MA

Luxury Brand Management

In association with Condé Nast College of Fashion & Design

Gain an MA like no other with this Luxury Brand Management programme offered exclusively in partnership with Condé Nast College of Fashion & Design. This fusion of management skills with unrivalled access to the media industry and guest speakers will provide a myriad of career paths within this exciting, fast-paced industry.

“Let me be surrounded by luxury, I can do without the necessities!” 

– Oscar Wilde

Top reasons to study this programme:

  • Attend inspirational guest lectures at Condé Nast College of Fashion & Design
  • Acquire practical and applicable business skills
  • Join a community that includes successful alumni like Gaia Trussardi
  • Find internships with large luxury brands with our support
  • Contribute to the student-run Richmond Fashion Society’s magazine, videos and shows
  • Gain a degree from the UK and the US with one programme and enhance your career opportunities

Our MA Luxury Brand Management students have the exciting opportunity to join the Condé Nast College of Fashion and Design annual trip to New York, the fashion capital of the world and receive an invitation to go to the London Fashion Week.

Key facts

  • FEES (Spring 2024) UK, EU, US & INTERNATIONAL – £21,000
  • FEES (Fall 2024) UK, EU, US & INTERNATIONAL – £22,050
  • START DATES September & January
  • LOCATION Chiswick Park Campus
  • SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE Find out more >>
  • INTERNSHIPS Optional 2-6 months internships in UK / US / International via Global Career Center
  • DURATION 1 Year or 18 months (full-time) / 2 Years (part-time)
  • ACCREDITATION Office for Students approved University with Taught Degree Awarding Powers / Middle States Commission on Higher Education (US)

Enhance your employability

Our students have gone on to a range of successful careers in finance, business, media and not-for-profit organisations thanks to the unique teaching experience at Richmond. We spoke to those alumni as well as faculty members and employers about career prospects for future students graduating with a dually accredited liberal arts degree.

Our MA in Luxury Brand Management provides students with key strategic marketing and management skills, with specific focus on delivering knowledge in luxury brand management, branding, positioning, audience and market segmentation, new product launches and the acquisition of marketing channels.

Not only that but you will also gain two degrees, one from the UK and one from the US, opening up career doors on both sides of the Atlantic and internationally.

Real time insights of industry experts bring theory to life, with the help of Condé Nast College of Fashion & Design.  Explore emerging trends in luxury brands, marketing strategy and management case studies, delivered in an interactive classroom environment. A regular speaker programme provides inspirational lectures from notable alumni and luxury brand industry professionals (from organisations such as Chanel) as well as a chance to visit luxury brand headquarters and fashion houses in London.  Anna Wintour, Stella McCartney and Victoria Beckham are just some of the international fashion and celebrity icons who have taken part in the speaker programme.

The partnership with Condé Nast College also provides students with additional study material, accessible through their network of affiliate publications such as Vogue, Condé Nast Traveller, Tatler, Brides, Vanity Fair, and GQ, with access to the Vogue archive and a tour of Vogue House.

Our MA Luxury Brand Management students also have the exciting opportunity to join the Condé Nast College of Fashion and Design annual trip to New York and Paris and receive an invitation to go to London Fashion Week as well as guest membership at L’Escargot, a private members’ club in Soho.

This programme focuses on practical assignments such as writing industry reports, business plans, case studies, as well as offering internship opportunities with various luxury brands. The programme aims to support students to enhance commercial skills and entrepreneurial talent while developing their business acumen, analytical thinking and leadership skills.

As students progress through the course they will undertake advanced modules that include luxury product design and branding, alongside identifying future trends that may influence the luxury marketplace.

An opportunity to apply theory into practice is also provided through your selected dissertation or research project where you will get the full support of your personal tutor.

Fall Semester
  • LBM 7106 Contemporary Perspectives in Luxury Business

    This course is designed to provide a comprehensive and informative overview of current and contemporary perspectives on notions of luxury. It provides a platform to identify, engage and critically reflect upon a number of areas within the luxury sectors. Students will engage with the significance of luxury within the cultural fabrication of the sensual and prestigious. It also provided as deep and systematic understanding of the importance of luxury as a value in society’s definition versus an individual process of identity construction. Students will be required to appraise the essence and uniqueness of luxury with criticality, through examining regional case studies. In particular, this course will explore the management aspects concerning the commercialisation of luxury, with respect to different cultural settings and industries.

  • LBM 7102 Strategic Brand Management

    This course is designed to examine the progression in brand theory and practice; according to several schools of thought, that draw from supporting social sciences disciplines - in order to master a set of comprehensive brand management toolkits. Course material will blend concepts, theories, media, case studies, and contemporary examples in order to encourage critical thinking and develop practical insight. In addition, students will be encouraged to problem solve creatively - through practical exercises and in response to briefs. There will be scope to attempt literary and cultural critiques: evaluating existing brands; assessing the viability of creating new brands; and develop brand stories. In light of this, the course attempts to offer a balance between the arts and sciences – with the aim of delivering real value to practitioners of all levels.

  • LBM 7108 Luxury Consumer Theory

    The understanding of consumer behaviour is a vital part of strategic brand management. It is an area that is both comparatively recent as a separate discipline, and in a state of constant flux. Contributions to the field emerge regularly from the entire range of the social sciences. The formulation of effective brand management strategies is dependent on a detailed knowledge of consumer needs and wants, purchasing patterns and the influences, which exert themselves on that behaviour. Through the lens of Consumer Culture Theory, this course will introduce a variety of theoretical concepts underpinning the study of consumer behaviour, together with the practical application of this theoretical work in the development of luxury branding and marketing strategies.

Spring Semester
  • LBM 7107 Integrated Marketing Communications

    The broad aim of the course is to introduce, examine, and appraise how integrated marketing communications including advertising, public relations, and sponsorship are used to promote branded luxury offerings. Course material will draw from a blend of theory, tools, media campaigns, case studies, and contemporary examples. In addition, students will be encouraged to problem solve creatively - through practical exercises and in response to campaign briefs. There will be scope to attempt media audits evaluating existing campaigns; and develop new media schedules. In light of this, the course attempts to offer a balance between the technical and the creative – with the aim of delivering real value to practitioners of all levels.

  • MKT 7160 Market Research Skills

    The Market Research Skills course aims to provide students with practical understanding, skills and experience of both theory and practice of marketing and branding research. More specifically, this course equips students with a framework for understanding various decision aspects involved in research including design and implementation of a marketing and branding research plan, design of a questionnaire, collection and analysis of data, preparation of a market research report.

  • MGT 7160 Business Research Methods

    This course discusses the main concepts and techniques involved in the field of business. The course develops four main themes: research in context which puts the student as the researcher and as the user of research; research methodology which deals with the nature and limitations of different philosophies of research design e.g. deductive versus inductive approaches: qualitative versus quantitative approaches and the role of literature: research method which deals with advantages and issues associated with the use of various data collection methods including observation, use of groups, interviewing techniques and questionnaire design. At the end of the class a research proposal for the upcoming dissertation needs to be prepared which deals with issues of planning, literature review, topic selection, access to data, schedules, action plans, writing styles and referencing systems.

plus ONE elective

  • MKT 7120 Marketing & Ethics

    The world has changed dramatically since the emergence of marketing as a business discipline or as a result so have the principles and values which underpins modern marketing and management thinking. Companies have responded in multiple ways to the dimensions of sustainable marketing. Corporate social responsibility (CSR) and operating in an ethical way are becoming increasingly important in the modern world. We will focus on the meaning of marketing ethics and specific associated issues that might affect how organisations operate and respond. We will focus on organisational responses in the shape of CSR programmes, the nature and dimensions of CSR, and an analysis of the arguments for and against the establishment of such programmes.

  • ENT 7110 Entrepreneurship and Innovation Management

    This course explores two related topics: innovation and entrepreneurship. For firms to achieve and maintain a competitive advantage, they need to innovate faster and more effectively than their competitors. This course provides an overview of innovation as a complex process which goes from the recognition of opportunities to the launch of new products, services or business models. The innovation process will be complemented with an analysis of the current trends regarding the evolution of the concept of innovation. Concepts beyond product innovation such as open innovation, disruptive innovation, creativity, business model innovation and ambidexterity will be encountered throughout the course. Innovation takes place within organisations large and small. The course will also look at entrepreneurship: the process of innovation within smaller firms. It will explore the nature of entrepreneurial and innovative management within small organisations as well as more established ones. A multidisciplinary approach: linking with organisational systems to cultures – will be adopted. The course provides a variety of perspectives on the creation and evolution of entrepreneurial ventures. It covers important aspects of launching a business from initial idea to growth and international expansion. It considers planning, marketing, financial, legal, control and human elements associated with the start up, acquisition or operation of a business from the entrepreneurial point of view. The course will address the need to manage effectively in environments that are uncertain and complex, and where appropriate strategic responses have to be crafted in recognition of limited resource and indeterminate outcomes.

  • MKT 7110 Marketing in a Digital World

    The course will provide insights into new marketing concepts, tools, technologies and business models to enhance the value creation process. New technologies have created some radical changes in the way companies reach their markets and in particular the emerging phenomenon of social media. The course will provide an understanding of theoretical perspectives, techniques and tools to understand and harness the opportunities provided by best practice digital marketing. Students will have the opportunity to learn about electronic commerce in action; the interplay between the technology and marketing applications; the changing scope and uses of the Internet, along with current management issues facing businesses attempting to use the World Wide Web.

  • APR 7120 Celebrities, Marketing and the Media

    This module offers a critical exploration of the evolving role celebrities play in the media, public relations, advertising, other forms of marketing activity and in relation to wider contemporary culture. It examines different perspectives on and debates about the development of celebrity culture and its impact on society, in the UK and internationally, and relates them to contemporary issues.

Summer Semester

plus EITHER

  • LBM 7902 Internship

    The MA Luxury Brand Management internship is a full-time work placement within an organization, which operates in an international business environment. The placement opportunity will enable students to appreciate from a practical experience a number of luxury product and services, branding, and management issues. The internship aims to provide students with a graduate level experiential learning opportunity in which they can develop intellectual, professional and personal skills that will enable them to function well in a culturally diverse working environment. All internships are supervised by faculty. Each student will also complete a series of assessments throughout the internship. These assessments have been designed to help the student reflect on the skills they learn and the benefits gained from the internship experience, and also to help them determine if their current career goals are the correct fit for them.

  • LBM 7505 Consultancy Project

    This course will provide students with the learning opportunity of performing multidisciplinary research within the international luxury branding business environment. Students will initiate, plan and execute an individually constructed piece of research, and are expected to report on their findings in the form of a written marketing strategy report. Students will identify issues within their programme, and specifically within their optional subjects, to investigate with the use of appropriate research methods, either theoretical or applied, and participate in research activities which will include a literature search, the collection and analysis of data, (secondary, and empirical pilot study) and the preparation of a 10,000-12,000 word report.

OR
  • LBM 7500 Dissertation

    This course will provide students with the learning opportunity of performing multidisciplinary research within the international luxury branding business environment. Students will initiate, plan and execute an individually constructed piece of research, and are expected to report on their findings in the form of a written marketing strategy report. Students will identify issues within their programme, and specifically within their optional subjects, to investigate with the use of appropriate research methods, either theoretical or applied, and participate in research activities which will include a literature search, the collection and analysis of data, (secondary, and empirical study) and the preparation of a 15,000-20,000 word report.

In terms of following up with the assessment of student learning and consistent with US liberal arts traditions, our classes rely on the system of continuous assessment on a course by course basis and throughout any given semester. This approach often involves the use of term-papers, portfolios of work, quizzes, mid-semester and final exams as well as student presentations and general class discussion. Not every component applies to every course, but most do relate to many of the classes that are offered. Many of our courses involve a site visit or require attendance at a public lecture as well.

At Richmond our postgraduate degree programmes, which are based on the US educational approach, are available as 1 year (full-time) or two year (part-time) options with some programmes offering even more flexibility.

The entry requirements for all postgraduate programmes at Richmond are the same, regardless of your chosen study option, excluding our International Business (MSc) programme

Academic Entry Requirements

  • UK first Degree minimum second class honours (2.2)
  • US Degree with a minimum CGPA of between 2.5 and 3.0
  • or international equivalent
  • Academic Interview

*All other equivalent eligible transfer credits will be determined by Admissions.

We understand that not every student is in the same situation, if you have any questions about your qualifications, please get in touch with us admissions@richmond.ac.uk.


English Language Entry Requirements

For more information on English Language Requirements visit our How to Apply webpage.

Postgraduate tuition fees for students starting their programme this academic year can be found in the table below.

  UK / EU / INT / US
  Fall 2023/Spring 2024 Fall 2024/Spring 2025
MA Luxury Brand Management
(per year)
£21,000 £22,050

(Hint: Scroll left & right to view the full table)

For more information visit our Tuition Fees & Funding webpage.

We offer career support and advice through our Careers & Internships Office that will assist and guide you in your study choices to make sure you stand out from the crowd when you graduate. Through internships you will gain business acumen, beneficial work experiences and transferable skills which will give you a competitive advantage in a fast-paced working environment. Work while you study across 5 continents through our partners Connect123 and CRCC Asia with destinations in Spain, Argentina, South Africa, China, Japan, Vietnam and Australia.

Career Paths
Luxury brands management, retail and fashion management, hospitality and F&B

Further Education
MBA, PhD, Parsons School of Design – New York, Central St Martins -UAL, London Business School, LSE

Optional Accredited Internship (London or International)
The Internship Programme at Richmond integrates industry knowledge with real working experience. Students will be challenged to relate course projects to the workplace, make contacts which may prove valuable to their future employment prospects, and gain confidence in their capabilities, creativity and communication skills. Internships are designed to be both demanding and rewarding. The internship will provide an opportunity to better understand the marketplace, using the skills learned on courses in a real-world setting, as students produce an assessed record of their experiences.

A broad education of this kind equips graduates for a wide range of careers internationally, while enabling them to develop specialist expertise in areas of particular interest.

Optional Accredited USA Internship (additional cost)
Students interested in gaining work experience in the USA during their last semester and wishing for help to secure a placement can be linked up to Richmond’s partner GCC (Global Career Center).

This organization will offer students comprehensive career training, find them a placement with a hosting company related to their field of studies in the USA and provide all the necessary support to students with their J1 visa application.

This optional internship will incur an additional cost of $3500 (£2600) which will cover: the J1 visa application, site visit and insurance costs ($1820), GCC’s continuous training as well as finding a placement.

The initial cost to start the coaching and training part of the programme is $1,000 and the rest of the fee is only paid once the internship has been confirmed by the host organisation/company and validated by RAIUL’s International Internship Coordinator.

An official certificate of completion will be awarded to every student having successfully completed the programme.

Visit our Careers & Internships webpage for more details on the Host Organisations and examples of Work projects.

For more information contact our Head of Careers and Internships Cecile Loyen.

You can apply for Postgraduate study using our online application form.

Whilst most of our courses do not set an exact deadline for applications, you are advised to apply early to secure your place and organise any sponsorship or funding.

Visit our How to Apply webpage for more information regarding Entry Requirements, admissions processes and to start your application.

“I picked this University due to its accreditation and reputation and this programme because I plan to combine my undergraduate degree (multimedia journalism) with fashion marketing.

It has been an amazing experience so far , I’m fascinated by the way this course is being taught and how it’s elaborated with the field trips and workshops.”

“Through the partnership with Condé Nast, every week Industry speakers are invited who I never dreamed I’d have the opportunity to interact with and ask questions, such as Anna Wintour. In addition the sessions with guest lecturers help you develop skills, sharpen techniques and guide you through the entire course, especially if you’re trying to find a job or internship. Most importantly, you’re offered experiences you wouldn’t get with other universities.”

Lise Arlot

Lise is one of the cofounders and the CMO of the Art and Tech startup Feral Horses, recognised by the Financial Times, Google and leading European policy makers as one of 100 digital pioneers in Europe.

She also gives guest lectures at Regent’s University, Christie’s Education, and Condé Nast College of Fashion & Design for undergraduate and postgraduate students specialised in entrepreneurship, luxury brand management, and the art market.

Atousa Jam

Atousa has worked exclusively for various luxury brands including Purdey, Aquascutum, Tiffany, Ede and Ravenscroft. She currently works in PR and as an event manager with clients such as Ferragamo, De Grisogono, Max Mara, Bugatti, Canali, Etername, Bogossian, Richemont, openplan, Huntsman, Holland and Holland.

Captain Simon Love

Simon is Master of two Cunard luxury cruise ships, Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth. He is responsible for the safety of guests and crew, and is leader of the ships’ senior management team.

Daniel Morris

Daniel is a passionate, results driven Director with a 25-year track record of achievement within branded wholesale, eCommerce and retail fashion businesses. Experienced in diverse environments including large public companies, small private businesses and venture capital backed buy-outs.

Achievements driven by strengths in leadership, global sales and marketing experience, negotiation skills, operations control, ability to build relationships, inherent performance culture, hands on approach to problem solving and coaching / team development.

Rebecca Robins

Rebecca is Chief Learning and Culture Officer for Interbrand. She also heads up the Interbrand Academy and is Global Luxury Sector lead.

Rebecca has extensive experience in branding, having worked out of both the US and Europe. She is co-author of the book Meta-luxury: Brands and the Culture of Excellence, a prolific writer and conference speaker, having recently spoken at the New York Times Luxury Summit.

Gaia Trussardi

Gaia Trussardi is Creative Director of the Trussardi Group.

You can read all about Gaia’s recent guest lecture on our News page.

Register for a 1-2-1 consultation with a programme academic >>

Learn more about our Postgraduate degrees, scholarship opportunities and career prospects.

Related programmes

“The Luxury Brand Management programme is the best thing I could have done to better my future – the partnership with Condé Nast College of Fashion & Design really opens up doors. We are taught valuable lessons and can take the knowledge with us into the luxury industry or on to other career paths!”

A person is posing in a fashionable street style outfit, wearing a coat, jacket, trousers, and casual dress, while standing in front of a window with a building in the background.
Abigail BealsLuxury Brand Management (MA)

“The lecturers are extremely knowledgeable, along with being motivating and inspiring. This programme is not just academic in nature – it offers hands-on experience of working in the luxury industry. I found an internship with a great agency, Eco-Age that helps companies with their marketing and sustainable strategies. And the partnership with Condé Nast College of Fashion & Design opens up doors – you get opportunities to connect with industry leaders.”

A person views a dark-haired individual.
Shubhangi KothariLuxury Brand Management (MA)

“I picked this University due to its accreditation and reputation and this programme because I plan to combine my undergraduate degree (multimedia journalism) with fashion marketing.

It has been an amazing experience so far , I’m fascinated by the way this course is being taught and how it’s elaborated with the field trips and workshops.”

A person is wearing a graduation cap and gown.
Assil RahouliLuxury Brand Management - MA

“Guest speaker and specialist sessions with Condé Nast are truly complementary to my studies of Luxury Brand Management. Condé Nast College shows us the real side of luxury and helps to deepen our knowledge. In addition, Richmond courses are very hands-on with loads of case studies.”

A person is donning a hat.
Max SchmittLuxury Brand Management (MA)

“Through the partnership with Condé Nast, every week Industry speakers are invited who I never dreamed I’d have the opportunity to interact with and ask questions, such as Anna Wintour. In addition the sessions with guest lecturers help you develop skills, sharpen techniques and guide you through the entire course, especially if you’re trying to find a job or internship. Most importantly, you’re offered experiences you wouldn’t get with other universities.”

A person with long hair and casual dress is posing for a portrait photography, showing their human face, neck, blouse, lip, top, sweater, sleeve, and shoulder.
Diana Younes MansourLuxury Brand Management (MA)
A person with a bright smile poses for a portrait surrounded by a houseplant and a flower.

Lise Arlot

Lise is one of the cofounders and the CMO of the Art and Tech startup Feral Horses, recognised by the Financial Times, Google and leading European policy makers as one of 100 digital pioneers in Europe.

She also gives guest lectures at Regent’s University, Christie’s Education, and Condé Nast College of Fashion & Design for undergraduate and postgraduate students specialised in entrepreneurship, luxury brand management, and the art market.

A person is smiling for the camera.

Atousa Jam

Atousa has worked exclusively for various luxury brands including Purdey, Aquascutum, Tiffany, Ede and Ravenscroft. She currently works in PR and as an event manager with clients such as Ferragamo, De Grisogono, Max Mara, Bugatti, Canali, Etername, Bogossian, Richemont, openplan, Huntsman, Holland and Holland.

A person displays a mustache.

Captain Simon Love

Simon is Master of two Cunard luxury cruise ships, Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth. He is responsible for the safety of guests and crew, and is leader of the ships’ senior management team.

A senior citizen person is smiling and wearing a red fabric collar while their wrinkles, cheeks, jaw, lips, neck, and eyebrows are highlighted in a portrait outdoors.

Daniel Morris

Daniel is a passionate, results driven Director with a 25-year track record of achievement within branded wholesale, eCommerce and retail fashion businesses. Experienced in diverse environments including large public companies, small private businesses and venture capital backed buy-outs.

Achievements driven by strengths in leadership, global sales and marketing experience, negotiation skills, operations control, ability to build relationships, inherent performance culture, hands on approach to problem solving and coaching / team development.

A person stands in the street wearing a casual dress, jacket, and fashion accessory, while carrying a handbag and showcasing their street fashion.

Rebecca Robins

Rebecca is Chief Learning and Culture Officer for Interbrand. She also heads up the Interbrand Academy and is Global Luxury Sector lead.

Rebecca has extensive experience in branding, having worked out of both the US and Europe. She is co-author of the book Meta-luxury: Brands and the Culture of Excellence, a prolific writer and conference speaker, having recently spoken at the New York Times Luxury Summit.

A person has long hair.

Gaia Trussardi

Gaia Trussardi is Creative Director of the Trussardi Group.

You can read all about Gaia’s recent guest lecture on our News page.