Textiles HNC

Course code 124J

What is special about this course?

Delve into these visual and tactile experiences in surface decoration, creative textile development, and drawing and design development, as they relate to fashion, interior, and accessory design.

Explore and experiment with materials, media, and techniques to gain a broad range of skills and knowledge in textiles and fashion design. Stay in touch with the latest trends via guest lecturers and industry visits, ultimately producing a portfolio of work, plus a final textile and fashion collection.

Special features

The course covers a wide range of study areas including:

  • Machine embroidery
  • Fabric manipulation and surface decoration
  • Mixed media
  • Garment design
  • Garment construction
  • Digital imaging
  • Sketchbook development
  • Portfolio creation
  • Observational drawing

Visiting lecturers and industry visits will ensure that you gain exposure to the latest trends within the sector.

Accommodation

We offer modern student accommodation at a number of our locations.

Entry requirements

  • 1 Scottish Higher at grade C or above OR
  • 1 A level at grade D or above OR
  • NC in a relevant subject area.
  • Prospective students without the standard entry requirements as listed above are encouraged to apply. We will consider individual competence in textiles-based skills evidenced by a portfolio of work.
  • You will also be required to attend an interview.

Year 1 - HNC

Mandatory units are:

  • Surface decoration for textiles: an introduction
  • Digital imaging
  • Professional design practice
  • Textile techniques: an introduction
  • Observational drawing
  • Design semantics
  • Textiles: Graded Unit 1

Option units include:

  • Concept garment design: an introduction
  • Designing and producing fashion garments: advanced
  • Preparing to start a business
  • Portfolio production
  • Fashion forecasting: research and development
  • Garment construction techniques: an introduction

How will I study my course?

  • Full-time
  • Part-time (structured)

You will learn face-to-face, with practical and theory work taking place in our dedicated, specially equipped fashion studios at UHI North, West and Hebrides, Fort William.

How long will my course last?

  • Full-time: 1 year @ 15 hours per week
  • Part-time (structured): 2 years – you will study for 7 hours per week in year 1 and 8 hours per week in year 2

Where can I study my course?

  • North, West and Hebrides - Fort William campus (not available to study in 2024/25)

Start date

  • September

Fees

For students normally domiciled in Scotland, with a term-time address in Scotland, the following fees apply:

This includes

  • EU nationals with settled or pre-settled status in the UK,
  • EEA/Swiss nationals with settled status in the UK
  • EEA/Swiss nationals with pre-settled status who are self-employed or migrant workers in the UK.
Higher National Awards (HNC, HND) 2023-24 2024-25
Full-time per year £1,285 £1,285
Part-time (per HN credit) £86 £86

Rest of UK students

For students normally domiciled in the rest of the UK (England, Wales and N. Ireland, including Channel Islands and the Isle of Man) and with a term time address in Scotland, the following fees apply:

Higher National Awards (HNC, HND) 2023-24 2024-25
Full-time per year £7,110 £7,110
Part-time (per HN credit) £474 £474

Fees are payable in advance each academic year unless otherwise agreed.

There are a number of funding options available to UK students to help you pay for your studies and your cost of living while studying.

International students

For students who do not normally reside in the UK, including EU/EEA and Swiss nationals without settled or pre-settled status in the UK, with a term-time address in Scotland, the following fees apply:

This includes EEA/Swiss nationals with pre-settled status who are not self-employed or migrant workers in the UK.

Higher National Awards (HNC, HND) 2023-24 2024-25
Full-time per year £7,980 £8,775
Part-time (per HN credit) £532 £585

Part-time study is not open to international student requiring Student Route visa sponsorship to study in the UK.

Funding

UHI has a number of scholarships, bursaries, awards, and discretionary fund opportunities available to new and current students. Please use the A-Z of funds or use the filter to see which ones may be relevant to you. All students are welcome to apply.

Further information on funding your studies is also available, please see the attached link or contact the relevant UHI partner.

Additional costs

  • Personal access to a variety of art and craft materials such as cutting and sewing equipment, paint, brushes and pencils will be required. An equipment list will be provided on application

What can I do on completion of my course?

On successful completion of the course you may wish to consider a career as a:

  • Junior designer
  • Print production operative
  • Retail sales assistant
  • Machinist
  • Merchandiser

Can I progress into further study?

You may be able to progress on to second year of the HND Textiles or second year of a textiles degree.  

Is there more information available online?

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I left school at 15 and have completed NC Fashion and Design, HNC and HND Textiles. I was chosen for a textile's placement in Slovakia for a month in 2019. I gained project grants, created my own fashion collection, hosted my own fashion show in Inverness selling my handmade products and obtained multiple creative internships along the way.

The skills and training that I have had from my amazing tutors allows me to construct and run projects to the point where I can go and freelance my work and run creative workshops. When I finish, I intend to broaden my skills pallet in multiple creative techniques, working with different mediums. I am exploring sustainability with the community and Highland Hospice, Fort William by upcycling, and producing my own sellable creations.

Taylor studied Textiles at UHI North, West and Hebrides. 

Apply for Textiles HNC

This course is currently closed
Please return to this page for information on future start dates

We are delighted that you are thinking about studying at the University of the Highlands and Islands. We operate a fair and open admissions system committed to equality of opportunity and non-discrimination. We consider all applications on merit and on the basis of ability to achieve, without discrimination on grounds of gender, age, disability, ethnicity and socio-economic background. We welcome applications from all prospective students and aim to provide appropriate and efficient services to students with disabilities.