A scarf and a jumper designed by our students

BA (Hons) Textile Design (Top-up)

UCAS CODE: WW75
  • Study Mode: Full Time
  • Location: High Wycombe
  • Duration: One Year
  • Start Date: September 2025

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 Textile Design.

Textiles are the material that we have our closest relationships with, literally clothing our bodies from head to toe, or surrounding our homes with stimulating colour and tactility. Textiles are the very fabric of our everyday environment, so why not learn how to design them?

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No. 1 in the UK for Student Satisfaction*
*Positivity ranking amongst registered students (NSS 2024)
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No. 1 Students' Union in the UK*
*Based on responses from registered students (NSS 2024)
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3rd in the UK for Student Satisfaction on our Art & Design courses*
*The Complete University Guide 2025
Why study BA (Hons) Fashion and Textiles (Top-up) at BNU?

Our renowned Textile Design degree puts an emphasis and focus on innovation and craftsmanship. On this course you’ll use modern and traditional techniques to explore print, knit and surface design, where you then go on to specialise and develop your own unique style in one of the three core areas.

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 ().

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. 

Textile Design has a long and successful history of developing highly skilled and creative graduates from BNU. The course team have a broad range of current industry practice, which enables a range of project opportunities, both live and studio based, that challenge you to be versatile and adaptable in this highly competitive 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. Previous industry projects include guest lecturers and live projects from , The Worshipful Company of Framework Knitters, Bradford Textile Society, , Burberry, Topshop and Armani, Stella McCartney and .

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.

We’ve spent a lot of love and care making the Fashion and Textile Studios the perfect creative space and one of the best-equipped workshops in the country. 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, film and tv and drama studios where you’ll be able to work collaboratively with photography, performance and hair and make-up students to build your portfolio, and network like you would in the industry.

What will I study? 

Textile design is a fast-paced and engaging industry, this course allows you as a designer to interact with a variety of different elements including colour, materials, pattern, structure and composition. 

With a focus on three essential areas, print, knit, and surface design, you’ll engage in design-driven projects, refining your research, drawing, colour theory, design, and workshop technical skills. You'll get taster projects in each of the textile practices, and once you know which one suits your creativity most, you can start to specialise.

The Textile Design course is intended to provide you with a wide range of craft and digital making skills, all of which is sought after by employers. You’ll explore a range of creative and technical approaches, including innovative drawing methods, the use of trends, CAD for design and presentation, specialist techniques; including material knowledge and experimentation, as well as problem solving skills.

Being one of just five selected universities for the MADE IT project led by UKFT highlights how Buckinghamshire New University are developing industry ready skills in our students.
Brigitte Stockton

How will I be taught and assessed?

During you time studying the BA (Hons) Textile Design 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 Textile Design 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 textiles. You will cover the whole research process, undertaking empirical investigation and analysis.

Useful Documents

BA (Hons) Textile Design Programme Specification

Art and Design Course Interview Guide

What are the course entry requirements?

This programme is offered as a top-up qualification for students who have completed a HND, FDA, or other equivalent qualification in a relevant Art and Design subject, and wish to progress further to achieve an Honours degree.

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
  • Home, Academic Year 2025 - 2026: £9,535 *
International
  • Overseas/International, Academic Year 2025 - 2026: £15,150 *

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.

Additional course costs and financial support

Most courses will involve some additional costs that are not covered by your fees.
You could benefit from financial support through a bursary or scholarship during your time as a student. For more details visit our financial support, bursaries and scholarships section.

Questions about fees?

If you have any questions about the fees above, contact our Enquiries team by calling 0330 123 2023 or emailing advice@bnu.ac.uk.

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 course, you could find yourself performing the following roles all over the world:

  • Textile designer
  • Fashion designer
  • Print Designer
  • Clothing/textile technologist
  • Colour technologist
  • Illustrator
  • Interior and spatial designer
  • Graphic Designer
  • Stylist
  • Visual merchandiser

You may also choose to stay on at Buckinghamshire New University and study a postgraduate programme, such as MA Design Innovation

Course leader

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Poppy McKinnon-Evans
  • Course Leader / Lecturer
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Al Watkins staff profile photo
Al Watkins
  • Technical Demonstrator for Digital Arts
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Joseph Davies staff profile photo
Joseph Davies
  • Technical Tutor
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