Stage 1
Unit 1: Textiles: Introduction to Study in Higher Education
Unit 2: Investigation, Exploration and Process
Unit 3: Research, Concept, Design and Communication
Unit 4: Cultural Histories and Theories (Textiles)
Stage 1 begins by introducing you to the three principal areas of Print, Knit and Weave, alongside visual research and colour skills. You will build design development skills and will be introduced to experimental ways of working and thinking. By developing collections of designs and fabrics, exploring two of the pathways in more depth, you will learn specialist processes associated with each area. This will help you to form the beginning of your own design direction.
Stage 2
Unit 5: Research Methods and Approaches (Textiles)
Unit 6: Speculation, Fabrication, Visualisation and Professional Context
Unit 7: Textile Design Experimentation and Innovation
Unit 8: Design, Context and Professional Development
During Stage 2 you will develop your research, practical and critical skills and focus your specialist interests and design strengths. Spring term marks the point where you begin to focus your studies on Print, Knit or Weave. Projects in this stage place a strong emphasis on personal expression, risk-taking and professional context. During this stage you will develop your professional and employability skills.
Stage 3
Unit 9: Major Project Research and Development: Identity, Proposal and Context
Unit 10: Dissertation
Unit 11: Major Project: Realisation and Presentation
Stage 3 allows you to push and refine the skills you have learnt so far. You will focus your personal design direction, developing innovative and resolved outcomes for a more focused design context. From the spring term, you will concentrate on your degree collection. For the dissertation unit, you are free to choose an area of study within art, design, media or popular culture.
Cultural studies
An important part of the course is cultural studies. This offers a range of ideas, skills and learning resources to analyse objects, images, spaces and practices in art, design, popular and media culture. Here you also work with students from other courses.
Cultural studies takes place in Stages 1, 2 and 3. You will explore key research methods and approaches. These include topics such as visual culture, material culture, social identity, modernity and postmodernity, consumption and taste, design activism, ethics and sustainability, race and the postcolonial, gender and sexuality.
Cultural studies enhances communication skills and provides a deeper understanding of the social and political contexts for creative work in design. The research and communication skills you will acquire in this part of the course are key skills expected of graduates.
Diploma in Professional Studies
Between Stage 2 and Stage 3 of the course there is an option for you to work with industry for the duration of an academic year (across three terms/two blocks) and complete a Diploma in Professional Studies. Whilst the Diploma is an optional aspect of the course, it is designed as an integrated and assessed part of your journey through the course, if you do take up this option. The Diploma results in a standalone qualification (rated at 120 credits), which involves researching, undertaking and reflecting on a 100 day/20-week (minimum) placement related to your professional interests and aspirations. The Diploma provides a valuable opportunity to make professional contacts and to develop your personal employability skills.
Exchange opportunities
Students enrolled on BA Textile Design have the opportunity to spend time studying outside of the UK at a partner institution. Studying overseas allows you to experience a new culture, an alternative perspective on the course’s subject discipline and different learning and teaching methods. The application process for these opportunities is competitive. Alongside this, BA Textile Design is actively engaged in the University’s Study Abroad scheme, with the incoming international students bringing an important additional dynamic to the course.
Currently only a small number of places are available, which will be subject to Government guidelines on travel abroad during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Mode of study
BA Textile Design runs for 90 weeks in full-time mode. It is divided into 3 stages over 3 academic years. Each stage lasts 30 weeks.
You will be expected to commit 40 hours per week to study.
Credit and award requirements
The course is credit-rated at 360 credits, with 120 credits at each stage (level).
On successfully completing the course, you will gain a Bachelor of Arts with Honours (BA Hons degree).
Under the Framework for Higher Education Qualifications the stages for a BA are: Stage 1 (Level 4), Stage 2 (Level 5) and Stage 3 (Level 6). In order to progress to the next stage, all units of the preceding stage must normally be passed: 120 credits must be achieved in each stage. The classification of the award will be derived from the marks of units in Stages 2 and 3 or only Stage 3, using a dual algorithm.
If you are unable to continue on the course, a Certificate of Higher Education (CertHE) will normally be offered following the successful completion of Level 4 (or 120 credits), or a Diploma in Higher Education (DipHE) following the successful completion of Level 5 (or 240 credits).
