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In the UK for Fashion and textiles in The Guardian University Guide 2023

Fashion Knitwear Design and Knitted Textiles BA (Hons)

  • Level(s) of Study: Undergraduate
  • UCAS Code(s): W222 / 4W28
  • Start Date(s): September 2023
  • Duration: Three years full-time or four years with a placement
  • Study Mode(s): Full-time
  • Campus: City Campus
  • Entry Requirements:
    More information

Introduction:

This highly respected degree offers you full creative control over the design and creation of fabrics, garments and products for fashion or interiors. You will develop your creative potential through developing technical and design skills, including innovative digital knit processes that are in high demand in the fashion and textile industry.

Our experienced staff will guide you through the journey, helping you transform your vision into tangible creations. With a perfect balance between technical teaching and project-based work, our Fashion Knitwear Design and Knitted Textiles course will empower you to bring your creative aspirations to life while laying a solid foundation for a successful and fulfilling career in the dynamic world of fashion and knitwear.

Keep up to date with what our current Knitwear students are up to by following our Instagram account.

  • Choose to take a year-long work placement, in the UK or abroad, and gain a certificate or diploma in professional/international practice, this opportunity often leads to offers of employment after graduation.
  • Get involved in competitions and live projects with companies such as Next, John Smedley, Boden, Finisterre and The Society of Dyers and Colourists. Educational grants and sponsorship opportunities are also available through our industry partners.
  • Have the opportunity to showcase your work at Graduate Fashion Week and New Designers in London and through collaborations with organisations such as SPINEXPO and Pitti Filatti.
  • Opportunity to apply for a European or international exchange to one of our partner institutions, such as Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Amsterdam Fashion Institute, and more. You will also visit international trade fairs and exhibitions, such as Pitti Filati in Florence.

What you’ll study

Don’t just take our word for it, hear from our students themselves

Student Profiles

Kirby Marlow

Fashion Knitwear Design and Knitted Textiles

In my third year, I went to Hong Kong for a 12-month placement for a knitwear design company called Brilliant Global. Whilst there, I learnt how the industry works, and how to manage my time and work to tight deadlines.

Matt Pallett

Fashion Knitwear Design and Knitted Textiles

I completed three work placements at Chikimiki in New York, Luna + Smith in London, and All Knitted Swatch Design in Northampton. During all three of my placements I learnt new skills and also matured as a person.

Jacaranda Brain

Fashion Knitwear Design and Knitted Textiles

Completing a year in industry was the best decision I have ever made. I ended up completing three placements, in New York and London.

Jess Braithwaite

Fashion Knitwear Design and Knitted Textiles

This course equips you with the specialised skills and industry experience to go out into industry and secure a role that very few young designers would be capable of handling.

Joanna Bray

Fashion Knitwear Design and Knitted Textiles

This course has a great reputation for knitwear globally and many companies in industry are choosing to take interns from NTU before anywhere else.

Amy Carter

Fashion Knitwear Design and Knitted Textiles

The Fashion Knitwear Design and Knitted Textiles course is very unique and enables you to learn about every part of the process of designing and creating knitwear.

Laura Henderson

Fashion Knitwear Design and Knitted Textiles

I think this opportunity will massively benefit me after I graduate, I will be have first-hand experience of setting up and helping out at an internationally recognised trade show.

Alice Beadle - Fashion Knitwear Design and Knitted Textiles

Fashion Knitwear Design and Knitted Textiles

The course offers the invaluable opportunity to spend a year working in industry.

Eleanor Drane

Fashion Knitwear Design and Knitted Textiles

The course here is well established within industry and as a result, companies appreciate NTU graduates for their advanced skills and specific knowledge within the knitwear specialism.

Rebecca Swann

Fashion Knitwear Design and Knitted Textiles

The overall support of the teaching staff was undeniably amazing!

NSAD Catwalk Show

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Staff Profiles

Amy Twigger Holroyd - Associate Professor

Nottingham School of Art & Design

Dr Amy Twigger Holroyd is Associate Professor of Fashion and Sustainability in Nottingham School of Art & Design. Through design-led participatory research, she explores plural possibilities for post-growth fashion systems:

Kandy Diamond - Senior Lecturer

Nottingham School of Art & Design

Kandy Diamond is a Senior Lecturer in Fashion knitwear and knitted textiles.

Claire Preskey - Senior Lecturer

Nottingham School of Art & Design

Claire Preskey is a senior lecturer at Nottingham Trent University and module leader for level 2 for BA (Hons) Fashion Knitwear Design and Knitted Textile Design.

Amanda Briggs-Goode - Head of Department

Nottingham School of Art & Design

Amanda Briggs-Goode is Head of Department for Fashion, Textiles and Knitwear Design in the School of Art and Design.

Theodora Prassa - Technical Specialist

Nottingham School of Art & Design

Dora is a technician in printed textiles and paper printing.

Ian McInnes - Principal Lecturer

Nottingham School of Art & Design

Ian McInnes is a Principal Lecturer in Fashion Knitwear Design and Knitted Textiles, School of Art and Design, Department of Fashion, Textiles, Knitwear.

Careers and employability

Graduates go into fields such as design, product development, styling and promotion and global sourcing.

Recent graduate destinations include:

  • Abercrombie & Fitch
  • Alphatex
  • Calvin Klein
  • DKNY
  • Hugo Boss
  • John Smedley
  • Josh Goot
  • Julian MacDonald
  • Lauren Richards
  • Nike
  • Pantherella
  • Sophie Steller
  • Stine Ladefoged
  • Sun Hing Ltd.

Work placements and internship opportunities

You can choose to take a year-long work placement in the third year of your studies. A placement year will give you the opportunity to gain real, hands-on experience and valuable skills for the future. Our students undertake placements across the globe, with many securing full-time employment after graduating with their placement company.

If you choose not to do the placement year, you’ll be encouraged to take up to two weeks of work experience alongside your studies in years One and Two.

Studying a creative degree in a large university has many benefits, none more so than having access to a large employability team. They'll support you through advice and access to valuable resources to help you find a placement. Not only that, you can access our employability team's services up to three years after graduating!

Connecting with industry

The opportunity to raise your commercial profile, even before you graduate, is fantastic. Benefit from our excellent connections with the fashion and textile industry, through guest lectures, bursary and sponsorship opportunities, industry competitions, international study trips, and support with securing your optional placement year.

We work with a number of professional organisations, including:

  • ASBCI (Association of Suppliers to the British Clothing Industry)
  • Bradford Textile Society
  • British Fashion Council Colleges Committee
  • The Society of Dyers and Colourists
  • The Textile Society
  • UK Fashion & Textile Association.
  • Worshipful Company of Framework Knitters

Students have previously had success at the Fashanne Awards and the FAD competition as part of London Fashion Week.

During the past 30 years, 31 of our students have been awarded a bursary by The Worshipful Company of Framework Knitters by demonstrating that their work has the potential to have a significant impact on the British knitwear industry. Each bursary fund could be up to £2,500. Final year collections are regularly sponsored by manufacturers of high-quality luxury yarns.

We have recently worked on live projects with companies including

  • John Lewis
  • Fashion Awareness Direct
  • All Saints
  • UKft / M&S
  • ANN INC New York
  • Next
  • Laxton Yarns
  • The Society of Dyers and Colourists.

Creative Industries Federation

We are members of the Creative Industries Federation (CIF), which means students in the Nottingham School of Art & Design have the opportunity to sign up to free student membership. Creative Industries Federation are an organisation that represents, champions and supports the UK’s creative industries and membership grants students exclusive access to their selection of resources and events to help advance your career and connect with industry.

Campus and facilities

How to apply

Apply through UCAS.

We will ask you to provide a digital portfolio. Visit our webpage which has some advice on what to include to help make your portfolio stand out. After you have submitted your portfolio, we may also invite you to an online interview to help us make our final decision.

You can apply for this course through UCAS. If you are not applying to any other UK universities, you can apply directly to us on our NTU applicant portal.

Application advice

Apply early so that you have enough time to prepare – processing times for Student visas can vary, for example.  After you've applied, we'll be sending you important emails throughout the application process – so check your emails regularly, including your junk mail folder.

Writing your personal statement

Be honest, thorough, and persuasive – we can only make a decision about your application based on what you tell us:

Your portfolio 

If your initial application is successful, you may be asked to upload a portfolio of your work and you may also be asked to attend an interview.

Portfolio advice

Would you like some advice on your study plans? 

Our international teams are highly experienced in answering queries from students all over the world. We also have members of staff based in Vietnam, China, India and Nigeria and work with a worldwide network of education counsellors.

The University's commitment to delivering the educational services advertised.