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Key details

Course area
Fashion and Textiles
Student type
16 - 18 courses
Course type
Full-time Further Education course
Course level
Level 3
Start date
Tuesday 1st September 2026
Location
Adams Building Stoney Street, Nottingham, NG1 1NG
Course code
Parent course code:C055802 Child course code: Q055803
Apply now

Course introduction

If you are interested in discovering the exciting world of sustainable textiles through our new T Level in Craft and Design, then this is the course for you. This innovative two-year programme is designed for aspiring Textiles designers, textile artists and creative makers who want to build a future in sustainable Craft.

This course is perfect if you love fabrics, making and design, and are interested in turning reclaimed and waste materials into beautiful Textiles. 

The T Level combines workshop-based making with classroom learning, alongside hands-on industry experience through a minimum of nine weeks working with an employer in the textiles sector.

We currently offer the Upcycling Textiles pathway.

Throughout the course, you will develop strong design skills alongside technical and practical knowledge, allowing you to explore, refine and master a wide range of textile techniques. You will learn skills including textile manipulation, hand and machine sewing, fabric sourcing, surface design, repair and redesign, and creative upcycling methods. Sustainability, ethical practice and material awareness will be at the heart of everything you do.

What makes this programme truly stand out is its focus on real-world experience. Your industry placement will allow you to apply what you learn in a professional setting, giving you valuable insight into how the textiles industry works. Whether you dream of becoming a sustainable Textiles Designer, textile artist or creative maker, this T Level provides the skills, experience and confidence to take your next step into the industry.

You will learn an understanding of a broad range of knowledge and skills relevant to working in the creative industry, including:

  • The creative economy
  • The individual in the creative industries (freelance and self-employment, working within the design and craft industry)
  • Cultural context (including enrichment, trips and visits, raising cultural capital)
  • Audience/Legislation/regulation (including creative social media management)
  • Professionalism and ethics
  • Research skills
  • Project methodology and administration (managing own Creative Briefs and Projects)
  • Professional Development as a Creative including EDI
  • Craft and Design Skills and Techniques in our specialist workshops
  • Pathway specialist knowledge in Textiles

The creative skills learnt will encourage you to develop confidence in a wide range of materials, processes, design, and making. You will develop an appreciation of the different settings: Textile design and upcycling in an industrial setting and related processes, tools, techniques and materials. You will explore different processes, techniques, tools and materials relating to this specialist area.

Students who complete the Upcycling Textiles T Level will leave with a strong portfolio, practical industry experience and a deep understanding of sustainable fashion and textile design. They will be equipped with the skills to progress into employment, apprenticeships or higher education in areas such as Textile design, textile production, costume, sustainable product development or creative entrepreneurship. With real-world workplace experience and hands-on technical training, students will be well prepared to enter the creative industries with confidence, creativity and a strong commitment to sustainability.

Course information

2 years

T Level Technical Qualification in Craft and Design

You must:

  • have five GCSE’s at Grade 5 and above including English and Maths, plus a Creative Subject (Textiles, Fashion, Art, Design, Graphics)
  • Attend an interview with a portfolio of work demonstrating skills and practical application or Art and Design techniques.

This course is for students aged 16-18 only.

T-levels are two-year, Level 3 study programmes that follow the study of GCSEs and Technical Awards and offer an alternative to A Levels and Apprenticeships. T-levels combine classroom theory, practical learning and a minimum 315 hours of industry placement with an employer. The work placement ensures students have real experience of the workplace.

The occupational specialisms are assessed through practical projects. The content for each occupational specialism covers the following topics, which have been contextualised to be specific to the specialism:

  • Creative propositions and briefs
  • Creative product development
  • Design processes
  • Materials, tools, processes, and techniques

The core knowledge and understanding are assessed through an examination and core skills through a practical employer-set project.

Students who complete their T Level will receive an overall grade of pass, merit, distinction. They will get a nationally recognised certificate which will show their overall grade and a breakdown of what they have achieved. T Levels have associated UCAS points that can be used towards HE progression.

The purpose of the Craft and Design T Level (Level 3) is to ensure students have the knowledge and skills needed to progress into highly skilled employment, an apprenticeship or higher-level study, including university within the textiles specialism, or a more general area within art and design.

Students aged 16-18 don't have to pay tuition fees.

If you are an EU/EEA or Swiss National, please visit our EU Settled Status scheme page for more information.

Careers related to this course

Clothing, Fashion and Accessories Designers

Potential Earnings

£64,823.22

Average Earnings

£34,663.37

Source: Office for National Statistics' Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE).

Employment opportunities

The number of job postings in this career for previous years starting from 2022, the current year and projections for future years until 2033.

Sources: The Labour Force Survey (LFS), Working Futures (projections) data, and Business Register and Employment Survey (BRES).

Pathways

Art, Performance and Design

People in these occupations create art and fine craftwork, produce and perform plays and motion pictures, and design graphics and other products.

Skills

Active Learning

Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.

Monitoring

Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

Critical Thinking

Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Mathematics

Using mathematics to solve problems.

Learning Strategies

Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
View more about this career

Economic data for careers is provided by Lightcast and also available through our Career Coach app. Job postings, employment and earnings information is represented at the regional level for the East Midlands.

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