Heriot-Watt University

Go Global:

  • Erasmus+
  • Exchange

The course

UCAS code
W232
Duration
4 years
Location
Scottish Borders
Delivery type
Full-time

This highly creative textiles course is designed to offer a balance between theory and practice – particularly when it comes to fabric design methodology and fabric production techniques.

Find out how to apply More about this subject area

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Overview

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.

The course is taught in our Scottish Borders Campus, which sits close to the heart of Scotland’s luxury textile industry. This is your chance to study in an area that’s home to some of the UK’s top design and production facilities for textiles and fashion. Find out more about what this award-winning course has to offer on our School pages.

Go Global

With Go Global, Heriot-Watt's global student programme, you can carry your studies to new places and experience new cultures, expanding your horizons on the way.

You'll discover what it means to be a true global citizen and emerge prepared for wherever your career journey will take you.

Register to receive programme news and updates

Course content

Detailed course guide

Year 1

Build a foundation for your future development with a combination of lectures and practical classes designed to help you choose your specialism. Practical projects in printed, woven and knitted textiles and CAD are underpinned by design development projects covering areas such as drawing, painting and material manipulation. We encourage you to explore sampling and mixing techniques to discover a wealth of fabric outcomes.

Year 2

Choose either printed or constructed textiles (knit and weave) and explore a range of both fashion and interior textile projects. Study tours are organised to help you make contacts with studios and attend London Design Week and you’ll have the opportunity to visit exhibitions and museums as a vital part of visual and market research. We also take a trip to London in second year to take a closer look at some working textile design studios. The school use personal contacts to secure visits that would be hard to arrange independently.  Many students have even secured internships off the back of these visits.

Year 3

Now you really show your skills. We’ll encourage you to enter national and international competitions and work on live briefs from external companies. During third year there’s a real emphasis on getting career ready, with a specific focus on developing your portfolio, so you’re ready to apply for internships over the summer period.

Working in this environment helps you evaluate your work critically and present professionally. Student exchanges are available, and a foreign study tour allows students to experience trade fairs Premiere Vision and Indigo in Paris. 

Year 4

After three years of design work and textile innovation you’ll be ready to embark on a personal project. This is accompanied by the choice of lecture series that provides either an in-depth context analysis or forming a marketing strategy for you work. After the completion of everyone’s projects, a number of stand-out students are chosen to exhibit their final collection of designs at the New Designers exhibition where the course has been recognised by constantly winning awards from companies such as The Worshipful Company of Weavers, John Lewis and the Clothworkers company.

Employability

Managerial/professional position

  • 75% of those working are in a professional/managerial position six months after graduating.

Jobs

These are the most common jobs students go into six months after graduating:

  • Design occupations
  • Sales occupations
  • Business and public service associate professionals

Entry requirements

Year 1

Standard entry requirements

  • Highers ABBB (including English)
  • A-Levels BBC
  • Int. Baccalaureate 29 points
  • BTEC DMM (in a relevant area)

Minimum entry requirements*

  • Highers BBBC (including English)
  • A-Levels BCC

* Minimum: under our Fair Access Policy, we will relax our standard entry requirements for some Scottish students depending on their circumstances. Our minimum requirements will apply if you:

  • live in an area within the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation lowest 20% (SIMD20), or
  • are care experienced.

We can also make exceptions for some Scottish students with grades above minimum but below standard. Read more about our Minimum and standard entry requirements

Year 2

  • HNC A in graded unit (in a relevant HNC)
  • BTEC DDD (in relevant subject)

Level 2 entrants are specialists in printed, woven and knitted textiles.

Year 3

  • HND A in graded unit (in relevant HND)

Level 3 entrants are specialists in printed, woven and knitted textiles. 

Additional information

  • This degree is also available through a partnership route at Glasgow Clyde College. For more information, please contact studentrecruitment@hw.ac.uk 
  • Selection is normally by application and submission of a portfolio, which should show 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 demonstrated. Our portfolio requirements are explained in the Guidelines to Applicants for Portfolio Programmes.
  • For all years, applications are welcomed from holders of non-school qualifications,  mature candidates and overseas students.
  • If you do not see your qualifications here please contact us at studywithus@hw.ac.uk
  • Please check that you meet our University-wide National 5/GCSE (or equivalent) English and Maths requirements.

English language requirements

  • If English is not your first language, you have to show that your English is good enough to succeed on your course. Please see our English language requirements.

Fees

Tuition fees for 2020 entry (by residency status)
Status* Scotland / EU** England / Northern Ireland / Wales*** International
Fee Paid by SAAS £9,250 £15,080

* 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. Find out more about tuition fees.

** European Union countries (not including England, Northern Ireland or Wales).

*** 'Rest of the UK' (RUK) students entering at Level 1 receive a fee waiver of one year's tuition fee. Normally this will be the final year, or a year during which students study abroad (either at a partnership institution, or at one of Heriot-Watt's overseas campuses).

4 years for the price of 3

If you live in England, Wales or Northern Ireland, study with us and save £9,250 over your 4-year degree.

Additional costs

You may incur additional costs in the course of your studies at Heriot-Watt over and above tuition fees in an academic year. Depending on your programme of study, these may include: protective equipment, field trips, professional memberships, studio fees, required course texts or other study resources.

***There is a consumable fee, charged per year of study. Current 2017/18 rates are £194 per year, for this course.

Scholarships and bursaries

Featured scholarships

Bursaries for students from England, Northern Ireland or Wales starting undergraduate degree courses in 2020

In addition to government loans and grants towards the costs of fees and living costs, we are offering generous financial support to attract and support eligible students from England, Northern Ireland or Wales:

View our full range of undergraduate scholarships.