
BA (Hons) Fashion and Textiles (Top-up)
- Study Mode: Full Time
- Location: High Wycombe
- Duration: One Year
- Start Date: September 2025
You can also study this course:
Completed a foundation-level degree, HND, or equivalent qualifications in a relevant Art and Design subject? Top-up your studies to gain a full bachelor’s degree in Fashion and Textiles.
Do you want to work at the forefront of the fashion and textile industry? This BA (Hons) Fashion and Textiles course combines new technologies with traditional techniques and methods. This enables you to develop your own creative style and design identity, whilst learning the hands-on skills you’ll need for success in your chosen career.
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Covering both disciplines of fashion and textiles you’ll explore creative problem-solving strategies and techniques in pattern cutting, manufacturing, textile and fashion processes and materials, and a clear understanding of how these can be applied to realise a unique fashion product.
A top-up degree is the equivalent of the final year of an undergraduate degree, and offers a chance to deepen your knowledge, skills and understanding of your subject, while also getting an internationally-recognised qualification.
If you have completed a foundation-level degree, HND, or equivalent qualifications in a relevant Art and Design subject, you can choose to top-up your studies to gain a full bachelor’s degree.
Our fashion and textiles programmes are ranked 3rd best in the UK () and we celebrated 95% overall student satisfaction in the 2022 National Student Survey.
Throughout your time on the course you will have the opportunity to show off your work through international competitions and shows, including reviews and the BNU Summer Show.
Our students and graduates are also highly rated. Some of our student success includes winning a British Fashion Council scholarship, being shortlisted for Real Leather. Stay Different. International Design Competition, being a runner up for New Designers collaboration award with OPPO and being shortlisted for the award.
We are extremely proud to be able to offer industry-standard studios, technical machines and high-quality equipment to our fashion and textile-based courses.
You will master materials, both through traditional methods and using digital software. This includes an in-house fabric and yarn store, screen printing facilities, a dye laboratory and sewing and garment production facilities.
In our professional-working studio you’ll have you own workspace which you’ll be able to turn into your own personal area, where you can bring your designs to life and surround yourself with inspiration.
We also have specialist technicians and demonstrators on site to support and share their knowledge with you, when and if you need it.
As well as this you may also have the chance to access to our photography studios where you’ll be able to work collaboratively with photography and hair and make-up students to build your portfolio, and network like you would in the industry.
Led by a dedicated and experienced course team, you’ll benefit from their industry knowledge and the industry links they bring to the course. You’ll get direct access to guest lectures, who are specialists in the sector, and can benefit from live project briefs, master classes, and networking opportunities.
As part of the Art, Design and Performance School at BNU, you’ll benefit from a practiced-based course, supported by contextual studies. You’ll also have the opportunity to work collaboratively across the school with other courses, ensuring during your studies you are building a varied network, like you would in the real world.
You could also benefit from masterclasses and industry brief opportunities, where you’ll gain an insight and feedback from current industry-leaders. For previous projects, we've collaborated with Alexander McQueen Studio, Chittleborough and Morgan, Mackintosh, Burberry, Topshop and Armani, Stella McCartney, Mint Velvet, New Star, British Fashion Council, UKFT and many more.
Our High Wycombe Campus is only a short train ride away from London, meaning you are only a stones-throw away from the hustle and bustle - enabling you to visit exhibitions, galleries, shows and watch emerging styles, to help you gain inspiration and ideas.
What will I study?
Fashion and Textiles is one of the largest sectors world-wide and continues to offer exciting and rewarding opportunities globally. At the core of this fashion and textile degree are creativity, innovative thinking, and an exploration of contemporary approaches to the creation of fashion and textiles.
This fast-paced course will teach you how to excel at every step of the design and creation process, from concept, construction through to final creation. You’ll gain comprehensive hands-on experience, specialist technical skills, knowledge and professional understanding to work as practitioners in the fashion and textiles industry.
During your time with us, you’ll be introduced to different textile specialisms, along with the core technical and design foundations required for fashion design. These specialisms include knitwear, print and surface design for fashion. You will continue to develop your understanding and practice of these specialisms, eventually focusing on one chosen specialism.
Upon graduation you’ll have the skills and knowledge you’ll need to face the constantly evolving industry with new technologies, ways of working and changing customer values and expectations. This maximises your career and postgraduate opportunities.
At the end of your degree you’ll have developed your aesthetic style, which will then lead on to the completion of a final capsule collection, and an industry ready portfolio and promotion package - all of which is shown at our end of year summer show, which both industry and friends are invited too.
How will I be taught and assessed?
During you time studying the BA (Hons) Fashion and Textiles degree, the majority of your modules will be practice-based. These will enable you to delve into a range of projects that will grow your skillset whilst mirroring a professional real-world environment.
To achieve the full BA (Hons) in Fashion and Textiles you will need to complete a final major project as well as the modules listed.
The final major project will allow you to investigate a topic important to you within fashion and textiles. You will cover the whole research process, undertaking empirical investigation and analysis.
Modules
This provides a guide of the modules that make up your course. You can find more information about how your course is structured on our Academic Advice section.
What are the tuition fees
Home
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Home, Academic Year 2025 - 2026: £9,535 per year *
International
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Overseas/International, Academic Year 2025 - 2026: £15,150 per year *
Following the Government’s announcement of 4 November 2024, we will be increasing our full-time undergraduate tuition fees for UK students to £9,535 per year from the start of the 2025/26 academic year. Our part-time fees for UK undergraduate students will increase to £7,145 per annum. Please visit , on the Government’s website, for more information about the changes.
Tuition fees for Home undergraduate students (including with foundation year) may increase in subsequent years for both new and continuing students in line with an inflationary amount determined by the Government.  
Tuition fees for both new and continuing international students may be subject to an inflationary increase based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for the 12-month period to 31 January each year.  
Tuition fees for postgraduate courses and CPD may be subject to an inflationary increase based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for the 12-month period to 31 January each year. This increase will apply to both new and continuing students.  
We understand, and really appreciate, the significant financial commitment our students make when they choose to study at BNU. We take our responsibilities to our students very seriously, and are ambitious for each to reach their full potential and succeed in their chosen career. Our fees help us to continue providing our students with a high-quality education, and to invest in the services and facilities which create an excellent student experience at BNU.
The following factors will be considered by the University when we set the annual fees: measures of inflation such as the retail price indices; projected increases in University costs; and any changes in the level of funding for teaching received from the Government.
What are my career prospects?
Throughout your time with us we’ll support you on the route to your chosen career. We’ll help you to develop crucial skills, encouraging you to become enterprising, employable and good leaders. Our Careers and Employability Team also help you find employment after graduation.
Upon graduation, you will be prepared for a range of career possibilities. Using the skills and knowledge learnt on this fashion and textile design course, you could find yourself performing the following roles all over the world:
- Fashion Designer
- Pattern Cutter
- Print Design
- Knitwear Designer
- Colour-forecasting
- Trend Researcher
- Garment Technologist
- Product Developer
- Entrepreneur
- Fashion Buyer
- Materials Researcher
- Visual Merchandiser
- Fashion styling.
You may also choose to stay on at Buckinghamshire New University and study a postgraduate programme, such as MA Design Innovation.
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