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Textile Design

  • 3 Study options
  • Undergraduate
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More about Arts University Plymouth

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2026-20272027-2028
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Course summary

The textile industry is evolving rapidly. We see this as an exciting opportunity to nurture independently minded designers ready to meet the demands of a dynamic, forward-thinking industry.

Blending traditional, digital and experimental practices, BA (Hons) Textile Design at Arts University Plymouth is built around innovation and sustainable thinking, combining craftsmanship and precision through hands-on making, colour and material development, and emerging technologies that amplify your ideas.

At a glance

  • Degree: BA (Hons) Textile Design

  • UCAS codes: 3-year degree WYC2 / 4-year extended degree J400

  • Typical UCAS points: 104–120

  • Course approach: project-based, student-led and collaborative

Sustainable thinking, colour and material innovation

You will explore regenerative and circular design through hands-on, non-toxic processes, alongside the creative science of colour and material development. This includes experimenting with natural dyes, responding to projects that explore biomaterials, and developing innovative applications that shape the future of textiles.

You will also work with our natural dye garden and locally sourced materials, supporting an ethos of environmentally responsible design.

Digital tools, AI and prototyping

Engage critically and creatively with emerging technologies that provide new ways to amplify your ideas, using AI, 3D modelling and digital prototyping to strike a balance between craftsmanship and precision.

Facilities, studios and resources

Dedicated textile print room and knit, dye, stitch and tufting studios, alongside access to Fab Lab South West tools such as laser cutters, CNC machines and 3D printers.

Inspired by place in Britain’s Ocean City

Studying in Britain’s Ocean City, you will draw inspiration from the dramatic coastlines of Devon and Cornwall and the raw textures of Dartmoor.

You’ll ground global ideas in the hyperlocal through briefs, materials and partnerships.

Industry software and trend awareness

Use software trusted across the industry, AVA, Adobe Creative Cloud, WGSN and The Future Laboratory, helping you build the trend awareness and technical fluency needed to respond to global markets.

Live projects and international opportunities

This course is project-based, student-led and collaborative. You’ll work on live projects and gain industry insight through guest lectures with organisations such as Finisterre, National Trust, Mercedes, Princess Yachts, Red and RAMM.

International opportunities typically include visits to leading trade shows such as Première Vision, Maison&Objet and Heimtextil, with recent trips to Milan, Paris, Amsterdam, St Ives and London.

Why choose this course?

  • Create with purpose: explore non-toxic processes, natural dyes and future-facing sustainable design.

  • Get hands-on: access specialist textile studios and cutting-edge digital tools in our Fab Lab.

  • Be inspired by place: work with materials and ideas rooted in our coast, moors and natural dye garden.

  • Connect with industry: collaborate on live projects and gain experience through global trips and events.

  • Shape your future: graduate with the skills, mindset and adaptability to thrive across fashion, interiors and material innovation.

Careers and future opportunities

Career opportunities include: Textile Designers, Surface Pattern Designers, Design Stylists, Trend Forecasters, Materials Researchers, Textile Buyers and Sustainable Design Consultants.

Our graduates leave with an interdisciplinary mindset. They are adaptable, critical thinkers ready to innovate across the design industries, from fashion and interiors to material research and beyond.

Modules

Course Modules

Arts University Plymouth offers a year long sandwich year option. Framed within the institution’s innovative Common Unit Framework, the sandwich year experience is offered as a unit that contributes to your BA (Hons) Degree.
The sandwich year can take the form of an internship or work placement, and can take place in the UK or abroad. It is intended to give you the possibility of gaining experience in art and design practice in a ‘real life’ industry setting, before you return to complete the final year of your degree. You will be able to build your CV and, if you choose to take on your sandwich year outside of the UK, enhance your experience of international creative practice.
Sandwich year placements will be selected by each student who wishes to take one, assisted by Course staff within AUP. Opportunities may also come through corporate approaches to AUP or through links built by your course tutors. Each placement opportunity will be reviewed by the University before being approved to ensure its suitability to be part of your course. During the Sandwich Year you remain enrolled at AUP with access to IT and your email accounts, online library and learning support.
Once approved, the sandwich year will count towards your overall degree and completion of it will be acknowledged on your degree certificate.

Ways to study this course

Campuses

  • Main Site

Study options

  • Bachelor of Arts (with Honours) • Full-Time • 3 Years
  • Bachelor of Arts (with Honours) • Full-Time • Placement (mandatory) • 4 Years
  • Bachelor of Arts (with Honours) • Part-Time • 6 Years

Start dates

Application codes

Institution code:
P65

Arts University Plymouth has participated in the Teaching Excellence Framework. These ratings were awarded in 2023, for four years.

See why these ratings were awarded
What does this TEF outcome mean?

How to apply

Application codes

Institution code:
P65

This course may be available at alternative locations, please check if other course options are available.

Course options

Entry requirements

Typical qualification requirements

UCAS Tariff
104-120

Although many of our students do come in with top grades and high UCAS points, these aren’t necessarily essential for entry. We typically ask for a minimum of 104 UCAS points, but we understand that talented artists, designers and makers can have a wide range of relevant strengths and skills beyond formal qualifications. We’re just as interested in exploring your portfolio as we are in seeing your grades.

Your application will tell us about your qualifications and previous experience, but studying the arts is about more than can be captured on forms. We need to find out about your creative potential, your abilities and idiosyncrasies, so we will invite you to talk about your work with a member of our HE academic team. You can tell us about your aspirations, and why you want to study at the university. It is also a good moment to find out what we can offer you.

We encourage you to visit the university, so that you can see our facilities, meet our teaching and technical staff, and discuss any other queries you may have; however we appreciate this may not be possible, and are happy to talk to you via an online platform (such as Google Meet or similar).

We accept a range of international qualifications and will look at each application individually.

Entry requirements for students joining after Year 1: We will look at your application on an individual basis, but you must evidence 120 Level 4 credits from another HEI https://www.aup.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/how-to-apply

Additional entry requirements

Portfolio
If your application meets our entry requirements, we’ll invite you to submit your portfolio, so that we can review your work and find out more about your creative potential. You will have the opportunity to submit your portfolio digitally, or in person at one of our Applicant Experience Days. At an Applicant Experience Day, you'll also get the chance to discuss your portfolio with a member of our academic team.

English language requirements

TestGradeAdditional details
IELTS (Academic)6IELTS (Level B2):overall score of 6.0 with minimum scores Listening: 5.5, Speaking: 5.5, Reading: 5.5, Writing: 5.5
Trinity ISEPassIntegrated Skills in English II (Level B2), minimum grades required: Reading: Pass Listening: Pass
PTE Academic50PTE Academic (Level B2), minimum grade required: Listening: 50, Reading: 50, Writing: 50, Speaking: 50

https://www.aup.ac.uk/international/language-requirements

Contextual admissions

Universities and colleges consider more than grades when assessing applications and may make offers based on a range of criteria. Learn more about contextual offers.

We believe in making tailored offers that recognise that artists, designers and makers can have a wide range of relevant experience and skills beyond formal qualifications. We therefore require all applicants to submit a portfolio of work as a condition of any offer to study with us. This allows applicants the opportunity to demonstrate their creative skills, and what they’re passionate about. Following a successful portfolio review, offers will be tailored on an individual basis.

Historical entry grades data

This section shows the range of grades that students who received offers were previously accepted on to this course with (learn more).

It is designed to support your research but does not guarantee whether you will or won't get a place.

Admissions teams consider various factors, including interviews, subject requirements, and entrance tests. Check all course entry requirements for eligibility.

This course may have Historical entry grades data available, please select a course option to view.

Course options

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

Per year tuition fees

LocationFeeYear
England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, Channel Islands & Republic of Ireland£10050*
EU & International£17500

* This is a provisional fee and subject to change.

Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website.

Additional fee information

No additional fees or cost information has been supplied for this course, please contact the provider directly.

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