Textile Sustainability and Innovation MSc

Course overview

Fashion and textile businesses across the world are seeking sustainable raw materials and manufacturing methods for designing innovative products whilst maintaining quality and meeting the needs of their consumers.

This course will prepare you to discover and drive sustainable and innovative textile solutions to address global environmental and societal challenges facing the global fashion and textile industries. You’ll gain an advanced understanding of the role of technology in the development of textile materials and products, including contemporary innovations in the fashion and textile industry.

You’ll also develop core skills in textile and apparel technology, whilst gaining commercial awareness and an understanding of product development, design and manufacturing processes. Optional modules will also give you the chance to specialise in areas aligned to your interests and career aspirations.

Practical experience including laboratory research, problem-solving and report writing will prepare you for your future career. You’ll be taught by leading academic staff with a range of expertise and industry experience spanning performance design, sustainability, textile technology, colour technology, healthcare and technical textiles.

Scholarships for 2025 Entry

The Clothworkers' Company are managing eight Scholarships for UK students to support textiles by funding technical education, skills development and innovative design.

Specialist facilities

We have excellent facilities to help you make the most of your time at Leeds. Specialist facilities include state of the art equipment for polymer synthesis, fibre extrusion, yarn and fabric development (including woven, knitted and nonwoven) as well as a digital printing studio and a laboratory for materials testing and characterisation.

Since 2013, we have invested over £9 million upgrading our facilities including labs, workshops, studios and student spaces. The School is also home to the Future Fashion Factory project which supports innovation in the UK fashion and textiles industry. In 2018, we opened our 3D Weaving Innovation Centre which is leading the way in 3D weaving technology, design and production.

You’ll have the opportunity to develop skills and techniques in these facilities, particularly in relation to the research you will undertake for your dissertation.

Internship opportunity - from 2025/26

All School of Design masters students and final year undergraduate students can apply for our internships. Two successful candidates will work with the PACE creative team for six months after finishing their course. Find out more about our Professional Academy for Creative Enterprise (PACE).

The internship has helped me grow not only in technical skill but also in adaptability—qualities that are essential in a professional environment.

Lucy Clanfield, PACE Intern.

Find out more about Lucy Clanfield's experience.

Course details

In the first semester you’ll build on foundational skills to develop your knowledge in textile and apparel design technology, and textiles product development. You will also begin to explore sustainable innovation in the textiles sector, whilst gaining an in-depth understanding of the innovative manufacturing processes, considering the impact on sustainability at all stages. 

In line with your aspirations, selected optional modules in the second semester will enable you to gain a specialist understanding of key areas such as technical textiles, colour forecasting, or a specific application of textiles such as in digital printing or healthcare. 

In the second semester you will also undertake a research project in the form of a dissertation or research paper, under the supervision of a subject specialist, which will give you the chance to direct your own study, developing key skills in laboratory research and conducting independent research into a specialist area of your interest. 

The Programme Leader for this course is Dr Eleanor Scott.

Course structure

The list shown below represents typical modules/components studied and may change from time to time. Read more in our terms and conditions.

Year 1 compulsory modules

Year 1 optional modules (selection of typical options shown below)

Your postgraduate studies in Textile Sustainability and Innovation include choosing optional modules that allow you to customise your degree to your interests, while broadening your knowledge and skills within the course structure. Available options let you explore specific areas within Textile Sustainability and Innovation, such as digital design and printing, technical textiles, healthcare materials, colour polymers, and colour forecasting. Please note that these represent typical optional modules and may be subject to change.

Learning and teaching

Creative problem solving and design thinking methods are central our teaching in the School of Design. Your learning will be enhanced by a range of contemporary teaching methods which encourage active learning and are underpinned by inclusive and authentic learning activities, which may include team working, interactive sessions and industry facing scenarios. We follow a campus based blended learning approach; you’ll have a range of resources in the virtual learning environment which are accessible at all times, including videos and pre-work to help you prepare.

You’ll attend lectures which are carefully designed to invite engagement and participation, seminars enable you to delve deeper into key topics, lab sessions to practise and apply your learning.

Your module tutors have dedicated office hours, which means there’s always the opportunity to ask questions. Collaboration with staff and your peers is the foundation of our teaching and learning, giving students input into their learning journey.

Private study is important and is a space where you can reflect and critique materials from taught sessions, including further research, thinking, reading and writing. You will be guided through this process by your tutors to help you develop your knowledge and research skills. You’ll also have the ongoing support of your Academic Personal Tutor.

On this course, you’ll be taught by our expert academics, from lecturers through to professors. You may also be taught by industry professionals with years of experience, as well as trained postgraduate researchers, connecting you to some of the brightest minds on campus.

Assessment

On the MSc Textile Sustainability and Innovation you will be assessed through a variety of methods, these include essays and examinations as well as practical and project work, laboratory reports, literature reviews and presentations. This combination will develop and enhance your technical, professional, and transferable skills. You’ll also benefit from timely and explicit formative feedback from your tutors to help develop your learning. Formative assessment gives staff an opportunity to give you feedback on personal progress, in good time before a summative deadline.

In Semesters 2 and 3, you will undertake your Major Research Project which will require you to demonstrate in-depth, specialist knowledge of a related topic.

Authentic assessment means relevant assessment; relevant in terms of contemporary contexts and to your personal interests and future aspirations. The authenticity of assessment is an important consideration in how we design assignments and project briefs. This means that we think carefully about the relevance of assessment outcomes; in academic terms as well as your chosen career path, skill development needs and the future of work in your chosen discipline.

Dialogic teaching methods emphasise in-class discussion and support staff/student debate. This approach to teaching and learning enables staff to hear all student voices. While remaining considerate of module and programme learning outcomes, where relevant and beneficial, we strive to adopt a flexible approach to assessment design. This flexibility allows us to respond to student voice, maintain an agility that allows us to react to global, social and cultural change and respond swiftly to opportunities to devise projects with our industrial partners. We aim for all assessment to be relevant, meaningful and engaging. 

Applying

Entry requirements

You’ll need a bachelor degree with a 2:1 (hons) or equivalent qualification, preferably in: a textile-related subject, management, business, design, or a related science, engineering or social science subject.

We’ll also consider your application if you have a 2:2 degree combined with relevant experience, such as in employment, an internship, or a year in industry; we’ll also consider applicants without a formal degree who hold a relevant professional qualification, such as from The Textile Institute or Society of Dyers and Colourists.

You’ll be required to respond to the questions in the supporting statement section of the online application form.

Applying from China

Due to the large numbers of applications we receive, we’re only able to offer places to applicants who have attended selected Chinese institutions. With regret, any applications we receive from applicants awarded a qualification in China from an institution that isn’t on this list will be rejected.

English language requirements

IELTS 6.5 overall, with no less than 6.0 in each component.

Improve your English

International students who do not meet the English language requirements for this programme may be able to study our postgraduate pre-sessional English course, to help improve your English language level.

This pre-sessional course is designed with a progression route to your degree programme and you’ll learn academic English in the context of your subject area. To find out more, read Language for Science (6 weeks) and Language for Science: General Science (10 weeks). 

We also offer online pre-sessionals alongside our on-campus pre-sessionals. Find out more about our six week online pre-sessional.

You can also study pre-sessionals for longer periods – read about our postgraduate pre-sessional English courses.

How to apply

The ‘Apply’ link at the top of this page will take you to information on applying for taught programmes and to the University's online application system.

If you're unsure about the application process, contact the admissions team for help.

Documents and information you’ll need:

• a copy of your degree certificate and transcripts, or a partial transcript if you’re still studying (including an official English translation if necessary)
• evidence of your English language qualifications, if English is not your first language.

Personal Statement Requirements

Please summarise your reasons for applying to this particular programme of study. Your response can include details of your motivation to apply, previous study/work experience relevant to the programme and career ambitions. Your response can provide us with important information on your suitability for the course, so please complete carefully.

Read about visas, immigration and other information in International students. We recommend that international students apply as early as possible to ensure that they have time to apply for their visa.

This course is taught by

School of Design

Contact us

Postgraduate Administrator

Email: PGT-Admissions-Design@leeds.ac.uk
Telephone:

Fees

UK: £16,000 (Total)

International: £32,250 (Total)

Read more about paying fees and charges.

For fees information for international taught postgraduate students, read Masters fees.

Additional cost information

There are additional costs of study that students need to cover. We estimate that these additional costs could be as described below, but this amount may vary depending on how you decide to respond to university briefs and the range of materials and techniques you decide to adopt.  

Equipment and material costs  

Students also need to cover costs of copying and supplying their own basic materials (eg pens, pencils, notebooks). The programme doesn’t require students to provide other materials to comlete the programme successfully.

Computers and digital equipment  

To ensure you can make the most of your studies at Leeds, you’ll need to make sure your laptop meets the system requirements for your course.  

Some of our courses require the development of work using Adobe Creative and other relevant software. If required by your programme, the School will provide you with a free Adobe CC account when you arrive. We also use a blended learning model where you’ll need to access course materials and video conference using a computer or mobile device (eg laptop, tablet, smartphone). Costs for a laptop will vary depending on the exact specification. You should expect to pay between £800–£2,500.   

If you’re buying a new laptop for your studies, then we recommend that you wait until you’re registered as a student so that you take advantage of discounts given to university students. Delaying purchasing also allows you to find out from your programme leader what you need and what you do not need. Depending on your circumstances you can benefit from a laptop loan or further support from our Financial Assistance Fund.  

You’ll also have access to further digital equipment in our studios and using our loan scheme. But, you may decide to purchase your own equipment which will result in additional optional costs. Examples are: Drawing tablet (£50–£500); Digital camera (£200–£1500); etc.  Read more about additional costs.

There may be additional costs related to your course or programme of study, or related to being a student at the University of Leeds. Read more on our living costs and budgeting page.

Scholarships and financial support

If you have the talent and drive, we want you to be able to study with us, whatever your financial circumstances. There may be help for students in the form of loans, scholarships and non-repayable grants from the University and from the government.

Clothworkers’ Scholarship

Affordability route

The School of Design offers five Clothworkers’ Affordability Scholarships, worth £7,000, to enable eligible UK fee-paying students from under-represented groups to study a MSc Textile Sustainability and Innovation.

The scholarships do not have to be paid back and are in addition to the financial support you can receive from the government.

Applications for the 2025-26 academic year will open in Spring 2025. Please check the Leeds Masters Scholarship web page for further details.

Academic achievement route

All UK fee paying students who apply to this programme are considered for a Clothworkers’ Academic Achievement Scholarship. The Scholarships provide three students with £4,000 towards their study and are based on an applicant’s academic achievement.

All UK fee paying student who apply by 30th June 2024 will be considered. There is no separate application process and decision will be based on grades at undergraduate level.

The announcement for the scholarship will be made by 31st July 2024.

Career opportunities

This degree will equip you with a diverse range of knowledge and professional skills. Career opportunities include sustainability management roles in fashion and textile industry and retailors, textile innovation and/or product development, fashion buyers, textile management, technical consultancy, garment technologists, testing laboratory professionals, technical marketing and support, colour technologists, retail and supply chain management, textile technology/engineering positions, project scientists and quality assurance. You could also choose to continue with postgraduate research at PhD level.

Careers support

We encourage you to prepare for your career from day one. That’s one of the reasons Leeds graduates are so sought after by employers.

The Careers Centre and staff in your faculty provide a range of help and advice to help you plan your career and make well-informed decisions along the way, even after you graduate. Find out more about Careers support.