Master in Fashion Studies

Fashion Studies is a master's degree taught in English at Alma Mater Studiorum - Università di Bologna, in Bologna, Italy, spanning two years and open to graduates holding a bachelor's degree in a relevant field. This field of study approaches fashion as a cultural, social, and economic phenomenon rather than purely a design practice, examining how clothing and style intersect with history, media, identity, and consumer behavior. Coursework in fashion studies typically covers the history of dress and fashion systems, theories of material culture, fashion communication and media, sociology of consumption, and the structure of the global fashion industry, from production and sourcing to marketing and retail. Students analyze how fashion functions as a form of self-expression and social signaling, how trends emerge and spread, and how the industry has responded to shifts such as digital media, changing consumer values, and questions of sustainability and ethics in production. Many programs in this area also introduce methods for curating exhibitions, writing critically about fashion, and researching archives connected to design houses or historical collections. Graduates commonly pursue careers in fashion journalism and media, brand communication, trend forecasting, museum and archive curation, marketing for fashion companies, and cultural or editorial roles connected to the fashion and lifestyle sector. Some continue into doctoral research in cultural studies, sociology, or design history. Delivered in English, the program is positioned to draw an international cohort to Bologna, a city long associated with Italian academic tradition through Alma Mater Studiorum - Università di Bologna, and to connect that scholarly setting with Italy's broader standing in fashion and design.