Course summary
Arts University Plymouth is an arts university for the 21st century, preparing students who are uniquely placed to provide creative solutions to the complex global challenges of a changing world. Formerly known as Plymouth College of Art, we were granted full university title in Spring 2022. We are now the city of Plymouth’s first and only specialist arts university, allowing us to offer our students a dynamic and unique learning experience. If you want to pursue a creative degree at Arts University Plymouth but feel you have yet to acquire the experience and range of skills necessary, our Extended BA course will prepare you for entry to one of our BA (Hons) undergraduate courses. This four-year route offers an exploratory year, developing your insight into a range of art, design and media skills and approaches, before focusing on your Textile Design degree. Every day we encounter textile design in our lives, encompassing and enriching everything from the clothes that we wear to the patterns, textures and colours of the environments that we live and work in. Join our community and nurture your unique design personality, through an exciting mix of textile and surface experimentation, personal development and creative industry live briefs and opportunities. Our Textile Design course is an exciting, industry-focused and experimental environment where you will develop essential skills needed to design for different markets and audiences. From trend forecasting and product development to branding and marketing, our course covers all aspects of the exciting textile design sector. Our course structure is centred around experimentation, innovation and exploring the future of textile design and sustainability, giving you the freedom to utilise new materials, techniques and technologies: from traditional print processes and knit and dyeing methods to contemporary digital printing and creative surface pattern design. You will have access to a wide range of tools and equipment while learning current digital design skills that will bring your creative visions to life. Our breath-taking textiles studios are home to an expansive, impressive screen printing space, a dye laboratory, large-format sublimation printers and transfer presses, as well as knitting machines, digital embroidery machines, tufting guns and a range of state-of-the-art digital printers and scanners, enabling you to realise your fabric design with immediate turnaround. You’ll also have access to WGSN and The Future Laboratory. Our students become accomplished and exciting textile designers for fashion, interiors, product design, craft and fine art applications, as well as textile buyers, stylists and merchandisers. This course also incorporates research into the historical, cultural and sustainable contexts of textile design, as well as developing your critical understanding and appreciation of design principles. You’ll learn advanced research and communication skills, alongside a practical understanding of traditional and digital design processes, resulting in a diverse portfolio of creative outputs. The course is supported by a brilliant team of technical staff and visiting lecturers. In recent years, live briefs and industry placements have been offered by prestigious designers including Timorous Beasties, Zandra Rhodes, Mercedes, Sainsbury’s, Joules, Finisterre, Princess Yachts, Dulux, Nicky Pasterfield, Christopher Farr, Anna Gravelle, MAKE Southwest and the Eden Project. Through sponsored industrial projects you’ll learn how to meet the needs of clients and see your designs made ready for production, gaining real-life design experience. Study trips have included Heimtextil in Frankfurt and Première Vision and Maison&Objet in Paris. After graduating, you’ll be equipped to start your career and capitalise on your design skills, whether designing for large, well-known brands or starting your own independent enterprise.
Modules
The first year of an Extended Degree is not a qualification in its own right, but when you successfully complete it you are guaranteed a place on our full undergraduate programme. You’ll develop confidence in your use of drawing, visual research, contextual studies, digital imaging and design methods, and you’ll have the chance to experiment with a range of materials, equipment, processes and software. As the year goes by you’ll specialise in your chosen undergraduate subject (illustration, graphic design, fine art, etc.), helping you to become a confident, independent and creative artist, designer or maker.
How to apply
This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.
Application codes
- Course code:
- J400
- Institution code:
- P65
- Campus name:
- Main Site
- Campus code:
- -
Points of entry
The following entry points are available for this course:
- Foundation
International applicants
Plymouth is the largest city in the county of Devon, and the safest big city in south-west England, listed in the top ten safest cities in the UK. The city has excellent travel links via car, train and ferry, with direct train services to London Paddington and the rest of the country and easy access to three nearby airports (Bristol, Newquay and Exeter). Plymouth is the gateway to the South West of England and is approximately 3 hours from London by train. The best airport to fly into is London Heathrow, which has a direct rail line to Paddington station. Our dedicated international team will be able to support you throughout your application and enrolment with us, giving you expert advice and guidance on everything you need, from accommodation to what to do once you arrive in the UK.
Entry requirements
Qualification requirements
UCAS Tariff - 104 - 120 points
Your application will tell us about your qualifications and previous experience, but studying the arts is about more than can be captured on forms. We need to find out about your creative potential, your abilities and idiosyncrasies, so we will invite you to talk about your work with a member of our HE academic team. You can tell us about your aspirations, and why you want to study at the university. It is also a good moment to find out what we can offer you. We encourage you to visit the university, so that you can see our facilities, meet our teaching and technical staff, and discuss any other queries you may have; however we appreciate this may not be possible, and are happy to talk to you via an online platform (such as Google Meet or similar). We accept a range of international qualifications and will look at each application individually.
Please click the following link to find out more about qualification requirements for this course
Additional entry requirements
Portfolio
If your application meets our entry requirements, we’ll invite you to submit your portfolio, so that we can review your work and find out more about your creative potential. You will have the opportunity to submit your portfolio digitally, or in person at one of our Applicant Experience Days. At an Applicant Experience Day, you'll also get the chance to discuss your portfolio with a member of our academic team.
English language requirements
Test | Grade | Additional details |
---|---|---|
IELTS (Academic) | 6 | IELTS (Level B2):overall score of 6.0 with minimum scores Listening: 5.5, Speaking: 5.5, Reading: 5.5, Writing: 5.5 |
Trinity ISE | Pass | Integrated Skills in English II (Level B2), minimum grades required: Reading: Pass Listening: Pass |
PTE Academic | 50 | PTE Academic (Level B2), minimum grade required: Listening: 50, Reading: 50, Writing: 50, Speaking: 50 |
Click here to find out the most up-to-date information on our English Language requirements
Student Outcomes
The number of student respondents and response rates can be important in interpreting the data – it is important to note your experience may be different from theirs. This data will be based on the subject area rather than the specific course. Read more about this data on the Discover Uni website.
Fees and funding
Tuition fees
Republic of Ireland | £9250 | Year 1 |
EU | £16500 | Year 1 |
Channel Islands | £9250 | Year 1 |
England | £9250 | Year 1 |
Northern Ireland | £9250 | Year 1 |
Scotland | £9250 | Year 1 |
Wales | £9250 | Year 1 |
International | £16500 | Year 1 |
Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website .
Additional fee information
Provider information
Arts University Plymouth
Tavistock Place
Plymouth
PL4 8AT
Clearing contact details
Register here to find out more about our coursesAdmissions
01752203402
Additional information
We still have places available on most of our BA (Hons) creative degrees for September 2024 entry.