Business

Master of Science in Fashion Design and Marketing (MSc FDM)

The Master of Science in Fashion Design and Marketing is a postgraduate programme that prepares professionals for advanced practice in fashion design, textile science, garment manufacturing, and fashion marketing. The programme combines creative design theory with practical textile technology, marketing strategy, and research application.

Core areas include fashion design, textile science, garment construction, fashion marketing, fashion merchandising, textile testing, fashion entrepreneurship, research methods, and thesis or project. Students engage with both design theory and practical studio and laboratory work through coursework and research.

The programme is offered by Kenyatta University through the School of Social Sciences and the Department of Fashion Design and Marketing at the KU/KIST campus. Kenyatta University is a public university offering the programme over two academic years through full-time mode of study, with the option of thesis or project mode.

Students develop competencies in fashion design, textile science, fashion marketing, garment construction, and fashion entrepreneurship. The programme includes coursework, examinations, studio work, laboratory testing, industrial attachment, and a supervised research thesis or project.

Kenyatta University charges approximately KES 204,000/year for MSc in Fashion Design and Marketing. Entry requires a Bachelor's degree with First Class or Second Class Honours Upper Division in Fashion Design and Marketing, Textile Science and Design, Textiles, Clothing, Fine Art with textiles bias, or Bachelor of Education in Home Economics or Home Science from a recognised university.

Graduates pursue careers as fashion designers, textile scientists, fashion marketers, garment manufacturing managers, fashion entrepreneurs, fashion lecturers, and quality inspection officers across fashion houses, garment manufacturing companies, textile research institutions, retail companies, NGOs, and universities.

Skills Required

Fashion Design and Garment Construction
Textile Science and Fabric Testing
Fashion Marketing and Merchandising
Fashion Entrepreneurship and Business Management
Pattern Making and Draping Techniques
Fashion Illustration and CAD Design
Textile Quality Control and Inspection
Fashion Trend Analysis and Forecasting
Research Methods in Fashion and Textiles
Academic Writing and Thesis Research

Key Subjects

Fashion Design and Garment Construction
Textile Science and Fabric Testing
Fashion Marketing and Merchandising
Fashion Entrepreneurship and Business Management
Pattern Making and Draping Techniques
Fashion Illustration and CAD Design
Textile Quality Control and Inspection
Fashion Trend Analysis and Forecasting
Research Methods in Fashion and Textiles
Thesis or Project Research

Certifications

KEBS Textile Quality Certification
Fashion Design Professional Certification

Specializations

Fashion Design

Focuses on fashion design, covering garment design, construction, pattern making, draping, and managing fashion design.

Textile Science

Examines textile science, covering fabric properties, testing, quality, innovation, and managing textile science.

Fashion Marketing

Covers fashion marketing, covering strategy, branding, merchandising, consumer behaviour, and managing fashion marketing.

Fashion Entrepreneurship

Focuses on fashion entrepreneurship, covering business, startups, branding, e-commerce, and managing fashion businesses.

Garment Manufacturing

Examines garment manufacturing, covering production, quality control, supply chain, and managing garment manufacturing.

Fashion Merchandising

Covers fashion merchandising, covering buying, planning, visual merchandising, retail, and managing fashion merchandising.

Duration: 2 years
Public, up to: Ksh 204,000
Job market: Moderate

The programme

What you study, how long it takes, and how it is delivered.

Practicalities

Study mode: Full-time
Attachment: 0 months
Average class: 15 students
Award: Masters

What you study

10 subjects

Fashion Design and Garment Construction
Textile Science and Fabric Testing
Fashion Marketing and Merchandising
Fashion Entrepreneurship and Business Management
Pattern Making and Draping Techniques
Fashion Illustration and CAD Design
Textile Quality Control and Inspection
Fashion Trend Analysis and Forecasting
Research Methods in Fashion and Textiles
Thesis or Project Research

Modules

12 in the programme

Advanced Fashion Design and Garment Construction
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines garment design, construction, pattern making, draping, and managing fashion design.
Textile Science and Fabric Testing
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers fabric properties, testing, quality, innovation, and managing textile science.
Research Methods in Fashion and Textiles
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers research design, data collection, analysis, fashion and textile research methods, and conducting research, preparing students for their thesis or project.
Fashion Marketing and Merchandising
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines strategy, branding, merchandising, consumer behaviour, and managing fashion marketing.
Pattern Making and Draping Techniques
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers drafting, grading, sizing, draping, and managing pattern making.
Fashion Illustration and CAD Design
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines drawing, CAD, digital design, illustration, and managing fashion illustration.
Fashion Entrepreneurship and Business Management
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers business, startups, branding, e-commerce, and managing fashion businesses.
Textile Quality Control and Inspection
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines fibre, yarn, fabric, performance, standards, and managing textile quality control.
Fashion Trend Analysis and Forecasting
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers forecasting, analysis, consumer insights, trend research, and managing trend analysis.
Garment Manufacturing and Production Management
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines production, quality control, supply chain, technology, and managing garment manufacturing.
Fashion Retail and E-commerce
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers retail, e-commerce, omnichannel, consumer experience, and managing fashion retail.
Research Thesis or Project
Year 2Semester 29 creditsCore
Original supervised research thesis or project on a fashion design and marketing topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and fashion knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Specialisations

Fashion Design
Focuses on fashion design, covering garment design, construction, pattern making, draping, and managing fashion design.
Textile Science
Examines textile science, covering fabric properties, testing, quality, innovation, and managing textile science.
Fashion Marketing
Covers fashion marketing, covering strategy, branding, merchandising, consumer behaviour, and managing fashion marketing.
Fashion Entrepreneurship
Focuses on fashion entrepreneurship, covering business, startups, branding, e-commerce, and managing fashion businesses.
Garment Manufacturing
Examines garment manufacturing, covering production, quality control, supply chain, and managing garment manufacturing.
Fashion Merchandising
Covers fashion merchandising, covering buying, planning, visual merchandising, retail, and managing fashion merchandising.

A day as a student

A typical day during the MSc in Fashion Design and Marketing programme combines lectures, studio sessions, laboratory work, practical workshops, seminars, and independent study. Sessions cover fashion design, textile science, fashion marketing, and garment construction. Fashion design sessions examine garment design, construction, pattern making, draping, and managing fashion design. Textile science sessions cover fabric properties, testing, quality, innovation, and managing textile science. Fashion marketing sessions cover strategy, branding, merchandising, consumer behaviour, and managing fashion marketing. Garment construction sessions cover production, quality control, supply chain, and managing garment manufacturing. Pattern making sessions cover drafting, grading, sizing, and managing pattern making. Fashion illustration sessions cover drawing, CAD, digital design, and managing fashion illustration. Textile testing sessions cover fibre, yarn, fabric, performance, and managing textile testing. Fashion entrepreneurship sessions cover business, startups, branding, e-commerce, and managing fashion businesses. Fashion trend analysis sessions cover forecasting, analysis, consumer insights, and managing trend analysis. Research methods sessions prepare students for their thesis or project, covering research design, data collection, and analysis. Studio sessions provide hands-on experience with garment design, construction, pattern making, and fashion illustration. Laboratory sessions provide hands-on experience with textile testing, fabric analysis, and quality control. Practical workshops provide hands-on experience with CAD, sewing, draping, and fashion tools. Seminars and discussion groups provide opportunities for debating current issues in fashion and presenting research findings. Guest lectures from experienced fashion designers, textile scientists, and industry professionals provide practical insights. The programme culminates in a supervised research thesis or project on a fashion design and marketing topic.

The trade offs

In its favour

Programme combines creative design with marketing and business skills, providing versatile career options in fashion and textile industries.
KU offers competitive fees at approximately KES 204,000/year for MSc in Fashion Design and Marketing.
Programme can be undertaken by thesis or project mode, providing flexibility for different career goals.
Kenya's growing textile and garment manufacturing sector under AGOA provides career opportunities for graduates.

Against it

Programme offered by only one university (KU), limiting institutional choice.
No private university confirmed offering this programme.
Career opportunities may be limited in Kenya's developing fashion industry compared to established fashion markets.
Programme requires fashion, textile, or related background, limiting access for non-related graduates.

What it costs

Tuition at both ends of the market, and how to pay for it.

What it costs, and where

Against 331 business courses

Public204k to 204k

204k at Kenyatta University204k at Kenyatta University

Annual tuition in Kenyan shillings, rounded. The upright tick is the median for this field, so a bar sitting entirely to its right is an expensive programme by the standards of its own subject.

The fine print

KU 204K/yr (KU programme page). Private fees unverified.

HELB postgraduate loans are available for Kenyan students. KU may offer postgraduate bursaries. EPZA and some textile industry organisations may offer grants for fashion and textile research. Some fashion houses may sponsor staff for postgraduate study.

Funding options

HELB Postgraduate Loan
KU Postgraduate Scholarship
EPZA Industry Grant

Scholarships

3 recorded

HELB Postgraduate Loan
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan students pursuing postgraduate studies at recognised universities.
KU Postgraduate Scholarship
ScholarshipKsh 100,000Kenyan
KU offers postgraduate scholarships for eligible students.
EPZA Industry Grant
ScholarshipKsh 300,000Kenyan
EPZA and textile industry organisations may offer grants for fashion and textile research.

Getting in

The grades, the alternatives, and who accredits the award.

What you need

KCSE mean grade: N/A (Postgraduate)
Alternative entry: KU requires First Class or Upper Second in BSc Fashion Design and Marketing, Textile Science and Design, Textiles, Clothing, Fine Art with textiles bias, or BEd (Home Economics or Home Science), or Lower Second in the same disciplines. Contact the university for specific admission requirements.

How you are assessed

4 components

Coursework and Continuous Assessment
Coursework30% of the mark
Continuous assessment through coursework assignments, studio projects, laboratory reports, seminar presentations, and class participation.
Written Examinations
Examination70% of the mark
Written examinations covering fashion design, textile science, fashion marketing, and garment construction.
Practical and Studio Assessment
Practical30% of the mark
Practical assessment through studio projects, garment construction, textile testing, CAD design, and demonstrating fashion skills.
Research Thesis or Project
Research100% of the mark
Original supervised research thesis or project on a fashion design and marketing topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and fashion knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Accreditation

The programme is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). Kenyatta University (public) offers MSc in Fashion Design and Marketing through the School of Social Sciences. The programme meets CUE standards for postgraduate training in fashion design and marketing. Graduates are eligible for KEBS textile quality certification and fashion design professional certification.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
Academic accreditationRequired
Programme accredited by CUE. Kenyatta University (public) offers MSc in Fashion Design and Marketing through the School of Social Sciences. The programme meets CUE standards for postgraduate training in fashion design and marketing. Graduates are eligible for KEBS textile quality certification and fashion design professional certification.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

6 roles

Fashion Designer
Moderate demandKsh 80,000 to Ksh 400,000
Designs fashion garments, overseeing design, construction, pattern making, and managing fashion design.
Textile Scientist
Moderate demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 450,000
Conducts textile research, overseeing fabric testing, quality, innovation, and managing textile science.
Fashion Marketer
Moderate demandKsh 90,000 to Ksh 400,000
Manages fashion marketing, overseeing strategy, branding, merchandising, and managing fashion marketing.
Garment Manufacturing Manager
Moderate demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 450,000
Manages garment manufacturing, overseeing production, quality, supply chain, and managing manufacturing.
Fashion Entrepreneur
Moderate demandKsh 70,000 to Ksh 500,000
Manages fashion business, overseeing design, production, marketing, sales, and managing fashion business.
Fashion Design Lecturer
Moderate demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 450,000
Teaches fashion design and marketing at university or college level, overseeing instruction, research, and academic supervision.

Graduate outcomes

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

Adobe Illustrator
SoftwarePrimary
Adobe Illustrator for fashion illustration, covering drawing, design, vector graphics, and managing fashion illustration.
CLO 3D
Software
CLO 3D for 3D garment design, covering virtual garments, simulation, pattern, and managing 3D fashion design.
Adobe Photoshop
Software
Adobe Photoshop for fashion design, covering editing, rendering, presentation, and managing fashion visuals.
Optitex
Software
Optitex for pattern making, covering drafting, grading, nesting, and managing digital pattern making.

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Fashion design and marketing is just about making clothes.
The programme covers comprehensive design, textile science, marketing, entrepreneurship, and research beyond just making clothes.
This programme is only for fashion designers.
Fashion design and marketing skills are valuable for textile scientists, marketers, entrepreneurs, and quality inspectors beyond just fashion designers.
Textile science is just about fabrics.
Textile science covers comprehensive fibre, yarn, fabric properties, testing, innovation, and quality control.
Fashion marketing is just about advertising.
Fashion marketing covers comprehensive strategy, branding, merchandising, consumer behaviour, and retail management.
Fashion entrepreneurship is just about opening a shop.
Fashion entrepreneurship covers comprehensive business, startups, branding, e-commerce, and supply chain management.
Garment manufacturing is just about sewing.
Garment manufacturing covers comprehensive production, quality control, supply chain, technology, and management.