BA (Hons) Commercial Surface Design for Fashion, Interiors, and Textiles at University of Greater Manchester

Programme overview

The global surface design industry covers design fields such as textiles, surface pattern, illustration, photography, graphic art and fine print. Our BA (Hons) Commercial Surface Design for Fashion, Interiors, and Textiles course offers a unique opportunity to work with our extensive industry partners through live project briefs, placements and trade exhibitions, through tableware, packaging design, stationery, homeware, to automotive, wallcoverings and wall art.

Duration: 3 years full-time | Study mode: full-time, foundation year route available | Intake: September 2027 | Location: Bolton, England, United Kingdom

What you will study

Modules (a mix of compulsory and optional) include Introduction to Design Practice, Surface Design: Principles and Practices, Creative Industries Contexts, Surface Design: Sampling and Application, Printmaking for Creative Practice, Surface Designer: Digital and Print, Professional Studio Practice: Concept and Process, Surface Designer: Freelance and Studio, Professional Studio Practice: Design and Realisation, Creative Careers: Action and Engagement, Innovate, Incubate, Advanced Surface Design Practice, Major Project, among others.

Career pathways

As a graduate, you can work in the surface design and textile industries or use your creative flair and ability to generate ideas and concepts as a creative artworker in many other sectors. Our graduates currently use their experience to pursue careers as surface designers for interior furnishings, fashion fabrics and homeware, and as illustrators within the greetings industry.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

96 UCAS points. Any subjects are acceptable at Level 3. Creative subjects are strongly preferred. You should also have five GCSEs at grade 4/C or above (or equivalent), including English. You'll be required to attend an interview and provide a portfolio of appropriate work. Your portfolio should demonstrate your skills in a range of relevant creative media and styles. The quality of the portfolio/interview is the primary basis on which applicants are selected; therefore, special consideration will be given to applicants without the above qualifications who have a strong portfolio. Relevant work or voluntary experience will also be considered. In these cases, we may ask applicants to undertake additional assessments to determine their suitability for the course. If English isn’t your first language, you’ll also need IELTS 6.0 with no less than 5.5 in any band (or equivalent).

Domestic applicants: GBP 9,790 a year (2026/27). Home/EU tuition fee, first year of study; total course fee £29,370 Source

International applicants: GBP 17,500 a year (2026/27). International tuition fee, first year of study; total course fee £52,500 Source

Intake: September 2027

Duration: 3 years full-time

Apply through the official page: https://evision.bolton.ac.uk/urd/sits.urd/run/siw_ipp_lgn.login?process=siw_ipp_app&code1=W270-D&code2=0003

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