MDes (Hons) Surface Pattern and Textiles Bachelor's degree at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David
MDes (Hons) Surface Pattern and Textiles at University of Wales Trinity Saint David. You'll engage with core theory and research methods alongside hands-on applied practice, developing skills through specialist options and culminating in an independent project.
About this course
MDes (Hons) Surface Pattern and Textiles is a Bachelor's degree (MDes (Hons)) at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David, based in Swansea. It is studied part-time; duration varies by route.
For the typical curriculum, specialisations, career paths and graduate earnings for General Studies, 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)
Published threshold met Discover Uni suppresses continuation data below its publication threshold. Cohort 2021-23. Continuation 100% (2021-23; 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 1 8 modules
- Ways of ThinkingCompulsory10 credits
- Ways of PerceivingCompulsory10 credits
- Visual and Material CultureCompulsory10 credits
- Image Making 1 - Drawing for DesignCompulsory10 credits
- Major Studies A1 - Ideas into PracticeCompulsory20 credits
- Major Studies A2 - Designing for ContextCompulsory20 credits
- Digital and Material Futures B1Compulsory20 credits
- Digital and Material Futures B2Compulsory20 credits
Year 2 9 modules
- Research in ContextCompulsory10 credits
- Research in PracticeCompulsory10 credits
- Image Making 2 - Drawing for a Live BriefCompulsory10 credits
- Visual and Material LanguageCompulsory10 credits
- Major Studies A3 - Designing for a Live BriefCompulsory20 credits
- Major Studies A4 - A Self Directed BriefCompulsory20 credits
- Digital and Material Futures B3Compulsory20 credits
- Future Ready ToolkitCompulsory20 credits
- International Mobility OpportunityOptional60 credits
Year 3 3 modules
- Independent ProjectCompulsory40 credits
- Major ProjectCompulsory60 credits
- Advanced Creative EnquiryCompulsory20 credits
Year 4 4 modules
- Research and InnovationCompulsory20 credits
- Contemporary Creative PracticeCompulsory20 credits
- Advanced PracticeCompulsory60 credits
- The Thought ExperimentCompulsory20 credits
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
You'll usually progress from foundations in core design and academic skills through to specialist study in surface pattern and textiles. A course like this normally moves from interdisciplinary core modules in Year 1, introducing the main concepts and research practice, to intermediate themed study in Year 2, where you'll undertake applied projects and select optional modules to broaden your knowledge. In Year 3, you'll pursue specialist options in areas of particular interest, engage with professional skills and placement opportunities, and complete an independent research project or dissertation drawing together your learning. Throughout, you'll develop practical and digital literacy alongside your subject expertise.
Who it's for
This course suits people with a genuine interest in surface design, textile techniques and how patterns function across materials and contexts. You're analytical and practical, comfortable moving between conceptual thinking and making, and you want to develop a deeper, professionally credible grasp of textile design. You may already have a creative qualification or degree; about a quarter of students on this programme enter with prior degree-level study. Studying part-time means you can consolidate learning through real-world application, whether in employment or practice-based work.
Careers & job market
Across General Studies graduates nationally, 85% are in work or further study within 15 months of graduating; 65% of those working are in highly skilled roles or continuing study. Graduate earnings nationally range from £24,000–£30,000 in the first 15 months post-graduation, rising to £25,075–£35,400 after five years. Your career trajectory will depend on your experience, specialism and the role you pursue within design, textiles, fashion, retail or related sectors.
University & format
This MDes (Hons) is delivered part-time at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David, a university located in Swansea. Instruction is in English. As a recognised UK degree-awarding body, the degree is nationally recognised. The university is.
Student satisfaction
How students on this course answered the National Student Survey, by theme.
Share of students responding positively. Overall student satisfaction: 100%.
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.
Part-time application dates vary by provider. UCAS dates
Opened 2 July 2026; last choice 19 October 2026. Check vacancies now. A cached page never claims a place is still available.
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 |
|---|---|
| No / unknown prior qualifications | 45% |
| a previous degree | 25% |
| another higher-education qualification | 15% |
| A-levels or equivalent | 15% |
| an Access course | 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 Apply directly to the provider
Part-time application dates vary by provider. 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
Set under Wales's student-finance system; the provider's page is authoritative.
Check fees at University of Wales Trinity Saint David →If you normally live in Wales
2026/27 total maintenance support from Student Finance Wales. How much of it is grant and how much is loan depends on household income; the total does not. If you normally live elsewhere, use your home funding body.
Check your entitlement with Student Finance Wales →Paying for it
- Tuition Fee Loan: paid directly to the university by Student Finance Wales.
- Maintenance support: a mix of grant and loan from Student Finance Wales, weighted to household income.
- Repayment: only above the income threshold, and written off at the end of the plan term.
- Earn alongside: most students work part-time in term, part-time roles on the StudySmarter job board.
Wales runs its own system through Student Finance Wales; check studentfinancewales.co.uk for current rates.
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 General Studies graduates actually earn, from real outcome data, 15 months, 3 years and 5 years after graduating.
Graduate outcomes, 15 months on: this course
- 1Graduate roleFirst role after the degree · 0–2 yrs
- 2Specialist / PractitionerWorking in general studies · 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 General Studies nationally
National figures for General Studies 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.
continued or completed
continued into the next year or completed their qualification
Source: Discover Uni, using Graduate Outcomes and continuation data. Cohorts: 2021-23. Published threshold met. Sample size is not included in this snapshot. Each tab is a separate published measure; categories can overlap and should not be added together.
Job market & outlook
How General Studies 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 General Studies 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
- Employers across sectors
- Public sector
- Corporates & charities
- Startups
Jobs after this course
Current roles from the StudySmarter job board that suit General Studies graduates.
General PractitionerMatchMedicsGeneral ManagerParkside RecruitmentGeneral ManagerThe Management Recruitment Group (MRG)General ManagerBite TalentGeneral ForemanCONTRACT SCOTLAND LIMITEDGeneral PractitionerFlexzo AiIs this course right for you?
The essentials UK applicants ask about: finance, outcomes, entry and quality.
Student finance
Fees for this course are set under Wales's own student-finance system, not the England cap; check the provider's course page for the exact figure. If you normally live in Wales, Student Finance Wales can pay an eligible Tuition Fee Loan directly to the university, and maintenance support is a mix of grant and loan weighted to household income. You repay only above the income threshold.
Official-data snapshot
Averaging the official measures published for it, this course scores 9.9 out of 10: NSS 97.3% · continued 100%.
Who studies here and in this subject?
Provider- and UK subject-level context.
University of Wales Trinity Saint David
Combined and general studies across the UK
HESA student record 2024/25. Counts are rounded.
Local crime-data context
A neutral snapshot around the published teaching location.
Around Swansea
2,278 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 General Studies right for you?
Tick what applies to you and see how good a fit it is.
International students
What applying to University of Wales Trinity Saint David from outside the UK involves: fees, English, visa, funding and living costs.
Tuition fees
International tuition is set per course by University of Wales Trinity Saint David; 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 University of Wales Trinity Saint David’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 University of Wales Trinity Saint David and gov.uk before you apply.
Related courses
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Common questions
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