E-textiles and Wearable Technologies (MSc)

University of Southampton

On this MSc E-textiles and Wearable Technologies course, you'll build in-depth knowledge and practical experience in key application areas, including the integration of electronic components into textiles to enable responsive functionalities.The content you'll study has been informed by over 15 years of research in e-textiles and is further supported by the course leader and teaching staff’s international experience in academia and industry.Combining the attributes of science and design, you’ll build proficiency across a range of subjects, including: textiles, artificial intelligence, coding and e-textile construction. You’ll learn about advanced manufacturing techniques and the materials that are used in e-textile development, while establishing skills in design and innovation.This course is primarily located at Winchester School of Art where you'll have access to E-textile Innovation Lab research, and electronic and textile facilities. Teaching and studio spaces encourage industry collaboration and are backed by expert faculty and technicians. You'll also spend time on Highfield Campus where you'll benefit from specialist teaching, technologies and facilities. Embedded industry, studio and academic partnerships from partner universities ensure you'll gain a comprehensive learning experience.On this course, you'll have:access to a dedicated teaching lablectures and seminars from industry and design expertsreal world project briefsworkshops in industry-standard technologiesmentoring from specialist technical assistants and lab staffopportunities for external engagement and network buildingThroughout your studies, you’ll work independently and in teams exploring societal and environmental issues surrounding e-textile development and applications. You’ll be encouraged to apply a user-centred design approach and develop your e-textile practice in a way that will benefit society. This course also covers key themes like sustainability, innovation, energy, data security and research ethics.You’ll learn about electronics, technical and sustainable textiles, as well as the fundamentals of e-textile business models, entrepreneurship and research pathways. Using digital tools, such as Photoshop, Shima Seiki Apex4, illustrator, and Clo3D, you'll create pattern designs and technical illustrations. These tools will be invaluable when exploring pattern-cutting, technical illustrations, coding and AI applications. You'll use a range of advanced design, manufacturing and testing tools for experimentation, physical and virtual sampling, prototypes, and simulation.E-textiles are transforming sectors like workwear, medicine, and sports. For example, wearables such as electrically heated workwear can support workers in extremely cold environments. Biomonitoring garments with textile-based sensors can capture vital signs, offering insights into the wearer’s cardiovascular health. Football players can wear clothing with GPS and sensing technology that monitors their performance and health. The career opportunities in the e-textiles sector are growing and with global opportunities. As an E-textiles and Wearable Technologies MSc graduate, you could go into areas like:health and PPE designFlexible Hybrid Electronic (FHE) engineering and designe-textile material science and designinteractive and user-centred design for spacemedical and consumer productsThe academic and entrepreneurial skills you learn on this course will ensure that you have the expertise to be successful in these and many others.