BA (Hons) Textile Design Bachelor's degree at Hereford College of Arts
BA (Hons) Textile Design at Hereford College of Arts integrates core theory, research and methods, applied practice, specialist options, an independent project, and professional skills development.
About this course
Putting sustainability and heritage at the heart of contemporary design innovation. From the provider’s course page.
BA (Hons) Textile Design is a Bachelor's degree (BA (Hons)) at Hereford College of Arts, based in College Road Campus. It runs 3 years, studied full-time.
For Design studies graduates from this provider, 90% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, 45% in highly skilled roles, typical earnings around £19,500. (HESA Graduate Outcomes / LEO, via Discover Uni.)
For the typical curriculum, specialisations, career paths and graduate earnings for Art & Design, see the sections below.
Course evidence score
The arithmetic mean of the official measures available for this course: NSS satisfaction, graduate activity and continuation.
Published threshold met NSS publication requires sufficient responses; small differences are not a rank. NSS mean of 7 published themes (Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Limited evidence Published sample: 15; treat comparisons cautiously. Cohort 2021-23. Graduate Outcomes work or further study 90% (2022-23; Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Published threshold met Discover Uni suppresses continuation data below its publication threshold. Cohort 2022-23. Continuation 75% (2022-23; Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Curriculum & modules
Real modules published for this course, grouped only where the source gives a year, stage or level.
Year One 5 modules
- Practice in Context 1Core20 credits
Module details
This module introduces the historical, cultural, material and technological contexts of textile design. You will examine key practitioners, global textile traditions, material cultures and contemporary debates that shape textile thinking and practice today. You'll develop skills in contextual research, visual analysis and critical reflection. You'll explore how colour, pattern, texture and material behaviour tell stories, revealing cultural identity, symbolism or personal meaning within textile
- Practice 1Core30 credits
Module details
You will develop foundational textile design skills across drawing, mark-making, colour work, motif development and early material experimentation. Through structured workshops, you'll explore how ideas move from sketchbook to surface. You'll discover how motif, repeat, scale and layering transform the feel and function of a textile design.
- Skills 1Core20 credits
Module details
You will gain confidence using textile processes such as print, dye, stitch, weave or digital design. You will learn safe workshop practice, technical foundations and early material testing. You'll develop sensitivity to how fibres absorb colour, how tension alters weave, and how surface treatments create depth and movement.
- Foundations for LearningCore20 credits
Module details
An interdisciplinary module introducing you to shared creative thinking across the Arts School. You'll explore collaborative working, reflection and creative curiosity. Engaging with students from across disciplines helps you see textiles as a fluid medium connected to fashion, craft, storytelling, performance and digital culture.
- Practice 2Core30 credits
Module details
You will continue to build foundational textile design skills with a focus on material experimentation, process refinement, and contextualised outputs. Through structured workshops, you'll further expand your research and creative practice. You'll discover how materiality, 3D structures, repetition and colour transform the feel and function of a textile design.
Year Two 5 modules
- Practice in Context 2Core20 credits
Module details
You will deepen your understanding of textile theory and material culture. Topics may include sustainability, ethics, identity, sensory design, global craft histories, pattern theory, and the cultural significance of textiles. You'll explore how textiles communicate through colour language, pattern structure, material presence and cultural reference.
- Practice 3Core30 credits
Module details
This module develops your experimental textile practice at different scales. You will work through visual research, material and concept development to create an exploratory body of textile outcomes. You'll push your textile language, testing techniques for hard surface outcomes, structural experimentation, new materials development or multi-layered processes.
- Skills 2Core20 credits
Module details
You will develop advanced technical skills aligned to your chosen textile direction. You will refine precision, technique and material fluency through a sustainable lens. You'll build mastery through focused repetition, understanding how minor adjustments in method produce significant shifts in textile character.
- Professional Practice 1Core20 credits
Module details
You will undertake work experience such as placements, competitions, exhibitions, studio projects or community engagement. You will reflect on your experience and build a Professional Development Plan. You'll gain insight into the diverse realities of textile practice, from independent studio work to commercial surface design and material development.
- Practice 4Core30 credits
Module details
This module explores professional and audience-centred practice through externally set briefs. You will develop communication skills, presentation strategies and project organisation. You'll learn how constraints such as sustainability requirements, brand identity or user needs shape textile design choices.
Year Three 4 modules
- Practice in Context 3Core20 credits
Module details
A self-directed research project aligned with your creative interests. You will explore contextual, theoretical or technical themes and produce a written or equivalent critical outcome. You'll develop a deeper understanding of the cultural or conceptual threads driving your work, whether rooted in colour, material culture, sustainability, sensory experience or pattern language.
- Practice 5Core30 credits
Module details
You will develop an exploratory body of work that forms the foundation of your creative design intentions. You will refine your design identity through focused experimentation and material research. You'll hone your design language, testing pattern development, colour palettes, structural ideas or material combinations that feel central to your practice.
- Professional Practice 2Core10 credits
Module details
You will refine your professional portfolio, documentation and written communication. You will build confidence presenting your work in professional contexts. You'll learn to position yourself within the textile industry or independent textile contexts, making purposeful choices about how you communicate your work.
- Practice 6Core60 credits
Module details
Your final major project is a substantial, resolved body of textile design work that demonstrates creative maturity, technical skill and a clear design identity. This is your opportunity to combine research, sampling, colour, surface, structure and conceptual thinking into a cohesive collection. You'll consider how scale, sampling, installation and presentation shape the audience's experience of your work in the final exhibition.
Source: provider course page. Modules can change; required/optional status, credits, descriptions and assessment are shown only when explicitly published.
Course in depth
What this course covers, who it suits and where it leads.
What you'll study
This degree places sustainability and heritage at the heart of contemporary design innovation. You'll typically begin with visual studies and design principles, exploring colour, composition and form, alongside workshops in materials, processes and making, from traditional print and textiles to digital fabrication. Contextual studies ground your practice in art and design history. In Year 2, you'll develop sustained studio practice and a personal direction, while engaging with digital and emerging media, and undertaking live briefs with real deadlines. By Year 3, you'll specialise deeply in areas such as graphic design, illustration, fine art, fashion and textiles, or UX and digital work. Throughout, you'll build a professional portfolio and culminate in a self-directed final major project, publicly exhibited in the degree show.
Who it's for
This course suits students with A-levels or equivalent qualifications; 80% of accepted students entered with these credentials. It's designed for those interested in textile design as a creative and professional discipline, combining conceptual thinking with hands-on practice.
Careers & job market
Across Art & Design courses nationally, 87% of graduates are in work or further study within 15 months of graduating. Of those working, 55% are in highly skilled roles or pursuing further study. National graduate earnings data shows starting salaries of £22,000–£27,000 at 15 months; after three years, £17,000–£24,000; and after five years, £20,825–£29,400.
University & format
This BA (Hons) is studied full-time over 3 years at Hereford College of Arts, a higher education college located on the College Road Campus. Instruction is in English. The degree is awarded by a recognised UK degree-awarding body, so your qualification is nationally recognised. Most recent entrants held A-levels or equivalent qualifications.
Student satisfaction
How students on this course answered the National Student Survey, by theme.
Share of students responding positively.
Published threshold met NSS publication requires sufficient responses; small differences are not a rank. NSS mean of 7 published themes (Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Applicant information
The next application dates for this course, followed by facts the provider publishes.
- 2027 entryCompleted applications can be submitted
Your application needs a reference before you can send it.
- 2026 entryFinal date for 2026 applications
Applications must reach UCAS by 18:00 UK time.
- 2026 entryLast day to add a Clearing choice
Check that this course still has a vacancy before adding it.
- 2027 entryEqual-consideration deadline
18:00 UK time for most undergraduate courses.
Show 5 later dates
- 2027 entryUCAS Extra opens
Applicants who used all five choices and hold no offer may be able to add another choice.
- 2027 entryLast day applications go directly to providers
Applications received after 18:00 UK time are entered into Clearing.
- 2027 entryClearing opens
Eligible applicants can see vacancies and release themselves into Clearing.
- 2027 entryFinal date for 2027 applications
Applications must reach UCAS by 18:00 UK time.
- 2027 entryLast day to add a Clearing choice
Check that this course still has a vacancy before adding it.
Entry & how to get in
Who gets in
What recently admitted students actually held, official admissions data, not a stated requirement.
Qualifications held on entry
| Qualification | Share |
|---|---|
| A-levels or equivalent | 80% |
| another higher-education qualification | 10% |
| a previous degree | 5% |
| Other | 5% |
Entry & your chances
An honest read from the official entry data, plus your personal match.
Entry is set by the university and based on your offer. Use your predicted grades to see how you compare, then check the university's stated requirements.
How to apply
Undergraduate applications go through UCAS. Here’s what matters for this course, the right deadline, the grades to aim for, and the steps in order.
- 1Register on UCAS Hub
Create your UCAS application and add this course. One application covers up to five choices.
- 2Write your personal statement
A single statement covers all your choices, so keep it broad enough for similar courses while showing genuine interest in this subject.
- 3Submit by 13 January 2027, 18:00 UK time
UCAS equal-consideration deadline for most undergraduate courses. Source: UCAS 2027 dates.
- 4Reply to your offers
When decisions are in, pick a firm (first) choice and an insurance (back-up) choice with slightly lower grades.
- 5Results day & confirmation
On results day (mid-August) your place is confirmed if you meet the offer. Just missed? Talk to the university, or find a place through Clearing.
Fees & funding
What this course costs and how UK student finance covers it.
Tuition per year
Standard capped home fee at English providers (2026/27); Scotland, Wales & NI differ.
Check fees at Hereford College of Arts →For students who normally live in England
2026/27 Student Finance England figures. Maintenance support is means-tested and this two-point view is not an entitlement calculator. The course total uses its published length and home fee where both are available; a missing full-time fee uses the clearly labelled England-cap scenario, while part-time fees and unknown lengths are never guessed. Use the official calculator. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland use separate systems: SAAS, Student Finance Wales, and Student Finance NI.
Starting on or after 1 January 2027?
The Lifelong Learning Entitlement is a separate system. A new learner’s tuition entitlement is currently stated as £39,160 (about 480 credits at 2026/27 fee levels), subject to prior study and eligibility. Check the official LLE guide.
Paying for it
- Tuition Fee Loan: can cover eligible tuition up to the applicable limit and is paid straight to the provider.
- Maintenance Loan: up to £10,830/yr away from home outside London (England, 2026/27), means-tested on household income.
- Repayment: 9% of income above £25,000, nothing below it; written off after 40 years.
- Earn alongside: most students work part-time in term, part-time roles on the StudySmarter job board.
England figures shown; Scotland, Wales & NI run their own schemes, check gov.uk.
Scholarships & bursaries you could qualify for
That does not mean no funding exists. Check the university directory for current amounts, eligibility and application dates.
We only display a named award when its provider source identifies the award and who it is for.
Still deciding what to study?
StudyKit brings course choice, applications and funding together in one place, with a personal AI assistant. Find what really fits you and start your UCAS application step by step.
Careers & earnings
What Art & Design graduates actually earn, from real outcome data, 15 months, 3 years and 5 years after graduating.
Graduate earnings: this course
| When | Median | Typical range | Graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 months after | £19,500 | £18,000 – £24,500 | 15 |
| 3 years after | £16,500 | £11,000 – £19,500 | 45 |
| 5 years after | £18,500 | £14,000 – £23,500 | 40 |
Nominal earnings for graduates of this course/subject at this provider. Limited evidence. Published sample: 15; treat comparisons cautiously. Cohort 2021-23.
Graduate outcomes, 15 months on: this course
- 1Graduate roleFirst role after the degree · 0–2 yrs
- 2Specialist / PractitionerWorking in art & design · 2–5 yrs
- 3Senior / LeadLeading work and people · 5–10 yrs
- 4Head of / ExpertSenior leadership or deep expertise · 10+ yrs
How pay grows: this course vs Art & Design nationally
National figures for Art & Design graduates, HESA Graduate Outcomes (15 months) and the Longitudinal Education Outcomes (LEO) dataset (3 & 5 years). These are national, not university-specific; actual pay varies by employer, region, role and experience. Different cohorts, so the bars are not one group over time.
Work out your pay
Headline figures hide a lot. Calculate realistic take-home pay for this field by role, region and experience, then check your CV before you apply.
What happened to 100 students?
Choose an outcome to translate the published percentage into a simple 100-person view. Each dot represents one percentage point, not an individual tracked student.
were in work or further study
15 months after graduation
Source: Discover Uni, using Graduate Outcomes and continuation data. Cohorts: 2022-23. Limited evidence. Published sample: 15; treat comparisons cautiously. Cohort 2021-23. Each tab is a separate published measure; categories can overlap and should not be added together.
Value compared with similar courses
How this course’s 5-year median earnings compare with Art & Design courses at the same study level.
Compared with 1,698 courses with compatible official earnings data. This is a course-value comparison, not a quality ranking.
UK occupations graduates enter
Published graduate destinations, joined conservatively to UK SOC 2020, ONS pay and Skills England demand.
- Elementary occupationsSOC 2020 9 · 25% of published destinations · ASHE median £19,087
- Web and Multimedia Design ProfessionalsSOC 2020 214 · 15% of published destinations · ASHE median £32,574
- Artistic, literary and media occupationsSOC 2020 341 · 15% of published destinations · ASHE median £33,824
- Skilled trades occupationsSOC 2020 5 · 15% of published destinations · ASHE median £34,241
- Teaching ProfessionalsSOC 2020 231 · 10% of published destinations · ASHE median £42,660
Discover Uni JOBLIST/JOBTYPE; ONS ASHE 2025 provisional, all employee jobs; Skills England Occupations in Demand 2025. SOC is shown only for an exact normalised label match; demand is shown only at exact four-digit SOC. Published sample: 40; response rate: 75%. Pay describes the occupation across workers, not a guaranteed graduate salary.
Job market & outlook
How Art & Design graduates fare in the labour market, and how AI is reshaping the work.
How AI is changing the work
AI doesn't replace the profession, it shifts it: routine tasks get automated, while judgement, working with people and using AI well become more valuable.
What AI takes off your plate
- Routine information gathering
- First-draft writing and summaries
- Standard analysis and admin
- Repetitive processing tasks
More human than ever
- Judgement and original thinking
- Working with and leading people
- Owning and sense-checking AI output
- Ethics and accountability
The strongest graduates pair subject depth with the ability to use AI tools critically.
Roles & employers
Where Art & Design graduates typically go, indicative destinations from graduate career data. Each role links to live openings on the StudySmarter job board.
Roles graduates go into
Where they work
- Design studios & agencies
- In-house brand teams
- Games & media companies
- Freelance & self-employed
Jobs after this course
Current roles from the StudySmarter job board that suit Art & Design graduates.
Fine Art TechnicianFirst Choice StaffPharmacy Technician – Brand New State-of-the-Art HospitalCompass AssociatesArtificial Intelligence Engineering ManagerMBN SolutionsArtificial Intelligence EngineerExperis UKDelivery Driver (Part Time 24 hours) - AndoverOcado LogisticsCompliance Business PartnerNashrock Insurance RecruitmentIs this course right for you?
The essentials UK applicants ask about: finance, outcomes, entry and quality.
Student finance
For comparison, the standard full-time England tuition cap is up to £9,790 per year in 2026/27; the actual fee varies by course and provider. If you normally live in England, eligible students can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan, plus a Maintenance Loan for living costs. Under Plan 5 you repay 9% of income above £25,000, nothing below that, and the balance is written off after 40 years.
Where graduates go
90% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, with a median salary of £19,500. See the full breakdown in Careers & earnings above.
Official-data snapshot
Averaging the official measures published for it, this course scores 8.4 out of 10: NSS 88% · in work or study 90% · continued 75%.
Who studies here and in this subject?
Provider- and UK subject-level context.
Design, and creative and performing arts across the UK
HESA student record 2024/25. Counts are rounded.
Local crime-data context
A neutral snapshot around the published teaching location.
Around College Road Campus
683 street-level reports returned within roughly one mile across 2026-04 to 2026-06.
Police.uk street-level API. Approximate locations, not confined to campus. England, Wales and Northern Ireland; not Scotland.
Is Art & Design right for you?
Tick what applies to you and see how good a fit it is.
International students
What applying to Hereford College of Arts from outside the UK involves: fees, English, visa, funding and living costs.
Tuition fees
International tuition is set per course by Hereford College of Arts; international fees are typically £12,000–£30,000/year for classroom subjects and higher for lab/clinical ones. You’re not eligible for UK Tuition Fee or Maintenance Loans, so plan for fees plus living costs upfront.
English language
Most UK undergraduate courses ask for around IELTS 6.0–6.5 (no band below 5.5–6.0), or an accepted equivalent. If you’re just short, most universities run a pre-sessional English course that counts towards the requirement.
Student visa
You’ll usually need a Student visa (Student Route). After you accept an offer the university issues a CAS; you then show funds for fees plus about £1,023–£1,334/month living costs and pay the Immigration Health Surcharge for NHS access.
Scholarships & funding
Many universities offer international/global scholarships (often £2,000–£6,000/yr), check Hereford College of Arts’s funding pages.
Living costs
Budget roughly £1,100–£1,400/month outside London and £1,400–£1,800/month in London for rent, food and travel; the figure also matters for your visa.
Working while you study
A Student visa usually allows up to 20 hours/week in term time and full-time in holidays, useful alongside study, though not something to rely on for fees.
Visa rules and fees change. Always confirm the current requirements with Hereford College of Arts and gov.uk before you apply.
Related courses
More at Hereford College of Arts
Common questions
What are the entry requirements?
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