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Design for Textiles (Fashion, Interior, Art)

Course details
  • BA (Hons)
  • 4 Years
  • Full-time
  • 14/09/2026
  • Undergraduate
Course location
Scottish Borders

Course summary

Learn practical and academic skills working with some of the finest printing, weaving and knitting facilities anywhere in the UK. Our studios and workshops provide a professional creative space, where you’ll benefit from the real hands-on learning opportunities that come with access to our industry-standard facilities, equipment and space.

This highly creative course covers fashion and furnishing fabrics, accessories, wall coverings, gallery pieces, greeting cards, gift wrap and stationery products. It aims to encourage independent learning and development towards your selected pathways in printed and constructed woven, printed and knitted textiles. The combination of general textile lectures with those covering innovation will boost your knowledge in both traditional and cutting-edge approaches.

We place an emphasis on fabric making that responds to a brief. Many of the projects you’ll work on will involve recognised design studios and companies like leading colour forecast company Trend Bible and leading USA fabric producers Cotton Inc. Our students even have the opportunity to work with Old Navy to design prints for a specific sector, in a competition where the winner can secure a three-month paid placement in San Francisco as part of their internship scheme.

The way the course underpins your design skills with technology and marketing expertise means you’ll develop the highly sought-after skillset that employers are looking for, particularly in the woven and knitted textile industry. Many of our graduates have gone on to work for companies in Scotland, UK and the USA, such as Abercrombie & Fitch, Paul Smith and Gap.

Please visit our website for further information on our 3 year honours degrees

How to apply

Apply by
14 January

This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.

Application codes

Course code:
W232
Institution code:
H24
Campus name:
Scottish Borders
Campus Code:
S

Points of entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

  • Year 1
  • Year 2
  • Year 3

Open days

Entry requirements

Standard Qualification requirements

UCAS Tariff - Not accepted

A level - BCC

For entry to Year 2: BBC.

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016) - DMM

in a relevant subject for entry to Year 1. For entry to Year 2: DMM in relevant subject.

Scottish Higher - BBBB

Scottish Advanced Higher - ABB

plus A BBBB at Higher for entry to Year 2

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme - 29 points

For entry to Year 2: A total of 30 points required.

GCSE/National 4/National 5

It is also a requirement of every applicant to have English at a minimum of National 5 Grade C or GCSE Grade C or 4 (or equivalent)

Scottish HNC - Pass

HNC Pass in relevant subject for entry to Year 1. For Year 2 entry: HNC in a relevant subject with B in graded unit.

Scottish HND - Pass

HND in a relevant subject with a C in the graded unit for entry to Year 1. For Year 2/3 entry: HND in a relevant subject with BB in the graded units.

Foundation Apprenticeship (SCQF Level 6) - Pass

We accept Foundation Apprenticeships in combination with other qualifications such as SQA Highers and Advanced Highers.

T Level

We will consider T Levels as suitable for entry to our degree programmes, however, certain subject requirements may be required for entry to specific programmes. Where this is not evident as part of the T Level studies, we may ask for additional qualifications.

We operate contextual admissions defined by our Fair Access Policy which may mean entry requirements are flexible.

We accept a wide range of other qualifications from the UK, Europe and International countries. Please contact the Undergraduate Admissions Office for further information on the entry requirements for these.

Minimum Qualification Requirements

UCAS Tariff - Not accepted

-

A level - BCC

-

Scottish Higher - BBBC

-

GCSE/National 4/National 5 - It is also a requirement of every applicant to have English at a minimum of National 5 Grade C or GCSE Grade C or 4 (or equivalent).

-

Foundation Apprenticeship (SCQF Level 6) - Pass

We accept Foundation Apprenticeships in combination with other qualifications such as SQA Highers and Advanced Highers.

T Level

We will consider T Levels as suitable for entry to our degree programmes, however, certain subject requirements may be required for entry to specific programmes. Where this is not evident as part of the T Level studies, we may ask for additional qualifications.

The University guarantees to make a minimum entry offer to anyone who would be considered a Home or Rest of UK (RUK) applicant and who has achieved, or can achieve, the required grades from the following categories:

Priority postcode areas – Home Scottish applicants from SIMD20 postcodes or RUK applicants from POLAR 4 quintile 1 areas – identified through Scottish and UK government targets.

Care experience – Home Scottish or RUK applicants who have had experience of care, including adoption, kinship care, foster care and home supervision orders.

Additional entry requirements

Portfolio
Selection is by application and submission of a portfolio, which will demonstrate your aptitude to textiles through use of colour, texture, rhythmic pattern-making and a logical design process. The ability to produce observational work in the form of both controlled and gestural drawing, painting and relief work should also be shown. Applicants are invited to submit a digital portfolio before the end of February. Late submissions may be accepted, please contact portfolios@hw.ac.uk for more information. If upon review of a portfolio it is deemed appropriate, we will contact an applicant for interview. Online portfolio feedback sessions with an academic will be offered following your submission. What to include in your digital portfolio: Your application must include a portfolio of 10 to 15 carefully curated pages in PDF format. Please ensure that the images used in your submission are high resolution and of good quality. These images should include examples of past work and must include evidence of the following: Research and investigation: To show the level of your engagement in visual investigation and research and how well you apply and integrate it within a design project. This could be through the medium of notetaking, sketches, photographs, painting, collages and so on. Design development: To show your ability to explore and develop ideas in a creative and critical way; and your level of skill and ability in the use of different visual methods and techniques to express development. We want you to show a strong evolution of your work and ideas. Visual communication and presentation: To clearly communicate and visually express a few of your most successful design projects from start to finish in a professional way.

English language requirements

Applicants whose native language is not English and who have not been educated previously in the English language must provide evidence of their English language ability to ensure they can cope with the demands of a Heriot-Watt programme taught and assessed in English. Further information about the English Language tests that we currently accept as proof of English Language ability including our own English Language programmes, can be viewed on our website.

HWU English Language Requirements https://www.hw.ac.uk/study/entry/english-language-requirements.htm

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 realise that not everyone has an equal opportunity to evidence their full potential from school or college qualifications alone, so we use all the information you provide on your application form to assess both your current achievements and potential to thrive at university. Our minimum entry levels apply to MD20, POLAR 4 Q1 and care experienced students. Students from other widening access backgrounds may get an adjusted offer which is slightly lower than our standard entry requirements.

Learn more on the Heriot-Watt University website

Historical entry grades data BETA

This section shows the range of grades students (with UK A-Levels or Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diplomas) who received offers were previously accepted 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.

Not available

Historical entry grades data is not currently available for Heriot-Watt University - we are working with them to try and make it available soon - learn more.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

LocationFeeYear
England£9790Year 1
Northern Ireland£9790Year 1
Wales£9790Year 1
Channel Islands£9790Year 1
Republic of Ireland£9790Year 1
Scotland£1820Year 1
EU£20080Year 1
International£20080Year 1

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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