Sustainability in Fashion and Creative Industries (MA) full-time
Charakter Fresenius Hochschule · Berlin, Germany
QS World University Ranking: N/A
Quick Overview
Apply Now📘 Program Overview
The Sustainability in Fashion and Creative Industries Master’s program is an English-taught, interdisciplinary Master of Arts designed to prepare experts and managers who help shape the global transition toward sustainability in the creative industries.
The program combines sustainable design and production perspectives with sustainable business, covering topics such as sustainable brand and social media communication, corporate social responsibility, future consumer lifestyles, and the practical application of these ideas through workshops, excursions, and projects with companies.
🎯 Course & Curriculum
Course structure
- Introduction (1 CP)
- Business + Sustainability I (8 CP)
- Sustainable design strategy work: Design Strategies + Sustainability II (11 CP) and the elective option Design Strategies + Sustainability I (10 CP)
- Material and product-focused learning including Material Technology (1 CP) and Project Fashion Product (3 CP)
- Compulsory elective modules including Fashion Brand (4 CP), Fashion Product (4 CP), and Merchandising (4 CP) (chosen from the compulsory elective module list)
- Production + Sustainability I (7 CP) and Business + Sustainability II (8 CP)
- Project work such as Project Fashion Brand (3 CP) and Project Merchandising (3 CP)
- Business planning and strategy modules including Business Plan (2 CP)
- Master Thesis (20 CP)
- Master Exhibition/Documentation (2 CP)
- Master Disputation (1 CP)
- Master Tutorials in Fashion (5 CP)
Curriculum
Master’s degree curriculum structure with credit points by semester and module components, including Master Thesis and related examination components.
| Semester | No. of modules | Module / subject category | ECTS / CP | Semester total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Semester 1 | Compulsory modules and introductory elective | Introduction | 1 | 25 |
| Business + Sustainability I | 8 | |||
| Design Strategies + Sustainability II | 11 | |||
| Material Technology | 1 | |||
| Project Fashion Product | 3 | |||
| Sustainability Elective (Compulsory Elective Module) | ||||
| Semester 2 | Compulsory modules and compulsory elective continuation | Design Strategies + Sustainability I | 10 | 25 |
| Production + Sustainability I | 7 | |||
| Compulsory Elective Module: Fashion Brand | 4 | |||
| Compulsory Elective Module: Fashion Product | 4 | |||
| Master Tutorial(s) in Fashion | ||||
| Business + Sustainability II (planning/setup component) | ||||
| Semester 3 | Compulsory modules and project work with sustainability focus | Marketing Research | 1 | 27 |
| Project Fashion Brand | 3 | |||
| Cross Channel Sales | 1 | |||
| Project Merchandising | 3 | |||
| Business + Sustainability II | 8 | |||
| Design Strategies + Sustainability | 7 | |||
| Compulsory Elective Module: Merchandising | 4 | |||
| Semester 4 | Master Thesis and related components | Master Thesis | 20 | 25 |
| Master Exhibition/Documentation | 2 | |||
| Master Disputation | 1 | |||
| Business Plan | 2 | |||
| Total | All compulsory modules, compulsory elective modules, and Master Thesis components shown in the official curriculum PDF | 100 CP | ||
Career outcomes
- You graduate with practical, sustainability-led design and management skills that support roles across creative industries such as sustainability or CSR management, product and design strategy, and business transformation.
- This MA is built around sustainable design strategies, sustainable production, and sustainable business themes, helping you position yourself for innovation manager and change-agent style careers in fashion and creative industries.
- You gain project-based experience that can strengthen your readiness for marketing, PR, and creative direction responsibilities tied to sustainable brands and business models.
- If you want to lead change inside organizations, the program supports career paths such as business consultant or project manager, aligned with sustainability strategy implementation.
- Graduates can pursue leadership positions in the fashion and design industry, including roles like marketing or management responsibilities connected to creative direction and sustainability.
Employability rate
Sustainability-focused graduates in Germany typically see an employability rate of around 86% and an unemployment rate of about 14%, reflecting continued hiring needs for sustainability, CSR, and responsible innovation roles in business and creative sectors.
Together, these figures point to a stable career outlook if you build project experience and apply your sustainability and design/management skills to roles in fashion and creative industries.
✅ Entry Requirements
Academic qualification
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree (first professional degree) | You generally need a first professional degree, for example a bachelor’s degree, to start a master’s program at Fresenius University of Applied Sciences. hs-fresenius.com |
| Foreign university qualifications | Your admission depends on your previous education and qualifications, and the university checks whether your foreign qualification meets the requirements for the master’s program. hs-fresenius.com |
Module matching by study area
| Study area | Match possible? | Conditions |
|---|---|---|
| Fashion, textiles, creative industries, and sustainability-related backgrounds | Conditional | Fresenius states that each master’s study program has its own admission requirements, and you should review the detailed program-specific requirements on the official program page or contact study advice if you are unsure. hs-fresenius.com |
Language requirements
This program is taught in English. For admission, international applicants must prove English language skills equivalent to Level B2 (for example IELTS or TOEFL). hs-fresenius.com
IELTS Academic
TOEFL iBT
Duolingo English Test
PTE Academic
Other accepted proofs
💶 Fees & Funding
| Item | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition | EUR 5190 / per semester | Tuition fee per semester for non-EU students is EUR 5,190 for this program. |
| Registration fee | EUR 595 / one time | One-time registration fee of EUR 595 is indicated for this program. |
Proof of financial resources
If you need a visa for Germany, you must show that you have sufficient financial resources for your stay. Fresenius also notes that many international students use a blocked account approach to support the visa process. hs-fresenius.com
- Evidence of sufficient funds for your German student visa process (often via a blocked account approach, depending on your situation and visa requirements). hs-fresenius.com
- Any additional proof of financial resources requested during your visa/residence-permit application (follow the German immigration process requirements for your case).
Important dates
Application window
| Milestone | October - Winter intake |
|---|---|
| Application portal opens | N/A |
| Application deadline (final submit) | N/A |
| Application deadline (EU students) | N/A |
| Application deadline (Non-EU students) | N/A |
| Recommended apply-by | N/A |
| Semester begins | October 01, 2026 |
Pre-application & reviews
| Milestone | October - Winter intake |
|---|---|
| VPD request - recommended | N/A |
| VPD result expected | N/A |
| APS - recommended | N/A |
| Start eligibility check | N/A |
Document submission deadlines
| Milestone | October - Winter intake |
|---|---|
| Application submission deadline | N/A |
| Document submission deadline (EU students) | N/A |
| Document submission deadline (Non-EU students) | N/A |
| Language certificate deadline | N/A |
| Official transcripts deadline | N/A |
| Certified translations deadline | N/A |
| Postal / hard-copy documents deadline | N/A |
| Missing documents (if requested) | N/A |
📝 How to Apply
Submit your online application
Apply through Fresenius’s official application process and portal. For master applications, upload your bachelor transcript of records and other required materials to the application portal. The university states that it must be uploaded within 10 days as part of the consideration process. hs-fresenius.com
Upload additional documents and complete the profile
The university indicates you should upload at least your CV and your academic documents to be considered. Ensure your files are complete and match the information you enter in the application form. Keep enough time for document preparation because your admission decision depends on the eligibility check of your foreign qualifications. hs-fresenius.com
Attend the admission interview (if you meet requirements)
If you fulfil the admission requirements, your personal study advisor invites you to an admission interview. Fresenius states the interview is not a knowledge test and is typically scheduled for 15 minutes. The interview is used to understand your motivation and reasons for choosing the program. hs-fresenius.com
Receive the study contract and follow next steps for enrolment
After a successful admission interview, Fresenius sends you the study contract with details on the next steps. Follow the instructions provided in your offer to complete enrolment. If you need a visa, plan your timeline early because visa issuance can take several months. hs-fresenius.com