Textile Design MA

About the course

This course is now closed for 2013 entry.

This course provides a stimulating environment for the professional and individual development of highly-motivated, dedicated and innovative graduates from Textile Design disciplines such as Mixed Media Textiles, Constructed Textiles, Printed Textiles, Surface and Accessory Design.

It provides a vibrant educational experience which builds on a unique approach to Textile Design and proposal of study. The promotion of critical and contextual understanding of your practice, business acumen and entrepreneurship within the industry of Textiles is part of the philosophy of the course ‘To design and create bespoke or commercial textiles for body or space which employ innovative and traditional skills underpinned by a high level of craftsmanship motivated by entrepreneurial drive, a strong personal vision or a unique idea’.

The staff team who are all active designers and researchers ensure current knowledge and industry awareness, complemented by a rolling programme of Visiting Lecturers who are leading practitioners in the field. Individual members of team have exhibited and presented research recently in Europe, India and Australia and at large regional centres in the UK.

You should consider the MA in Textile Design if you wish to:

• Develop a professional body of work and expertise in contemporary practice in Textile Design to offer to the textile industries, bespoke, couture craft or commercial skills
• Experience a high level of specialist teaching in Mixed Media Textiles, Constructed Textiles, Printed Textiles, Surface and Accessory Design
• Engage in using an individual studio space in a lively and stimulating environment where MA and PhD students work alongside each other
• Study Textiles in Leicester, in a city with long history, which has been a specialist subject in an art school environment for more than 60 years, building on the heritage established by the first School of Art in 1897

The course is based in excellent and well-equipped accommodation. Group work and tutorials take place within a dedicated centre, enabling you to benefit from strong group cohesiveness and a vibrant multidisciplinary graduate community. There is access to a wide range of workshops and equipment, to support all areas of Textile Design.

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Key facts

Duration: One year full-time, two years part-time

Location: Gateway House Building

Start date: September 2013

Entry and admission criteria

• You should have the equivalent of a 2:2 or above UK Bachelor’s Honours degree in Textile Design or a related subject
• If you have other professional qualifications and industry experience we will consider your application on an individual basis
• Evidence of design work in a digital/portfolio of work is also required

Portfolio

UK applicants with relevant qualifications should submit a portfolio of work (please see our Textile Design MA portfolio advice| for full details).

Overseas applicants will be invited to send samples of their work. For further details check our School of Fashion and Textiles portfolio advice| for international students.

International Students

If English is not your first language an IELTS score of 6.0 or equivalent when you start the course is essential. English Language tuition, delivered by our British Council-accredited Centre for English Language Learning, is available both before and throughout the course if you need it.

Teaching and assessment

Full-time study entails a commitment of approximately 37 hours per week over 48 weeks of the year, and the part-time route a corresponding proportion of time.

Taught modules, specialist creative projects, and an individually negotiated final major project result in the design and production of innovative collections of textiles and/or hard or soft material accessories for body and space.

Academic expertise

The academic staff team and specialist technicians have a wide variety of expertise and knowledge in textile design and fashion accessory design.

Industry links and professional accreditation

All our lecturers are active practitioners, researchers and specialists in their field, including for example, working as textile designers, print and knit for fashion, fashion artefact designers and textile designer makers.

Graduate careers

The prospects from the Textile Design MA include freelance or in house studio textile designer, accessories designer (freelance or in house), retail or cloth buyer, manager/owner of own business, textiles writer/ stylist, textile agent or studio director, textile innovator, textile technician and educator.

Opportunities are also available in further research study at PhD level.

Fees and funding

Fees and funding options for 2013/14 entry are still under review and are subject to change.

Full-time UK/EU Postgraduate courses fees £4,200 Students Equivalent or Lower Qualification Status* £5,000 International
Postgraduate courses fees £11,700 Part-time Part-time fees are charged on a credit basis, you will need to complete 180 credits over the course of an MA/MSc programme. 15 credits £350 Students Equivalent or Lower Qualification Status* 15 credits
£420 Continuation UK/EU Fee** £150 Continuation International Fee** £5000

For more information please take a look at our Funding|| section.

* ELQ Student definition - If you are a Home or EU status student and you already have a qualification at or above the level of the programme you wish to study from any country you will be considered as an Equivalent or Lower Qualification (ELQ) student. In 2008 the UK Government decided to stop funding universities for student in this situation and therefore the following fees will apply £5,000. Students from outside the EU are not affected by the policy.

** A fee that is charged on a periodic basis where Postgraduate or Research students need to extend their registration to complete the course.

Scholarships

Learn more about postgraduate funding and finance|