Textile Design - BA (Hons)

Currently viewing course to start in 2025/26 Entry.

Textile Design explores the potential of fibres, yarns and processes to create cloth and materials with distinctive qualities and properties. It is a highly creative field with the potential to impact and enrich all aspects of our lives....

  • Level Undergraduate
  • Study mode Full Time

This course is:

Available with Professional Placement year

Open to International Students

Overview

Textile Design explores the potential of fibres, yarns and processes to create cloth and materials with distinctive qualities and properties. It is a highly creative field with the potential to impact and enrich all aspects of our lives. Knowledge in this area is key in making informed choices that will reduce the environmental and social impact of products, and can be used artistically to raise awareness and inspire behavioural change.

Our course nurtures fresh thinking and industry-ready designers and practitioners with expertise in the craftsmanship of Textile Design across the disciplines of Print, Weave, Knit, Embroidery and Material Innovation. The exciting potential of cross-disciplinary practice is supported and encouraged, giving you the option to either specialise or combine disciplines, embracing both digital technologies and traditional craft skills.

Through experimentation in dedicated textile workshops equipped with cutting-edge industry fa-cilities, you will develop the specialist skills, knowledge and experiences required to thrive in a growing field of industry roles and opportunities. Creative play and problem-solving is at the heart of learning and you will be guided by passionate and experienced staff as you discover your own personal expression through the language of design – colour, pattern, surface, texture and image. Birmingham is a vibrant and multi-cultural city providing exposure to diverse per-spectives and opportunities. Our inclusive creative community prioritises and celebrates indi-viduality, empowering and supporting you to embrace and embed this within your practice.

Career-focused teaching, industry live-briefs and integrated work-placements within the first two years of study will support you in identifying professional aspirations amongst the breadth of op-portunities within textile design industry and other related fields. Choice points help you focus your experience and collaborative opportunities build your confidence and professionalism. You will develop a portfolio of responsible and future-thinking design concepts to drive the industry’s transition to a circular sustainable economy and build healthy communities.

In your final year, you will have the autonomy to celebrate your individual practice and interests. Our Next Step module at the end bridges the gap between study and industry, helping you plan to achieve your ambitions within the support of your university network.

You will graduate with a clear vision of where you personally fit in the industry and a tailored pro-fessional portfolio to get started. Our award-winning graduates emerge as innovative practition-ers leading the way working for prestigious established brands or as influential entrepreneurs. They are in a wide variety of fulfilling and meaningful roles, shaping interior, fashion and cultural landscapes as Designers, Brand owners, Artists and Researchers.

This course is open to International students.

What's covered in this course?

The programme reflects the diversity of contemporary textile practice. We pride ourselves not only on the quality of our graduates, but also the diversity of their work. We want you to be you!

Find your direction

With creativity at the heart of learning, you will develop core design and technical skills while gaining vital professional and industry awareness. The course is brimming with choice points to help you focus your experience as you clarify your personal interests.

You will be introduced to wide-ranging textile processes within the core technical areas of print, weave, knit and embroidery and embrace both digital technologies and traditional craft skills. The exciting potential of cross-disciplinary practice is supported and encouraged, giving you the option to either specialise or combine disciplines to take forward as your means of expression.

Career-focused teaching and industry involvement is designed to support you in identifying professional aspirations from the breadth of opportunity within textile design, and help you to further tailor your learning and portfolio towards them.

Having developed a distinctive and career-focused portfolio through the course, our unique Next Step module at the end of the final year bridges the gap between study and industry, allowing you time to put relevant strategies in place to help you achieve your ambitions with the support of the university network. 

Professional Placement Year

This course offers an optional professional placement year. This allows you to spend a whole year with an employer, following successful completion of your second year, and is a great way to find out more about your chosen career. Some students even return to the same employers after completing their studies.

If you choose to pursue a placement year, you will need to find a suitable placement to complement your chosen area of study. You will be able to draw on the University’s extensive network of local, regional, and national employers, and the support of our Careers teams. If you are able to secure a placement, you can request to be transferred to the placement version of the course.

Please note that fees are payable during your placement year, equivalent to 20% of the total full-time course fee for that year.

Rosie Gee

Throughout the course we have had the opportunity to learn a variety of technical design skills through taught content and personal exploration, really allowing us as young designers to build a rich portfolio and wealth of knowledge in preparation for our venture into the industry. The course allows you to discover your own personal hand writing- encouraging us to celebrate our work and individuality in our ideas. The embroidery pathway has highlighted the endless possibilities for me in the design industry whether it be digital embroidery for a commercial application to hand embroidery for the luxury market. The creative freedom of the embroidery specialism has allowed me to identify my passion for couture embroidery and pushed me to explore traditional hand techniques. I thoroughly enjoyed the course as it opened up a variety of exciting opportunities for me from industry collaborations to embroidering an outfit for Beyoncé.

Rosie Gee, Head of Embroidery Designer at Jennifer Clair

Why Choose Us?

  • We have a wide range of traditional and cutting-edge equipment, technology, and facilities. We are the first University in the country and second in the world to have Coloreel Embroidery technology within our industry-grade workshops.
  • You will have the opportunity to work with and for a range of regional, national and global partners such as the National Trust, Jennifer Clair Couture, London and Joshibi University, Japan which will help you gain employable experience and build industry networks.
  • You will have the chance and support to showcase your work to industry-leaders and the public through a variety of opportunities and competitions from New Designers to the Bradford Textile Society Design Competition and the Hand & Lock Prize for Embroidery, where students have successfully won prestigious awards consecutively over the last four years.
  • You can enjoy and tailor your module learning to experience working within and for a variety of industry sectors helping you to identify personal professional ambitions and specifically tailor your portfolio.
  • We have received excellent feedback from our 2023 Graduates within the National Student Survey with 100% saying that the course allowed them to explore their own ideas and develop knowledge and skills needed for their future.

Open Days

Join us for an on-campus Open Day where you'll be able to learn about this course in detail, chat to students, explore our campus and tour accommodation.

Next Open Day: 19 October 2024

Book your place

Entry Requirements

These entry requirements apply for entry in 2025/26.

All required qualifications/grades must have been achieved and evidenced at the earliest opportunity after accepting an offer to help confirm admission and allow for on-time enrolment. This can also include other requirements, like a fee status form and relevant documents. Applicants can track their application and outstanding information requests through their BCU mySRS account.

Essential requirements

112 UCAS Tariff points. Learn more about UCAS Tariff points.

Please note: If you qualify for our BCU Accelerate scheme, you could receive an offer that is two grades below our normal entry requirements. Find out more about BCU Accelerate.

Applicants will also need to submit a good portfolio.

If you have a qualification that is not listed, please contact us.

Fees & How to Apply

Please select your student status to view fees and apply
  • UK Student
  • International Student

UK students

Annual and modular tuition fees shown are applicable to the first year of study. The University reserves the right to increase fees for subsequent years of study in line with increases in inflation (capped at 5%) or to reflect changes in Government funding policies or changes agreed by Parliament. View fees for continuing students.

Award: BA (Hons)

Starting: Sep 2025

  • Mode
  • Duration
  • Fees

International students

Annual and modular tuition fees shown are applicable to the first year of study. The University reserves the right to increase fees for subsequent years of study in line with increases in inflation (capped at 5%) or to reflect changes in Government funding policies or changes agreed by Parliament. View fees for continuing students.

Award: BA (Hons)

Starting: Sep 2025

  • Mode
  • Duration
  • Fees
  • Full Time
  • 3 years
  • £17,690 in 2025/26

Access to computer equipment

You will require use of a laptop, and most students do prefer to have their own. However, you can borrow a laptop from the university or use one of our shared computer rooms.

Printing

You will receive £5 print credit in each year of your course, available after enrolment.

Field trips

All essential field trips and associated travel costs will be included in your course fees.

Access to Microsoft Office 365

Every student at the University can download a free copy of Microsoft Office 365 to use whilst at university and for 18 months after graduation.

Key software

You will be able to download SPSS and Nvivo to your home computer to support with your studies and research.

Key subscriptions

Subscriptions to key journals and websites are available through our library.

Basic materials for testing

We will provide some basic threads/yarns/printing materials for initial testing and experimentation.

Project materials (mandatory)

This course includes project work that requires you to develop and produce a portfolio or collection. You'll be expected to provide the materials for use in your individual major projects; costs will vary depending on the materials selected, but is likely to be around £15 per module.

Media consumable items (mandatory)

This course requires the use of consumables, including a sketchbook for practical modules. You will also need to continue to add to your resource of art equipment when necessary.

Specialist equipment (mandatory)

This course requires the purchase of specialist equipment, including basic sewing equipment, scissors and drawing media (wet and dry).

Excess printing (optional)

Once you have spent your £5 credit, additional printing on campus costs from 5p per sheet.

Books (optional)

All module key texts will be in the University library, but in limited numbers. You may choose to purchase a copy.

Placement expenses (optional)

If you choose to undertake a placement, you'll need to budget for accommodation and any travel costs you may incur whilst living or working away from home.

Field trips (optional)

This course includes the option of additional trips that may enhance your experience, at extra cost.

Competition fees (optional)

If you choose to participate in some external design competitions you may need to cover submission fees.

External event expenses (optional)

If you choose to exhibit or participate in an external event, you may need to budget for exhibition, accommodation and travel costs.

Accommodation and living costs

The cost of accommodation and other living costs are not included within your course fees. More information on the cost of accommodation can be found in our accommodation pages.

Guidance for UK students

UK students applying for most undergraduate degree courses in the UK will need to apply through UCAS.

The Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) is a UK organisation responsible for managing applications to university and college.

Applying through UCAS

  1. Register with UCAS
  2. Login to UCAS and complete your details
  3. Select your course and write a personal statement
  4. Get a reference
  5. Pay your application fee and submit your application

Guidance for International students

There are three ways to apply:

1) Direct to the University

You will need to complete our International Application Form and Equal Opportunities Form, and submit them together with scan copies of your original academic transcripts and certificates.

2) Through a country representative

Our in-country representatives can help you make your application and apply for a visa. They can also offer advice on travel, living in the UK and studying abroad.

3) Through UCAS

If you are applying for an undergraduate degree or a Higher National Diploma (HND), you can apply through the UK’s Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS).

You can request a printed form from your school or nearest British Council office. You will be charged for applying through UCAS. Birmingham City University’s UCAS code is B25 BCITY.

Portfolio guidance

If you receive an offer to study this course, you will be required to submit a portfolio. We ask that this is submitted within four weeks of receiving your offer.

Please see our portfolio guidance page for tips on putting your portfolio together.

Portfolio guidance

If you receive an offer to study this course, you will be required to submit a portfolio. We ask that this is submitted within four weeks of receiving your offer.

Please see our portfolio guidance page for tips on putting your portfolio together.

Personal statement

UK / EU students are required to submit a personal statement as part of their application for this course.*

The personal statement gives you a crucial opportunity to say why you’re applying and why the institution should accept you.

Here are the key areas you’ll need to address:

  • Course choice - Why does this course appeal? What areas are of particular interest?
  • Career plans - If you have a specific career in mind, say how your chosen course will help you pursue this goal.
  • Work experience - Mention any work that is relevant to your subject, highlighting the skills and experience gained.
  • School or college experience - Highlight skills gained at school/college, eg summer schools or mentoring activities.
  • Non-accredited skills or achievement - eg Duke of Edinburgh Award, Young Enterprise scheme.

You should also mention your future plans – if you’re planning to take a year out, don't forget to give your reasons. Talk about any subjects you’re studying that don’t have a formal assessment and any sponsorships or placements you’ve applied for. And don't be scared to add in details about your social, sports or leisure interests.

Worried about Personal Statements?

If you've got no idea where to start or just want to check you're on the right track, we’ve got expert advice and real examples from our students to help you nail your personal statement. You can even download our ultimate personal statement guide for free.

Get personal statement advice

*Non-EU students are not required to submit a personal statement when applying for this course.

Course in Depth

Year one

Guided and encouraged by an experienced teaching team, engaged in current research or practice, and through workshop experiences supported by e-learning, you investigate key areas of weave, knit, embroidery and printed textiles before choosing one, or two technical areas to explore in the first year of the course.

In order to complete this course a student must successfully complete all the following CORE modules (totalling 120 credits):

Year two

In your second year, you explore trends and predictions in fashion and interior industries and explore the scope of career sectors and job roles open to textile designers. You shape your learning by choosing from a range of industry-focused and entrepreneurial design challenges and build professional experience through a collaborative design challenge or Work experience – all designed to help you identify your strengths and career interests.

In order to complete this course you must successfully complete all the following CORE modules (totalling 100 credits):

In order to complete this course a student must successfully complete at least 20 credits from the following list of OPTIONAL modules:

Professional Placement Year (Optional)

In order to qualify for the award of BA (Hons) Textile Design with Professional Placement Year a student must successfully complete the following module.

Year three

Your final year gives you the opportunity to hone your portfolio and experience to suit your career ambitions through focused projects.

In order to complete this course you must successfully complete all the following CORE modules (totalling 120 credits):

Download course specification

Download now

Course structure

Year 1

The first year is all about experimentation! You will engage with different approaches to drawing and idea generation, learn in depth about materials, composition and colour in relation to textile design, and be challenged with working to your first client brief. You will be introduced to our workshops to learn and sample in the areas of woven, knitted, embroidered and printed textiles, as well as MAT_er.LAB, our biomaterials experimental laboratory space. You will identify the technical language (or languages) that best suit your skills and interests.

A contextual lecture/ seminar programme builds knowledge of historical textiles which provides the vital reference points needed within contemporary design as well as critical thinking skills.

Year 2

In your second year, you will extend your technical skills while beginning to understand the scope of career opportunities open to you. You will start the year by learning about key industry sectors and developing a personal CV and creative promotional material to help you establish your areas of interest. 

You will then be introduced to and choose practical design challenges from across five key employment sectors which have been designed to help you consider your place within the industry: 

  • Bespoke Fashion Textiles
  • Contemporary Culture and Craft
  • Styling and Trend Forecasting
  • Surface Pattern and Technologies

You will study market and client awareness, trends in both fashion and interior design sectors, commercial considerations with industry-facing projects as well as business principles, ethics and sustainability issues.

You can then choose to end the year by undertaking a professional Work Placement, Collaborative Practice or Live Brief experience, building your knowledge in the workplace or working alongside other creative students from across the Faculty.

Year 3

In Year 3 you will continue your design journey in relation to your chosen career pathway and through your choice of textile language, but with a much more independent and self-directed focus.

You will begin by writing your dissertation around a subject of interest. This will often kickstart themes and concepts that can form the basis of practical work to follow. 

The final project is split into two modules, to help structure the experience. You will firstly engage in broad and personal contextual research to inform and inspire you in creating a professional portfolio of extended design work and resolve a creative brief that is aligned with your creative ambitions.

Our unique Next Step module then equips you with all you need to make the leap into employment or Post- Graduate study. You will create an action plan, extend your portfolio through targeted competition entries and promote your strengths and achievements via digital platforms – all designed to help you leave confident in pursuing your career ambitions.

Find your direction. Learn a range of textile skills, including print, then specialise in your second year.

The learning environment

Our teaching encompasses a wide range of learning and teaching methods, and immersive, interactive studio/workshop experiences are supported by e-learning to provide a holistic experience. Equipment includes a suite of digital printers, jacquard looms, computerised AVL studio looms, digital embroidery machines, V-bed Dubied knitting machines and laser cutting equipment, in addition to traditional facilities which comprise of a dye lab, screen-printing tables, transfer presses, flocking facilities, knitting machines, looms and rug tufting guns.

Studios, workshops, computer suites and library facilities operate late night access to suit night owls as well as early birds!  We have professional support teams on hand to help you every step of the way – organising Disability Support, wellbeing, housing or careers.

Supportive tuition in both one-to-one and combined groups scenarios throughout the course fosters the interchange of ideas and promotes critical thinking. The diverse experience of the academic staff reflects the course ethos – all are practising designers/visual artists and many have worked internationally.

The course actively fosters links with organisations and industry, providing a continuously updated contemporary educational experience.


Studio activities

Practical drawing sessions help to get design projects underway in a friendly and supportive environment, building your skills and confidence by sharing and learning as part of a peer group.

We design stimulating workshops and activities to help to develop problem-solving abilities and interpersonal skills as well as subject specific knowledge and help to prepare you for the real world by setting industry-facing briefs and running design projects as if in a commercial studio. With role-play sessions, reviews and critiques, you have opportunities to test your professional networking skills, ready to take to your perfect job.

Working alongside friends to learn and understand the subject of textiles in relation to the wider industry, you will participate in seminars to discuss contemporary design issues, such as ethical fashion, global trends and international manufacturing, while working out what makes you tick.

Employability

Enhancing your employability

Our BA (Hons) Textile Design degree is designed to develop and hone the skills, knowledge, vision and creativity to succeed in your own creative practice.

With strong level of craftsmanship in traditional and digital design, you will become adept at a number of textile processes, including print, embroidery, weave and knit. You will have multiple opportunities within every year of the course to experience working across a variety of industry sectors. This will provide you with a deeper understanding of where you fit within the industry and a tailored professional portfolio and promotional material.

Our award-winning graduates emerge as innovative practitioners leading the way as influential Brand owners, Artists, Researchers and Designers for prestigious established brands. As creative problem-solvers, they are in fulfilling and meaningful roles shaping our interior, fashion and cultural landscapes.


Links to industry

The College of Fashion and Textiles works with local, national and international businesses to enhance student learning through placements, workshops, live briefs and guest lectures from industry professionals.

Working in industry


Graduate Jobs

Our award-winning graduates progress to gain employment as Artists, Researchers, Educators, Trend Forecasters and Designers for a variety of prestigious and established brands, as well as influential brand owners.

Destinations: NEXT, Hobbs, Hand & Lock, Jennifer Clair, Coloreel, Amtico, CraftSpace, STYLUS, Unique Style Platform, Emma Shipley, Design44, MA at Royal College of Art, Jimmy Choo Fashion Academy.


Our Graduates

Emily Higgs

Emily Higgs

I'm a full-time Designer in the Product and Laying Pattern Design Team at Amtico Flooring.
I first heard about Amtico through the BCU tutors, whilst I was working at the University. After a quick interview process, I started a 6-month internship in June 2021 and have since worked my way up from an Intern, through to Junior Designer, to my current position.
My role is really diverse, from international travel to gather trend and market research, using CAD to recolour new print designs, through to collaborating with other departments across manufacturing to develop new laying patterns and even presenting new collections to global sales teams and customers.

The Textile Design course at BCU helped me understand how to develop cohesive commercial collections - no matter what the product!
The engagement from tutors, both during the course and since graduation, has helped grow my confidence in both my design and professional skills, and I definitely wouldn't be where I am today without their support!


Rebecca-Lewis-Textiles

Rebecca Lewis

Since graduating I have interned with Next menswear in the Print and Graphics Department. My internship with them came after my work was recognised at the 2018 New Designers exhibition, a hub for textile graduates to exhibit their work and make valuable contacts within the industry. The design department at Next contacted me directly after the exhibition and offered me the place.

Read more


Kate Hollowood

My current role is designer maker and company director of my company, Kate Hollowood Design. I work for myself and am currently the only employee, meaning I am responsible for everything involved in running a creative business; from making accounts to following up leads and attending trade shows as well as admin, pricing, quotes, diary bookings, product development and marketing…. the list goes on!

Read more


Gabbie-Armstrong-Textiles

Gabbie Armstrong

I was lucky to have a part time job in the fashion industry during my final year at university. It wasn’t easy to juggle work and study commitments at the same time but I was dedicated to building my career as soon as I could.

The trainee position at Outfit Fashion helped me to understand the company’s structure and the different roles I could have in the industry, but most importantly I learnt about applying the principles of buying/merchandising and design that I had been learning throughout the course. Once I graduated the position became a full time role and I was able to develop my skills within this field even further.

Read more


International

Birmingham City University is a vibrant and multicultural university in the heart of a modern and diverse city. We welcome many international students every year – there are currently students from more than 80 countries among our student community.

The University is conveniently placed, with Birmingham International Airport nearby and first-rate transport connections to London and the rest of the UK.

Our international pages contain a wealth of information for international students who are considering applying to study here, including:

Our international students

Our course is perfectly suited to students from around the world as we approach textiles from an international viewpoint. Students share experiences and learn from each other, and the teaching focuses, where possible, on the international design industry, from trends to manufacturing contexts, preparing graduates for jobs in the global market. Graduates from the course have worked overseas including USA, Saudi Arabia, France, Laos, Sweden and Finland.

Facilities & Staff

Our Facilities

Fashion and Textiles courses are based at our Parkside Building, which is part of our multi-million pound City Centre Campus development in the heart of Birmingham's Eastside development.

Our staff

Zoë Hillyard

Senior Lecturer and Course Leader

Zoë Hillyard is a Senior Lecture and Course Director for BA(Hons) Textile Design at Birmingham City University. She is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (HEA) and has over 20 years of lecturing experience in both national and international contexts. Zoe is also an established textile artist craft practitioner working with...

More about Zoë

Clare Langford

Lecturer in Textile Design

Clare Langford is a Senior Lecturer on the BA (Hons) Textile Design course and a Schools Outreach Coordinator for the School of Fashion and Textiles. She has taught in higher education for over 24 years, is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (HEA) and holds a PGCert in Enhancing Learning and Teaching in Higher Education. She has a background...

More about Clare

Poppy Braddy

Lecturer in Textile Design

Poppy Braddy is a Woven Designer, Material Researcher and Lecturer. She holds an MA in Textiles from the Royal College of Art and whilst completing her BA in Textiles in Practice at Manchester School of Art, spent time in exchange at Hong Kong Polytechnic University.

More about Poppy

Jane Watts

Senior Lecturer | Course Director of BA (Hons) Art Business (Level 6 Top-Up)

Jane is an interdisciplinary practitioner, and began her career in textile design. She has since worked as National Craft Advisor for the Women’s Institute in the charity sector, and has 20 years’ experience of teaching in higher education across a range of creative programmes.

More about Jane