A career as fashion journalist can be a lucrative option in the future because most of the fashion journalists are employed in the media and entertainment industry that is expected to generate over 2.7 lakh jobs in the coming 3 years.
To become a fashion journalist, a student can obtain a qualification at an associate, graduation, post-graduation, or certificate level in various Fashion Design Courses. In order to become a fashion journalist the candidates must take up courses such as BSc in Fashion and Apparel Design, BDes Fashion Communication and many more. The fees of the institutes vary from each other. An estimated average course fee is in the range of INR 50,000 to 20,00,000.
Fashion Journalism has a wide range of opportunities. Fashion writer, editor, stylist, communication manager, etc fall under the types of a fashion journalist. One can choose to become a freelancer or a full-time fashion journalist under any firm.
- What Does a Fashion Journalist Do?
- Steps to Follow
- Types of Fashion Journalist
- How to Become a Fashion Journalist in India
4.1 How to Become a Fashion Journalist after 12th
5.1 B.Des (Fashion Communication)
5.2 B.A (Hons.) (Mass Communication and Journalism)
5.3 B.Sc. in Fashion and Apparel Design
6.1 USA
6.2 UK
6.3 Australia
6.4 Canada
- Benefits of Career as a Fashion Journalist
- Skills Required for a Fashion Journalist
- Salary of Fashion Journalist in India
Quick facts about Fashion Journalism
| Industry | Fashion Industry |
| Eligibility | The candidates should have completed their graduation degree in journalism or fashion. It would be ideal that both the streams are covered by the candidates. Companies in the case of bigger job profile prefers candidates with master degree |
| Selection Process | Either through merit or entrance exam |
| Average Starting Salary | Around INR 1,15,000 |
| Job Opportunity | The aspirants after completion of the course are employed in publishing houses, entertainment industry, print media, magazines, newspaper, blogs, fashion industry, fashion-oriented firms, etc. |
What does a Fashion Journalist do?
The following are the various roles and responsibilities of fashion journalists in
- The world of fashion is highly dynamic and everything within the fashion world is constantly changing, so the firms need someone who can distribute this information to the general public,about the changing trends, thus fashion journalists are hired.
- A Fashion Journalist utilizes their knowledge, interest, skills, and creativity to keep the curious and enthusiast public up-to-date about the on-going trends and news in the constantly changing world of fashion.
- The job requires good networking skills to get access to the latest information in the industry.
- The fashion Journalist needs to socialize with everyone (industry insiders and Clients) to get their viewpoint and perspective about fashion is of key importance.
- Fashion journalists are responsible for creating content for magazines, editorials, television, websites, blogs, etc.
- Many fashion journalists often pair up with various photographers so that they can cover everything going on in the industry with the added advantage of using real-time pictures.
-
A fashion journalist even works with leading stylists, interviews fashion designers for the latest updates, and visits fashion photoshoots.
How to become a Fashion Journalist: Steps to Follow
There are some simple yet important steps to become a Fashion Journalist. The aspirants must have a keen interest in fashion-related news. The student must have a good personality with creative vision and passion to have an ability to handle a career with countless highs and lows.
The following are some of the steps that the candidates must follow in order to be a successful Fashion Journalist in India
- Decision Making: Decision-making must be done from the highschool level itself. The student must be well versed with the various choices that they have to make in order to pursue a career as a fashion journalist. The student must start working on various other skills that would help them during their career in fashion journalism. Aspirants must start drawing and designing to make their eyes get used to the color palette and patterns. Similarly the candidates must decide which stream to follow in their 12th so that they are able to get proper foundation for the career. The aspirants should try to learn some visual design software like Photoshop, Coreldraw etc. And Also start reading about art and fashion design from various blogs, posts, articles, news and start following leading fashion firms, models, designers, stylist, reporters, etc.
- Subject Choices: The subject choices in the 12th must be done in such a way that the candidates can prepare a type of foundation for the future courses that they take up in the UG or PG level. Although there is no particular stream for fashion Journalism however, the candidates should look to have a strong foundation in english and must choose it as a compulsory subject. Also strong communication skills in vernacular languages is also necessary. Thus it would be ideal to choose vernacular in the 12th as an optional subject. So after completing 12th from a recognized boards , one can do a Bachelor’s degree or a diploma in fashion journalism. There are multiple short courses available online for aspiring fashion journalists. Some related courses are also available like B.Des. in Fashion Communication, B.A. in Journalism and Mass Communication, B.Sc. in Fashion and Apparel Design, etc.
- Entrance Exam Preparation: There are different criteria that institutes follow to give admission to their respective courses. It entirely depends upon the course that the candidate is willing to pursue. There are various entrance exams like National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) Entrance Exam, Pearl Academy Entrance Exam, Symbiosis Entrance Exam (SET), School of Fashion Technology- Common Entrance Test (SOFT-CET), Asian College of Journalism (ACJ) Entrance Exam, Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC) Entrance Exam, Xavier Institute of Communication – Online Entrance Test (XIC OET), Jamia Millia Islamia Entrance Exam, etc. These exams assess the aptitude of the candidate. Some institutes take direct admissions on a merit basis. If the student gets through the cut-off set up by the college then the student is considered for admission in the course. The candidates are required to study for the entrance examination by taking out the previous years papers that are available on the agency’s website or in the various third party websites. The candidates should also download the different study material from the internet and also prepare from the various reference books
- Selecting Correct Colleges: Various colleges offer similar courses to the candidates that allow them to pursue the career as fashion Journalist. A student must try to get admissions in the top colleges to pursue a career in fashion journalism. In order to do that the candidates must look into the ranking of colleges released by agencies such as NIRF, India Today, Outlook, etc. The candidates should also contact some of the old almini of the various colleges and check out the various parameters such as the admission, fees, etc. Some of the top colleges are the National School of Drama (Delhi), Film and Television Institute of India (Pune), Indian Institute of Mass Communication (Delhi), Symbiosis Institute of Media & Communication (Pune), Xavier Institute of Communications (Mumbai), International Institute of Fashion Technology (Delhi), etc.
- After Qualifying Exam: Different colleges have different admission criteria. In some of the colleges, the students get admission without giving the entrance exam, i.e based on the merit list whereas, others have to assess a student’s skills through an entrance exam followed by an interview. Once these are qualified, the students need to take part in the counseling process and select the college. After that they need to submit the fee asked by the college to get admission.
Types of Fashion Journalist
The job of a fashion journalist is to create content about anything related to brands and styles, fashion trends, and reviewing and covering events. As a fashion journalist, one can choose to become a freelancer or work as a full time employer. There are several career pathways in this field depending upon the strengths and interests of individuals and the publications which hire fashion journalists. The pay scale for each job profile is different from the other.
Discussed below are few of the broad classifications for a job profile of a Fashion Journalist for your reference,
- Fashion Writer: In order to be a fashion writer, one must have good writing skills with a strong background in fashion.A fashion writer always keeps an eye on the latest trends and news in the industry. The major responsibility of fashion writers is to write articles, blogs, and copy for media outlets. Their work is then published in magazines, newspapers, websites, social media channels, blogs, or broadcast on television. The work of fashion writers includes expressing, interpreting and promoting fashion ideas in written form.They are also responsible in taking interviews of various models, designers and influencers and bringing their ideas and insights to the readers .
- Fashion Editor: As a fashion editor, one will have to oversee the entire process of fashion-related content development. The content may include articles, blogs, photoshoots, television programming, etc. As an editor, aspirants will have to ensure the accuracy of the content that is developed by the writers. Another responsibility of the fashion editor is to ensure the correct layout, preciseness of the content are maintained while keeping an eye on the guidelines governing style and taste. One can specialize in a different sector- couture, makeup, or accessories.
- Fashion Photographers: Here the main role is to showcase creativity by working with photography to display apparel and other fashion items. A fashion photographer can work with a magazine, newspaper, celebrity, fashion firm, or any e-platforms. A fashion photographer enhances the storytelling process about news or trends related to fashion. A fashion photographer is also entrusted with the responsibilities of using the various photo or video editing software and helps in creating advertisements for their or client organisation. As a fashion photographer, you may be employed by a fashion publication or you can work as a freelancer.
- Fashion Reporter: The role of the fashion reporter is to provide reports on current favorite fashion trends amongst celebrities, stylists, designers, and common people. They also provide latest ongoing news in the industry and some gossip to the audience.
- Fashion Critic: There exist many thoughts, opinions, and perspectives on fashion and style. The responsibility of the critics is to provide their opinions on various fashion trends, styles, and news. Another job role of the fashion critic involves unearthing unknown talents in the field of fashion and bringing it to the forefront of the world. The fashion critics are often involved in reviewing various garments put forward by designers in fashion weeks and provide a comprehensive report.
Fashion PR Professional:
This profession helps in building strong public relations. It helps the clothing companies, cosmetic industries, and retail stores to build a strong public image, encourage sales, consumer interest, and increase marketing. These people are involved in finding innovative ways to solicit interest in products or brand names.
How to Become a Fashion Journalist in India?
If an aspirant has an immense interest in fashion, an excellent sense of fashion, and keen on storytelling, then fashion journalism would be ideal for them. Numerous premier colleges conduct courses in journalism or photography, which in turn, can be beneficial for pursuing a career in fashion journalism. Institutes like National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), New Delhi; Indian Institute of Journalism & New Media, Bangalore; Asian College of Journalism, Chennai; Mudra Institute of Communication, Ahmedabad; BD Somani Institute of Art and Fashion Technology, Mumbai; Manorama School of Communication (MASCOM), Kottayam; and Indian Institute of Mass Communication, New Delhi are a few amongst those institutes.
The candidate must have cleared 12th to pursue a career in this course. To become a good fashion journalist, one should get a degree or diploma in Mass Communication and Journalism from a good media institute and then go for an internship in a good media house. After this, one will find it very easy to get a job in fashion journalism.
Lets us now look into the various preparation that the candidates can take at the school, undergraduate and postgraduate level so that they can have a successful career as a fashion journalist
School Level Preparation
- The student must start developing certain skills that are required for fashion journalism.
- The candidate must start to look at various courses that can be pursued after 12th for the same.
- There is no particular stream that the candidates must take to be fashion journalist, however, the candidates are required to take up english as the compulsory subjects in their 12th and equivalent course. The candidates must also choose vernacular as the optional subject in case they want to work in a local agency.
- They should search various entrances that they would face in the future and start the preparation at higher secondary level itself. Some of the popular entrance examinations are NIFT Entrance Examination, CEED, Etc.
- Good communication, writing skills, and the ability to handle criticism are some of the key fashion journalism skills. So they should start developing the skills from the school level itself.
- An understanding of how the fashion industry works and going through various magazines and newspapers. General research on the web should be done regarding related topics.
- Along with the entrance exams, the candidates should also check for courses offered at the undergraduate level where the admissions are based on the merit list.
-
In case of merit list admission the candidates are required to score as much as possible so that they get admission in the top colleges in the country.
How to Become a Fashion Journalist after 12th?
After passing 12th, the following steps should be kept in mind to achieve the objective of becoming a fashion journalist in India. Below are those steps.
UG Preparation
- After passing 12th, there are Bachelor’s degree courses like B.Des. (Fashion Communication), B.A (Hons.) (Fashion Media Communication), B.Sc. in Fashion and Apparel Design, etc that a student can pursue for a career in fashion journalism.
- The students should try to keep their academic performance good with an aggregate of minimum 60% so that they can get the opportunity to sit for interviews with the top companies in India.
- Internships during undergraduation are a good idea to look for to get higher chances of getting selected during placement drive.
- During the final year of the course the candidates can prepare to sit for entrance examinations pertaining to PG Courses such as MDes, MA Fashion Design, MSc Fashion design and many more.
-
The candidates must start preparing for the entrance examination such as CEED, SOFT, AIFD WAT and many more.
PG Preparation
- The students who are willing to get deep aspects of Fashion Journalism, after graduation can further go for a Masters' Degree in the concerned subject.
- It will improve the career prospects of the individual.
- Some of the popular PG courses are MDes, MA Fashion Design, MA Journalism, Post Graduate diploma in Fashion Designing, etc .
- Again, the candidates should try to maintain a minimum of 55% in post graduation to get good job opportunities. .
- Candidates who are opting for higher education such as a PhD or MPhil should start preparing for the entrance exams. They should try to do some internships that will help to gain some experience before pursuing higher studies.
Courses to Become Fashion Journalist
The following are some of the courses that can be pursued by the aspirants to become a fashion journalist in India.
B.Des (Fashion Communication)
It is a 4-year duration undergraduate course with basic eligibility of 50% marks in 10+2 examinations from any recognized board. Several colleges conduct admission through national, state, or institute level entrance exams followed by interviews for admission to this UG course. Some of the most popular entrances are NPAT, NIFT, UPES DATE, AIEED. Direct admissions are also available. The average fees of the course range between INR 0.79 to INR 7.13
Quick highlights about B.Des in Fashion Communication
| Course Level | Undergraduate |
| Duration | 4 years |
| Eligibility | Passed 10+2 examination from a recognized Board Minimum 50% aggregate is necessary Candidates must appear for the respective entrance examination |
| Admission Process | Based on entrance or merit |
| Course Fee | Approx. INR 79,000 to 7,13,000 |
| Top Recruiting Companies | Marks & Spencer, Shoppers Stop, Freelook, Lopez Design, Marie Claire, Tommy Hilfiger, etc |
| Top Job Positions | Graphic Designer, Retail Space Designer, Fashion Stylist, Fashion Journalist, Visual Merchandiser, Fashion Photographer |
B.Des in Fashion Communication : Admission Process
Most of the top universities offer an admission in B.Des (Fashion Communication) according to the rank scored in the entrance exams. These entrance exams are conducted at national, state, or institute level. The admission usually differs from one college to another. However, the general steps of the admission process have been mentioned
- The candidates are required to visit the website of the college where they want to take admission and check out the eligibility or the entrance examination required.
- The candidates are required to visit the website of the entrance examination and undergo the registration process.
- Then the candidates should fill the examination forms online and submit the documents in the correct format.
- Appear for National, State, or Institute level entrance exam for entrance-based admissions and score well
- Shortlisted candidates are called for further counseling, PIs, or GDs
-
The final list of candidates are put up by the various institute or agencies and the candidates are required to confirm the admission by paying the admission fees
B.Des in Fashion Journalism: NIFT 2023 Eligibility
The Following are the eligibility criteria for candidates appearing in the NIFT Entrance Test
- For General candidates, the age should be maximum 24 years as of August 1, 2023
- For SC/ST/OBC, relaxation up to 5 years is there
- Candidates should have completed 10+2 from a recognized board
- Candidates should have completed a 3 or 4-years diploma courses recognized by AICTE or a State Board of Technical Education
- Candidates appearing in the final year of their diploma or 12th are eligible to appear for the examination.
B.Des in Fashion Journalism: How to apply for the NIFT Entrance Exam
The application form for NIFT entrance examination is generally available around December on online mode. The candidates can visit the official website to fill the form after checking the eligibility criteria. Below are the steps that the candidates must fulfill while filling out the application form.
Step 1: Register on the official website and save the credentials for further reference.
Step 2: After successful registration, login with the credentials that were sent earlier and fill out the NIFT application form. Fill all the details carefully.
Step 3: Upload the scanned copies of the documents that are asked. This will include a recent passport size photograph and signature. Don’t forget to check the document format and the size that are asked for these scanned images.
Step 4: After successful form fill up and pay the fee online through credit card/ debit card/net banking and take out the receipt of the form for further details such as taking out the admit card.
B.Des in Fashion Journalism: NIFT 2023 Selection Process
- NIFT 2023 Selection process includes written and situation tests following an interview round.
- Candidates need to appear for CAT (Creative Ability Test) or GAT (General Ability Test) for admission to B.Des in Fashion Communication..
- After the results are released, the candidates are called for counseling for UG or PG courses, in this it is UG course of course.
- For NIFT, the candidates are required to register for the counseling and mention the name of the preferred college.
-
Later, if the candidates clear the cut-off released for the college then they are called for further process that includes documents verification. There are seat reservation quota for SC/ST/OBC candidates too.
Important Links:
B.A (Hons.) (Mass Communication and Journalism)
It is a 3-year undergraduate degree that focuses on the study of constituents of mass media and the ways and techniques to gather and distribute the news to the general public. The basic eligibility is 50% marks in 10+2 examinations or its equivalent exam from any recognized board. The admission to the course depends upon the candidates’ performance in the relevant entrance exam followed by rounds of counseling. Direct admissions are also available.
A few entrance examinations that are conducted by some of the BA Hons. in Mass Communication and Journalism colleges in India are the Indian Institute of Journalism Entrance Exam, Indian Institute of Mass Communication Entrance Exam, Maharaja Agrasen College Entrance Exam, etc.
Quick highlights about B.A (Hons.) in Mass Communication and Journalism
| Course Level | Undergraduate |
| Duration | 3 years |
| Eligibility | Passed 10+2 examination from a recognized university Minimum 50% aggregate is necessary Candidate must appear for the respective entrance examination |
| Admission Process | Based on Merit list or entrance examination. In the case of entrance exams, GD and PI rounds are conducted before taking out the final list. |
| Course Fee | Approx. INR 1,000 to 2,00,000 |
| Top Recruiting Companies | India Today, HT Media, Hindustan Times, Viacom, UTV, etc |
| Top Job Positions | Presenter, Columnist, Video Jockey, Public Relations Officer, Freelance writer, Journalist, etc |
B.A (Hons.) in Mass Communication and Journalism: Admission Process
Most of the top universities offer an admission in B.A (Hons.) in Mass Communication and Fashion Journalism according to the rank scored in the entrance exams followed by counseling. These entrance exams are conducted at national, state, or institute level. The admission usually differs from one college to another.
- First, the candidates should visit the website of the college where they want to take admission and search for the eligibility criteria and mode of admission.
- After checking everything the candidates are required to register with the college or entrance examination agency.
- After registration the candidates are required to fill the examination forms online and provide the necessary details.
- Appear for National, State, or Institute level entrance exam for entrance-based admissions
- Entrance exams include Indian Institute of Journalism Entrance Exam, Indian Institute of Mass Communication Entrance Exam, Maharaja Agrasen College Entrance Exam, etc.
- Shortlisted candidates are called for further counseling, PIs, or GDs
-
Incase of merit list based admission the list of qualified candidates are put out by the respective colleges
B.A (Hons.) in Mass Communication and Journalism: IIMC Entrance Examination Eligibility
The following are the eligibility criteria for the IIMC entrance examination:
- Candidate must be a citizen of India
- Seats are reserved for NRI/NRI sponsored candidates (5 in total)
- Those NRI or NRI Sponsored candidates, who want to apply for the both non NRI and NRI categories must give separate applications.
- The general candidates must be born on or after August 1, 1995, in the case of SC/ST candidates the DOB should be August 1, 1990 or later and in case ofOBC candidates the DOB should be August 1, 1992 or later
- Candidates should have completed 10+2 from a recognized board
-
Candidates appearing for their final year exams can also appear for the entrance exam by showing their final year result latest by August, 2023
B.A (Hons.) in Mass Communication and Journalism: IIMC Entrance Application Process
The application form for IIMC 2023 is available on the official website from June, 2023 (tentatively). The candidates can visit the official website to fill the form after checking the eligibility criteria. Below are the steps that the candidates must follow while filling out the application form.
Step 1: Register on the official website (http://iimc.nic.in/) and save the credentials for further reference.
Step 2: After successful registration, login with the credentials that were sent earlier and fill out IIMC 2023 application form. Fill all the details carefully.
Step 3: Upload the scanned copies of the documents that are asked. This will include a recent passport size photograph and signature. Don’t forget to check the document format and the size that are asked for these scanned images.
Step 4: After successful form filling and pay the fee online through credit card/ debit card/net banking. Please take out a print out of the application form for future references.
B.A (Hons.) in Mass Communication and Journalism: IIMC Entrance Exam Selection Process
- IIMC would release the result after one to one and half months after conducting the entrance examination .
- Candidates are required to check and download their result online from the official website.
- In the results, the candidates would be ranked on the basis of the marks obtained. A shortlist for the course will be released and the shortlisted candidates will be called for further interview/ group discussion.
- The weightage for written:interview/GD is 75:25. The candidates who will clear this will then be eligible to take admission to any college that accepts the score.
- Later, if the candidates clear the cut-off released for the college then they are called for further process that includes documents verification.
B.Sc. in Fashion and Apparel Design
Bachelor of Science in Fashion and Apparel Design is an undergraduate degree that varies from an academic year of 3 to 5 years. This duration depends upon the subjects chosen by the student. This degree includes the study of creating designs and provides students careers in apparel and soft goods design and development. The course is provided by both national and state-level universities.
Quick highlights about B.Sc. in Fashion and Apparel Design
| Course Level | Undergraduate |
| Duration | 3 years |
| Eligibility | Candidates are required to pass the 12th or equivalent examination from a recognized board with 50% marks. Candidates are required to pass the entrance examination |
| Admission Process | Admission can be either direct based in merit or entrance exam based |
| Top Recruiting Companies | Raymond, Levi’s, Omega designs, Allen Solly, Adidas, Pantaloons, Pearl Global, Bata, Tommy Hilfiger, etc |
| Top Job Positions | Retail manager, fashion stylist, fashion consultant, textile designer, etc |
B.Sc in Fashion and Apparel Design: Admission Process
Most of the top universities offer an admission in B.Sc (Fashion and Apparel Design) according to the rank scored in the entrance exams. These entrance exams are conducted at national, state or university level. The admission usually differs from one college to another.
- Visit the website of the colleges that offer the course and check out the eligibility criteria.
- The candidates are required to fill up the registration form and keep the login credential.
- Fill the examination forms online with the login credentials and then they are required to upload all the documents as per the requirement mentioned on the website.
- Then they are required to submit the application form and pay the requisite fees of the entrance examination.
- Appear for National, State, or Institute level entrance exam for entrance-based admissions
- Entrance exams include NATA, CEED, AIFD
- Shortlisted candidates are called for further counseling, PIs, or GDs
B.Sc in Fashion and Apparel Design: Entrance exams
| Entrance exam | Last Date For Submitting Application | Date of exam | Date of Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Army Institute of Fashion Design Test (AIFD) | May 10, 2023 | May 29, 2023 | June 10, 2023 |
| National Aptitude Test in Architecture (NATA) | July 27, 2023 | August 7, 2023 | August 16, 2023 |
| Common Entrance Examination for Design Test (CEED) | To be announced | To be announced | To be announced |
| All India Entrance Examination for Design Test (AIEED) | To Be Announced | April 10 – 30, 2023 | To Be Announced |
| National Institute of Fashion Technology Entrance Test (NIFT) | November 1, 2022 – December 31, 2022 | February 5, 2023 | May, 2023 |
B.Sc in Fashion and Apparel Design: AIEED Entrance Exam Quick facts
AIEED 2023 is a national level test for admission to various design courses. The candidates who will fulfill the eligibility criteria can sit for the exam. The following are some of the details of the entrance examination
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Application form last date | To Be Announced |
| Admit Card Release Date | To Be Announced |
| Date of Exam | April 10 – 30, 2023 |
| Date of Result | To Be Announced |
B.Sc in Fashion and Apparel Design: AIEED 2023 Eligibility
The following are the eligibility if the AIEED entrance examination
- The candidates should have passed the 10+2 level examination from any recognized boards. The candidates should have at least 50% marks in their board examination.
- Candidates should have attained the age of 16 years and above, as per Pearson-Edexcel norms applicable to all International Undergraduate level courses.
- Those candidates who have passed the NATA examination are exempted from appearing in the AIEED entrance examination.
- Students studying in Class 10+1 can also appear for the AIEED 2023. If these candidates qualify in the entrance exam, they will be eligible for direct admission in the subsequent academic session.
B.Sc in Fashion and Apparel Design: AIEED Application Process
The application form for AIEED has been available from November 21, 2022 on the AIEED official website.The candidates can visit the official website to fill the form after checking the eligibility criteria. Below are the steps mentioned to be fulfilled while filling out the application form.
Step 1: Register on the official website and save the credentials for further reference.
Step 2: After successful registration, login with the credentials that were sent earlier and fill out the application form. Fill all the details carefully. The candidates are allowed to pay the application fees after filling up the details. The candidates will have to select the payment method for paying the application fees through any one of the three modes: Online Gateway, Demand Draft or through Bank of India.
Step 3: The candidates are asked to upload the scanned copies of the documents that are asked. This will include a recent passport size photograph and signature. Don’t forget to check the document format and the size that are asked for these scanned images.
Step 4: Candidates are then required to take the printout of Confirmation Page and duly filled AIEED Application Form, after previewing it carefully.
How to Prepare for the Entrance Examination?
- The candidates need to find out about the weightage of various sections and start preparing accordingly.
- Make a timetable for The entrance exam and follow it strictly. Cover every topic in each subject and assign them a particular slot in the timetable. This will ensure that the entire syllabus is covered at least once.
- Read about the various current issues from the newspaper.
- Practice, practice, practice. Take mocks and try to solve as many sample papers as possible.
- Allocate more time to the harder topics. If necessary take up tuitions or coaching for the comparatively tougher subjects, Or one can look for tricks in solving the various problems in online youtube videos.
Important Notes:
How to become a Fashion Journalist Abroad
Students also prefer to pursue fashion journalism from abroad. Big cities such as Rome, Paris, Milan, New York provide a great career path in this field. Other countries like the USA, Australia, UK, and Canada, etc also offer UG and PG courses on fashion journalism for the aspirants. However, the candidates must keep the following things in mind before pursuing Fashion Journalism abroad.
- Ranking of the University: The candidates should first check out the ranking of different institutions and colleges published by various agencies around the world or of that specific country where the candidates want to take admission.
- Eligibility and Admission Requirements: The candidates should check out the admission and other requirements such as entrance examination required; English proficiency test such as TOEFL, IELTS; work experience and many more.
- Student and Work VISA: Every country has its separate visa norms for both study and work. Prior to applying for any course it is essential to have thorough knowledge on existing visa rules for both study and work.
- Fees & Scholarship: Since studying abroad is itself costly it is well advised to get thorough knowledge on fees structure of various institutes along with scholarship facility and criteria for scholarship in such institutes.
USA
Candidates who wish to study in the USA should keep the following things in mind before selecting a course
Educational Requirement
The following are the educational requirements for the getting admission in the course:
- Candidates must have a good academic record and should pass their 12th or equivalent from a recognised board. The overall percentage depends on the individual colleges.
- However, the candidates should look to score in excess of 70%.
- The candidates should pass the english proficiency test such as IELTS and TOEFL. The minimum score required is 6-6.5 for the IELTS. In case of TOEFL the overall score can go upto 100.
- In case of postgraduate admission the candidates should pass the graduation in relevant stream from recognised college or university.
Other Requirement
- The candidates need to produce 2 letters of recommendation,
-
The candidates should also produce a list of references
Top Colleges
| Name of Institute | Courses | 1st Year Total Fees | Eligibility Score (IELTS) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cornell University | Bachelor of Science in Fashion Design and Management | INR 42.9 Lakhs | 7 |
| Carnegie Mellon University | Bachelor of Design | INR 58.1 Lakhs | 7.5 |
| University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, | Bachelor of Fine Arts in Costume Design and Technology | INR 23.6 Lakhs | - |
| Fashion Institute of Technology | BFA in Fashion Design | INR 15.2 Lakhs | 6.5 |
UK
The candidates who want to pursue fashion journalism abroad should keep the following things in mind.
Educational Requirements
The following are the educational requirements for the getting admission in the course:
- The students are required to have a strong academic background. In the case of admission to the undergraduate course the candidates should have 65% or more marks in their class 12th or equivalent examination.
- Some colleges require candidates to have mathematics in their 12th level.
- They must provide the marks obtained by them in the English proficiency tests like TOEFL or IELTS. The minimum score required is 6.
- The candidates are required to appear in entrance examinations to get admission
- They are required to produce a resume of their previous work experience, if any
Other Requirements
- The candidates are required to submit at least two letters of recommendation.
-
The candidates should procure a student visa before opting for the course.
Top Colleges
| Name of Institute | Courses | 1st Year Total Fees | Eligibility Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of West London | BA (Hons) in Fashion and Textiles | Rs. 22.3 Lakhs | IELTS: 6 |
| The University of Edinburgh | BA Fashion | Rs. 29.9 Lakhs | IELTS: 6.5 |
| University of Sunderland | BA (Hons) Fashion Design and Promotion | Ra. 16.9 Lakhs |
IELTS: 6 PTE: 56 |
| University of Huddersfield | Fashion Communication and Promotion BA (Hons.) | Rs. 14.5 Lakhs |
IELTS: 6 PTE: Accepted |
| Cardiff Metropolitan University | Textiles – BA (Hons) | Rs. 19.7 Lakhs | IELTS: 6 PTE: 52 |
Australia
The candidates who wish to study in Australia should keep the following things in mind.
Educational Requirements
- Students are required to pass the 12th and equivalent examination with a minimum of 65% aggregate
- For post-graduation, candidates are required to score a minimum of 60% marks in the undergraduate level
- The candidates are required to take the GMAT entrance examination for admission to some postgraduate course
-
The candidates need to pass the English proficiency tests like the TOEFL or IELTS
Other Requirements
- The candidates are required to submit letters of recommendation during the admission process
- The candidates need to submit a CV with their work experience
-
Candidates are required to produce a letter of purpose.
Top Colleges
| Name of Institute | Courses | 1st Year Total Fees | Eligibility Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| The University of Melbourne | Bachelor of Design | Rs. 22.2 Lakhs | IELTS: 6.5 |
| Monash University | Bachelor of Design and Bachelor of Business | Rs. 25.4 Lakhs | IELTS: 6.5 |
| RMIT University | Bachelor of Fashion (Design Technology) | Rs. 19.6 Lakhs |
TOEFL: 79 IELTS: 6.5 PTE: 58 |
| The University of Queensland | Bachelor of Design | Rs. 25.5 Lakhs | IELTS: 6.5 |
| University of New South Wales | Bachelor of Design | Rs. 21.2 Lakhs | IELTS: 6.5 |
Canada
Canada is one of the best destinations for seeking education. The candidates who wish to study in Canada should keep the following things in mind.
Educational Requirements
- Pass high school or graduation with a good overall aggregate. A score of around 80% is required to get admission in a good college
- Pass the English proficiency tests like the TOEFL or IELTS. The minimum score required for the exam are 80 and 6.5 respectively.
- The candidates need to pass entrance examinations
Other Requirements
- The Candidates need to submit the proof of their work experience in the form of a resume
- The candidates need to submit a letter of recommendation and statement of purpose.
-
The candidates should have a valid passport and a relevant visa
Top Colleges
| Name of Institute | Courses | 1st Year Total Fees | Eligibility Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Humber College | Bachelor of interior Design | Rs. 21.5 Lakhs |
TOEFL: 84 IELTS: 6.5 PTE: 8 |
| George Brown College | Diploma in Fashion Management | Rs. 9.2 Lakhs |
TOEFL: 80 IELTS: 6 |
| Ryerson University | BDes in Fashion | Rs. 17.6 Lakhs | IELTS: 6.5 |
| University of the Fraser Valley | Fashion Design Diploma | Rs. 16.7 Lakhs |
TOEFL: 88 IELTS: 6.5 |
Benefits of Career as a Fashion Journalist
Several job options are thereafter you gain expertise in fashion journalism both in India and abroad.
Salary: A fashion journalist initially can expect a salary package of around INR 2,00,000 or above per annum. As the person gains experience, remuneration also increases, depending upon the quality of work performed by the individual in the past
Job Security: All fashion journalists get a satisfactory salary. They have a high level of job security if they have been able to gain proper experience in the field of journalism.Also according to the career launcher website the fashion journalists have the
Unique Experience:There are a lot of other benefits associated with the career as a fashion journalist. Firstly, it involves a lot of travel as one of the many responsibilities will be to cover various fashion shows or events happening across the world. Secondly, there is also an opportunity to work with established members of the fashion industry including models, editors, designers, etc.
Career growth Opportunities: Most of the fashion journalists work in the media and entertainment industry. The Media and Entertainment industry is expected to grow by 13.5% between 2014-2024 and would be worth USD 43.93 Billion by 2024, thus, creating huge scope for the fashion Journalist in the future
Skills Required for a Fashion Journalist
Some of the key skills essential to become a Fashion Journalist are tabulated below for your reference,
| Imaginative | Inventive | Networking |
| Organized | Good Communication | Ability to handle criticism |
| Writing skills | Creativity | Interest in fashion |
Salary of Fashion Journalist in India
As there are various career options to pick from in this field, the pay scale for each job profile is also different. Here is an approximate salary that a fashion journalist earns at starting level, mid-level, and senior level of their career.
Specialization and Experience Wise
| Job Profile | Starting Salary per annum (in INR) | Mid-level Salary per annum (in INR) | Senior level Salary per annum (in INR) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Writer | 1,39,000 | 3,00,000 | 5,00,000 |
| Freelancer | 1,00,000 | 8,00,000 | 20,00,000 |
| Photographers | 1,18,000 | 5,00,000 | 10,00,000 |
| Editor | 2,00,000 | 6,00,000 | 10,00,000 |
| Fashion Reporter | 1,01,000 | 6,00,000 | 10,00,000 |
| Fashion Critic | 2,00,000 | 4,00,000 | 6,00,000 |
Organization Wise
The following are the salary of fashion journalist according to organisation
| Organization | Average Salary (INR) |
|---|---|
| Times Now | 340,000 |
| The Telegraph | 596,000 |
| Times of India | 457,000 |
| NDTV | 455,000 |
| Vogue | 10,00,000 |
After Fashion Journalism
Higher Education: After graduation, a student can pursue a master’s degree in the field of interest. If a student has already done a master’s degree then he/she can go for a Ph.D. from a recognized University.
Start Job: After you get your degree, you can go for a good internship in a good media house. Internships are a good thing to have on your resume while applying for a job in the field. After internships, the chances of getting a good job are very high.
How to Become a Fashion Journalist: FAQs
Ques: Where can I start as a Fashion Journalist?
Ans: As a Fashion Journalist, you can go for a job in a TV news channel, print media like newspaper, fashion magazine, fashion website, fashion blog, etc.
Ques: Are scholarships being offered to students pursuing Fashion Journalism?
Ans: Yes, there are many scholarships that different institutes offer to deserving students. The scholarship eligibility criteria vary from one college to another. Some of the institutes that offer scholarships are NIFT, Pearl Academy, Asian College of Journalism, etc.
Ques: What is the major perk of being a fashion journalist?
Ans: The major perk enjoyed by fashion journalists is that they get to travel a lot to beautiful places. Also, they get to socialize a lot and increase their creativity skills.
Ques: What challenges does a freelancer face in this industry?
Ans: Because of the increased competition in the fashion industry, a freelancer finds it difficult to create a niche of its own.
Ques: Where can I study fashion journalism?
Ans: The answer to this question is very vast. Each person is different and thus looks at opportunities in a different way. So you can choose any place to study Journalism. It entirely depends what you are looking forward to as a career and how strong your family is reliable to payback the loan.
![Mount Carmel College - [MCC]](https://static.zollege.in/public/college_data/images/appImage/1697620095IMG3378.png?tr=h-100,w-200,c-force)
![The Oxford College of Science - [TOCS]](https://static.zollege.in/public/college_data/images/appImage/6988_OXFORDCOS_APP.jpg?tr=h-100,w-200,c-force)
![T John College - [TJC]](https://static.zollege.in/public/college_data/images/appImage/1613728363Cover.png?tr=h-100,w-200,c-force)