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Hand Embroidery

  • BA (Hons)
  • 3 Years
  • Full-time
  • 21 September 2026
  • Undergraduate
Royal School of Needlework
More about Kingston University

Course options

2025-20262026-2027
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Course summary

Reasons to choose Kingston

  • The hand embroidery techniques taught on this course are unique.

  • Small cohorts enable a high level of student/tutor contact time.

  • Learning through making – explore a kinaesthetic methodology across theory and practice.

  • Our commitment to high quality teaching has been recognised with a Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) Gold rating. The University has received an overall rating of Gold, as well as securing a Gold award in the framework's two new student experience and student outcomes categories.

About this course
This Hand Embroidery course is a specialist degree programme taught by the Royal School of Needlework (RSN). Hand embroidery techniques taught in the first and second year at the RSN are unique; no other provider in the world offers such teaching and learning. Students are expected to engage with experimental approaches to visual research and design, which underpins and informs all hand embroidery practice.

Studio-based learning is by project, with individual and group tutorials and reviews enabling the individual views and knowledge of each student to be valued equally. Students are encouraged to challenge their creative ideas and individual outcomes through our supportive tutorial feedback process.

Students are expected to engage with experimentation and enquiry to inform their theoretical and creative practice. The design of the curriculum connects theoretical and practice-based learning through thematic projects and learning opportunities.

Future Skills
Embedded within every course curriculum and throughout the whole Kingston experience, Future Skills will play a role in shaping you to become a future-proof graduate, providing you with the skills most valued by employers such as problem-solving, digital competency, and adaptability.

As you progress through your degree, you'll learn to navigate, explore and apply these graduate skills, learning to demonstrate and articulate to employers how future skills give you the edge.

At Kingston University, we're not just keeping up with change, we're creating it.

Career opportunities
Work in costume creation and high-end bespoke fashion design or heritage preservation and craft.

Modules

Example modules
– Drawing for Design
– Hand Embroidery Practice
– RSN Technical Hand Embroidery
– Contextual Studies: Hand Embroidery

To view the full list of modules, please visit the University course webpage.

Assessment method

All modules have a Formative and Summative Assessment point.

Ways to study this course

Campuses

  • Royal School of Needlework

Study options

  • BA (Hons) • Full-time • 3 Years

Start dates

  • 21 September 2026

Apply by
14 January

This is the equal consideration deadline. You can still apply after this date, but your application may not receive guaranteed consideration.

Application codes

Course code:
W237
Institution code:
K84
Campus name:
Royal School of Needlework
Campus Code:
6
Points of Entry:
Year 1

Kingston University 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

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:
W237
Institution code:
K84
Campus name:
Royal School of Needlework
Campus Code:
6

Points of entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

  • Year 1

Open days

Entry requirements

UCAS Tariff
112 - 128 points

A level
BBC - ABB

Or A Levels at equivalent to 112 - 128 UCAS points.

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

Pearson BTEC Extended Diploma (QCF)
DMM - DDM

GCSE/National 4/National 5

Four GCSE passes at grade A*-C and/or grade 4-9 including English.

T Level
M

Please note: This course does not have an integrated Foundation Year (Year 0) included in the degree.

Find out more about qualification requirements for this course.

Additional entry requirements

Interview
Interview details will be provided by the Royal School of Needlework once your application has been received by the admissions tutors. All applicants to the course are guaranteed an interview – either onsite or online with their portfolio of work.
Portfolio
Portfolio details will be provided by the Royal School of Needlework once your application has been received by the admissions tutors. Entry onto this course requires submission of a portfolio. All applicants to the course are interviewed with their portfolio. All applicants to the course are guaranteed an interview – either onsite or online with their portfolio of work. This is a formal application requirement to the course. Typically, portfolios which we review at interview may include a range of the following and showcase a wide range of drawing and thematic art and design led projects which evidence: A portfolio of in-depth art and design investigation which includes primary drawing, design development, sketchbooks (colour development, mixed media development, artist, and designer research) to inform thematic projects, and which evidence in-depth engagement with the subject / theme. Material sampling which evidences a range of exploratory and innovative material-based outcomes. These can be in any media or format and may be 2D/3D. The portfolio will then enable you to discuss your creative journey from inspiration, primary drawing through to design, sampling and outcomes during your interview.

English language requirements

Minimum English language requirements: If your first language is not English and you require a visa to study in the UK a certificate is required as evidence that you have an Academic IELTS score of 6.0 overall with 5.5 in each element or equivalent.

English language requirementshttps://www.kingston.ac.uk/study/international-students/english-language-entry-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.

When assessing your application, we’re looking for evidence of your ability, potential, passion for your subject and the skills and experience you have to evaluate your suitability for a course.

Our course entry requirements include tariff ranges. We vary the required UCAS Tariff points in our offers as we consider each application individually and use a number of factors to build an offer that is tailored to you, this includes your personal statement and predicted grades.

Learn more on the Kingston University website

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.

Not enough data available

We are unable to show previous accepted grades for this course. This could be because the course is new, it's a postgraduate course, there isn't enough historical data, or the provider has opted out of sharing their entry grades data for this course - learn more.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

Per year tuition fees

LocationFeeYear

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

Please visit the provider’s course webpage for the most accurate details on tuition fees including Foundation Year O, international fees, and any additional course costs.

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