Textile Sustainability and Innovation MSc

Program Overview

The MSc Textile Sustainability and Innovation program at Leeds prepares graduates to address environmental and societal challenges in the textile and fashion industries. This advanced degree encompasses sustainable material development, innovative design techniques, and core competencies in textile technology and design. Students acquire practical skills through laboratory experience and develop expertise in specialized areas aligned with their career aspirations.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

Fashion and textile businesses across the world are seeking sustainable raw materials and manufacturing methods for designing innovative products whilst maintaining quality and meeting the needs of their consumers. This course will prepare you to discover and drive sustainable and innovative textile solutions to address global environmental and societal challenges facing the global fashion and textile industries. You’ll gain an advanced understanding of the role of technology in the development of textile materials and products, including contemporary innovations in the fashion and textile industry. You’ll also develop core skills in textile and apparel technology, whilst gaining commercial awareness and an understanding of product development, design and manufacturing processes. Optional modules will also give you the chance to specialise in areas aligned to your interests and career aspirations. Practical experience including laboratory research, problem-solving and report writing will prepare you for your future career. You’ll be taught by leading academic staff with a range of expertise and industry experience spanning performance design, sustainability, textile technology, colour technology, healthcare and technical textiles.

Outline:

Year 1 compulsory modules:

• Research Project: 60 credits
• Textile and Apparel Design Technology: 45 credits
• Textiles Systems and Sustainable Innovation: 30 credits
• Textile Product Design, Innovation and Development: 15 credits

Year 1 optional modules (selection of typical options shown below):

• Healthcare Materials and Products: 15 credits
• Digital Design and Printing: 15 credits
• Technical Textiles and Nonwovens: 15 credits
• Colour Forecasting to Retails: 15 credits

Assessment:

On the MSc Textile Sustainability and Innovation you will be assessed through a variety of methods, these include essays and examinations as well as practical and project work, laboratory reports, literature reviews and presentations. This combination will develop and enhance your technical, professional, and transferable skills. You’ll also benefit from timely and explicit formative feedback from your tutors to help develop your learning. Formative assessment gives staff an opportunity to give you feedback on personal progress, in good time before a summative deadline. In Semesters 2 and 3, you will undertake your major Research Project which will require you to demonstrate in-depth, specialist knowledge of a related topic. Authentic assessment means relevant assessment; relevant in terms of contemporary contexts and to your personal interests and future aspirations. The authenticity of assessment is an important consideration in how we design assignments and project briefs. This means that we think carefully about the relevance of assessment outcomes; in academic terms as well as your chosen career path, skill development needs and the future of work in your chosen discipline. Dialogic teaching methods emphasise in-class discussion and support staff/student debate. This approach to teaching and learning enables staff to hear all student voices. While remaining considerate of module and programme learning outcomes, where relevant and beneficial, we strive to adopt a flexible approach to assessment design. We aim for all assessment to be relevant, meaningful and engaging.

Teaching:

Creative problem solving and design thinking methods are central our teaching in the School of Design. Your learning will be enhanced by a range of contemporary teaching methods which encourage active learning and are underpinned by inclusive and authentic learning activities, which may include team working, interactive sessions and industry facing scenarios. We follow a campus based blended learning approach; you’ll have a range of resources in the virtual learning environment which are accessible at all times, including videos and pre-work to help you prepare. You’ll attend lectures which are carefully designed to invite engagement and participation, seminars enable you to delve deeper into key topics, lab sessions to practise and apply your learning. Collaboration with staff and your peers is the foundation of our teaching and learning, giving students input into their learning journey. Private study is important and is a space where you can reflect and critique materials from taught sessions, including further research, thinking, reading and writing. You will be guided through this process by your tutors to help you develop your knowledge and research skills. You’ll also have the ongoing support of your Academic Personal Tutor. You may also be taught by industry professionals with years of experience, as well as trained postgraduate researchers, connecting you to some of the brightest minds on campus.

Careers:

This degree will equip you with a diverse range of knowledge and professional skills. Career opportunities include sustainability management roles in fashion and textile industry and retailors, textile innovation and/or product development, fashion buyers, textile management, technical consultancy, garment technologists, testing laboratory professionals, technical marketing and support, colour technologists, retail and supply chain management, textile technology/engineering positions, project scientists and quality assurance. Specialist facilities include state of the art equipment for polymer synthesis, fibre extrusion, yarn and fabric development (including woven, knitted and nonwoven) as well as a digital printing studio and a laboratory for materials testing and characterisation. The School is also home to the Future Fashion Factory project which supports innovation in the UK fashion and textiles industry. In 2018, we opened our 3D Weaving Innovation Centre which is leading the way in 3D weaving technology, design and production. You’ll have the opportunity to develop skills and techniques in these facilities, particularly in relation to the research you will undertake for your dissertation.

£15,250 (Total) International fees:

£30,250 (Total)