Art and Design

Bachelor of Science in Fashion Design and Textile Technology

The Bachelor of Science in Fashion Design and Textile Technology is a programme that combines creative fashion design with technical textile production. Offered at Technical University of Kenya, Kenyatta University, JKUAT, Maseno University and other institutions, the programme prepares graduates for careers in fashion design, textile production and the apparel industry.

The curriculum covers fashion design, textile science, pattern making, garment construction, textile printing, fabric design, fashion illustration, CAD for fashion, textile testing, quality control, fashion marketing, textile manufacturing, fashion history, entrepreneurship, research methods and a design portfolio. Students develop creative and technical skills for the fashion and textile industry.

Kenya's textile industry, the revival of cotton farming and the growth of local fashion brands create demand for fashion design and textile technology graduates. The programme is offered through design studios, lectures, laboratory sessions, workshops, industrial attachment and portfolio development.

Graduates are prepared for careers as fashion designers, textile designers, pattern makers, garment technologists, quality control officers, fashion buyers, fashion entrepreneurs, textile consultants, fashion illustrators and production managers. They work in textile mills, fashion houses, garment factories, retail, design studios and as entrepreneurs.

The programme is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). Admission requires KCSE mean grade C+ with C+ in English or Kiswahili and C in Mathematics or any science subject. KUCCPS Cluster 1.

Prospective students should have strong analytical skills, a commitment to continuous learning, and an interest in contributing to Kenya's socio-economic development. The programme provides a solid foundation for further postgraduate study and professional advancement in related fields.

Duration: 4 years
Public, up to: Ksh 240,000
Job market: Moderate

The programme

What you study, how long it takes, and how it is delivered.

Practicalities

Study mode: Full-time
Attachment: 3 months
Average class: 30 students
Award: Bachelor

What you study

10 subjects

Fashion Design
Textile Science
Pattern Making
Garment Construction
Textile Printing
Fabric Design
Fashion Illustration
CAD for Fashion
Textile Testing
Fashion Marketing

Modules

10 in the programme

Fashion Design
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Design principles. The module covers theoretical foundations, practical applications and industry-relevant skills, assessed through continuous assessment tests, coursework and end-of-semester exami...
Textile Science
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Textile properties. The module covers theoretical foundations, practical applications and industry-relevant skills, assessed through continuous assessment tests, coursework and end-of-semester exam...
Pattern Making
Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore
Pattern construction. The module covers theoretical foundations, practical applications and industry-relevant skills, assessed through continuous assessment tests, coursework and end-of-semester ex...
Garment Construction
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Sewing and construction. The module covers theoretical foundations, practical applications and industry-relevant skills, assessed through continuous assessment tests, coursework and end-of-semester...
Textile Printing
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Printing techniques. The module covers theoretical foundations, practical applications and industry-relevant skills, assessed through continuous assessment tests, coursework and end-of-semester exa...
Fashion Illustration
Year 2Semester 33 creditsCore
Design illustration. The module covers theoretical foundations, practical applications and industry-relevant skills, assessed through continuous assessment tests, coursework and end-of-semester exa...
CAD for Fashion
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Computer-aided design. The module covers theoretical foundations, practical applications and industry-relevant skills, assessed through continuous assessment tests, coursework and end-of-semester e...
Textile Testing
Year 3Semester 23 creditsCore
Quality testing. The module covers theoretical foundations, practical applications and industry-relevant skills, assessed through continuous assessment tests, coursework and end-of-semester examina...
Fashion Marketing
Year 3Semester 33 creditsCore
Marketing fashion products. The module covers theoretical foundations, practical applications and industry-relevant skills, assessed through continuous assessment tests, coursework and end-of-semes...
Design Portfolio
Year 4Semester 16 creditsCore
Final year portfolio. The module covers theoretical foundations, practical applications and industry-relevant skills, assessed through continuous assessment tests, coursework and end-of-semester ex...

Specialisations

Fashion Marketing
Fashion business. This specialisation equips graduates with discipline-specific competencies for professional practice in Kenya and the East African region, with pathways to postgraduate study and professional certification.
Textile Technology
Textile production. This specialisation equips graduates with discipline-specific competencies for professional practice in Kenya and the East African region, with pathways to postgraduate study and professional certification.
Fashion Design
Creative fashion design. This specialisation equips graduates with discipline-specific competencies for professional practice in Kenya and the East African region, with pathways to postgraduate study and professional certification.
Garment Production
Garment manufacturing. This specialisation equips graduates with discipline-specific competencies for professional practice in Kenya and the East African region, with pathways to postgraduate study and professional certification.

A day as a student

A typical day involves attending fashion design lectures, working in design studios, creating patterns, constructing garments, studying textile science, using CAD for fashion design, printing fabrics, developing fashion illustrations, and building a design portfolio.

The trade offs

In its favour

Creative and technical skills combination
Growing local fashion and textile industry
Strong entrepreneurial opportunities

Against it

Industry is competitive and trend-driven
Entry-level salaries can be modest
Requires both creative talent and technical aptitude

What it costs

Tuition at both ends of the market, and how to pay for it.

What it costs, and where

Against 73 art and design courses

Public204k to 240k

204k at Kenyatta University240k at University of Nairobi

Annual tuition in Kenyan shillings, rounded. The upright tick is the median for this field, so a bar sitting entirely to its right is an expensive programme by the standards of its own subject.

The fine print

KU 204.4K/yr, UoN 240K/yr (Schedule II). Private unverified.

HELB loans are available for eligible students. County bursaries and NGAAF provide additional support.

Funding options

HELB Loan
County Bursaries
NGAAF Bursary

Scholarships

3 recorded

Higher Education Fund (HEF)
BursaryKenyan
Kenyan undergraduate students placed by KUCCPS in public universities
County Government Bursaries
BursaryKsh 30,000Kenyan
Kenyan students from participating counties
Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) Loan
LoanKsh 60,000Kenyan
Kenyan undergraduate students

Getting in

The grades, the alternatives, and who accredits the award.

What you need

KCSE mean grade: C+
Alternative entry: KCSE mean grade C+ with C+ in English or Kiswahili and C in Mathematics or any science subject. Diploma in fashion design, textile technology, garment making or related field from a recognised institution. Portfolio may be required. KUCCPS Cluster 1.

English or Kiswahili
C+
Mathematics or any science
C

How you are assessed

4 components

Design Portfolio
Project10% of the mark
Final year portfolio
Continuous Assessment Tests
Cat20% of the mark
Regular tests and assignments
Studio and Workshop Practicals
Practicum30% of the mark
Design studio and workshop sessions
End of Semester Examinations
Written examination40% of the mark
End of semester written exams

Accreditation

Accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). Offered at TUK, KU, JKUAT, Maseno and other institutions. Admission requires KCSE mean grade C+ with C+ in English or Kiswahili and C in Mathematics or any science subject. KUCCPS Cluster 1.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education
AcademicRequired
Statutory body responsible for accreditation of university programmes in Kenya

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

5 roles

Fashion Designer
Moderate demandKsh 80,000 to Ksh 300,000
Fashion design
Quality Control Officer
Moderate demandKsh 80,000 to Ksh 220,000
Textile quality control
Garment Technologist
Moderate demandKsh 90,000 to Ksh 250,000
Garment technology
Textile Designer
Moderate demandKsh 80,000 to Ksh 250,000
Textile design
Fashion Entrepreneur
Moderate demandKsh 0 to Ksh 500,000
Fashion business

Graduate outcomes

Graduates pursue careers as fashion designers, textile designers and garment technologists in textile mills, fashion houses and garment factories.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

Turnitin
Education
Moodle
Learning management
Zoom
Cloud
Microsoft Teams
Cloud
Adobe Illustrator
DesignPrimary
Adobe Photoshop
DesignPrimary
Google Scholar
Research
Microsoft PowerPoint
Creative

Certifications

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Fashion design is just about making clothes.
The programme covers textile science, CAD, quality control, marketing and manufacturing.
There are no fashion jobs in Kenya.
Kenya's textile industry and local fashion brands create opportunities.
Fashion design is for those who cannot do science.
The programme requires both creative talent and technical knowledge.
Fashion design is not a real degree.
The programme is CUE-accredited with rigorous technical and creative training.