MA Fashion Business vs MA Fashion Marketing: which course is right for me?

Make your mark in fashion with our MA Fashion Business or MA Fashion Marketing – 2 fully online, part-time postgraduate courses designed and delivered in collaboration with London College of Fashion (LCF), Fashion Business School and UAL Online. Developed in parallel, the programmes share a creative, business-focused foundation whilst offering their distinct pathways.

So, what are your aspirations and career goals?

If you’re looking to advance or pivot your fashion career but aren’t sure whether to pursue a business or marketing route, this guide will help you compare both pathways and choose the one that aligns with your ambitions. You'll build a solid base in Business or Marketing through specialist units and core fundamentals. Additionally, you have the opportunity to choose a number of units to gain a broader, more versatile skill set to suit you, whether you’re drawn to strategic leadership, creative storytelling, or a blend of both.

Benefits from both fashion courses

Study at a world-leading fashion school

At London College of Fashion, you’ll be immersed in the world of fashion through courses designed to reflect the industry's dynamic nature. As a leading specialist fashion institution, LCF empowers the next generation to drive innovation and transform the fashion industry from within.

Learn business at an established business school

These courses are designed and taught by LCF’s Fashion Business School, known for its specialist courses that blend business expertise with fashion creativity. You’ll gain a unique mix of theoretical knowledge and industry-focused application, giving you a competitive edge in the fashion industry.

Master the fundamentals

Build strong foundations in business and marketing with a creative fashion flair.

Get hands-on experience

Work on assessments that mirror real-world projects, including strategy development, pitch decks, presentations, consultancy work and more - all designed to strengthen your skills and experience and make an immediate impact on your career.

Flexible learning

Tailor your studies by choosing from shared units on both courses, a choice of award levels (MA, PgDip, PgCert), while having the option to take breaks and pay as you progress through the course.

MA Fashion Marketing course focus

Focus: branding, marketing strategy, consumer behaviour, trend forecasting

Do you have a drive for storytelling, trend forecasting and branding? Choosing the marketing pathway will equip you with the essential marketing skills needed to thrive in your career, including strategic, creative, and analytical skills.

The core specialist units will cover how to use marketing as a tool for innovation. From understanding what drives consumer behaviour to mastering the art of brand storytelling, this course develops your ability to craft marketing strategies that resonate with diverse audiences and support meaningful, long-term impact.

Core learning outcomes

• Build a strong foundation in core marketing principles, tools and techniques.
• Explore how effective marketing strategies create real value for brands, customers and industry stakeholders.
• Boost your confidence in making complex ideas across different platforms and audiences.
• Explore what it means to lead a responsible brand with unique ideas and how it engages consumers.

MA Fashion Marketing is for you if...

You want to transition or progress in a career that shapes how fashion engages with people. Choose this pathway if you are motivated by building meaningful connections and see yourself becoming a marketing specialist, manager, or creative director within global brands.

Specialist Marketing units:

• Strategic Thinking for Marketers – Learn how to think strategically and lead positive change – from sustainability to social impact – using your skill set to shape a more inclusive industry.
• Branding and Communications - Learn how to craft compelling brand identities and standout campaigns that connect and inspire through storytelling, strategy, and multi-channel communication.
• Fashion Consumer Behaviour - Discover what motivates fashion consumers today and learn how to design meaningful, purpose-led marketing strategies that speak to diverse, conscious audiences worldwide.

MA Fashion Business course focus

Focus: business models, entrepreneurship, sustainability, operations

Do you want to influence how businesses operate and succeed? Choosing business as a pathway will equip you with the strong strategic, financial, and operational expertise needed to overcome the challenges that the industry faces.

The business specialist units will teach you how to lead, launch, and grow fashion brands with sustainability and innovation in mind. From mastering leadership strategies to understanding risk, finance, and global supply chains, this course empowers you to make data-driven, future-focused decisions.

Core learning outcomes 

Shared units

Experience the combination of marketing and business with these shared units and explore how this unique blend could support you in the real world.

Fashion Means Business – This is the first (and mandatory) unit for both pathways. You’ll explore the cultural, creative, and commercial sides of fashion, building the core skills and industry awareness needed to thrive in a competitive, values-driven landscape.

Product Design and Management – Learn how to design fashion product ranges that are both creatively compelling and financially viable, so you can lead with strategic decision-making.

Retail Futures - Investigate how fashion retail is evolving in response to technology, sustainability, and social values, so you can respond to emerging and shifting consumer demands.

Fashion Trends and Strategic Innovation - Become a trend forecaster and change-maker by understanding consumer behaviour and industry shifts, empowering you to drive change and shape the future of fashion business.