BoF’s Global assessment of fashion schools empowers prospective students to make the most informed decision about their education. The selection is fuelled by rigorous methodology and input from leading experts on the BoF Education Council.
In this article you can find the selection of best schools for Graduate – Fashion Art Direction & Communications.
Explore BoF’s full report on The Best Fashion Schools in the World 2019 and the new methodology here.
Read the introduction of this assessment here.
Central Saint Martins
London, United Kingdom
Best in: Best overall, Best in global influence, Best in learning experience, Best in long term value.
- Average cohort size: 27
- International students: 61%
- Acceptance rate: 15%
- Tuition domestic/intl: $14k/$25k
- Degrees offered: MA Fashion Communication
CSM carries a long legacy of developing international fashion talent at the heart of the fashion hub London.
Central Saint Martins, a constituent college of the University of the Arts London, operates the most exclusive graduate art direction and communications programme on BoF’s Top Global Fashion Schools, with an acceptance rate of just 15 percent. The MA programme consists of three specific pathways: Fashion Image, Fashion Journalism and Fashion Critical Studies. While each pathway has a distinct approach to fashion communication, cross pathway projects connect subject specialists into groups creating challenging and industry relevant experiences. Students also interact with MA Fashion Design students and learn about fashion communication in live contexts, including the build-up to the MA Fashion Show at London Fashion Week. Central Saint Martins is located in central London, a fashion capital known for its multiculturalism, and students and alumni rank it highest on BoF’s list in terms of diversity and calibre of the student body.
PLEASE NOTE THIS ASSESSMENT WAS COMPLETED WITHOUT THIS SCHOOL’S ACTIVE PARTICIPATION
Domus Academy
Milano, Italy
Best in: Best overall, Best in learning experience, Best in long term value.
- Average cohort size: 37
- International students: 89%
- Acceptance rate: 93%
- Tuition domestic/intl: $23k/$31k
- Degrees offered: Master’s Fashion, Styling & Visual Merchandising
The graduate design faculty adopts a free curriculum approach, customising course structures to suit individual design aspirations.
Milan’s Domus Academy is a postgraduate design school offering a project-based curriculum with eight-week modules and no set syllabus. The school’s master’s programme is composed of five modules; the first two are core, the third and fourth are elective and the fifth is a mandatory two-month internship with a company, studio or organisation. Each student can tailor courses to their individual skills and career aspirations. For example, 2018 communications students created two fashion movies that were shown at international film festivals. An acceptance rate of 93 percent makes Domus Academy the least exclusive Art Direction and Communications master’s programme on the list. But students and alumni report high levels of satisfaction with overall long-term value to their careers, and 96 percent say they are satisfied that their overall educational objectives were met.
Paris, France
Best in: Best overall, Best in learning experience, Best in long term value.
- Average cohort size: 10
- International students: 80%
- Acceptance rate: 29%
- Tuition domestic/intl: $11k/$16k
- Degrees offered: MA Fashion Design, Image
A staple in the fashion capital Paris, the faculty is an esteemed junction of French technical craftsmanship and the luxury fashion industry.
The Institut Français de la Mode (IFM) merged with the École de la Chambre Syndicale de la Couture Parisienne (ECSCP) in 2019 and the two historic institutions launched a series of new courses, including the MA in Fashion Art Direction and Communications. The course offers a unique connection to the Parisian fashion ecosystem through conferences, meetings and visits, particularly related to Parisian cultural events (fashion and art exhibitions, galleries, fairs and shows), in order to broaden their culture and build a network. The two-year MA programme is based on a series of workshops led by professionals, and each student is required to create a final showcase product. Final projects are often created for established brands such as Hermès or Chanel. Students and alumni said they are highly satisfied with the quality of teaching, across all indicators, and also with the calibre and diversity of the student body.
Milano, Italy
Best in: Best in global influence.
- Average cohort size: 54
- International students: 43%
- Acceptance rate: 5%
- Tuition domestic/intl: $18k/$18k
- Degrees offered: MA Fashion Communication & Styling (Milan), MA Fashion Communication (Madrid)
From Italy to Spain and Brazil, the faculty brings together design, fashion and visual communication disciplines by developing technical and research skills.
Istituto Europeo di Design (or IED) operates campuses in 11 cities in Europe and South America. The school’s Master in Fashion Communication and Styling is available in Milan (English) and its Master in Fashion Communication in Madrid (Spanish). Initially established in Milan over 50 years ago, the school maintains strong connections to the “made in Italy” tradition, while fostering partnerships with over 200 Italian and global firms including LVMH, Kering and Valentino. Industry networks are also strengthened through the Fashion Communication teaching staff, a high proportion of which are working fashion professionals in styling, journalism, photography, art direction and set design. The programmes in Milan and Madrid employ a multi-disciplinary approach, exposing students to the historical, cultural, sociological and technical aspects of Fashion Communications. Students are also trained in project management to prepare them to execute on communications work from concept to delivery.
Milano, Italy
Best in: Best overall, Best in global influence, Best in learning experience, Best in long term value.
- Average cohort size: 48
- International students: 94%
- Acceptance rate: 31%
- Tuition domestic/intl: $32k/$36k
- Degrees offered: Master’s Fashion Styling, Photography & Film
For over 80 years, the faculty has built its legacy in comprehensive fashion education across the globe.
The Milanese heritage, identity and 80-year history of Istituto Marangoni ensures strong connections to Italy’s fashion industry. But Istituto Marangoni also has a global focus, with campuses in Milan, Florence, Paris, London and Miami, students from 107 countries and courses taught in Italian, English, French and Mandarin. The school’s MA Fashion Styling, Photography & Film programme provides students with the skills for fashion image creation, curation and communication by engaging in industry debates and gaining cross-disciplinary perspectives. Through creative research, students develop a personal visual language with which to reflect and communicate the evolving identity of fashion. Practical sessions build an understanding of the versatility, skills and job roles essential to the industry, and how to plan, shoot and film campaigns for industry brands.
London, United Kingdom
Best in: Best overall, Best in global influence, Best in learning experience.
- Average cohort size: –
- International students: 59%
- Acceptance rate: 32%
- Tuition domestic/intl: $14k/$25k
- Degrees offered: MA Fashion Media Practise & Criticism, MA Fashion Photography, MA Fashion Media Production, MA Fashion Journalism, MA Fashion Cultures:History & Culture, MA Fashion Curation
A key player in the London fashion ecosystem, the faculty offers fashion programmes in the realm of fashion technology, business and media.
London College of Fashion’s art direction & communication master’s programmes consist of six specialist areas of study: Fashion Curation; Fashion Cultures: History and Culture; Fashion Journalism; Fashion Photography; Fashion Media Practice & Criticism and Fashion Media Production. Students have access to facilities across LCF’s different sites. Make-up, prosthetics and photography facilities can be found at Lime Grove, along with media labs, while John Prince’s Street plays host to the school’s fashion library. As a part of the University of Arts London, students also have access to a wide network of resources, including libraries, cross-college talks, exhibitions and workshops with other leading arts colleges in London. Students and alumni report high levels of satisfaction with the quality of tools and technology and availability of academic and technical support. However, LCF scores low in terms of graduates reporting they are satisfied their overall educational objectives were met.
PLEASE NOTE THIS ASSESSMENT WAS COMPLETED WITHOUT THIS SCHOOL’S ACTIVE PARTICIPATION
Florence, Italy
Best in: Best in global influence, Best in long term value.
- Average cohort size: 76
- International students: 71%
- Acceptance rate: 41%
- Tuition domestic/intl: $31k/$31k
- Degrees offered: Fashion Trend Forecasting, Fashion Styling, Fashion Art Direction, Fashion Marketing & Communications, Culture Management
The Italian faculty is a seedbed for European fashion industry key players with a global resonance.
With three locations in Florence, Polimoda attracts a diverse body of students from 70 countries. The school’s fashion education draws on the “Made in Italy” culture and luxury traditions of the surrounding region. As part of the art direction and communications courses, Polimoda provides the opportunity for interaction with the industry including partnerships with Vogue Italia and F*hits. Under art direction and communications, Polimoda offers four distinct areas of study: Fashion Trend Forecasting, Fashion Styling, Fashion Art Direction, Fashion Marketing and Communications. The school places emphasis on mentorship and has strong links to professionals and mentors in the industry with over 2,000 companies working with the school’s careers department. Polimoda’s annual 3-day careers event for Master students and alumni hosts recruiters from companies including Louis Vuitton, Bulgari, Richemont and Gucci, and has a 90 percent career placement rate within 12 months of graduation.
