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Meet Fashion students Kristen and Anna: Balancing career, study and life online
- Written byChloe Bowen
- Published date 20 March 2026
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This blog includes insights from students currently studying MA Fashion Marketing (Online) and MA Fashion Business (Online) at London College of Fashion, UAL Online.
To give prospective students an insight into what studying online is really like, and the opportunity to have their questions answered directly from current students, we hosted a live webinar with Kristen and Anna.
Also joined by Course Leader Kirsty Nevett, Kristen and Anna shared their experiences of studying online – highlighting how they built a supportive community with fellow students, the guidance provided by the Student Success Team, and how easy the Moodle learning platform is to navigate.
Kristen, an MA Fashion Business (Online) student from Australia, now based in Germany, has extensive experience in sportswear design and development for commercial women’s fashion. She has worked with brands including Quiksilver and, more recently, as a Fashion Designer for Puma for almost 12 years.
Kristen has always been interested in the business side of fashion. Having recently moved into a Senior Product Manager role, she was looking for theoretical knowledge to support her already strong business instincts. Now balancing study alongside work and raising two young children, she shared how she manages her studies around family life.
Anna, a Postgraduate Fashion Marketing (Online) student from Spain, now based in Amsterdam, works as a freelance Art Director supporting fashion and beauty brands with advertising campaigns. She began Fashion Marketing (Online) at Certificate level, progressed to the Diploma, and is now considering completing the full Master’s degree.
With a background in visual design, Anna was looking to develop more strategic marketing knowledge to support both her own career and her clients’ business success.
Here are some of the key insights they shared.
Why did you choose to study at London College of Fashion?
Kristen:
In my previous role, I often hired interns from London College of Fashion, and they spoke so highly of the institute, I was always inspired when the tutors would come for the check-in meetings. It was also important for me to study at a university that really understands the fashion industry, which is incredibly unique compared to other industries. Plus, the brand visibility that comes with completing studies at UAL with it being a top global design university is a huge advantage for my career.
Anna:
I already have some experience with UAL, and the fact that tutors are professionals involved in the industry makes it really helpful to get real-time insights from them.
I also knew from prior experience, as well as through the Student Success Team, that the university encourages cross-disciplinary communication, so actually being able to have access to peers' insights, whether from campus or online, is really helpful, and the same extends to other tutors and lecturers within the wider UAL.
Why did you choose to study online?
Kristen:
I always felt like I had the fashion background, but I didn't have the theory behind my work compared to my colleagues, who did. I knew what I wanted, but I needed something to back that up. I had a call with the Student Success Team, and it was the first time I felt seen with my fashion background.
Anna:
Even though I have a visual background, the industry is changing so much that I felt I needed extra strategy and insight to offer my clients better creative solutions. Looking for a Master’s programme online was the best option for my existing commitments.
How do you balance studying online around work and life commitments?
Kristen:
I have two small children, so I log in after they go to bed. I might not be writing every day, but I’m reading or listening to something while folding laundry. The key is consistency.
Anna:
As a freelancer, there are peak seasons where I can’t do anything other than work, so the fact that the course is designed so that I can take breaks at key moments is really helpful. The course is structured by weeks which I love. Even when life gets busy, it’s easy to see what you need to do that week.
What is the online community like?
Kristen:
Community is one of my key drivers. I love connecting with people. We have a [Microsoft] Teams channel where we ask questions and support each other - it feels like I have a really strong support network with my fellow students. We’ve also connected on LinkedIn and Instagram.
Anna:
The Student Success Team is super supportive – the course is designed so you can choose your units, and I had many questions about which units to take. I initially enrolled on the Postgraduate Certificate and then changed to the Postgraduate Diploma because I felt the course could offer me lots of insights, but now I'm talking to Student Success about changing again to the full Master’s award.
How is the course supporting your career development so far?
Kristen:
As soon as I started the course, I added that I was studying at UAL to my LinkedIn profile. A business developing a product saw my connection with UAL and reached out to ask if they could pick my brain, which connected directly to the unit I’m studying. It’s valuable to build out your LinkedIn community and use what you’re learning to market yourself.
Anna:
I made a project around experiential design and shortly after, I had an opportunity where I could apply what I’d learned in the industry. The course has helped me find niches and areas I'm more interested in, which has impacted the work I've been pursuing.
What advice do you have for future students?
Kristen:
My advice would be to just do it. Figure out what your goal is and what you want to get out of the experience. It's better to try than not try. I hadn’t studied for a long time, and I was nervous, but I was surprised how easy it came once I started.
Course Leader Kirsty Nevett echoed this:
You have no idea what your potential could be until you start something like this. My role as a course leader is to push you academically. If in doubt, apply and speak to the team.
Anna:
If you’re from a visual background like me, it's useful to get a wider, outside perspective to understand more critically how the fashion industry works and what shapes the consumer perspective - whether it’s sustainability or identity or culture.
