BA Textiles
About this course
BA (Hons) in Textiles, a design degree centred on material exploration, surface pattern, and creative textile practices across 2D and 3D contexts. Core topics include Engineering Design and Design & Creative Practice. Students can optionally include a year abroad. The first year introduces research and concept development, design thinking, visual exploration, and materials experimentation through technical skills workshops. The second year focuses on core principles, theories and working practices in textiles, computer-aided design approaches, print and pattern, and mixed media techniques. The third year shifts towards personal research concepts, individual creative practice, industry and community linked projects, and responses to current industry, societal and environmental concerns. The fourth year centres on consolidating and refining textile practice through the design and production of a final developed project, culminating in exhibition opportunities such as the ECA Graduate Show and New Designers in London.
Written by AI from the university's course page and module list. It can get details wrong, so check the official course page before you rely on it.
Entry requirements
A level: ABB (required: no specific A level subjects required) IB: 34 points with 655 at HL
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Admissions (2022 entry, home applicants)
Offer rate 17%: 30 offers from 173 applications, from the university's Freedom of Information return.
What students say
Based on about 10 final-year students who answered (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Teaching on my course: 100%
- Learning opportunities: 94%
- Assessment and feedback: 92%
- Academic support: 100%
- Organisation and management: 100%
- Learning resources: 83%
- Student voice: 83%
Do students stay on the course?
Based on about 15 students who started (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Continued on course: 95%
- Left higher education: 5%
What graduates do next
Based on about 5 graduates who answered (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Working: 75%
- Working and studying: 10%
- Further study: 10%
Most common jobs
- Sales occupations: 20%
- Web and Multimedia Design Professionals: 20%
- Artistic, literary and media occupations: 20%
- Design occupations: 20%
- Elementary occupations: 10%
- Find their work meaningful: 80%
- Feel on track for their future plans: 55%
- Use what they learnt on the course: 35%
Where graduates work (5 years on)
Based on about 120 graduates, across similar courses at this university
- North East: 3%
- North West: 3%
- Yorkshire and the Humber: 1%
- East Midlands: 3%
- West Midlands: 3%
- East of England: 3%
- London: 27%
- South East: 11%
- South West: 2%
- Wales: 1%
- Scotland: 40%
- Northern Ireland: 2%
Who gets in
Based on about 15 students who started (a small group: a rough guide only)
- A levels: 50%
- Other HE qualification: 50%
Modules
- research and concept development
- design thinking
- visual exploration
- materials experimentation
- technical skills workshops
- discussion and reflection
- core principles, theories and working practices in textiles
- computer-aided design approaches to allow you to explore and present visual information
- technical instruction and presentation methods
- textile and related industries and their challenges and opportunities to address the climate emergency
- technical focus on print and pattern, through the design and creation of printed textiles and surfaces
- technical focus on mixed media approaches to surface and 3-D materials
- drawing and visual studies
- research
- design development
- textiles processes and their application
- print and repeat
- mixed media techniques
- a broad range of materials
- a widening palette of ways of developing your design process
- ways of addressing and communicating your ideas for further design contexts
- ways of finding routes towards your own personal interpretations of briefs and being able to reflect on your own design journey
- responses to current industry, societal and environmental concerns
- personal research concepts and your own individual creative practice
- highly creative and innovative responses through the creation of a folio of project work
- industry and community linked projects
- national and international competitions
- briefs that reflect the most pertinent issues in design and textiles
- support from visiting experts
- being driven by the intended context for your design work
- responding to current design challenges with a personal selection of methods, materials and techniques
- understanding the textile discipline and its many avenues and possibilities
- your ability to present and communicate your ideas coherently and professionally
- develop approaches towards the resolution, consolidation and presentation of your work
- build your CV and folio to help secure internships and opportunities within the field of textiles and design
- be encouraged to take part in appropriate competitions and activities and to work on live external projects
- consolidate and refine your textile practice through the design and production of your final developed project and textile solutions
- resolve a body of work and be able to communicate this physically and digitally
- have the opportunity to exhibit your work in the ECA Graduate Show and at New Designers (or equivalent showcase) in London
Questions about this course
How much do graduates of BA Textiles at University of Edinburgh earn?
The median salary is £26,500 after 15 months, £22,500 after 3 years, £27,500 after 5 years. After five years the middle half of graduates earn between £21,000 and £37,000. The £27,500 median after five years is £1,500 more than the UK median for Design studies.
What do graduates of BA Textiles at University of Edinburgh do next?
90% were in work or further study 15 months after finishing (Graduate Outcomes 2023-24).
Are students happy with the teaching on BA Textiles at University of Edinburgh?
100% of final-year students were positive about the teaching in the National Student Survey 2025-26.
What grades do I need for BA Textiles at University of Edinburgh?
The typical offer is ABB at A level, or 34 points in the IB. The average entrant had 151 UCAS points.
What is the offer rate for BA Textiles at University of Edinburgh?
17% of home applicants received an offer for 2022 entry: 30 offers from 173 applications, according to the university's Freedom of Information return.
Does BA Textiles at University of Edinburgh include a placement year or year abroad?
The course has an optional year abroad.
How many students continue on BA Textiles at University of Edinburgh?
95% of students continued into their second year, and 5% left higher education.