- Location
- Cardonald Campus
- SCQF Level
- 6
- Start Date
- 25 Aug 2025
- Qualification Type
- NQ
- Course Type
- Full-Time
- Duration
- 1 Year August to June
Do you love Fashion and Textiles, but not sure which pathway is right for you? This foundation course is a great place to start. In this exciting and creative course, you’ll develop a broad understanding of the industry and learn many new skills including drawing, design development, garment construction, printed textiles, woven textiles, fashion illustration and fashion forecasting. This is the only foundation course of its kind in Scotland, delivered in our excellent facilities, and taught by a team of experienced professionals who will help you build your creative portfolio and skills.
What will I learn?
You'll have the opportunity to work through the design process from research and design development to creating basic garments through step-by-step pattern cutting and garment construction. Alongside this you'll explore fashion illustration and fashion design skills.
You'll also develop skills in textiles through drawing, surface design and fabric manipulation exploring woven, knitted, embroidered and printed textiles.
You'll be based in our studios and workshops and will be taught with the emphasis on learning practical skills.
- How to develop and research ideas through drawing, photography, and design development
- Textile skills including print, knit, weave and embroidery
- Basic pattern cutting
- Industrial methods for sewing skirts, trousers, and bodices
- How to present ideas using Computer-Aided Design (CAD), and multimedia techniques
- Creating patterns to my own design
- Manufacturing garments to my own design
- Meta skills
- Sustainability and responsible design.
If you are interested in this course and would like to know more, please view the course presentation before making your application.
Check out https://www.ukft.org/skills-scotland-2022/
Check out our School of Fashion and Textiles website.
Check out https://www.myworldofwork.co.uk
Hear from Hannah Fitzgerald who studied the Foundation in Fashion and Textiles course.
Entry requirements (minimum)
- National 4/5 which should include two of the following - Art and Design, English, Maths or equivalent
- If you do not meet the academic requirements but have experience in Art and Design or the Fashion/Textile industry, we will consider your application. Please give full details in your personal statement.
Entry requirement equivalency table
If you do not meet the entry criteria for your chosen course, you may be offered an alternative course in the same subject area.
Employer and industry links
Our Fashion and Textiles courses regularly engage with industry and work on live projects as part of their studies.
Articulation Routes
Once you complete the Foundation in Fashion and Textiles and progress onto our HND courses, there are Articulation agreements in place at the level with Higher Education Institutes including:
- Heriot Watt University
- Gray’s School of Art
Jobs and further study
Progression from the Foundation course to HND is not always guaranteed and is dependent on suitable progression through coursework as well as satisfactory attendance, timekeeping and commitment.
If you choose not to move on to HND, you will be able to look for jobs in the fashion industry. Former students have gone on to become successful stylists and designers, working for Alexander McQueen, Versace, Coach and Stella McCartney, while others now design for international retailers like Dune, H&M and Under Armour.
Take a look at the course progression map for fashion and textiles courses.
Making an application
For courses starting in August, you can make up to two applications.
Applications are made to a course and a first choice of campus. If the course is oversubscribed at your first choice you will be automatically considered for alternative sites and may be made an offer without a further application.
I've applied — what happens next?
When you apply
You'll receive an automated email confirming that we have received your application (remember to check your SPAM folder).
Your application will be reviewed by the admissions team and you'll either be:
- Made a direct offer (unconditional or conditional)
- Invited to book an interview session
- Advised that your application is unsuccessful – you have not met the entry requirements for this course and are advised to contact the College Student Advice Centres to discuss alternative options which may be available to you.
We aim not to reject an application and if you don’t meet the entry requirements you may be referred to a different course or level.
If you are invited to interview, you'll be informed of the outcome of your interview by email within 14 working days. The outcome will be one of the following:
- Unconditional offer of a place – you have met all the entry requirements and your place is guaranteed. You'll be required to accept this offer to secure your place.
- Conditional offer of a place – your place is secured pending you meeting the entry requirements. This may mean achieving school or college qualifications which you may not be able to provide to us yet. You'll be required to accept this offer to secure your conditional place. Once your conditions are met this will change to an unconditional offer of a place which you must accept before you can enrol on the course.
- Waiting list – you have met all entry requirements, your application has been reviewed and you have been interviewed however, the course is now full so you have been placed on a waiting list. If any spaces become available you may be contacted, usually around the course start date. We would advise that you also consider other application options.
- Reserve list – following your interview and application review, you have unfortunately not been successful in this round of recruitment. We have placed your name on a Reserve list and your application may be reconsidered at a later date. This could happen any time up to the start date of the course but it is very possible that you'll not be offered a place. We would advise that you also consider other application options.
- Unsuccessful – your application has been unsuccessful. You may be offered a place on a course at a different level, or advised to contact the College Student Advice Centres to discuss alternative options which may be available to you.
Once an offer is received, you must reply within 14 working days or risk losing your place, as the system will automatically decline your offer after 14 days.
Once you have accepted your offer, you'll be sent out instructions about student funding, joining instructions and induction date. This will normally be sent out by June 2025.
