Master of Arts - Fashion and Textile Design (Professional Placement)

The MA in Fashion and Textile Design brings together craftspeople, artists, and designers who share a passion for exploring the intersections between fashion, textiles, and material innovation. The course offers an immersive and dynamic environment that supports creative experimentation, critical reflection, and professional development. Students join a diverse cohort of recent graduates and experienced practitioners, all working to refine their skills and establish a clear professional identity within an evolving global creative landscape. Participants select one of two specialisms: MA Fashion and Textile Design (Fashion Design) or MA Fashion and Textile Design (Textile and Surface Design). Each pathway includes specialist seminars and workshops delivered within shared modules, enabling students to focus their research and creative output while collaborating across the wider course community. In the first term, students are introduced to core design thinking, creative ideation, and research methodologies relevant to both specialisms. This initial phase allows exploration across the subject area before confirming a chosen focus at the end of the term. During the second term, students apply their technical, conceptual, and collaborative skills through project-based briefs, while also developing professionalism and networking experience through live challenges. The final term culminates in the presentation of a collection, either through a runway show or exhibition, preparing students for professional creative practice or further academic research. Engagement with critical debates forms a key part of the course, encouraging students to address issues such as sustainability, diversity, craftsmanship, and digital innovation in order to develop forward-thinking and responsible design solutions. Structured around three key pillars—Sustainability and Craftsmanship, Innovation and Research, and Enterprise and Entrepreneurialism—the course supports students in becoming independent designers equipped with the creative agility, critical awareness, and entrepreneurial confidence needed to succeed in the global fashion and textile industries. The course is designed for both recent graduates and experienced practitioners seeking to advance their creative practice, explore interdisciplinary approaches, or develop expertise for launching new ventures or pursuing further research. While a background in fashion or textiles is advantageous, it is not essential; applicants are assessed based on a creative digital portfolio submitted as part of the application process.