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Textiles MA

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    Overview

    The Textiles MA is part of the School of Art and Humanities MA Art & Design Suite, an innovative approach to postgraduate taught education that brings together disciplines from across art and design to produce a collaborative programme of courses that foreground the shared practices, processes and values of art and design in the 21st century.

    The MA in Textiles covers a broad area of contemporary textile and surface design practice. Spanning both the commercial and arts aspects of the field, the course enables exploration of a varied range of textile directions and contexts.

    It offers recent graduates, and those returning to education later in their careers, opportunities to enhance their knowledge, skills, creativity and employment prospects, through imaginative enquiry into different textile and surface design concepts and processes.

    The aim of this course is to enable you to:

    • Develop innovative and imaginative approaches to materials, processes and methodologies in textiles, and rigorously test these ideas against trends within current practice
    • Evidence advanced critical evaluation and development of traditional and innovative textile techniques in the creation of new product and concepts.
    • Experiment, expand and encourage progressive thinking in the sustainable practices for textiles to meet future industry opportunities and customer demands.
    • Systematically plan, negotiate, and implement a body of work underpinned by advanced practice and research in textiles and/or surface design.
    • Examine the principles and practices inherent in textiles and surface design and their intersection with commercial and creative industries.

    Our course aims to combine advanced creative, aesthetic and technical design skills. You will normally have a degree in a related subject (Textiles or Surface Design, Textile Crafts or Fashion), and may be seeking to develop fresh approaches to your subject. This could be towards fashion, interiors or exterior architectural surfaces, future materials, 3D textiles or surfaces, advancing your weave, embroidery, knit, and print skills, or textile art approaches, building your portfolio for future industry or freelance practice.

    Key Information

    Entry requirements

    Entry requirements for this course are normally:

    • An Honours degree (2:2 or above) in a relevant subject or an equivalent professional qualification.
    • Alternative qualifications and/or significant experience may be accepted, subject to approval.
    • International students with qualifications in 'creative' or 'practice' subjects should submit a digital portfolio (pdf) of work with their application.
    • All suitably qualified applicants are normally invited in for an informal chat with a portfolio or considered for admittance under alternative arrangements.

    If your first language is not English, you will need to meet the minimum requirements of an English Language qualification. The minimum for IELTS is 6.0 overall with no element lower than 5.5, or equivalent. Read more about the University’s entry requirements for students outside of the UK on our International Entry Requirements page.

    Start dates

    22 September 2025

    12 January 2026

    Duration

    1 year full-time

    Course Detail

    Research Methods and Project Proposal

    On this module you will be encouraged to explore how different research methods underpin all kinds of creative practices. The module introduces you to current research themes in art and design. In the past we have explored topics such as: developing concepts through thinking and making, using archives in creative practice, working with objects of material culture, analysing digital transformations, practising psychogeography in the urban environment, tackling the anthropocene and environmental issues of the twenty-first century. As thinkers and practitioners you will work to develop an understanding of the different research approaches you might design and use to enhance and transform your ideas. You will be introduced to a range of practice-led research methods which may include: creative and design thinking, user-centered methods, practice-led approaches, cultural analysis, historical/archival research and market-driven data capture and analysis. The module helps to equip you with a tool kit of research skills to guide you in the development of a project proposal or working brief for your Master's study. The module is made up of lectures, guided seminars and small group tutorials which will support you in building a solid foundation to lead you through your studies.

    Creative Innovation and Entrepreneurship

    This module aims to introduce you to key features of innovation and entrepreneurship within the context of the cultural and creative industries. Depending on your future aspirations we will help you to build your knowledge and understanding of different approaches to creative innovation (social, ethical and sustainable aspects), provide guidance on business start-ups, and assist you in your professional skills development (commercial awareness, self-management, problem-solving, team working, communication strategies), including searching for marketing, promotion, consultancy and funding opportunities specific to your subject. The module involves lectures, seminars and practical projects where you will experiment with the tools and techniques of creative innovation. There will be opportunities for group projects and cross-disciplinary working on this module.

    Creative Studio

    This module enables you to explore a range of advanced creative concepts and practices across Art and Design working alongside other students in a mixed-discipline cohort encompassing Art and Communication, 3D Design and Fashion and Textiles. You will identify starting points for your studio practice through supported and scheduled access and interaction with a range of specialist workshop facilities and digital making processes which in turn inform the potential of material investigation as a core part of your refocused enquiry-led practice. The module comprises three discrete but interlinked phases of development: Conceptual Direction, Creative Contexts, Critical Processes.

    Professional Practice Fashion and Textiles

    Working alongside other students within Fashion and Textiles, this practice-led module helps you question and develop the parameters of your project through a range of different methods aligned to specific concepts, processes and contexts. Specialising in your chosen area of practice, you will produce a body of practical work supported by specialist workshops for fashion and textiles, which will explore the hybrid and expanded nature of your discipline that arises out of contemporary culture. You will have access to digital and analogue resources for the creation of textiles, surface design (knit, weave, print, laser cutting, advanced 3D technologies), garment design, pattern cutting and construction (advanced manufacturing suite), embellishment (hand and machine embroidery) and visualisation tools (such as Adobe Suite, specialist fashion/textile software, digital photography studio, virtual reality and motion tracking), as required for the module brief in your selected MA course. You are encouraged to push the direction of your project through processes of risk taking, problematisation and creative thinking for your chosen professional context. In doing so you will situate your subject within contemporary culture and practices, and develop a deeper understanding of markets in relation to the fashion and textiles industry.

    Sustainable Futures Major Project

    This project provides you with the opportunity to consider the values underpinning global textile practices, identifying ways to transform the associated industries, their craft, design and new technologies. In this Major Project you will interrogate new paradigms of practice associated with technological, theoretical and design contexts and the processes of the creation and manufacture of textiles and surface design. Informed by your research and development you will look for opportunities to design by facilitating change and create alternative sustainable textile or surface products or experiences. This project provides an opportunity for in-depth research into your area of interest and the development of methods that support this. You will work to research, develop, critically reflect, refine and communicate both your methodological approach and your conclusions, culminating in outcomes that build upon learning and development in previous modules.

    The course is delivered through a combination of lectures, seminars, practical workshops, tutorials and a programme of design projects.

    Your module specification/course handbook will provide full details of the assessment criteria applying to your course.

    Feedback (usually written) is normally provided on all coursework submissions within three term time weeks – unless the submission was made towards the end of the session in which case feedback would be available on request after the formal publication of results. Feedback on exam performance/final coursework is available on request after the publication of results.

    1. Triple proof of teaching excellence: our staff rank in the top three in England for the proportion who hold doctorates, who have higher degrees, and hold teaching qualifications (HESA 2024). So, you’ll learn from some of the best, helping you to be the best.

    2. We are first in the country for National Teaching Fellowships, which mark the UK’s best lecturers in Higher Education, winning a total of 22 since 2008 (2023 data).

    3. We won the first Global Teaching Excellence Award, recognising the University’s commitment to world-class teaching and its success in developing students as independent learners and critical thinkers (Higher Education Academy, 2017).

    What can I research?

    Research plays an important role in informing all our teaching and learning activities. Through research our staff remain up-to-date with the latest developments in their field, which means you have the opportunity to benefit and develop knowledge and skills that are current and highly relevant.

    For more information, visit the Centre for Cultural Ecologies in Art, Design and Architecture (CEADA) and the Technical Textiles Research Centre

    Canalside view of the Barbara Hepworth Building
    Knit and weave workshop
    Fabric printing in the print bureau
    Laser cutting facilities
    Canalside view of the Barbara Hepworth Building
    Inside the Barbara Hepworth Building
    Student in the library
    Students using our group work facilities
    Mac Studio in the Barbara Hepworth Building

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    Important information

    We will always try to deliver your course as described on this web page. However, sometimes we may have to make changes as set out below.

    Changes to a course you have applied for

    If we propose to make a major change to a course that you are holding an offer for, then we will tell you as soon as possible so that you can decide whether to withdraw your application prior to enrolment.

    Cancellation of a course you have applied for

    Although we always try and run all of the course we offer, we may occasionally have to withdraw a course you have applied for or combine your programme with another programme if we consider this reasonably necessary to ensure a good student experience, for example if there are not enough applicants to ensure you have a good learning experience. Where this is the case we will notify you as soon as reasonably possible and we will contact you to discuss other suitable courses with us we can transfer your application to. If we notify you that the course you have applied to has been withdrawn or combined, and you do not wish to transfer to another course with us, you may cancel your application and we will refund you any deposits or fees you have paid to us.

    Changes to your course after you enrol as a student

    We will always try to deliver your course and other services as described. However, sometimes we may have to make changes as set out below:

    Changes to option modules

    Where your course allows you to choose modules from a range of options, we will review these each year and change them to reflect the expertise of our staff, current trends in research and as a result of student feedback or demand for certain modules. We will always ensure that you have a range of options to choose from and we will let you know in good time the options available for you to choose for the following year.

    Major changes

    We will only make major changes to the core curriculum of a course or to our services if it is necessary for us to do so and provided such changes are reasonable. A major change in this context is a change that materially changes the services available to you; or the outcomes, or a significant part, of your course, such as the nature of the award or a substantial change to module content, teaching days (part time provision), classes, type of delivery or assessment of the core curriculum.

    For example, it may be necessary to make a major change to reflect changes in the law or the requirements of the University’s regulators; to meet the latest requirements of a commissioning or accrediting body; to improve the quality of educational provision; in response to student, examiners’ or other course evaluators’ feedback; and/or to reflect academic or professional changes within subject areas. Major changes may also be necessary because of circumstances outside our reasonable control, such as a key member of staff leaving the University or being unable to teach, where they have a particular specialism that can’t be adequately covered by other members of staff; or due to damage or interruption to buildings, facilities or equipment.

    Major changes would usually be made with effect from the next academic year, but this may not always be the case. We will notify you as soon as possible should we need to make a major change and will carry out suitable consultation with affected students. If you reasonably believe that the proposed change will cause you detriment or hardship we will, if appropriate, work with you to try to reduce the adverse effect on you or find an appropriate solution. Where an appropriate solution cannot be found and you contact us in writing before the change takes effect you can cancel your registration and withdraw from the University without liability to the University for future tuition fees. We will provide reasonable support to assist you with transferring to another university if you wish to do so.

    Termination of course

    In exceptional circumstances, we may, for reasons outside of our control, be forced to discontinue or suspend your course. Where this is the case, a formal exit strategy will be followed and we will notify you as soon as possible about what your options are, which may include transferring to a suitable replacement course for which you are qualified, being provided with individual teaching to complete the award for which you were registered, or claiming an interim award and exiting the University. If you do not wish to take up any of the options that are made available to you, then you can cancel your registration and withdraw from the course without liability to the University for future tuition fees and you will be entitled to a refund of all course fees paid to date. We will provide reasonable support to assist you with transferring to another university if you wish to do so.

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    The Office for Students (OfS) is the principal regulator for the University.