| Program start date | Application deadline |
| 2023-09-01 | - |
Program Overview
Whether you’re interested in textiles for fashion, interiors, or products, our BA Textile Design course will nurture your creative, practical and professional skills. Learn to create contemporary textiles using our first-class digital and traditional knit, print and weave facilities. You’ll learn how to become a textile designer and gain industry experience throughout your studies.
You’ll explore different aspects of textile design in your first year, then choose to specialise in woven, knitted or printed textiles for the rest of your degree. You'll engage with industry and deepen your design practice in the second year, before you define yourself as a designer in your final year.
We have a vibrant, creative art-school campus with superb studio space and equipment, such as:
3 Shima Seiki computerised knitting machines and hand operated knitting machines
an industry-standard Mimaki fabric printer and a screen printing lab
a variety of looms, including an electronic dobby loom
CAD software packages
3D printing and laser cutting
You’ll learn traditional, manual processes alongside cutting-edge, digital techniques. We also strongly emphasise the future of the textiles industry, by exploring current issues such as sustainability.
As part of this textiles degree you can:
take an optional
year in employment
to gain work experiencetake part in industry design competitions
study overseas
at one of our partner universities in Europe, Canada or other international exchange destinationsvisit studios and attend talks from external industry speakers
take part in private views and the
degree show
at Winchester School of Art, all of which are attended by professionals from creative industriesYou'll also have the opportunity to work on live briefs with businesses in the industry. Previous students have worked with:
Rarethreads
Blendworth
Bobble
Program Outline
In your first year, you’ll explore and experiment by taking part in creative projects, workshops, seminars, lectures and optional study trips. This will help you identify your strengths and interests in preparation for choosing which pathway you want to specialise in for the rest of your degree:
printed textiles
- learn a wide range of screen printing, dye and CAD (computer aided design) processes for fabric, paper and more
knitted textiles
- exploring the structural, conceptual and technical possibilities of yarn, including hand and digital knit processes
woven textiles
- discover the process of weaving using different materials, new technologies, and hand processesYear 1 overview
Your 4 core modules will help you develop key knowledge and skills. You'll learn:
textile design skills and process
visual research, critical thinking and study skills
how historical and contemporary context and theory inform future design practice
At the end of your first year, you'll have the opportunity to choose between the pathways of printed, knitted or woven textiles.
Year 2 overview
Your second year will encourage experimentation and challenge your thinking and ideas. You’ll take more core modules to advance your existing skills, including:
Traditional and Digital Textile Processes
Critical Thinking and Writing for Textiles
You’ll choose another module from a broad range of topic options, such as:
Business Skills for the Creative Industries
Creative Futures - exploring democratic forms of innovation, including collaborative and environmental practices, activism, social innovation and economic sustainability
Creative Writing
Image and Branding
Visual Culture - the role of images in the construction of identity and the ways in which we understand the world around us
You’ll expand your practical experience by choosing to either:
learn how to work in the industry with the Professional Practice in Textile Design module
spend a semester at a
partner university
in Europe, Canada or other partners to explore textiles from a global perspectivetake a Year in Employment to experience working in a related industry
Year 3 overview
You’ll consolidate your experience to create a professional body of work to present to clients, employers, industry professionals and press at public shows and events.
Your final modules will equip you with the knowledge needed to work in the textile industry, including:
practical design skills
Professional and Industry Contexts for Textiles
Critical Thinking and Writing
Want more detail?
See all the modules in the course.
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For Academic year 202324
A-levels
BBB
A-levels additional information
A Level offers typically exclude General Studies and Critical Thinking.
More information about A-levelsA-levels with Extended Project Qualification
If you are taking an EPQ in addition to 3 A levels, you will receive the following offer in addition to the standard A level offer: BBC and grade A in the EPQ.
A-levels contextual offer
We are committed to ensuring that all applicants with the potential to succeed, regardless of their background, are encouraged to apply to study with us. The additional information gained through contextual data allows us to recognise an applicant's potential to succeed in the context of their background and experience. Applicants who are highlighted in this way will be made an offer which is lower than the typical offer for that programme.
or
International Baccalaureate Diploma
Pass, with 30 points overall with 15 points at Higher Level
More information about International Baccalaureate DiplomaInternational Baccalaureate contextual offer
We are committed to ensuring that all learners with the potential to succeed, regardless of their background, are encouraged to apply to study with us. The additional information gained through contextual data allows us to recognise a learner’s potential to succeed in the context of their background and experience. Applicants who are highlighted in this way will be made an offer which is lower than the typical offer for that programme.
International Baccalaureate Career Programme (IBCP) statement
Offers will be made on the individual Diploma Course subject(s) and the career-related study qualification. The CP core will not form part of the offer. Where there is a subject pre-requisite(s), applicants will be required to study the subject(s) at Higher Level in the Diploma course subject and/or take a specified unit in the career-related study qualification. Applicants may also be asked to achieve a specific grade in those elements. Please see the University of Southampton International Baccalaureate Career-Related Programme (IBCP) Statement for further information. Applicants are advised to contact their Faculty Admissions Office for more information.
or
BTEC
Distinction, Distinction, Merit in the BTEC National Extended Diploma in an art or design based subject Distinction, Distinction in the BTEC National Diploma plus B in an A level Distinction in the BTEC National Extended Certificate plus BB in two A levels
RQF BTEC
We are committed to ensuring that all learners with the potential to succeed, regardless of their background, are encouraged to apply to study with us. The additional information gained through contextual data allows us to recognise a learner’s potential to succeed in the context of their background and experience. Applicants who are highlighted in this way will be made an offer which is lower than the typical offer for that programme.
More information about BTECQCF BTEC
Distinction, Distinction, Merit in the BTEC Extended Diploma in an art or design based subject. Distinction, Distinction in the BTEC Diploma plus B in an A level Distinction in the BTEC Subsidiary Diploma plus BB in two A levels
We are committed to ensuring that all learners with the potential to succeed, regardless of their background, are encouraged to apply to study with us. The additional information gained through contextual data allows us to recognise a learner’s potential to succeed in the context of their background and experience. Applicants who are highlighted in this way will be made an offer which is lower than the typical offer for that programme.
orEntry requirements filter options
Show more entry requirementsAccess to HE Diploma Irish Leaving Certificate Scottish Qualification offers Cambridge Pre-U Welsh Baccalaureate
Access to HE Diploma
60 credits with a minimum of 45 credits at Level 3, of which 24 must be at Distinction and 21 credits at Merit
Access to HE additional information
Irish Leaving Certificate
Irish Leaving Certificate (first awarded 2017)
H2 H2 H3 H3 H3 H3
Irish Leaving Certificate (first awarded 2016)
B1 B1 B1 B1 B2 B2
Scottish Qualification
Offers will be based on exams being taken at the end of S6. Subjects taken and qualifications achieved in S5 will be reviewed. Careful consideration will be given to an individual’s academic achievement, taking in to account the context and circumstances of their pre-university education.
Please see the
University of Southampton’s Curriculum for Excellence Scotland Statement (PDF)
for further information. Applicants are advised to contact their Faculty Admissions Office for more information.
Cambridge Pre-U
M2 M2 M2 in three principal subjects
Cambridge Pre-U additional information
Welsh Baccalaureate
BBB from 3 A levels or BB from two A levels and B from the Advanced Welsh Baccalaureate Skills Challenge Certificate
Welsh Baccalaureate additional information
Offers typically exclude General Studies and Critical Thinking.
Welsh Baccalaureate contextual offer
We are committed to ensuring that all learners with the potential to succeed, regardless of their background, are encouraged to apply to study with us. The additional information gained through contextual data allows us to recognise a learner’s potential to succeed in the context of their background and experience. Applicants who are highlighted in this way will be made an offer which is lower than the typical offer for that programme.
Other requirements
UK students
International students
Other ways to qualify
GCSE requirements
Applicants must hold GCSE English language (or GCSE English) (minimum grade 4/C) and mathematics (minimum grade 4/C)
Find the
equivalent international qualifications
for our entry requirements.English language requirements
If English isn't your first language, you'll need to complete an International English Language Testing System (IELTS) to demonstrate your competence in English. You'll need all of the following scores as a minimum:
IELTS score requirements
overall score
6.0
reading
5.5
writing
5.5
speaking
5.5
listening
5.5
We accept other English language tests.
Find out which English language tests we accept.
You might meet our criteria in other ways if you do not have the qualifications we need. Find out more about:
skills you might have gained through work or other life experiences (otherwise known as
recognition of prior learning
)Find out more about our
Admissions Policy
.Foundation programmes for international students
A foundation programme will give you the language skills and subject knowledge you need if you're not qualified for direct entry to your chosen undergraduate course.
You'll progress to your chosen course after successfully completing the foundation programme.
Find out more about
undergraduate foundation programmes for international students
.
Non-academic entry requirements
All applicants will need to provide a portfolio of art work
Students requiring a visa to study in the UK
In addition to the University’s own English language proficiency requirements, the UK Home Office sets its own minimum standards for applicants requiring a visa to study in the UK. The current requirements are that:
English Language Tests
The University of Southampton accepts the following UKVI Secure English Language Tests:
Secure English Language Tests
must be dated within the two years immediately preceding the programme start date
as set out in any offer letter issued by the University.The University of Southampton also accepts the following English Language Tests:
Tests taken at a centralised test centre/venue:
iBT
(Test of English as a Foreign Language) The University of Southampton does not recognise MyBest scores and will only accept scores taken in one sitting within the 2 years immediately preceding the programme start date. Please note, we currently do not accept the TOEFLiBT
Paper Edition.Tests taken at home:
Non-SELT English Language Tests
must usually be dated within the two years immediately preceding the programme start date
as set out in any offer letter issued by the University.
Notes:
* You must present both certificates for the LanguageCert Level 1 Certificate in ESOL International (Bands FY, A, B, C, D, E) and the LanguageCert Level 2 Certificate in ESOL International (Bands F, G, H, I)
The University does not recognise any test not listed above.
