Fashion and Textiles

BA (Hons) Fashion and Textiles

UCAS CODE: FATX (Full-time) or FTXF (Foundation Year)
TARIFF: 88 - 112 (Full-time) or 32 - 56 (Foundation Year)
  • Study Mode: Full Time
  • Location: High Wycombe
  • Duration: Three or Four Years
  • Start Date: September 2024
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. 
With BNU you’ll explore creativity, innovative thinking, and contemporary approaches to the creation of textiles for fashion – all whilst putting together your own collection and employer-ready portfolio.
Stay updated with all our latest BA (Hons) Fashion and Textiles news by following us on Instagram @bnu_fashionandtextiles
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No. 1 in England for Student Satisfaction*
*Measured by % of positivity across all questions within the larger providers only: taught or registered population (NSS 2023)
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No. 1 Students' Union in the UK*
*As ranked among taught students at non-specialist HEIs (NSS 2023)
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Top for our response to the cost-of-living-crisis*
*Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2023
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5th for learning opportunities*
*NSS 2023
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Top 10 for student support*
Top 10 for student support*
The best thing about studying at BNU is the fast paced learning environment, every workshop is spent learning something completely new and exciting with a hands on experience which really helps to understand the techniques.
Annabel Woodland
Annabel Woodland Headshot

Why study BA (Hons) Fashion and Textiles at BNU?

Our fashion and textiles programmes are ranked 3rd best in the UK (The Guardian University Guide 2023) 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 British Fashion Council 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  Artsthread /Gucci award. 

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.

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. 

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. As you go through the course, you will continue to develop your understanding and practice of these specialisms, eventually focusing on one chosen specialism in preparation for your final year of study.

This engaging course which allows the designer to work with a variety of different elements including colour, materials, pattern, structure, and composition. All of which helps you to create a capsule fashion collection based on your chosen specialism or create textile samples for a specific market. 

Upon graduating from this fashion and textiles design 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. 

This fashion and textiles design course is also offered as a four-year programme, including an initial Foundation Year. The Foundation Year will allow you to develop your academic study skills and build confidence in your abilities, identifying your own strengths and development needs for progression onto an undergraduate programme.

Four Fashion Design students stood posing back to back for a photoshoot against a grey wall
Two Fashion Design students stood side by side holding hands modelling their clothes

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.

As Fashion and Textile student you’ll also be assessed though; 1:1 or small group tutorials, lectures and seminars, portfolio and presentations, written assessments, sketchbooks, group critiques and self-directed study.

By the end of your time with BNU, you’ll benefit from a full portfolio, and collection, to go to employers with.

I was lucky to have workshops at BNU during my A-levels and to experience the amazing print workshops as a taster to a textile design degree. The facilities they offer allow students to fully experience future career options.
James Travell
James Travell
Useful Documents

BA (Hons) Fashion and Textiles Additional Course Costs

BA (Hons) Fashion and Textiles Interview Guide

BA (Hons) Fashion and Textiles Programme Specification

What are the course entry requirements?

A typical offer will require a UCAS tariff score of: 88 - 112 (Full-time) or 32 - 56 (Foundation Year)

UCAS points can be obtained through qualifications such as A levels, T levels, BTEC or an Access to Higher Education course in a relevant subject. Please list all your qualifications on the application form as you will be asked to provide copies when we receive your application.

A minimum of two full A-levels (or equivalent) is required. Every application is considered on an individual basis.

On review of your application, you may be invited for an interview and portfolio review.

For further details of our international English entry requirements, please visit our international pages.

Applicants who do not meet the minimum requirements for the three-year undergraduate programme, or those who do not feel fully prepared for a degree course, can apply for a four-year programme including a Foundation Year; find out more.

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.

This course has Opportunity modules.

Opportunity modules are a key part of the BNU curriculum. You’ll choose modules in your first year from a broad selection in areas such as sustainability, entrepreneurship, creativity, digital skills, personal growth, civic engagement, health & wellbeing and employment. Opportunity modules are designed to enable you to develop outside the traditional boundaries of your discipline and help you to further stand out from the crowd to future employers. Find out more.

What are the tuition fees

Home

Home, Academic Year 2024 - 2025

£9,250 per year

International

Overseas/International, Academic Year 2024 - 2025

£15,150 per year

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 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.

Course leader

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Poppy McKinnon-Evans
  • Course Leader / Lecturer
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Al Watkins
  • Technical Demonstrator for Digital Arts
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Szilvia Burrows
  • Knitwear Technician
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Evangelina Thomadaki
  • Lecturer
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Joseph Davies
  • Technical Tutor
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Rupert Hammerton-Fraser staff profile photo
Rupert Hammerton-Fraser
  • Technical Demonstrator
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BA (Hons) Fashion and Textiles
BA (Hons) Fashion and Textiles with Foundation Year