, you may wish to purchase your own copies of some books); you can also make suggestions for books to be added to Library stock; placement costs (these may include travel expenses and living costs); student visas (international students only); printing, photocopying and stationery (you may need to pay for multiple copies of your dissertation or final project to be printed and bound); events associated with your course such as field trips; study abroad opportunities (travel costs and accommodation, visas and immunisations). Other costs could include academic conferences (travel costs) and professional-body membership (where applicable). The costs you will need to cover for graduation will include gown hire and guest tickets, and optional extras such as professional photography.
As well as your mobile phone, you will also need access to a desktop computer and/or laptop to complete assignments and access university online services such as MyBeckett, your virtual learning environment. You can book and borrow AV equipment through the media equipment service accessed online via the student hub and located in the library at each campus. Equipment includes: 360 Cameras, iPads, GoPros, MacBooks, portable data projectors, portable projection screens, flipchart stands, remote presenters, digital cameras and camcorders, SLR cameras, speakers, microphones, headphones, headsets, tripods, digital audio recorders and PC/laptops (a laptop loans service is provided on campus in the library on both campuses). Student laptops are also available from the laptop lockers located in the libraries.
This list is not exhaustive, costs are approximate and will vary depending on the choices you make during your course. Any rental, travel or living costs are also in addition to your course fees. If you choose to study via distance learning, you may not be able to access all of the facilities listed if you are not able to visit us on campus.
Funding support for your studies
Discover more about our range of postgraduate funding options including a Master's Loan of up to £13,206, and our 20% alumni discount*
*Terms apply
Career prospects
There’s a lot to consider when choosing a course. Take a look at the team you’ll be working with, employability statistics and career prospects to help make up your mind.
Career Prospects
MA Fashion Design prepares you to make your next career move in a creative, fast-paced and competitive global industry. Whether you want to prepare by creating production-ready samples or building highly sought after skills, you can tailor your postgraduate degree to your goals.
You'll refine and expand your practice, learning new skills, techniques, and methods to enhance your creative toolkit. This, coupled with developing your transferrable skills, will shape you into an in-demand industry professional. After you graduate, you can expect to go into roles including:
- Fashion designer
- Fashion buyer
- Garment technologist (i.e. pattern cutter, sample machinist, quality controller)
- Trend forecaster
- Fashion stylist / creative director
- Merchandiser / visual merchandiser
- Self-employed / freelance designer or maker
Sam Hudson-Miles
Course Director / Leeds School of Arts
A fashion academic and PhD student. MA in Fashion Design from Central Saint Martin's (1994). Director of eponymous label and CMT facility (1996-2000). Career as a fashion educator, teaching on, leading, and designing new undergraduate fashion design programmes (2000-present).
MA Fashion Design hones your skills in fashion design, cut, and construction, with specified markets in mind. If you want to launch your own brand, this course offers an incubation space to test-bed fashion products with staff and resource support. You'll also gain an MA qualification, an accolade likely to open more doors to you than an undergraduate degree alone. This, along with our connections to world-leading fashion brands, provides every opportunity for you to prepare for this dynamic, ever-evolving industry."
Sam Hudson-Miles
Course Director
Beckett Careers Team
Our careers service is not just there for undergraduates, we support our postgraduate taught and research students too.
Your postgraduate degree will boost your CV and help you stand out from the crowd. Whether you're just starting out on your chosen career path, changing careers or moving to the next level, we can provide you with expert advice and resources to help you take the next steps to achieving your goals.
Student life
At Leeds Beckett your experience is important to us, find out more about what to expect from your time on this course and life at uni.
Experience Leeds Beckett
Our state-of-the-art facilities and learning environments give you everything you need to succeed – whether that’s completing your current studies or joining our cutting-edge research teams.
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