Key information
- Funding
- Self-funded
- School
- Textiles and Design
- Location
- Scottish Borders
- Award
- PhD
- Delivery type
- Full-time, Part-time
- Start date
- September
A historical market town with a rich heritage, Galashiels was established in the 19th century to support the flourishing textiles industry. The school - a beautiful mill, formerly owned by Bernat Klein - boasts strong industry ties with our local manufacturers, who still serve the global luxury fashion and interiors market.
The Fashion Design PhD includes a wide range of topics from smart garment design for health monitoring, to the examination of medieval dress and its construction and meanings. A leading education and research institute, with specialist resources and industry standard production equipment that are amongst the best in the UK, our facilities include full software licences, a rich archive, textile sampling, laser cutting and a fully equipped industrial sewing workshop.
Entry requirements
Candidate criteria
Contact the School to discuss. You should also refer to our PhD pages for advice on undertaking a research degree and developing your research proposal.
Funding information
| Status | Full Time | Part Time |
|---|---|---|
| Scotland | £5,151 | £2,575.50 |
| England / Wales / N Ireland | £5,151 | £2,575.50 |
| International | £20,456 | £10,228 |
- Status: Your residency status is usually defined as the country where you have been ordinarily resident for the three years before the start of your course.
- International: 'International' includes applicants from European Union countries who do not hold Pre-Settled or Settled status in UK. (This does not include students from the Republic of Ireland - see above).
Additional information
Please note that all PhD Opportunities are self-funded and the above fees are based on an annual figure which may increase year on year.
PhD Scholarships for the School of Textiles and Design are rare and highly sought after. Please refer to our PhD Scholarship page for more information.
We offer a number of competitive funded scholarships for research degrees. Full or partial support may be available for well-qualified candidates from UK research councils, research pools, charities or industry.
View our full range of scholarships.
Why Heriot-Watt
We have been producing career-ready graduates since 1821. With our roots as the world’s first Mechanics Institute, Heriot-Watt is a pioneering university with a global reach.
At Heriot-Watt, learning goes beyond the lecture theatre. We tackle real world challenges through extraordinary research – from climate change to protecting our oceans, to advancing life-saving medical breakthroughs and shaping the next generation of AI. We are also committed to developing forward-thinking design and sustainable business practices that impact industries worldwide. On our campuses you’ll find some of the world’s most advanced facilities, while our strong industry links set you up for career success. This is why almost 90% of our graduates are in employment or further education (Graduate Outcomes Survey 2024).
