The global luxury goods market is expected to increase from US$309.6 billion in 2021 to US$382.6 billion in 2025 (Statista, 2021).
The MA Luxury Brand Management programme aims to develop an innovative approach to the professional luxury brand management of luxury consumable goods (cars, cosmetics, drinks, fashion, fragrances, handbags, jewellery, luggage, yachts and watches) in this growing market. The programme provides you with the critical knowledge and awareness of the complex issues involved in the luxury consumable goods sector in the 21st century, working on concepts and platforms such as brand management, marketing, advertising and social media.
The programme aims to develop an innovative approach to the professional luxury brand management of luxury consumable goods (cars, cosmetics, drinks, fashion, fragrances, handbags, jewellery, luggage, yachts and watches). The programme provides you with the critical knowledge and awareness of the complex issues involved in the luxury consumable goods sector in the 21st century, working on concepts and platforms such as brand management, marketing, advertising and social media.
Through a combination of research-informed teaching and learning, you will gain an understanding of the production, distribution and consumption of luxury goods with reference to the circular economy, all seen through the dependent role of the luxury brand manager. The programme also includes ethics, corporate social responsibility, enterprise and leadership, equipping you with a range of skills that could enable you to take on both creative as well as management positions in the luxury goods industry.
The programme is delivered by faculty staff that are internationally recognised for their cutting-edge research and publications, and those with direct industry experience. The course applies academic theory to a range of luxury industry global problems, providing you with the skills and confidence to work effectively in delivering change as professionals working within the luxury goods industry. This explicit industry focus maximises employability for graduates in any aspects of the luxury goods sector.
The programme is designed to promote research-rich learning and to be responsive to your needs in providing a learning environment that is both challenging and supportive. It is designed to develop your understanding of the connections between luxury brand theory, luxury goods research and luxury sector ethical working practices, enabling you to engage with contemporary debates and trends. You will draw on lectures and seminars which will support you to explore and undertake research in the discipline through critically evaluating the research and approaches of the sector.
The learning and teaching philosophy is to promote independent and critical thinking to enable you to have developed the skills and confidence to design, execute and write up an original piece of empirically informed research. You will learn to understand the importance of mapping research methodologies against research questions. Discussion is also an important part of the learning process and you will be encouraged to develop your communication skills by taking an active part in seminars, including undertaking any pre-reading required. There are opportunities for discussions with industry practitioners through the live industry project.
The dissertation module provides an opportunity for you to put learning into practice by designing, executing and writing up an original piece of research on a topic negotiated between you and your dissertation supervisor.
The programme focuses on developing practical and employer-facing competencies particularly through the ‘live project’ module plus a range of entrepreneurial management skills embedded in all modules.
The programme encourages the development of entrepreneurial behaviours such as setting clear goals that you need to enter and succeed in your future career aspirations, including becoming global luxury brand managers who are critical and independent thinkers and not afraid to ask the big and, often challenging questions.
Upon successfully completing your course, you may undertake further professional development and training through Professional Pathways programmes. These are offered to our graduates for free, from our partner, QA. Find out more about Professional Pathways and your eligibility.
The programme is designed to increase employability skills through the acquisition of new knowledge that has direct applicability to the workplace. There is the opportunity throughout the programme for students to apply knowledge to workplace situations via the live industry project where you will develop practical applications to complex and unpredictable problems.
The Advanced Practice version of this course offers you a valuable opportunity to secure a work placement or complete a group consultancy project or a research project, giving you an experience of the workplace environment or live business issues, or be involved in research and gain analytical business skills. This is an excellent way to put your learning into practice. This stage of the programme will take place between your second and final semester, and is a semester-long (15 weeks) in duration. Internships as part of the Advanced Practice stage may be paid or unpaid. The alternative consultancy module allows you to work in teams with a business organisation working on consultancy-based projects in real business scenarios. In the research project, you will be working closely to a researcher and develop a state-of-art luxury topic. Whether you choose the internship or consultancy project you will successfully develop your business skills and further enhance your employability.
The Advanced Practice programmes are structured as below:
| Sept-Jan | Jan-May | May-Sept | Sept-Jan | Jan-May | May-Sept | Sept-Jan | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September starts | Semester 1 | Semester 2 | Summer break | Advanced Practice stage | Final semester | ||
| January starts | Semester 1 | Summer break | Semester 2 | Advanced Practice stage | Summer break | Final semester | |
| May starts | Semester 1 | Semester 2 | Advanced Practice stage | Final semester |
Luxury Brand reading:
Advanced Practice:
Applicants with non-standard prior learning and or relevant work experience and training are encouraged to apply. A CV (curriculum vitae) made up of prior work experience and training would need to be submitted for consideration by our faculty alongside the standard application.
Candidates coming through the non-standard route, such as through relevant work experience or old qualifications, will be invited to discuss their application.
All applications will be considered on an individual basis.
Please note that if your qualifications are not in English, we might need certified translations in order to proceed with your application.
We accept a wide range of international qualifications. Please visit our entry requirements page for country-specific qualifications.
Please note that if your qualifications are not in English, we might need certified translations in order to proceed with your application.
Masters Foundation programme
Alternatively, you may also be eligible for one of our Pre-Masters courses. These are pathway programmes designed specifically for students who require additional support to meet the entry requirements of their chosen Masters degree.
Pre-Sessional English and Study Skills
If you have IELTS 5.5 – 6.0, you may be eligible to join our Pre-Sessional English before starting this programme. This programme will help you develop language skills in a content-based approach to learning involving critical thinking, questioning, discussion, reflection and analysis.
All modules on this course are core and 30 credits unless otherwise stated.
In studying this module you will learn about the concept, application, marketing and management of luxury brands in relation to contemporary global brand markets, production and consumption patterns. The module combines critical, conceptual, applied and strategic approaches to the subject and practice of luxury brand management, communication and advertising, establishing consumer loyalty, and distribution.
Finally, you will analyse luxury brands and their strategic management within a contemporary global context and gain an understanding of their marketing and consumption within comparative international markets.
The module develops a theoretical exploration of what is value within a Luxury Brand as a key component of the global luxury goods marketplace. It will explore value in global luxury brand management across the spectrum of design, consumer experience and global marketing. This will involve a critical investigation of ‘value’ in luxury brands and their relationship between linking product, communication and marketing through management.
This module provides you with a critical understanding of luxury brand management in the context of contemporary theories, practices, trends and work patterns that have developed within the luxury consumer goods sector. Initial lectures examine issues such as the context of the luxury consumer goods industries, the characteristics of luxury brand products, the day to day issues of the luxury industries with a specific focus on the political economy of luxury brands, the role of audiences in consuming luxury products and the main trends in the luxury consumer goods industries.
The project then involves a case study in the luxury consumer goods industry. You are set an industry-related brief to work as part of a live project with a luxury brand company.
You will learn concepts, methods and principles aligned with three knowledge portfolios: action research and reflective practice, cross-cultural collaboration, innovation and enterprise. You will learn about action research methods and will build your own action research process models and recording templates that you will apply in practice to facilitate your development as a reflective practitioner. You will also learn about theories of enterprise and innovation and will apply this knowledge by exploring business models and intellectual property.
Through the content of the module, you will be supported in your programme and the taught modules that constitute your programme through a series of lectures and seminars. The lectures allow for the dissemination of relevant information and links. The lecture slots include the involvement of the lecturer who will seek to engage the students and support and dissect you on a range of pastoral and professional issues. The seminar slots provide the key means to academic development and again are linked to the modules on your programme.
Generally, the first semester is designed to provide information such as that associated with assessment feedback and to develop skills such as team working. The second semester is designed to provide information on professional activities such as professional body involvement and networking and to develop skills such as those associated with employability.
In this module, you will synthesise the learning from semesters 1 and 2 to create a written dissertation of 15000 words. The thesis will demonstrate that you recognise the value of luxury brand management within luxury brands and the luxury brand market. This will evidence an analysis of advanced academic research, debates, and the use of theories that demonstrate real-world discipline, with specific value within a luxury brand context.
You will be expected to take an increasingly autonomous approach to your studies at this stage in developing, embedding and clarifying personally developed research themes, theories and experiences that will be realised through a thesis topic that outlines a luxury brand issue.
The course information displayed on this page is correct for the academic year 2024/25. We aim to run the course as advertised however, changes may be necessary due to updates to the curriculum (due to academic or industry developments), student demand or UK compliance reasons.
Please note that your tuition fees do not include the cost of course books that you may choose to purchase, stationery, printing and photocopying, accommodation, living expenses, travel or any other extracurricular activities. As a Northumbria University London Campus student, you will have full access to our online digital library with over 400,000 e-books and 50,000 electronic journals.
The modules you will study do not require you to purchase additional textbooks although we recommend you allow an additional £100 for the duration of your studies should you choose to purchase any additional reading materials.
Information for international students
Northumbria University is committed to providing the best possible experience to all our students. To ensure you secure your place with us, we require our international students to pay a deposit towards their fees. More information can be found here.
Your tuition fees cover far more than your time in class with our expert academics, it covers the cost of providing you with excellent services and student experience.
If you are an international student and choose to study this programme, you may be eligible for a either bursary or academic scholarship.
All of our scholarships and bursaries are automatically applied when we process your application and our team will be able to confirm your eligibility.
London Cost of Living Bursary
Eligible international students will receive an automatic bursary for £1,334, covering one month’s living costs in London*, applied at the Conditional Offer as a fee discount. This bursary is effective for intakes in January 2025 and May 2025. This offer excludes Pre-sessional English, standalone Graduate Certificate programmes and sponsored applicants.
If you receive this bursary, you may still be eligible for additional bursaries and scholarships, these will be confirmed at the Unconditional Offer stage. Full maintenance costs still need to be evidenced when applying for your visa.
This bursary is only available for international students from specific countries. Please visit our Scholarships page for more information.
*As defined by UKVI
If you need to spread the cost of your tuition, you may be eligible for our payment plan.
If you are a UK or Home student, you may be eligible for a postgraduate loan of up to £10,000+ from the UK Government. Click here to find out more about the loan and whether you are eligible to receive it.
Enquire now to find out to find out more information about the course, studying with us, the application process, and to ask any other questions you may have.
Once you’re ready to apply, you can apply online to study 1 year MA Luxury Brand Management. This method allows you to upload your supporting documents at the time of application and automatically receive your student application number.
Please note: For 2025 applications you will be redirected to the Northumbria website to select which intake you would like to apply for.
| Apply for 2025 | |
|---|---|
| Apply for 1 Year MA |
We strongly recommend that you submit your application as early as possible to allow you to complete all of the preparations needed to study your programme. After receiving an offer it can take time to arrange your finances and apply for your visa (if required) and it is important that you arrive in good time to enrol onto your course. Please refer to the Dates and Fees page.
Supporting documents
For us to assess your application in a timely manner, it is important that you provide us with the following documents:
You can check more information on how to apply here.
At Northumbria University London we welcome applications from disabled students and are committed to ensuring an equal and accessible application journey. Your application will be considered on an equal basis to all other applications. Please contact us if you require any assistance. This website is continually optimised to adhere to accessibility best practice guidelines; tools to assist users with specific accessibility requirements have also been provided. More information is available in our accessibility statement.
Postgraduate
UK/Home Fee: £9,250
International Fee: £19,750
Minimum 2:2 honours degree, or equivalent, from a recognised university in any subject
IELTS 6.5, with no single element below 5.5 or equivalent
Full-time classroom
1 year (up to 2 years with advanced practice)
Coursework
Available
Available
Available
September
Postgraduate
UK/Home Fee: £12,250
International Fee: £22,750
Minimum 2:2 honours degree or equivalent from a recognised university in any subject
IELTS 6.5, with no single element below 5.5 or equivalent
Advanced practice
21 - 24 months
Coursework
Not available
Available
Available
September