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Textile Design BA (Hons)
- Level(s) of Study: Undergraduate
- UCAS Code(s): W221
- Start Date(s): September 2023
- Duration: Three years full-time
- Study Mode(s): Full-time
- Campus: City Campus
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Entry Requirements:
More information
Introduction:
Fashion and Textiles at NTU is internationally recognised for the quality of its creative, industry-ready graduates.
This textile design course is unique in the UK, allowing you to explore the different areas of textile design before specialising in the creative areas of textile print, embroidery, weave and knit, as your work develops.
As a young, ambitious designer, we'll introduce you to all aspects of textile design, investigating fundamental principles in colour, form, scale, pattern and composition. Supported by our expert academic and technical staff, you’ll learn traditional and digital techniques with access to our industry-standard facilities.
The course has excellent links with industry, and students will get the chance to take part in live projects and competitions, gain work experience, and have the opportunity to visit fashion and textiles events overseas, such as Première Vision in paris.
- Explore all aspects of textile design before choosing to specialise in print, embroidery, weave or knit.
- Experience live projects with companies like Romo, Liberty London, Next and Joules.
- Learn traditional and digital techniques, working with industry-standard digital machinery.
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You’ll have the opportunity to complete a work experience placement of up to a year in length. Dependent on the duration of your placement, you could gain an additional Diploma or Certificate in Professional Practice. -
Take part in industry competitions with professional bodies such as PV NextGen, RSA, the Society of Dyers and Colourists, i-dott and Bradford Textile Society. There is also an opportunity to apply for sponsorship with The Worshipful Company of Weavers. -
Apply for a year-long paid graduate internship in New York working for the ASCENA brands. You can also apply for a European or international exchange to one of our partner institutions, such as RMIT in Australia. -
NTU is the only university in the UK to have a Chartered Society of Designers (CSD) accreditation for Textile Design.
What you’ll study
This course is one of the few textile design degrees in the UK that allows you to explore the different areas of textile design before specialising in the creative areas of textile print, embroidery, weave and knit, as your work develops.
Curiosity: Creative Exploration and Research
(40 credit points, full year)
Working with students from fashion, textiles and knitwear, explore core design components such as concept, drawing, materials, colour and future thinking. Question how fundamental aspects of design practice can be used as both research tools and a means to develop your design philosophy or identity in a creative, playful and hands-on way. Begin to see the future as something you can shape, rather than something that just happens.
Curiosity: Creative Development and Application for Textile Design
(80 credit points, full year)
Develop your creative design ideas and apply fundamentals of textile design practice including, pattern, repeat and composition, through a series of workshop rotations in print, weave, knit, embroidery and multimedia. A pathways project at the end of the year will consolidate your strengths and choice of textile specialism for Year Two. There is the option to transfer to Fashion Knitwear Design and Knitted Textiles for those that love knit.
Directions: Industry and Context for Textile Design
(40 credit points, first half of the year)
Develop awareness of the practice of design within the international textile industry. Advance creative design and technical skills in your specialised area of print, weave, embroidery or multimedia. Deepen your research skills and knowledge of emerging cultural issues including responsible design practice, trends, markets and professional communication, and engage with industry through live projects, work experience and an optional overseas trip to an international trade fair.
Directions: Innovation and Transition for Textile Design
(40 credit points, second half of the year)
This module supports your transition to your final year, enhancing your ability to develop individual research proposals that reflect personal design interests and building on theory and practice. You will extend and test innovative approaches to your specialist textile area, working beyond discipline boundaries where appropriate.
CoLab: Research, Exploration and Risk-taking
(20 credit points, second half of the year)
Through active participation with team-based problem solving, you will work together in mixed teams on a project where you will use your creative ideas to generate solutions to a challenge or brief. Your project will allow you to explore how creativity can make an impact in society, as you choose a theme of sustainability, social justice, enterprise and innovation or community. This collaborative learning experience will expose you to a range of new processes and approaches that will develop your creative thinking.
Optional module
You will also choose one 20-credit module from:
- Material Stories
- 3D Materials and Exploration
- Trend Forecasting
- Buying, Merchandising and Product Fundamentals
- Model Making: Object and Narrative
- Creative Entrepreneurship
- Introduction to 3D virtual clothing & product design
- Made to Last – clothing longevity for circularity
Resolutions: Culture and Context
(20 / 40 credit points, full year)
Develop an individual research concept established at the end of second year that advances your knowledge of contextual issues, cultural theories and debates. You will present this as a dissertation or in the alternative format of a visual product. Students choosing the 40-credit option will complete an extended body of research work for exhibition or publication.
Resolutions: Practice and Context for Textile Design
(100 / 80 credit points, full year)
Write your own design brief that enables you to produce an extensive body of work, relating to your career aspirations and reflecting responsible design practices. You will be encouraged to use theories explored in your individual research project to inform your final design collections. You will have opportunities to engage with live projects, competitions and professional bodies to broaden your portfolio and strategically enhance career directions. Students choosing the 80-credit option will produce a smaller design portfolio to reflect the balance of work suitable for alternative career directions.
Don’t just take our word for it, hear from our students themselves
How you’re taught
You’ll spend most of your time in a creative studio environment. Teaching and learning experiences will include:
- briefings
- lectures
- studio workshops
- textile demonstrations and workshops
- tutorials
- study visits
- seminars
- presentations
- self-directed study.
Collaboration across courses
Our collaboration module gives you the opportunity to work collaboratively with your contemporaries from a range of different art and design subjects and beyond. You’ll be working alongside artists, designers, photographers, illustrators, animators, and filmmakers on daring and creative projects that prepare you for a rewarding career in your chosen industry. Your project will allow you to explore how creativity can make an impact in society, as you choose a theme of sustainability, social justice, enterprise and innovation or community.
Assessment
Assessment is predominantly through coursework. You will experience award-winning teaching, learning and assessment methods that integrate theory and practice. You will receive feedback throughout each module and will be awarded a grade. Depending on the module, you may be assessed through a portfolio, sketchbooks, presented and resolved projects, technical and contextual research, a reflective learning journal, essays, presentations, and an individual research project.
20% of your final degree mark will be based on your work in Year 2, and 80% from your work in your final year.
International exchanges and study trips
In Year One, you’ll visit a UK destination such as Manchester or London. In Year Two, you’ll have the option to visit an international trade fair such as Première Vision in Paris.
In recent years, our final year students have had the opportunity to be sponsored to travel to the SPINEXPO tradeshow in Shanghai, where some students have worked with their marketing team to help present the show.
This course has exchange agreements with a number of institutions around the world, including RMIT in Australia. You can apply to go on exchange in Year Two for one semester.
Showcase
You will be given the opportunity to exhibit your work during your time at NTU to members of the creative industries. Visit our ‘We Are Creatives’ showcase to take a look at the work of this year's graduating students’.
You’ll also have the opportunity to be selected to showcase your work to industry at New Designers in London, one of the UK’s most important graduate exhibitions.
Contact hours
- Year 1 lectures/seminars/workshops (21%), independent study (79%).
- Year 2 lectures/seminars/workshops (20%), independent study (80%).
- Year 3 lectures/seminars/workshops (20%), independent study (80%).
Further information
NTU is in the UK’s Top 15 for Art & Design in the Complete University Guide 2023 (Ranked 15th).
How you’re assessed
- Year 1 coursework (100%).
- Year 2 coursework (90%), practical exams (10%).
- Year 3 coursework (100%).
Careers and employability
Employability is a key focus, with modules including initiatives to help enhance your future career. This includes live projects, visiting professionals, work experience, exhibition opportunities, and competitions.
Graduates go into a variety of roles, including designing, buying and merchandising, global sourcing, textiles product development, styling and trend prediction, marketing and teaching.
Recent graduate destinations include:
- Amtico
- Anstey Wallpaper
- Boden
- Dazed & Confused
- Debenhams
- Edinburgh Woollen Mill
- French Connection
- John Smedley
- Laura Ashley
- Liberty London
- Margo Selby
- Mary Benson London
- Next
- Paul Smith
- Romo
- Ted Baker
- Tom Cody Design
- Topshop
- Whiston & Wright.
Work placements and internship opportunities
You’ll have the opportunity to complete work experience or longer placement, with the chance to gain an additional Diploma or Certificate in Professional Practice, dependent on duration. Course tutors and our Employability team are on hand to support you in applying for placement and professional practice opportunities. We’ll also give you tips on how best to approach companies and designers, and get the most from your experience.
Our Textile Design students have recently gained work experience with companies such as:
- ANN INC (Read our students' story)
- Anstey Wallpaper
- Whiston & Wright
- Kit Miles Studio
- Boden
- Liberty London
- House of Holland
- Baxter Fawcett
- Graham & Brown
- Hand & Lock
- Joules
- Margo Selby
- Paul Smith
- Romo
YouFirst – working with our Employability team
Studying a creative degree in a large university has many benefits, none more so than having access to a large employability team.
Our friendly, experienced careers consultants will work closely with you at every stage of your career planning, providing personal support and advice you won't find in a book or on the internet. You can benefit from this at any time during your studies, and for up to three years after completing your course.
Connecting with industry
We continue to develop strong links with industry through our alumni and staff contacts. Live projects, competitions and professional bodies are central to the course, giving you exposure to current practices within industry.
Working on live projects with industry can often lead to opportunities for work placements, and the chance to see your designs go into production. Sometimes these experiences lead to graduate employment with companies like Next, DFS, and Romo. A project with South African Mohair led to an international study trip to South Africa to see sustainable mohair farming.
Our students have also received yarn sponsorship and had the opportunity to exhibit their work at Donghua University in Shanghai.
Other recent live projects include Romo and Next. Final year students have recently undertaken sponsored projects, in collaboration with SPINEXPO, to design and produce trend-leading work to be exhibited at the spring / summer show in Shanghai, Paris and New York.
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.
Hear from our Textile Design alumni
Competitions
You will have the opportunity to enter or be nominated for a variety of industry competitions. These have recently included:
- Society of Dyers and Colourists' Colour Award
- Bradford Textile Society Design Competition
- i-dott
- Texprint.
What our students are doing now
Textile Design students work on Live Project with Next Menswear
Textile Design students secure work placements with Next Menswear after working on a Live Project brief.
Second Year Textile Design student work on Live Project with Dulux
BA Fashion Knitwear and Knitted Textiles student sets up business on placement
Campus and facilities
Our Textile Design students are based in the Bonington building, a dedicated art and design hub. View our Nottingham School of Art & Design Facilities page here.
Entry requirements
112 UCAS Tariff points
What are we looking for?
- 104 - 112 UCAS Tariff points from up to four qualifications (two of which must be A-level equivalent).
- GCSE English and Maths grade C / 4.
To find out what qualifications have tariff points, please use our tariff calculator.
Other requirements
Other qualifications and experience
We may also consider credits achieved at other universities and your work/life experience through an assessment of prior learning.
This may be for year one entry, or beyond the beginning of a course where applicable, for example, into year 2. Our Recognition of Prior Learning and Credit Transfer Policy outlines the process and options available for this route.
Contextual offers
A lower offer may be made based on a range of factors, including your background (such as where you live and the school or college you attended), your experiences and individual circumstances (you may have been in care, for example). This is called a contextual offer and we get data from UCAS to make these decisions. NTU offers a student experience like no other and this approach helps us to find students who have the potential to succeed here but who may have faced barriers that make it more difficult to access university. Find out how we assess your application.
Getting in touch
If you need more help or information, get in touch through our enquiry form.
International qualifications
We accept qualifications from all over the world – check yours here:
Other requirements
Undergraduate preparation courses (Foundation)
If you don’t yet meet our entry requirements, we offer Foundation courses through our partner Nottingham Trent International College (NTIC), based on our City Campus:
English language entry requirements
You can meet our language requirements by successfully completing our pre-sessional English course for an agreed length of time, or by submitting the required grade in one of our accepted English language tests, such as IELTS:
Advanced standing (starting your undergraduate degree in year 2 or 3)
You may be able to start your undergraduate course in year 2 or 3 based on what you have studied before. This decision would be made in accordance with our Recognition of Prior Learning and Credit Transfer Policy.
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.
- Complete this simple form to keep in touch with the International Office.
Fees and funding
Preparing for the financial side of student life is important, but there's no need to feel anxious and confused about it. We hope that our fees and funding pages will answer all your questions.
Getting in touch
For more advice and guidance, you can contact our Student Financial Support Service.
Tel: +44 (0)115 848 2494
What's included in the course fees?
The School will cover the costs of any mandatory study trips.
In Final Year, the Nottingham School of Art & Design will provide infrastructure costs for your Showcase.
If you’re selected to exhibit your work at a graduate show in London, the School will cover the cost of transporting your work, the exhibition stand and event set-up.
Additional costs
Print and copy costs
The University allocates an annual printing and copying allowance of £20 depending on the course you are studying. For more details about costs for additional print and copying required over and above the annual allowance please see the Printing, photocopying and scanning information on the Library website.
We advise you to budget between £150 - £360 per year for printing costs.
Material costs
Depending on the materials you choose to work with, you should budget a minimum of £500 (Year One), £800 (Year Two), and £1000 (Final Year) to cover the production costs associated to your course, including things like your final year project.
Student feedback suggest final year costs range from £650-£1800 depending on your collection. There are opportunities for material sponsorship with some projects.
Stationery and reading materials
Most study modules will recommend one or more core textbooks, which most students choose to purchase. Book costs vary between courses and further information is available in the University’s bookshop, Blackwell’s.
A good supply of these essential text books are available in the University libraries, which students can easily view digitally, borrow or access directly whilst studying in the library.
You should budget between £150 - £220 per year (minimum) for stationery and reading materials.
Field trips
All essential field trip costs will be included in your course fees. There may be the opportunity to take part in optional field trips, which do incur additional costs.
If you choose to join optional international study trips, you’ll need to budget £475 (minimum) in Year Two. If you choose to join an optional UK study trip in Final Year, you’ll need to budget £120 (minimum).
Placements
If you're undertaking a placement year, you'll need to budget for accommodation and any travel costs you may incur whilst on placement. Many of our placement students do earn a salary whilst on placement which can help to cover these living costs.
If you undertake work experience or a longer placement, you will have the chance to gain an additional Certificate or Diploma in Professional Practice, dependent on duration. The Diploma in Professional Practice incurs a fee for the additional placement year.
Preparing for the financial side of student life is important, but there's no need to feel anxious and confused about it. We hope that our fees and funding pages will answer all your questions.
You might be able to get a scholarship to help fund your studies. We award scholarships to those international students who can demonstrate excellent achievement, passion, and dedication to their studies.
Please take a look at our International students page for information about fees, scholarships for international students, visas and much more.
Getting in touch
For more advice and guidance, you can contact our Student Financial Support Service.
Tel: +44 (0)115 848 2494
What's included in the course fees?
The School will cover the costs of any mandatory study trips.
In Final Year, the Nottingham School of Art & Design will provide infrastructure costs for your Showcase.
If you’re selected to exhibit your work at a graduate show in London, the School will cover the cost of transporting your work, the exhibition stand and event set-up.
Additional costs
Print and copy costs
The University allocates an annual printing and copying allowance of £20 depending on the course you are studying. For more details about costs for additional print and copying required over and above the annual allowance please see the Printing, photocopying and scanning information on the Library website.
We advise you to budget between £150 - £360 per year for printing costs.
Material costs
Depending on the materials you choose to work with, you should budget a minimum of £500 (Year One), £800 (Year Two), and £1000 (Final Year) to cover the production costs associated to your course, including things like your final year project.
Student feedback suggest final year costs range from £650-£1800 depending on your collection. There are opportunities for material sponsorship with some projects.
Stationery and reading materials
Most study modules will recommend one or more core textbooks, which most students choose to purchase. Book costs vary between courses and further information is available in the University’s bookshop, Blackwell’s.
A good supply of these essential text books are available in the University libraries, which students can easily view digitally, borrow or access directly whilst studying in the library.
You should budget between £150 - £220 per year (minimum) for stationery and reading materials.
Field trips
All essential field trip costs will be included in your course fees. There may be the opportunity to take part in optional field trips, which do incur additional costs.
If you choose to join optional international study trips, you’ll need to budget £475 (minimum) in Year Two. If you choose to join an optional UK study trip in Final Year, you’ll need to budget £120 (minimum).
Placements
If you're undertaking a placement year, you'll need to budget for accommodation and any travel costs you may incur whilst on placement. Many of our placement students do earn a salary whilst on placement which can help to cover these living costs.
If you undertake work experience or a longer placement, you will have the chance to gain an additional Certificate or Diploma in Professional Practice, dependent on duration. The Diploma in Professional Practice incurs a fee for the additional placement year.
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.
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.
- Complete this simple form to keep in touch with the International Office.
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