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Subject · 98 verified programs

Textile Design degrees

Degrees in designing and making woven, knitted, printed and surface-treated textiles for fashion, interiors and art.

Also called: Textiles, Fiber Arts, Fibre Art, Surface Pattern Design, Woven and Printed Textiles.

26 BA / BA (Hons) · 22 BFA · 15 MFA · 15 Other bachelor’s award · 9 MA · 8 Other master’s award · 2 BDes · 1 MDes · 64 dedicated degree, 2 documented pathway, 22 official concentration, 10 named major

98 programs

How results are ordered: alphabetically by institution, or by most recently checked when you choose that sort. There is no price ranking, because tuition in different currencies, fee categories and bases (per year, per credit, whole program) is not comparable. A program appears under a subject only through a verified link (dedicated degree, major, concentration or documented pathway). A value we could not verify is shown as “not published”, never as “no”. Items marked Sponsored are paid placements; they never change verification or order. Online programs are not counted as physically located in a state or city, and an institution’s location does not tell you whether it enrols students from your country.

About textile design study

Textile design concerns the creation of fabrics and surfaces, including woven, knitted, printed, embroidered and constructed materials. Degree study covers both the design of pattern, color and structure and the technical understanding of fibers, yarns and processes. Textiles may be developed for clothing, interiors, products, architecture or as independent art.

Programs usually combine studio and workshop learning with research and design development. Students may work on looms, knitting machines, dye and print facilities, and increasingly digital tools for pattern design and digital printing. Sustainability, material innovation and the cultural history of cloth are common topics, and projects often move between sampling and finished outcomes.

Textile design overlaps with fashion design and interior design, since fabric serves both, but is focused on the material and its surface or structure rather than on garments or spaces. It differs from graphic design, which addresses communication, and from fine arts, though some textile programs lean toward art-based fiber practice. Some institutions combine textiles with fashion or surface pattern.

What study typically involves

  • Weaving, knitting and constructed textile techniques
  • Printing, dyeing and surface decoration
  • Pattern, color and repeat design
  • Fibers, yarns and material properties
  • Digital design and digital printing in many programs
  • Sustainability and material research
  • Collection or project development and presentation

Award titles. Textile design is commonly studied within BA, BA (Hons), BFA or BDes degrees, and at postgraduate level within MA, MFA or MDes programs. Research degrees including practice-based PhDs may exist in some countries. Award titles differ by country and institution, so check the official program page.

Textile design often appears as an area within fashion, fine arts or design degrees, sometimes as an official pathway or concentration. The directory lists a program under this subject only with a verified dedicated degree, major, official concentration or documented pathway.

Portfolio and admissions guidance

Requirements differ for every program. Always check the official admissions page; this directory cannot guarantee acceptance.

Applicants to textile design programs are often asked for a portfolio showing drawing, color work, pattern and any hands-on making, along with sketchbooks that show how ideas develop. Previous experience with specific textile equipment is not always expected.

Requirements vary by country and program. Submissions may be digital or physical, may include interviews, and may place different weight on technical skill and creative exploration. Postgraduate programs generally expect a coherent body of work and a statement.

Check each program’s official admissions page for formats, limits and deadlines. Admission is never guaranteed, and no universal template exists.

See also the guide to preparing an art portfolio.

Funding and costs

At MFA and PhD level, some programs offer teaching assistantships, studio or workshop roles, tuition remission or competitive scholarships. Roles may involve supporting looms, print or dye facilities.

Terms vary by program, country and year, and many students receive partial or no support. Verify directly with the program and funding bodies.

Costs beyond tuition. Textile students often pay for yarns, fabrics, dyes, printing and sampling costs, equipment or workshop fees, and software for pattern design.