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Summer Study Abroad - Textile Design
College
Central Saint Martins
Level
No prior subject experience required

Embark on an exciting textile design journey this summer with Central Saint Martins! Immerse yourself in a dynamic 3-week course where vivid creativity meets hands-on studio practice.

Course introduction

During your 3-week Textile Design course at Central Saint Martins, you will engage in both research-led and practical approaches to deepen your understanding of printed textile design. Working from your own primary research, alongside studio-based drawing and mark-making workshops, you will also take part in a museum drawing study day to broaden your visual investigations.

This early research will form the foundation for developing a collection of printed fabrics and papers suitable for fashion, interiors, or furnishings. You will experiment with a range of creative and developmental methods, using your own drawn, painted, collaged, and photographic material to design for print. Throughout the course, you will explore imagery, motifs, marks, colour, and scale across a variety of design layouts, building a strong understanding of how these elements function in printed textiles.

Your studio work will concentrate on composition and the thoughtful use of mark, colour, and design, while your workshop sessions will introduce you to a variety of print and dye techniques that will directly support and influence your fabric design development.

Dates and fees

Dates: 29 June 2026 – 16 July 2026
Fee: £2,630
Application deadline: 11 May 2026
Fee payment deadline: The full fee payment is due within 2 weeks of receiving your offer
Duration: 3 weeks, with classes Monday to Thursday
Location:  Central Saint Martins - Granary Square

Entry requirements

English requirements

You should be proficient in written and spoken English and be able to participate in group discussions and presentations. As a guideline we would expect you to have an English language level equivalent to IELTS score of 6.0. A certificate is not required.

Academic requirements

This course does not require any prior subject experience and is open to all levels. Students must be over 18 wanting an undergraduate-level of study.

Application requirements

When applying you will be required to provide us with:

  • A copy of your in-date passport. Your passport needs to cover the whole length of the course;
  • A 200-300 word personal statement. The personal statement should indicate why you plan to Study Abroad in London at UAL. You should also indicate why you would like to join the course for which you are applying.

Course details

Studio and workshop sessions will be complemented by visits to different places of interest. This includes galleries, museums and textile retailers. Your print design work will be based on independent research, gallery and library visits. At the end of the course you should have a sketchbook full of ideas, a collection of printed fabric samples exploring various techniques and a final piece(s). You will show your work in a group exhibition on the last day of the course.

Week 1 will concentrate on building design and research skills and understanding the role of a textile designer. We will achieve this through gallery and museum visits, a group ‘repeat print project’ and a talk by a visiting lecturer. You will develop your research over a 2 day group project. You are going to design and screen-print a repeat pattern in the workshop.

Week 2 will focus on your individual design development and is largely studio based. We will introduce you to a variety of techniques.  These include hand painting, screen printing, dyeing and finishing techniques like foiling and flocking.

Week 3 will explore further techniques like printing using heat press and fabric manipulation to create 3D forms. You will have individual tutorials with the tutors to develop your final concepts. We will encourage you to create a final piece based on all the techniques you have learnt for your exhibition.

Credits

  • This course is the equivalent to 4 US / 16 UK / 8 ECTS style credits. For more information check our credits and assessments page.
  • If you’re planning to claim credit towards your degree, be sure to check with your home institution before you apply. Please note that some institutions may have a different credit equivalence, please check this with your home institution.

Post-course

Study Abroad students receive a Record of Study 6-8 weeks after completion of their course. They will also receive a digital badge and downloadable certificate from Accredible after their Record of Study is issued. Badges can be shared in digital portfolios, used on CVs and added to social media profiles such as LinkedIn.

Why choose this course?

  • experience a taster of the BA Textile Design degree programme at Central Saint Martins.
  • learn from tutors who are practicing artists, designers and communicators.
  • meet like-minded individuals from around the world!
  • get involved in UAL life through social events and activities.
  • All courses are assessed and you'll receive a record of study at the end of the programme if you wish to request credit from your home institution.

Materials

You will be provided with a basic set of drawing paper, pens/pencils, and a sketchbook. You will also be provided with all printing materials and fabric for initial sampling but we encourage you to bring a variety of different fabrics (approximately 1m each) to experiment with.

Summer Study Abroad Award

We offer two Summer Study Abroad Award for for two students on one of our 3-week Summer Study Abroad courses.

To be eligible, you must be 18 years or older, hold an offer to join one of our 3 week Summer Study Abroad courses, and be enrolled on an undergraduate degree programme outside the UK.

  • The award covers the tuition-fee only and depends on you successfully enrolling for the course. Our cancellation policy still applies.
  • Award winners will be asked to take part in promotional activities to promote Summer Study Abroad, including social media posts and takeovers, and blog writing.

Find out how to apply.

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    Summer Study Abroad accommodation

    Book to stay in 1 of UAL's halls of residences.

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    We speak to Emma, who took our Summer Study Abroad: Textile Design and Advanced Fashion Design courses and gained a different perspective on her creative process.

  • Optional study abroad modules page.
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    All Summer Study Abroad courses

    Study from 3 to 8 weeks on one of our summer programmes.Study from 3 to 8 weeks on one of our summer programmes.

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    Study Abroad Summer Fashion Show, image by Jieying Shao

    Visas and immigration

    Check which visa you need and start planning your travels!

Textile Design

  • Image credit: Adam Razvi
  • Image credit: Adam Razvi
  • Image: Adam Razvi
  • Image credit: Adam Razvi
  • Image credit: Adam Razvi

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