BA (Hons) Fashion Journalism

BA (Hons) Fashion Journalism is situated in the School of Media and Communication, and is a contemporary fashion writing course that produces accurate, ethical journalists who can operate effectively in any part of the media, covering any topic and delivering content via any platform, whether print, broadcast or online.

Students on this course study a variety of journalistic techniques including research techniques, Teeline shorthand, visual communication and media law, as well as using the tools to deliver stories in a variety of formats. Students learn how to report on fashion including identifying trends, analysing markets, and targeting readers and viewers.

Fashion is considered in its widest sense, from its cultural importance to the social and ethical issues that concern the industry, as well as through the narrower lens of catwalk and street style. The theory and practical skills of fashion journalism are explored, together with the wider perspective provided by the Cultural and Historical Studies programme that all students undertake.

You will acquire the skill sets, critical thinking, ethical awareness and subject knowledge to be able to work as a practising journalist. In the second year students have the opportunity to do a work placement, and these have been with a number of prestigious companies, including British Film Institute, Dazed and Confused, Nick Knight, Vogue, Sunday Times Style Magazine and Net-A-Porter, among others.

The course attracts a number of high profile speakers each year, and recent speakers include Hadley Freeman from The Guardian, Stefan Seigal, the founder and CE of NOT JUST A LABEL, Richard Bee from the BBC, Martin Raymond from The Future Laboratory, Perry Price, Innovation Director of Dare Digital, and Colin McDowell, author and journalist.

Graduates from this course are competent, confident journalists who can move into the media workplace and make a significant contribution. Recent graduates are currently working on a variety of magazines and newspapers, as well as on online sites, whilst other graduates with a particular interest in broadcast can be found working at innovative content-producing companies.

BA (Hons) Fashion Journalism is based at Lime Grove in Shepherd’s Bush, just west of Holland Park and Notting Hill. The area, which is rich in cultural influences from across the world, is home to Shepherd’s Bush Market and the many fabric shops lining the Goldhawk Road. There are numerous restaurants, cafes, delis and food stores, as well as the market, which reflect the many cultures of the people living there. Nearby is the Shepherd’s Bush Empire, an excellent venue for live bands, and the Westfield Shopping Centre, one of the largest retail complexes in Europe that caters for the luxury market as well as the high street. Holland Park with its Orangery and Leighton House Museum are both worth visiting.

Students on this course might be invited to participate in study trips. This may involve, for example, visits to key areas of capital cities, factories, stores and museums. Attendance on these trips is not compulsory but recommended. Details regarding timings and costs will be issued closer to the relevant trips.


Course Structure

Year One - Stage One - level 4 - 120 credits

• Term One: Introduction to Fashion Communication (20 credits); The Essential Skills of Journalism (20 credits)
• Term Two: Introduction to Cultural and Historical Studies (20 credits); Fashion Journalism in Context (20 credits)
• Term Three: Fashion Journalism for Multiple Platforms (40 credits)

Year Two - Stage Two - level 5 - 120 credits

• Term One: Cultural and Historical Studies (20 credits); Feature Treatments (20 credits)
• Term Two: Situating Your Practice: Communication Placement / Situating Your Practice: International Study Communication / Situating Your Practice: Simulated Professional Practice (40 credits)
• Term Three: Research Methods for Media (20 credits); Creating Concepts in Fashion Journalism (20 credits)

Third Year - Stage Three - level 6 - 120 credits

• Term One: Project Proposal: Fashion Journalism (20 credits)
• Terms One and Two: Cultural and Historical Studies Dissertation (40 credits)
• Term Two and Three: Final Major Project: Fashion Journalism (60 credits)
• Travelling across London

The renowned London College of Fashion library is at our John Prince’s Street site, and you will need to travel to this site, and possibly others, during your course to use the library, which is open seven days a week in term time, and for tuition and special events.


Course structure

The information outlined is an indicative structure of the course. Whilst we will aim to deliver the course as described on this page, there may be situations where it is desirable or necessary for the University to make changes in course provision, for example because of regulatory requirements or operational efficiencies, before or after enrolment. If this occurs, we will communicate all major changes to all applicants and students who have either applied or enrolled on the course.

Please note that due to staff research agreements or availability, not all of the optional modules listed may be available every year.
In addition, the provision of course options which depend upon the availability of specialist teaching, or on a placement at another institution, cannot be guaranteed. Please check this element of the course with the course team before making a decision to apply.