Showing content for section Overview
Overview
Our MA Fashion and Textiles degree course will help you develop the skills and critical awareness you need to pursue your creative talents in research, enterprise, or a creative career or practice.
On this workshop-based course, you'll develop your core practice in a fashion or textile context, unique to Portsmouth. You'll identify and explore your own motivation, be challenged to create designs, and develop your own digital and physical fashion products, using our excellent facilities that are a playground for creatives like you.
You'll also learn and hone transferable skills, gaining the confidence and tools needed to become a successful innovator and leader.
Whatever the focus of your studies, you'll strengthen your creative, critical, and practical abilities to achieve considered, professional results that are commercially viable. Whether you're interested in a leadership or management role, or starting your own business, this course can help you accomplish your goals in a constantly growing industry.
Number 6 in the UK for student satisfaction
We're ranked sixth in the UK for student satisfaction in creative arts and design in the 2024
Eligibility
This course accepts UK, EU, and international students.
Course highlights
- Take opportunities to do cross-disciplinary work or collaborate on funded research and innovation projects – past ones include client-set briefs to work with architects, photographers, and scientists
- Get professional experience through work-based learning
-
Combine traditional skills and techniques with new digital technologies in our world-class facilities
- Produce a major project based on your own research, supervised by academic, technical, and/or business mentors
- Hear from inspirational guest speakers from creative fields
- Organise or take part in individual or group exhibitions or events
- Go on optional study visits to cultural and industrial hubs in the UK and abroad – such as previous trips to Premiere Vision (Paris) and Future Fabrics Expo (London)
I liked the flexibility to plan my time and work on projects I enjoyed. ...[T]he challenges of Covid ... encouraged me to create a completely digital collection, adapting from not having access to onsite facilities and therefore pushing myself to learn a new skill and software program from scratch.
Contact information
Contact AdmissionsEntry requirements
Eligibility
This course accepts UK, EU, and International students.
September 2026 start (indicative)
- A minimum of a second-class honours degree in a related subject, or equivalent professional experience and/or qualifications.
-
Please get in touch if you're not sure if your undergraduate subject is relevant to this degree.
Equivalent professional experience and/or qualifications will also be considered, such as previous study, employment, voluntary work and training courses, including courses and qualifications you didn't complete. Learn more about our Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL).
If you're applying as an international student with a non-UK degree, you’ll need to show you meet the UK entry requirements listed above.
To find out if your non-UK degree or other qualification is accepted, please visit our page for your country and view the UK equivalent of your qualification.
- English language proficiency at a minimum of IELTS band 6.5 (or equivalent) with no component score below 6.0.
-
You do not need an IELTS or equivalent certification if:
- you have a UK degree
- you have a degree from a majority English speaking country (not taught by Distance Learning)
- you are a national of a majority English speaking country
-
Degrees taught solely in English from non-majority English speaking countries will be considered on a case by case basis. Find out more about our English language requirements.
If you do not meet the English language requirements yet, you can achieve the level you need by successfully completing a pre-sessional English programme before you start your course.
All applicants will be invited to attend an interview or be asked to submit a online portfolio in support of their application.
For more information on how to put together a portfolio, read our MA Fashion and Textiles portfolio guide.
Course costs and funding
Tuition fees
Note these fees are based on courses starting in 2025. We'll confirm 2026 fees here soon.
- Full-time:&²Ô²ú²õ±è;£9,400
- Part-time: £4,700 per year
(including Transition Scholarship)
- Full-time:&²Ô²ú²õ±è;£9,400
- Part-time: £4,700 per year
- Full-time:&²Ô²ú²õ±è;£17,200
- Part-time: £8,600 per year
Funding your studies
Explore how to fund your studies, including available scholarships and bursaries.
If you're a UK student, you may be eligible for a Government Postgraduate Master's Loan, which you can use to help with course fees and living costs.
Loans, scholarships and bursaries
Browse funding such as the Government Postgraduate Loan, our scholarships for new and returning students, and subject specific loans.
Funding for international students
Learn more about sponsorships, scholarships and loans for students applying from outside of the UK.
Fees and funding for Master's courses
Explore Master's funding options, including loans, scholarships, bursaries and more.
Modules
Full-time (indicative)
Core modules
We'll help you navigate discussions on different research methods and selecting the right one, be it qualitative or quantitative. Dive into a topic that matters to you, following ethical rules. You’ll get to share what you find using presentations and reflective writing, which will help you figure out who you are as a researcher. By the end, you’ll be familiar with the best research strategies—from practical projects to working with other fields—to support your Master’s study.
Become an agile and thoughtful researcher, prepared to explore exciting questions.
In this module, you'll create an ambitious project proposal to elevate your practice. You'll articulate the contexts shaping your research in a focused proposal, highlighting the evaluation of a range of materials, methods and sources.
This is an opportunity to challenge conventions and further your conceptual thinking. Revealing your potential as an original image-maker.
In this module, you’ll converge your ideas, skills, and knowledge into an ambitious self-initiated brief.
Grounded in contemporary contexts, you'll make critical decisions, selecting and testing appropriate materials and processes.
This module empowers your autonomous development, helping you to manage feedback to refine and resolve your vision.
Optional modules
In this module, you'll initiate an idea, then back it up with thorough primary and secondary sources.
You’ll analyse issues from a global perspective to refine your thinking and present research visually and textually.
Documenting tests and conclusions, you'll position an artefact within its wider context, demonstrating understanding at the forefront of your discipline. The module supports you to articulate an ambitious, research-led vision. Providing a springboard for your final major project.
You’ll work on a self-directed creative project, from initial spark to final outcome. Conducting research to evaluate, analyse and reflect and produce a report that showcases conceptual thinking.
Your critical writing will position your work within its discipline context, communicating the concept, method and result. This module will help you articulate the research-led narratives behind creative projects.
Write a detailed reflective report that shows how your own research guided your project from start to finish. Our tutors will help you explain your methods and track your journey with academic precision. You’ll explore the connection between your ideas and your approach, showing your ability to think critically and put your knowledge into practice. Finish your course with an in-depth piece of writing that connects your work to big ideas and conversations in your field.
This module is your chance to sharpen your writing skills and stand out as a thoughtful designer-researcher ready to contribute significantly to your area.
By analysing issues through different disciplinary lenses you'll be able to evaluate and communicate methodologies from your subject specialty.
You’ll deepen your critical thinking and teamwork skills as you tackle challenges in new configurations.
You'll identify professional needs related to your discipline, negotiating a learning contract with an employer. Then critically evaluate your skills and knowledge on the job and reflect on industry practices.
It's a chance to focus on your career vision, network with potential employers and gain key skills to boost your employability.
Part-time (indicative)
Core modules
You’ll explore different strategies and methods for impactful arts, design, and media research. Our lecturers will help you form an engaging research question. You’ll then choose and use the right critical methods to answer it. By doing hands-on projects, you'll get better at analysing, taking notes, gathering information from different sources, and sharing your findings.
By the end, you’ll know how to research on your own and have the critical thinking skills and confidence to do it well.
Follow your curiosity to new discoveries that will change the creative world.
Optional modules
In this module, you'll initiate an idea, then back it up with thorough primary and secondary sources.
You’ll analyse issues from a global perspective to refine your thinking and present research visually and textually.
Documenting tests and conclusions, you'll position an artefact within its wider context, demonstrating understanding at the forefront of your discipline. The module supports you to articulate an ambitious, research-led vision. Providing a springboard for your final major project.
By analysing issues through different disciplinary lenses you'll be able to evaluate and communicate methodologies from your subject specialty.
You’ll deepen your critical thinking and teamwork skills as you tackle challenges in new configurations.
You'll identify professional needs related to your discipline, negotiating a learning contract with an employer. Then critically evaluate your skills and knowledge on the job and reflect on industry practices.
It's a chance to focus on your career vision, network with potential employers and gain key skills to boost your employability.
Core modules
All modules in the year are core.
In this module, you'll create an ambitious project proposal to elevate your practice. You'll articulate the contexts shaping your research in a focused proposal, highlighting the evaluation of a range of materials, methods and sources.
This is an opportunity to challenge conventions and further your conceptual thinking. Revealing your potential as an original image-maker.
You’ll work on a self-directed creative project, from initial spark to final outcome. Conducting research to evaluate, analyse and reflect and produce a report that showcases conceptual thinking.
Your critical writing will position your work within its discipline context, communicating the concept, method and result. This module will help you articulate the research-led narratives behind creative projects.
In this module, you’ll converge your ideas, skills, and knowledge into an ambitious self-initiated brief.
Grounded in contemporary contexts, you'll make critical decisions, selecting and testing appropriate materials and processes.
This module empowers your autonomous development, helping you to manage feedback to refine and resolve your vision.
Changes to course content
We use the best and most current research and professional practice alongside feedback from our students to make sure course content is relevant to your future career or further studies.
Therefore, some course content may change over time to reflect changes in the discipline or industry and some optional modules may not run every year. If a module doesn't run, we'll let you know as soon as possible and help you choose an alternative module.
Facilities
How you'll spend your time
We recognise that you'll probably be juggling more demands when you do your Master's degree, as you may be working or you may have family responsibilities.
We'll give you as much indication here as we can of how much time you'll need to be on campus and how many hours you can expect to spend in self-directed study, but please note that these indications are always subject to change. You should receive your full timetable several weeks before you start with us.
Course structure
This Master's will take you:
- 1 year (full-time)
- 2 years (part-time)
You can expect:
- 1 day minimum face-to-face teaching
- Independent study time, depending on your mode of study:
- Full-time: 38 hours per week (approx.)
- Part-time: 19 hours per week (approx.)
- Regular tutorials, online or face-to-face
As part of your directed study and independent study (depending on what your project involves), you'll also be expected to spend at least one day per week on campus meeting your tutors and attending workshops.
Teaching
Master's study is deeper and more specialised than an undergraduate degree. This means you'll focus on something that really matters to you and your career as you work closely with academics committed to the subject.
You'll spend more time in independent study and research than you did for your undergraduate degree, but the majority of your teaching time will be in-person and face-to-face.
Teaching methods
Teaching on this course includes:
- lectures
- seminars
- guest lectures
- one-to-one tutorials
- group tutorials
- peer assessment review and feedback
- presentations
- workshops
Your final stage of study will be more independent, making your timetable more flexible.
Assessment
You'll be assessed through coursework.
Mr Tom Clulee
Term dates
September start
The Master's academic year runs from September to the following September. There are breaks at Christmas and Easter. Over the summer you'll be writing your project/dissertation.
Joining us as an international student
You'll feel at home in our international community and our diverse city. You'll be joining over 5,000 international students from more than 150 countries who are studying with us.
Learn more about international student life and how we can help you with visas, applications, arrival and settling in.
Career development
Careers this Master's prepares you for
This MA Fashion and Textiles degree will prepare you to explore your creative practice or pursue management opportunities within two globally in-demand industries. From design to export, the UK is a rich international source for fashion and textiles. In 2020, it exported almost £6 billion in fashion, and £3 billion in textiles (UKFT, 2020) worldwide, so you'll graduate with best practice and knowledge from a reputable contributor to these industries.
Graduates of this course have gone onto roles such as:
- Assistant designer
- Business owner
- Freelance designer
- Textile artist
- Technician
Graduates of this course have gone to work in areas such as:
- Design
- Start-ups
Career planning
During your course you'll have expert career support from your tutors and from our Careers and Employability Centre, which you can access for 5 years after you graduate.
You'll benefit from:
- Networking events
- 1-to-1 appointments
- CV and cover letter advice
- Interview preparation and practice
- Workshops to enhance your employability skills
- Recruitment events including the Student and Graduate Opportunities Fair
- Support starting your own business
If you're interested in setting up your own business while you study, you can get support on this course from the Entrepreneurs in Residence (EIRs) programme. Our EIRs are experienced business professionals who work with us to deliver group workshops and 1-to-1 drop-in clinics to help you plan and market your business idea.
Supporting you
Master's study is more focused on independent learning than undergraduate study, but you'll get lots of support via video, phone and face-to-face from teaching and support staff to enhance your learning experience and help you succeed. You can build your personalised network of support from the following people and services:
Types of support
Your personal tutor helps you make the transition to postgraduate study and gives you academic and personal support throughout your time at university.
You'll have regular contact with your personal tutor in learning activities or scheduled meetings. You can also make an appointment with them if you need extra support.
In addition to the support you get from your personal tutor, you'll also have access to a Faculty student support advisor. They can give you confidential, impartial advice on anything to do with your studies and personal wellbeing and refer you to specialist support services.
If you need support with software and equipment or you want to learn additional skills (including skills not covered on your course), our creative skills tutors provide free workshops, activities and one-on-one tutorials. Skills you can learn include life drawing, film camera operation and video production.
You'll have help from a team of faculty academic skills tutors. They can help you improve and develop your academic skills and support you in any area of your study.
They can help with:
- Improving your academic writing (for example, essays, reports, dissertations)
- Delivering presentations (including observing and filming presentations)
- Understanding and using assignment feedback
- Managing your time and workload
- Revision and exam techniques
Computing support staff are always available to give technical support in the Faculty's computer suites during normal working hours. There's also some support available from 5.00pm to midnight at busy times of the year.
During term time, Faculty Academic Skills Tutors (AST) are available for bookable 1-to-1 sessions, small group sessions and online sessions. These sessions are tailored to your needs.
Support is available for skills including:
- University study
- Getting into the right study mindset
- Note-taking and note-making skills
- Referencing
- Presentation skills
- Time management, planning, and goal setting
- Critical thinking
- Avoiding plagiarism
If you have a disability or need extra support, the Additional Support and Disability Centre (ASDAC) will give you help, support and advice.
Our online will help you plan for managing the challenges of learning and student life, so you can fulfil your potential and have a great student experience.
You can get personal, emotional and mental health support from our Student Wellbeing Service, in person and online. This includes 1-2-1 support as well as courses and workshops that help you better manage stress, anxiety or depression.
If you require extra support because of a disability or additional learning need our specialist team can help you.
They'll help you to
- discuss and agree on reasonable adjustments
- liaise with other University services and facilities, such as the library
- access specialist study skills and strategies tutors, and assistive technology tutors, on a 1-to-1 basis or in groups
- liaise with external services
Library staff are available in person or by email, phone or online chat to help you make the most of the University's library resources. You can also request one-to-one appointments and get support from a librarian who specialises in your subject area.
The library is open 24 hours a day, every day, in term time.
If English isn't your first language, you can do one of our English language courses to improve your written and spoken English language skills before starting your degree. Once you're here, you can take part in our free In-Sessional English (ISE) programme to improve your English further.
How to apply
Unlike undergraduate applications, which go through UCAS, applications for this Master's course are made directly to us.
There's no deadline for applications to this course. We accept applications right up until the start dates in September and January, as long as there are places available. If you wait until your start month to apply, you may find that the course is full.
If you're applying as an international student, remember that you'll need to leave plenty of time to get your visa organised.
You can find more advice about applying in our Master's application checklist. International students and current students and recent graduates of the ºÚÁÏ³Ô¹Ï also have some different application options, which are detailed below.
Extra information for international students
If you're an international student, you can apply directly to us using the same application form as UK students.
You could also get an agent to help with your application. Check your country page for details of agents in your region. To find out what to include in your application, head to the how to apply page of our international students section.
If you don’t meet the English language requirements for this course yet, you can achieve the level you need by successfully completing a pre-sessional English programme before you start your course.
Ready to apply?
You can apply for this course in 2026. In the meantime, you can sign up to an Open Evening to:
-
tour our campus and facilities
-
speak with lecturers and chat with our students
-
get information about where to live and how to fund your studies
I'm a current ºÚÁϳԹÏstudent, or a recent ºÚÁϳԹÏgraduate
If you're currently in your final year of study at Portsmouth, or you graduated since July 2024, you're eligible to make a fast track application. You'll have:
- a shorter application form to complete
- access to the 20% Alumni fee discount
- a guaranteed conditional offer, for most Master's courses
After you apply
Once we receive your application, we may ask you for further information. We will then either make you an offer or suggest alternatives if your application is unsuccessful.
You'll usually get a decision within 10 working days, so you shouldn't have to wait too long. Some courses have an interview stage – we'll let you know if you need to prepare for one.
Learn more about how we assess your application.
Admissions terms and conditions
When you accept an offer to study at the ºÚÁϳԹÏ, you also agree to abide by our Student Contract (which includes the University's relevant policies, rules and regulations). You should read and consider these before you apply.