This master's course is delivered jointly by the Department of Materials and the Masood Entrepreneurship Centre in the Alliance Manchester Business School at The University of Manchester.
The International Fashion Retailing (Entrepreneurship and Innovation) master’s course is designed for those looking to drive change and innovation within the fashion retail industry or start their own business. Focusing on the relationship between business strategy, external environments, and innovation, this course prepares you to succeed in the fast-paced, global fashion industry. You’ll gain essential tools and knowledge to launch your career, using theoretical models and real-world examples to analyse how fashion retail companies stay relevant and innovative.
The course explores how entrepreneurial ventures can thrive in competitive markets, equipping you with the insights needed to stay ahead of competitors. You’ll examine the role of entrepreneurial start-ups and established businesses within the broader economic, social, political, and technological contexts, and how these factors influence access to resources, knowledge, and consumer insights. You’ll also learn how external factors shape innovation in the industry, including opportunities created by changes in the environment that allow for new, creative ventures and product lines. Crucial to success in fashion retailing is the ability to recognise and respond to external opportunities and threats. Delivered jointly by the Department of Materials and the Masood Entrepreneurship Centre, this dynamic course will also help you develop practical skills, including leadership, teamwork, negotiation, and project management, all of which will strengthen your employability. Upon completion, you’ll be ready to make a tangible impact in the world of fashion retail, whether in an established firm or your own entrepreneurial venture.
Course duration 12 months (full-time)
Accreditation This course is accredited by The Textile Institute and the Chartered Institute of Marketing
Total self-study time Approximately 30 hours per week (depending on individual background and learning needs)
Teaching time Approximately 12 hours per week (inc. pre-recorded and live lectures, seminars and tutorials)
WHAT CAREER PATHWAYS ARE AVAILABLE TO ME?
Our graduates leave Manchester with the knowledge, specialist skills and professional attributes applicable for careers within this incredibly diverse and fast-evolving industry, including marketing and branding, sustainability, operations management.
Alumni from our three MSc courses in International Fashion have typically been employed as buyers, marketers, and PR-related roles. Several students join small start-ups or found their own businesses.
Thanks to the extensive contacts of our staff, we can help connect students to almost any part of the fashion industry that they are interested in.
WHAT ROLES HAVE GRADUATES SECURED?
The three MSc courses in International Fashion equip students with the knowledge, understanding, and skills to take a leading role in industry. By addressing the evolving challenges facing global markets (including sustainability, digital transformation, and consumer behaviour) graduates are prepared to drive innovation and strategic growth across fashion, lifestyle, retail, and other sectors.
Recent graduates from these MSc courses have gone on to work for companies including:
- Marks and Spencer
- Oasis
- Mercedes Benz
- Next
- Charnos
- National Westminster Bank
- Shell
- Milliken
- Harrods
- Burberry
- Gucci
- The Hut Group
- ASOS
- Prada
- and many more!
OUR STUDENTS' MSc PROJECTS
Your dissertation is a defining part of your MSc experience – an opportunity to explore a fashion management or marketing topic in depth, with international relevance and real-world application. You’ll develop your own research question, gather and analyse both primary and secondary data, and draw insights that contribute to academic understanding and industry practice.
This independent project allows you to apply the skills and knowledge gained throughout your studies to a topic you are passionate about, supported by expert supervision. Past dissertations have examined issues ranging from consumer behaviour in sustainable fashion, to digital marketing strategies in emerging markets, and the role of artificial intelligence in retail operations.
Some examples of previous dissertation projects include::
🔎 Luxury Non-fungible Tokens (NFTs) Marketing in the Meta-Universe: A Psycho-Motivational and Behavioural Analysis of Generation Z Consumers
This study investigates the psychological motivations and behavioural patterns of Generation Z consumers engaging with luxury NFTs in virtual environments.
🔎 The Algorithm Made Me Do It: How AI-Driven Personalisation Influences Impulse Buying Behaviour Among UK Gen Z Female Fast Fashion Consumers This research explores how algorithmic personalisation influences impulse buying behaviour among UK Gen Z women in the fast fashion sector.
🔎 Assessing the Transferability of the Traffic Light Labelling from the UK Food Industry to the UK Fast Fashion Industry as an Attempt of Sustainability Standardisation This project assesses whether the UK food industry's traffic light labelling system can be effectively adapted to fast fashion to promote sustainability standardisation.
🔎 The Impact of Sustainability-Driven Second-Hand Luxury Consumption on the Purchasing Behaviours and Values of Gen Z and Millennials in Europe This dissertation examines how sustainability-driven second-hand luxury consumption affects the purchasing behaviours and values of Gen Z and Millennial consumers across Europe.
Dr Suneel Kunamaneni
Senior Lecturer in Enterprise and Entrepreneurship
ACADEMIC VOICE
This course blends rigorous retail insight with entrepreneurship so students can create solutions that reduce waste, improve inclusivity, and grow value responsibly. Through live briefs and support from the Masood Entrepreneurship Centre (MEC), you develop venture skills that translate directly into impactful dissertations and career-ready outcomes.
The University of Manchester Oxford Rd Manchester M13 9PL UK