Istituto Marangoni expands academic degree programs at Riyadh campus

Istituto Marangoni, in collaboration with the Saudi Ministry of Culture and the Saudi Fashion Commission, has announced the expansion of its academic programming at its Riyadh campus. Announced by His Royal Highness Prince Bader bin Farhan Al Saud, Saudi Minister of Culture and Chairman of the Fashion Commission Board, the institution will introduce full undergraduate degrees and postgraduate master's programs alongside its existing professional courses.

Applications opened on October 8, 2026, with the inaugural academic intake scheduled to commence in January 2027.

The expanded curriculum will feature undergraduate tracks in Fashion Design & Accessories, Fashion Communication & Image, and Fashion Management & Digital Communication. At the postgraduate level, the institution will introduce a Master in Fashion & Luxury Brand Management.

Additionally, the Riyadh campus has been officially designated by royal decree as an eligible institution under the Ministry of Culture’s Cultural Scholarship Program, enabling Saudi students to receive state financial backing for creative higher education.

This academic extension develops the operational groundwork laid by a 2024 memorandum of understanding between Istituto Marangoni and the Saudi Fashion Commission. The initiative aligns directly with the economic diversification targets outlined in Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 and its National Culture Strategy, which aim to reduce oil dependency by fostering local creative industries.

By embedding an established European academic model within the Kingdom, the partnership seeks to cultivate native talent, establish localized expertise in fashion management and design, and position Riyadh as a emerging regional hub within the global fashion ecosystem.