Curious about studying Textile Design (Top-up) - BA (Hons)at Bucks New University? We've gathered all the key details—entry requirements, modules, fees, and more. Hear from real students by checking out reviews, or take the next step by booking an open day to explore it for yourself.
Bachelor of Arts (with Honours) - BA (Hons)
High Wycombe Campus
Full Time
Oct 2026
1 Year
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?
Why study BA (Hons) Fashion and Textiles (Top-up) at Bucks?\
A degree for you\ 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.
Facilities\ 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.
The aim of this module is for you to complete a proposal for your final major project, evidencing how it will be developed in response to substantial research on the sector and reflection on your previous practical outcomes. You are expected to consider the wider context of your work to demonstrate academic understanding of contemporary society, culture and the creative industries; acknowledging how global and local factors will influence your way of working.
This module builds on your knowledge and experience, specifically with a focus on knowledge and skills to support professional practice in the visual arts, design and the creative industries. You’ll develop in-depth knowledge of your chosen field of practice, which will support the critical appraisal process and inform the social and professional context for your work.
This module will enhance your understanding and appreciation of the roles, relationships, and responsibilities that can play a major part in progressing and sustaining your professional practice. Extending your work in relation to career aspirations, you’ll develop visual, verbal and written presentation skills to support communication within a range of business, financial and professional frameworks.
Through a number of workshops, seminars, and one-to-one supervision tutorials, this module provides you with the support required for writing your contextual report on practice. This self-directed theoretical/critical and evaluative piece of written work consists of a detailed account of the critical references surrounding your final major project, evidencing the in-depth research conducted towards the materialisation of your project.
This module develops your research practice from the contextual foundation established in previous modules. You are provided with an opportunity to sustain the creative dialogue between your research and subject-based practice, enabling you to establish your professional and creative identity through a self-directed brief/proposal. Awareness of the wider influences on the sector in parallel to individual development of concepts is essential.
4.4Bucks New University (BNU) is a student-focused university based in High Wycombe, with over 130 years of educational his...
