Program Overview
The Creative Direction for Fashion and Beauty at Southampton Solent University is a MA programme in Arts & Design over 12 months, delivered On-campus. This programme equips graduates with advanced knowledge and practical skills for professional and academic careers in the field.
Students gain a rigorous grounding in both the theoretical foundations and applied dimensions of arts & design. The programme combines coursework, research components, and practical projects that develop critical thinking, problem-solving, and specialist expertise relevant to industry and research needs.
Graduates of the Creative Direction for Fashion and Beauty programme are well-prepared for careers in academia, industry, government, and the private sector across United Kingdom and internationally. The programme provides an internationally recognised qualification within the Bologna higher education framework.
Key Program Features
- Duration: 12 months
- Language of instruction: English
- Study mode: On-campus
- English requirement: IELTS 6.5
- Tuition: GBP 11,260 (Tuition (Year)) — International students; GBP 6,695 (Tuition (Year)) — EU/EEA students
- Location: Southampton, United Kingdom
Career Opportunities
Graduates of the Creative Direction for Fashion and Beauty programme are prepared for diverse careers in arts & design:
- Creative Director
- Graphic / UX Designer
- Art Director
- Curator
- Visual Artist
- Media Producer
Program Curriculum
Core modules
Visual Perceptions and Practice
As future creative directors and professionals in the fashion, beauty and creative industries, you will have an extensive knowledge and appreciation of visual culture: you will be producers as well as consumers of visual culture. The module focusses on a range of practical image making and critical skills, ideas, and methods to enable you to build your knowledge, critical thinking and research in response to visual forms, ideas, and environments relevant for fashion and beauty and use these to inform original and innovative photography/image making practice.
Creative Direction
This module enables students to develop skills in creative direction, taking into account every stage of the creative process leading to the production of a professional standard outcome for the fashion or beauty industries. This module provides the opportunity to develop a visionary outcome that is appropriate to a specific audience, brand identity, purpose and platform.
Professional Development
This module, which focusses on the fashion, beauty and creative industries around the world, will equip students with advanced skills to enable them to research the industry they seek to work in and to critically analyse opportunities. Students will be supported to produce a career development plan including an element of work-based learning or professional research practice.
Master's Project: Proposal and Development
This module will focus on planning and preparing an academic proposal for your master's project or thesis. You will be taught how to successfully define, research and prepare for a substantial project that will bring to life research in interdisciplinary creative practice. Traditional research-based skills and knowledge will be explored in relation to contemporary research methodologies.
Master's Project or Master’s Dissertation
In this module you will design, execute and present an individually demanding piece of work that deploys a systematic and in-depth understanding of the skills and debates relevant to creative direction for fashion and beauty.
Admission Requirements
Academic Requirements
You need the following GPA score:
Applicants for graduate programs must have the equivalent of a bachelor\xe2\x80\x99s degree with a minimum GPA equivalent to Lower Second Class on the UK Honour scale. Admitted applicants typically have an undergraduate GPA of or better on the UK Honour scale. No exam grade should be lower than 4.5 (European grade scale) or D (American grade scale).
Your GPA (Grade Point Average) is calculated using the grades that you received in each course, and is determined by the points assigned to each grade (e.g. for the US grading scale from A-F).
Entry requirements
- An honours degree at 2:2 or higher in a fashion or related discipline.
- Applicants will be required to send a portfolio and may be contacted by video call.
- Alternatively, applicants may be considered with industry experience in one or more areas of the fashion industry, including retail, management, design or a related field.
English language requirements
Applicants who do not have English as their first language will be required to demonstrate an approved level of proficiency in the use of the English language. The agreed minimum requirements for this course are:- IELTS minimum 6.5 overall with minimum of 6.0 in writing and a minimum of 5.5 in reading, listening and speaking
- TOEFL IBT 92 with minimum of 22 in writing and a minimum of 19 in reading, listening and speaking - TOEFL is only valid for EU students
- or equivalent.
Qualifications are checked before enrolment, and international students must bring their original certificates or certified copies when coming to study at the University.
The University also offers a pre-sessional English programme and an international foundation programme for international students who wish to improve their level of English before starting a degree course.
Note to all international students requiring a visa:
All international applicants need to be aware that the English language requirements to attend Southampton Solent University, and the English language requirements to obtain a visa from the Home Office, may be different. This means that if you meet the Southampton Solent University language requirement to gain a place on the course, you may still have to meet additional requirements to be granted with a visa by the Home Office.
Non-standard entry
Applications for postgraduate courses can be made at any time prior to the start of the course. However, we strongly recommend you apply at your earliest convenience.
Please ensure you upload the following mandatory documents with your application.
- Two academic references
- Certified transcripts of qualifications, including English language proficiency if non-UK student
- Copy of passport
- Copy of current visa (if applicable)
- A personal statement
- Employer sponsor form where appropriate
English Proficiency: IELTS 6.5 or equivalent.
Tuition & Financial Information
Tuition Fee
GBP 11,260 (Tuition (Year)) — International students; GBP 6,695 (Tuition (Year)) — EU/EEA students
Tuition fees: GBP 11,260 (Tuition (Year)) — International students; GBP 6,695 (Tuition (Year)) — EU/EEA students
IELTS requirement: 6.5
Financial Aid & Scholarships
Contact Southampton Solent University directly for scholarship, grant, and financial aid information for this programme. Many European universities offer merit-based and need-based funding for international and domestic students.
About Southampton Solent University
Southampton Solent University
Southampton, United Kingdom
Southampton Solent University is a distinguished institution of higher education committed to academic excellence, innovative research, and preparing students for leadership in their chosen...
University Profile- Start Date January 2026
- Language English
- Duration 12 months