Master´s Programme in Fashion Studies
As a fashion student you will gain knowledge about the fashion system from historical and contemporary perspectives; recognise the main factors behind the development of fashion and acquire the necessary tools to analyse and understand the world of fashion.
The master program is a two years theoretical program taught only in English of 120 hp/ECTS and give you the degree Master of Arts in Fashion Studies from Stockholm University.
As a fashion student you will gain knowledge about the fashion system from historical and contemporary perspectives; recognise the main factors behind the development of fashion and acquire the necessary tools to analyse and understand the world of fashion.
The master program prepares students for doctoral studies in Fashion Studies and related fields. Furthermore, the program can lead to employment within the broad fashion field, such as fashion journalism, fashion analysis, fashion marketing, financial analysis within the fashion industry and design profession with theoretical basis.
Meet our students: Eeke Oosterhof
Eeke is a Master’s student from the Netherlands. Her path to fashion studies hasn’t been a straight one, but she eventually decided to follow her passion and landed in Stockholm.
One thing that really interests me is the future of fashion—how we as consumers, but also as producers, can move forward. We need to change how we produce, but also how we wear clothes. And yeah, of course, I’m really curious about sustainability issues.
Find out more
From Fall 24 - finally a course dedicated to Luxury, Media and Marketing!
We are pleased to add one more highly "asked for by the students" course.
Course in English, MA-level. This course aims at introducing you to the study of luxury as historical and socio- cultural phenomenon that has affected western societies in various ways.
You get to take this course Fall semester 2024 during your third semester in the program.
Research in the field of luxury has been early established as part of Fashion Studies at Stockholm University. An ever-growing research field.
Since the 20th century, the luxury industry has been using different marketing strategies that have helped brands and houses to create and perpetuate a myth around their products.
Central to the course is to explore the effects of media, including social media, on the creation of luxury as a branded reality.
The course highlights also the tensions surrounding luxury today, being both a product of giant conglomerates and an individual gratifying experience. Meaning and creation of value of products will be seen through the lens of different sociological theories that can help framing luxury in a larger socio-cultural context.
The course puts forth the fundamental view of luxury as having both material (the tangible handicraft) and immaterial (ontological) elements which will be examined through different empirical material.
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Programme overview
The first year of the master program deals with representations of fashion from a historical perspective as well as studies of fashion as material culture. Furthermore, students are introduced to relevant theories and methods within this academic field. Fashion as an industrial phenomenon is also in focus in order to highlight the diverse aspects of the topic. The students will equally have to attend an optional course at other departments during the first year of the master program.
The second year considers the methodology and theory for the upcoming thesis. Fashion's connections to various consumer culture theories are also part of the field of knowledge in fashion studies and intend to broaden the understanding of the distribution and marketing of fashion. Students attend also a proficiency course that enables them to deepen a certain area within their studies. The second year of the master program ends with an individual written thesis in academic English and at a high scientific level.
What your degree will consist ofIn the end you should end up with 120 ETCS distributed as follows:
82,5 Credits (ECTS) in the mainfield Fashion Studies on advanced level (second cycle) including Master Thesis in Fashion Studies 30 ECTS
Within the 82,5 Credits in Fashion Studies following three courses are - apart from the thesis - to be seen as mandatory and very important for the degree:
- FS1704 History of Dress 7,5 ECTS / Dräkthistoria, AN, 7,5 högskolepoäng
- FS1807 Theoretical perspectives on Fashion 7,5 ECTS / Teoretiska perspektiv på mode, AN, 7,5 högskolepoäng
- Fashion and Sustainability (FS1810) 7,5 credits
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Research Methods in Fashion Studies (Methodology) (15 ECTS) From Fall 22 this course is reduced to 7,5 credits: FS1806.
FS1806 Qualitative methods in Fashion Studies, 7,5 ECTS
15 Credits (ECTS) of two mandatory Faculty Courses on advanced level (second cycle) 7,5 ECTS each.
22,5 ECTS in optional subject - for instance courses that may enrich your master thesis work (usually three 7,5 Credits courses) of which 15 Credits may be on Bachelor Level (first cycle).
Year 1
Semester 1
Scientific Methods and Research Ethics (Faculty Course 7.5 ECTS)
Fashion as an Industry or other Advanced Course in Fashion Studies (7.5 ECTS)
Theoretical Perspectives on Fashion (7.5 ECTS)
Semester 2 = 3 courses in Fashion Studies
Consumer Culture Theory and Fashion or other Advanced Course in Fashion Studies (7.5 ECTS)
Fashion and Materiality (FS1408)
Fashion and Sustainability (FS1810) 7,5 ECTS
Year 2
Semester 3 = One course in Fashion studies only
English for Academic Research (7,5 ECTS) Faculty Course.
Option Elective Luxury, Media and Marketing (FS1811) 7,5 ECTS Fashion Studies
FS1806 Qualitative methods in Fashion Studies, 7,5 ECTS
How to apply correctly 3'd Semester
Semester 4
Independent project
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How to apply
You apply online and upload requiered documents, nothing to be sent to us via regular mail.
Below is described what you need to do and check but basically it comes down to three steps:
- Read the section How to apply
- Make sure your documents are in order - fill in the forms
- Apply and upload at universityadmissions.se or antagning.se
Check complete application: What you need to have uploaded and in order
International applicant Swedish applicant Letter of Intent* Letter of Intent* Extended Abstract* Extended Abstract* Degree Certificate Check your merits are in order - antagning.se and student.ladok.se Transcript of Records Proof of English Skill No documents requested below should be sent to Department of Media Studies - only upload to universityadmissions.se or antagning.se
*use our templates/forms included on this site
When to Apply
All applicants: October 15 - January 15
This Programme has one round only for all applicants!Admission Results
Early April
Where to Apply?
The below links will only display results during open application rounds
universityadmissions.se >> (English)
antagning.se >> (Swedish)What to Submit? Only Upload!
All Applicants - International and Swedish upload 1. and 2.
Make sure you include these two forms in your application and upload the at universityadmissions.se
- Letter of Intent in English -
Letter of Intent Fashion Master uppdated 2023 (138 Kb)
antagning.se no later than deadline for application as stated at universityadmissions.se for Fall semester. (ca Jan 15) - An extended abstract of your undergraduate thesis or equivalent academic research paper in English -
FS Extended abstract template (140 Kb) no later than deadline for application as stated at universityadmissions.se for Fall semester. (ca Jan 15)
Applicants with with International/Foreign Study Merits - Three documents presented below to only upload
Applicants with Foreign Study Merits must upload following documents at universityadmissions.se
- Bachelor's degree certificate/diploma and transcripts from your undergraduate studies - instructions at universityadmissions.se >>
- Proof of English language skills - instructions at universityadmissions.se >>
Applicants with Swedish Study Merits - usually no need to upload merits
Most applicants with Swedish study merits (svensk gymnasieskola, högskola och universitet etc.) will have their merits retrieved automatically. Older merits may need to be submitted by post. Please review your merits and read more about how your merits are retrieved at www.antagning.se
Selection process
Additional eligibility criteriaDegree Requirements
Bachelor of Arts in Humanities, Social Sciences, or equivalent.
Students with technical or practical degrees (Textile Engineering or simliar) do not meet the academic prerequisites without additional relevant theoretical studies in Humanities or Social Science.
Students in their last year of undergraduate studies are eligible to apply. Admitted students MUST present a bachelor's degree upon registration to enroll. Follow instructions from University Admissions in Sweden on how to document your eligibility. Degree copies may need certification, please follow instructions from University Admissions in Sweden on how to submit your documents.
English Language Requirements
The English language entry requirement is the equivalent of English language studies at an upper secondary level (post-16) in Sweden, known as English course B or 6. There are three ways of meeting the requirements:
- Through Upper Secondary studies (high school)
- Through previous university studies in English
- Through language tests (TOEFL, IELTS Academic, and others)
Since rules are subject to change, please see visit the University Admissions website for details on how to meet our English language requirements.
Selection
If the number of applicants exceed the number of seats, applicants will be ranked. Applicants will be selected based on the quality of their previous academic studies, dissertation project or sample of written academic work, Letter of Intent. All parts will be considered and weighed together into a comprehensive assessment of the applicant’s merits.
- The quality of the submitted text in regards to scientific writing, theoretical and empirical knowledge and the relevance of the research topic for the field of Fashion Studies.
- The combination of courses in different (or same) subjects included in the Bachelor’s degree and performances in these courses (grades).
- Letter of Intent
Waitlist Procedures and Policy
Waitlisted applicants are very rarely admitted. Contact master@ims.su.se if you are reserve 1-5.
Required supporting documentation
International applicant Swedish applicant Letter of Intent* Letter of Intent* Extended Abstract* Extended Abstract* Degree Certificate Check your merits are in order - antagning.se and student.ladok.se Transcript of Records Proof of English Skill *use our templates/forms included on this site
Extended Abstract Fashion (140 Kb)
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More information
FAQ Master’s Programme in Fashion Studies, 120 ECTS
Check this list of Q & A
- How much is the tuition fee?
There are no tuition fees for EU/EEA and Swiss citizens. Other applicants can find the fee of any course/program in our course catalogue by clicking on the text: "Tuition fees only concern citizens outside the EU, EES and Switzerland" - When is the application deadline?
All applicants: January 15. Deadlines are repeated every year. There is only one application round per year. - My thesis is not written in English, do I have to translate it?
Yes, please translate at least the abstract or summary into English. - Is the Program taught in English?
Yes, all advanced level (graduate level) in Fashion Studies, including courses offered within the Master's Program are given exclusively in English. No knowledge of Swedish is necessary. - The application should include a copy of degree dissertation or sample of written academic work, what does this mean?
A sample of written academic work is an analytic text using a reference system or style manual (ex. Chicago, APA, Oxford or Harvard) of any length. Usually, students send their degree dissertation, but it could also be an essay or an article. It could be a text you have written during your previous education or it could be a text you have written specifically for the application. - What should the Letter of Intent include?
See instructions on How to Apply. - What are the academic requirements?
See How to Apply "Selection process". - If I am in the final year of my BA, can I still apply?
Yes, but you must provide documentation to prove that you are on track to graduate when applying. You must present your Bachelor's degree to us to register for studies. Follow instructions on how to document your eligibility at the University Admissions website. - Do you offer any scholarships?
Yes, mostly for non-EU/EEA or Swiss students. Scholarships for studies at SU - I have questions about my international grades and exams, who will help me?
Contact the Stockholm University Admissions Office or University Admissions in Sweden. - Where can I find key dates and deadlines for the application?
Please visit www.universityadmissions.se for current information. Qualified applicants will also receive information directly from the Department after the January application deadline. - When does the Programme begin?
In late August/early September every fall semester. There is no spring admission. - Can I complete the Programme in one year?
No, there is no 1-year option. - I missed the international deadline - can I apply in the second round closing April 15?
There is only one round for all applicants and it closes January 15. - I missed the deadline and the online application is still open – can I still apply?
Yes, but late applicants cannot be admitted unless all other qualified applicants have declined their admission offers. The comparative quality between applications from qualified applicants with applications submitted on time and late qualified applicants is irrelevant. Late applicants are admitted by the order of time when a complete online application was submitted. - I am planning to apply for scholarships as well, when do I apply?
In the first round October 16 - January 15. - Why can't I send all my application documents to you at the Department directly?
ID-documents, transcripts, diplomas, degrees, and other documents concering your eligibility are scanned and verified at a central scanning facility and accessed electronically by admissions officers who assess your eligibility. Your application must be available to the person with the right expertise and can therefore not only be sent to the Department. - How do I certify my documents?
Follow instructions at www.universityadmissions.se - Will I have to pay any tuition fees? Only if you are a non-EU/EEA or Swiss citizen.
- I am a non-EU/EEA or Swiss citizen - how much are tuition and fees?
Application and tuition fees are adjusted on a year-by-year basis. You will find the cost for each course/program in our course catalogue by clicking on the text: "Tuition fees only concern citizens outside the EU, EES and Switzerland" - Where can I find semester dates?
Please consult the University's Academic Calendar Semester/term Dates - Will Stockholm University help me find accommodation? No. All national/international master’s students, need to find accommodation on their own. Helpful information is available from the SU Housing Office.
- My question remains unanswered after reading everything on your website and at www.universityadmissions.se - where can I turn?
Please call or e-mail using the contact details found on this page.
Contact: master@ims.su.se
For the courses in this program we use the learning platform Athena
As a registered student you can follow our courses and get all specific information regarding your education online via Athena.
- How much is the tuition fee?
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Meet us
Meet our students
Meet Nora Veeman who studied Master’s programme in fashion studies at Stockholm University.
Nora combines her passion for fashion in both teaching and writing
Meet Eeke Oosterhof in Master's Programme in Fashion Studies
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Contact
General queries regarding admission and selection process
Students office:
master@ims.su.se
Questions regarding the education, course etc
Student Counsellor:
studievagledarefashion@ims.su.se
