Hand Embroidery BA (Hons)

Work placements are actively encouraged but not mandatory. Although, it is the responsibility of individual students to source and secure such placements at times which do not impact on their learning. Through participation in this professional context, students are encouraged to reflect upon their own personal experience of working in an applied setting and focus on key aspects of this experience to inform both their theory and practise.

Employability and work-based learning is embedded within the programme, at each level of the course. Students learn from established practitioners and, from their first day onsite, embroidery becomes their future career. Find out more from the Royal School of Needlework's website.

Links with business and industry at Level 4

At Level 4, students have the opportunity to participate in external competitions to build their awareness of the potential application of embroidery to design. They develop transferable skills and learn the challenges of working to an external timescale and design brief. 

Previous examples have included The Worshipful Company of Glovers – Glove Competition and working with artists Musson+Retallick to create embroidered illustrations for a hot air balloon installation in Thamesmead. Level 4 students have also worked to create bespoke embroideries for London Fashion Week for E. Tautz menswear.

Students work to create digital portfolios throughout the programme to showcase their practice and level of attainment. At Level 4, students start to compile their own CV and prepare an introductory letter to potential employers for summer placement opportunities. By working with our technical team, students develop an awareness of materials, suppliers and costings.

Links with business and industry at Level 5

At Level Five, students develop more advanced professional skills through working on high profile design competitions and with external clients. Opportunities for live projects are embedded in the curriculum when possible. Recent examples include Bradford Textile Society and Society of Dyers and Colourists where students have received named awards and commendations. Students have also had the opportunity to make work for external exhibitions, including the Fashion & Textile Museum for the Royal School of Needlework 150th Anniversary and the Devon Guild of Craftsmen. 

This advanced level of practice supports the student to make informed choices as to the potential direction of their practice at Level 6. It also reinforces transferable skills, such as timekeeping and quality of finish.

Links with business and industry at Level 6

By Level 6, students are directing their practice towards a defined context as indicated by their proposal and outcomes for the RSN Graduate Collection module. 

The module RSN Graduate Portfolio is focussed on their intended career route, through the creation of an expanded portfolio of experimental and technical hand embroidery sampling. This outcome provides the student with a showcase of their creative ability and in a format to present to a future employer. 

The theoretical module, Professional Practice in Context, enables the student to present an in-depth body of research. This will explore the context for their practice alongside the preparation of a bespoke graduate employment plan / report. They will also produce an artist statement, costing and pricing, business models and develop their professional communication skills to prepare them for interviews and presenting their work to a new audience.

Outside the scheduled learning and teaching hours, you will learn independently through self-study which will involve reading articles and books, working on projects, undertaking research, preparing for and completing your work for assessments. Some independent study work may need to be completed on-campus, as you may need to access campus-based facilities such as studios and labs.

When you arrive, we'll introduce you to your personal tutor. Each student engages with written reflective practice to compile an agreed action plan with their tutor.

A course is made up of modules, and each module is worth a number of credits. You must pass a given number of credits in order to achieve the award you registered on, for example 360 credits for a typical undergraduate course or 180 credits for a typical postgraduate course. The number of credits you need for your award is detailed in the programme specification which you can access from the link at the bottom of this page.

One credit equates to 10 hours of study. Therefore 120 credits across a year (typical for an undergraduate course) would equate to 1,200 notional hours. These hours are split into scheduled and guided. On this course, the percentage of that time that will be scheduled learning and teaching activities is shown below for each year of study. The remainder is made up of guided independent study.

• Year 1: 67% scheduled learning and teaching
• Year 2: 42% scheduled learning and teaching
• Year 3: 33% scheduled learning and teaching

The exact balance between scheduled learning and teaching and guided independent study will be informed by the modules you take.

Your course will primarily be delivered in person. It may include delivery of some activities online, either in real time or recorded.

All modules have a formative and summative assessment point.

Feedback and feed-forward take place using several formats – including weekly tutorial forms which introduce you to reflective practice and hone your time management key skills.

Studios are open from 9am and all taught sessions commence at 10am prompt. Formal taught workshops run from 10am to 4pm.

Attendance is full time for a minimum of four days per week. All students may be required to engage with weekend and evening work throughout their academic year.

There is an average intake of 20 students per year, enabling a high level of student / tutor contact time.