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Top 10 unis to study Textile Design

Hiya,
I currently have A-levels in Art, textiles and food and would like to go onto study textiles, i am currently on a gap year as i started Bath Spa but really didnt like it so i would be grateful if anyone could tell me the best places to study textile design.

Thanks
Kerry

Reply 1

luce20

Well Im currently looking at textiles degree courses so i won't be 100% sure as which is the best but i can certainly name a few which Ive heard have fantastic repuations and courses..
Notts trent
Uni of the arts ( chelsea and st martins for textiles)
loughborough
de montfort
huddersfield, erm cant think of any more at the mom, but most definately all the ones i have listed are really good for textiles.
Hope this helps.

Reply 2

horrorcops

If your looking a bit further afield herriot-watt in scotland is ranked 15 in the guardian poll. It has a design for textiles course.

Reply 3

Flanker5

Does anyone have any more information on this? I see Loughborough has already been mentioned, but I was thinking about the University of Leeds and University of Dundee (Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art) as well.

Could someone please give me an idea of how these and other universities (that offer Textile/Surface Design courses) fare in the areas of teaching quality and support, course quality, and the quality of academic facilities?

Thank you in advance. (And yes, I realise this is a very old thread.)

Reply 4

kerry595

My friend is beginning a BA in Textile Design at University College Falmouth in September, I think the course is quite competitive there, but she has told me it has a really good reputation, and of course the location of Falmouth is stunning, if that's the kind of environment you want to be studying in. Check it out, hope this helps you along with your research. :smile:

Reply 5

kittensmittens

CHELSEA!
just kidding...ahh what do I know I'm not even there yet :smile:

When I was researching textile courses I found the whole thing so overwhelming - there were so many options! Luckily I got into UAL which was the only place I really wanted anyways but if I had to apply again I would probably pick completely different places for my other choices. I would just look at their industry links and where their students end up going, whether they win awards, the exposure available for graduates etc.

I don't know much about Duncan or Leeds as I was narrowing my search to Unis that offer it at the postgrad level, which I don't believe they do...I looked at most/all of the other places mentioned, but one place I looked at that I liked that isn't mentioned was MMU, so that might be worth a look. Also ECA and Glasgow School of Art are both amazing in general. Winchester School of Art seems to be going downhill but I have heard that textiles is their strongest subject. UCA Farham does textiles, I applied there sort of as a last-choice backup as I get the sense that it is better for other things than they are for textiles.

Reply 6

SteelApathy

Apparently Winchester school of art is meant to be good for textile courses.

Reply 7

alshacklady

I know this is a bit late but i want to help other people who, like me, are struggling with this whole process.
My first pointer of advice is to research the university courses which takes some time do I'd get started right away as I left it quite late because I didn't want to do it. Next visit the universities you like the sound of on open days as this has a massive impact on whether you will like the place your going to be staying for, for 3 years. Lastly take notes of the things you like and don't like about the place as soon enough all the things you thought you would remember start blurring into the same university and it's hard to differentiate. Here's my opinion on the one's i've been to so far...

1) Nottingham Trent- The facilities were really amazing definitely coming top in that department, even though it is not a campus it is still very beautiful and the right size, not too small and you don't feel that it's too big either. Also the student union and halls of residence are brand new, which I have not had the opportunity to visit yet. I feel that this one comes first for the textiles design course but you have to pick the uni that you like the look and feel of also as well as the course.

2) Loughborough- Really really big, it is a bit daunting with all those athletic people running around. The textiles building is actually not on the campus and you have to cross a main road to get to it and it is kept in a stingy-old building. Not great facilities, few sewing machines and average printing rooms.Mixed feelings towards this university despite it's great reputation.

3) Norwich- Really beautiful, not a campus and the textiles department is in just one building, it's very small so the student life and people you meet would be limited, but the city is amazing and has everything you would want there.Facilities are average. Lecturers and people who gave the talks were very impressive and friendly.

4) Birmingham City University- Absolutely awful! The open day was so badly organised and the buildings were horrible, I would not recommend this place

5) Leeds- This also has to be one of favourites not due to the facilities which are beautiful but the campus, it has so many pluses including the student union. It also gives you the option of going abroad for a year or staying here to work in the industry which is important as you gain invaluable experience

6) Southampton- Winchester- Very very small poor facilities and a rubbish main building, for an arts uni there were poor art displays with black tape stuck to the walls, people were unfriendly overall it was very disappointing

7) Bournemouth- Also very small but lovely facilities although it does not quite feel like a university as it is so small. People were very helpful and friendly.

8) Falmouth- Although I have not visited it has a great reputation as an arts university.

My ranking of these uni's are as followed:
1) Joint first Nottingham Trent and Leeds (NT-for the course, L-for the place)
2) Loughborough
3) Norwich
4) Falmouth
5) Bournemouth
6) Winchester
7) Birmingham City

Reply 8

smd4std

does it really matter where you study it? it's a **** degree

Reply 9

Sabina10

Im applying to study textiles as well for next year and ive got two more choices left but have no idea where I want to go. I would really like to stick with the london area but ive already got uni of arts and london mteropoliton. Ive applying at two colleges in uni of art, chelsea and st martins, both with textiles design? I am allowed to do that? I was planning on adding wincester but the review above doesnt sound really good :/ what universities are out there in england that i could look into? I thinking about uni for creative art in farnham?