What will I study?

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.

Teaching and learning

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.

How will I be taught and assessed?

• Teaching is delivered through a mix of lectures and seminars, totalling around 9-12 hours per week.
• You’re expected to engage in independent study, around 44 hours per week
• Assessment is based on coursework. This includes presentations, portfolios, reports and case studies, giving you multiple methods to show your understanding of the course material.
• Taught by experienced lecturers and academics who use their industry experience to demonstrate how theories translate into real-life situations.
• Technology-enhanced learning is embedded throughout the course to guide your preparation for seminars and independent research
• Benefit from weekly academic support sessions designed to build your ability and confidence as an academic learner
• You will be assigned a guidance tutor at induction who you will meet with regularly during your studies

Careers and further study

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.

Advanced Practice stage

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.

• September start dates:  your programme will last for up to 21 months. You will have a summer break after Semester 2, and commence your Advanced Practice stage in September.
• January start dates: your programme will run for 24 months. You will commence the Advanced Practice stage of the programme in the following January, immediately after your second semester. Please note that there are two summer breaks included in this programme for those starting in January.
• May start dates: your programme will run for 16-18 months. There is no summer break included in this programme for those starting in May. Your Advanced Practice stage will commence in January.