Fashion and Textile Design, Master of Arts (Art and Design)
Espoo, Finland
MA
DURATION
2 years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
Jan 2027
TUITION FEES
EUR 20,000 / per year *
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* international fee only; EU/EEA/Swiss citizens do not pay
Key Summary
About: The Fashion and Textile Design major (FaTe) is a two-year Master’s track within the Master’s Programme in Design at Aalto University. It mixes studio practice, conceptual development and research-led work focused on sustainable, culturally aware fashion and textile design. Students take core and Department courses, choose electives via a Personal Study Plan, and complete a master’s thesis (30 ECTS). The programme supports multidisciplinary collaboration, new technologies, material experimentations and design research.
Career Outcomes: Graduates enter fashion and textile industries, creative media, education, research. They work as fashion and textile designers, creative directors, entrepreneurs and in academic or corporate research roles. Related paths include product development, costume design, brand strategy, consultancy, design management and teaching.
The Fashion and Textile Design major (FaTe) is a two-year Master’s study track within the Master’s Programme in Design. It integrates hands-on studio practice and conceptual development focused on sustainable and culturally aware design solutions. Students take core compulsory courses within the major, participate in joint Department of Design studies, select elective studio- and project-based courses according to a Personal Study Plan, and complete a master’s thesis (30 ECTS). The first semester includes an introductory course on sustainability approaches in textile and fashion design and a practice-based course on experimentations in material or shape; later studies include further compulsory and elective work and the second-year master’s thesis. The programme encourages multidisciplinary collaboration, new technologies and research-led practice. Aalto is ranked in the global top ten for art and design by QS World University Rankings.
Master’s graduates are prepared for professional careers in fashion and textile design industries, related media, education, and research. Alumni work as fashion and textile designers, creative directors, entrepreneurs (many establish their own businesses), and in academic or corporate research roles.
Ranked in the global top ten for Art & Design by QS World University Rankings.
The programme is 120 ECTS total. Core/compulsory studies are selected from the FaTe major offerings and students take joint Department of Design studies. The first semester includes an introductory sustainability course and a practice-based experimentation studio; subsequent studies include further compulsory and elective studio- and project-based courses. The second year focuses on the master’s thesis (30 ECTS) supported by elective courses aligned with the student’s Personal Study Plan. Students work with an academic advisor to plan studies and may include a minor or internship.
Aalto University offers a small number of tuition-fee waiver scholarships to fee-paying (non-EU/EEA) students. Scholarships are awarded to the highest-achieving applicants based on the programme's evaluation criteria.