Postgraduate study

Postgraduate taught 

Art History: Dress & Textile Histories MLitt

A woman browsing a book of fabric samples

This Masters provides you with the skills to research and interpret everyday clothing, fashion and textiles in historical contexts. The programme introduces you to theoretical and object-based approaches through a combination of taught and research-based components, showing you how historic dress and textiles can be studied both in their own right and as a means to understand the past. Close links with local and national archives, libraries and museums, including Glasgow Museums and National Museums Scotland, means the programme offers you a unique insight into the study, curation, interpretation and preservation of historic dress and textile collections.

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Why this programme

Studying Art History: Dress & Textile Histories MLitthttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UNq3TTpdOhg
  • Alongside our own specialist in-house staff, you’ll also meet visiting experts in dress and textile history, art history, historical dress curation, and cultural heritage and design. Together, they’ll demonstrate how dress and textile histories can be studied and applied in professional contexts.
  • Glasgow is the ideal city in which to study dress & textile history because of its vibrant local textile heritage and close links to national institutions. You will have the chance to engage with and learn from locally and nationally significant collections including the Scottish Business Archives at the University of Glasgow, Glasgow Museums and National Museums Scotland.
  • The core and optional courses give you the opportunity to conduct archival and object-based study for a range of chronological periods, offering hands-on experience and practical research skills.   
  • The work placement option enables you to develop your professional expertise within the heritage sector.
    • Key Facts

    This degree is ideal for anyone:

    • Looking to develop skills in critical analysis through collections-based research and engagement with scholarly literature
    • Seeking to understand the historical processes and systems that shape, and are shaped by, textiles, dress and fashion
    • Intending to pursue further study or a career in the cultural heritage sector

    Key topics include:

    • The production, use and meanings of cloth and clothing in historical contexts
    • Methodological approaches to dress and textile histories, including object-based study and archival research
    • The role of textiles, dress and fashion in art and design
    • Fashion, dress and identity in historical contexts
    • The political, economic and cultural significance of dress and textiles
    • Research-led case studies exploring dress and textile histories in local and global contexts

    Skills you will develop

    This programme provides you with the opportunity to develop subject-specific and wider transferable skills that support a variety of career paths, including but not limited to those in the cultural heritage sector.

    • You will gain experience in the practical and theoretical approaches used to study and interpret historical dress and textiles in a variety of contexts.
    • You will acquire skills in primary source research, building confidence in the analysis and critique of visual images, object handling, and the use of archival resources.
    • Independent and critical thinking is encouraged through wide-ranging and in-depth engagement with scholarly literature from disciplines including History of Art, History, English Literature, Sociology and Fashion Studies.
    • By the end of your studies, you will have developed a range of transferable skills, including time management, working independently and as part of a group, collecting and interpreting evidence, and presenting reasoned, evidence-based arguments in a variety of formats, including presentations, reports and essays, for different audiences.

    What our students say

    You never know what's going to catch your interest. Within the first couple of months, I was interested in things that I never thought I would ever be interested in. We got an opportunity to go to one of the archives, and we saw a historic garment, and I've now been working on recreating the garment, which is leading to interaction with the Macintosh scholars. There's lots of overlap with stuff like that that can be really cool that you don't really have the opportunity to do at a different university or in a different city. Being in such a beautiful city and such a beautiful landscape, there is a lot of inspiration. I don't ever want to leave. I had a great time.  Addie, MLitt student

    You have quite a lot of freedom of choice. Everything was so interesting. I ended up falling in love with business archives and trading routes and that was very surprising, but I'm having a blast. It's a program that challenges you in so many ways, but once things start clicking, it's just so rewarding.  Tillie, MLitt student

    Panel Discussion and Q&A

    Watch a recording of our recent panel discussion and Q&A with students and staff from this degree.

    Discover More

    Discover our MuSE programme at The Hunterian (the University's Museum), where students from any discipline can become Museum Student Educators (MuSEs) and lead public gallery tours across its world-class collections.

    Meet our student MuSEs

Programme structure

You will:

  • Take three core courses
  • Take three optional courses
  • Research and write a dissertation

Semester 1: September to December

Semester 2: January to March

Optional courses

Optional course choices may include:

Subject to approval, you may also choose a course from those offered in the College of Arts & Humanities:

Please note: not all courses may be available every year.

Dissertation

Programme alteration or discontinuation
The University of Glasgow endeavours to run all programmes as advertised. In exceptional circumstances, however, the University may withdraw or alter a programme. More information: Student contract.

Career prospects

Watch our Alumni Spotlight videos to see where this degree can take you.

Alumni Spotlight: Beth Gohl-Greenaway

Video: Alumni Kirsty on her career after doing a Masters in Dress and Textile Histories

The attributes you gain from the programme will be attractive to employers from museums, the heritage sector, art dealers and auction houses.

Other potential career paths include theatre, film and television production as a costume researcher or designer.

The programme also offers an excellent foundation upon which to progress to PhD study and an academic career.

Listen to our Sound Tracks Podcast with alumni Kirsty Hassard: Knowing Your Value & Shining In the Competitive Museum Sector

Fees & funding

Tuition fees for 2027-28

MLitt

Home & RUK

  • Full-time fee: £11,481
  • Part-time fee: £1,276 per 20 credits

International & EU

  • Full-time fee: £28,275

Fee status

Deposits

All applicants are required to pay a deposit of £2000 to secure a place on this programme.

Deposits: terms & conditions

The following guidelines will apply in determining whether a deposit will be refunded. Where the deposit is refunded, a 25% administration fee will be deducted unless otherwise stated. 

a: Deposits WILL be refunded to applicants under the following circumstances:

  1. Where the University is unable to offer you a place on the programme as specified on the offer. A full refund will be issued in this case.
  2. Death of a close family member (parent/guardian, grandparent, sibling, spouse, child/dependent). Official evidence (signed and stamped) must be provided.
  3. SERIOUS ill health of the applicant or a close family member (parent/guardian, grandparent, sibling, spouse, child/dependent). Official evidence (signed and stamped) must be provided.
  4. Applicant does not meet conditions of offer. This may be academic or language test requirements. Satisfactory evidence must be uploaded to the student’s applicant self-service to prove that they have not met the conditions of their offer (note that applicants who do not meet the language condition of their offer must show reasonable attempt to meet this, i.e. they must provide at least two language tests which were taken after the date the deposit was paid).
  5. Visa / ATAS refusal: we will only consider a refund if the visa / ATAS refusal was based on matters outside of the applicant’s control.
  6. If a refund request is received within 14 days of the deposit being received a full refund will be issued under the Consumer Protection Regulations.

b: Deposits WILL NOT be refunded to applicants under the following circumstances:

  1. An applicant decides not to attend the University for any reason not outlined above.
  2. Personal financial constraints / unsuccessful scholarship application.
  3. Applicant has decided to defer – in this situation the University will retain the deposit and hold it against the applicant’s account to secure their place for the following year of entry. You may defer twice. After the second deferral standard conditions will apply.
  4. There is still time to meet the English language test requirement before the final upload date. Please see section a) 4.
  5. Visa / ATAS was applied for too late. Please see section a) 5.
  6. Any documents used for admission are proven to be fraudulent. We work in partnership with Qualification Check to check academic qualifications. English language qualifications are verified with the provider.
  7. The refund request is received more than 30 days after the official course start date as outlined in your offer email.

Timeframe for requesting a refund

Refund requests must be received no later than 30 days after the official course start date as outlined in your offer email. As per section b)7 above the request will be denied.

Receiving a refund

  1. To comply with Money Laundering Regulations, the University will pay all refunds to the original payer using the source payment details. This is known as a “return to source” payment.
  2. All appropriate documentation and evidence relating to the original payment must be provided, when requested.
  3. All payments and refunds are in GBP currency - the University is not responsible for any exchange rate fluctuations or beneficiary bank charges associated with the refund.
  4. Where University approved payment methods have not been used, this may cause significant delays or prevent payment altogether.
  5. We will aim to issue the deposit refund within 8 weeks of receipt of information per point 2 above. At peak times this may be longer.

How to request a deposit refund

Please go to our enquiry form and select 'Fees and Deposit' as the enquiry reason and then 'Can I have a deposit refund?'.

Please upload all supporting documentation to your applicant self-service portal before submitting the above request.


Additional fees

  • Fee for re-assessment of a dissertation (PGT programme): £370
  • Submission of thesis after deadline lapsed: £350
  • Registration/exam only fee: £170

Funding opportunities

The scholarships shown are relevant to this programme. For more funding opportunities search the scholarships database


Entry requirements

2.1 Hons (or non-UK equivalent) in any subject.

A 2.2 Honours degree may be considered.

Substantial, directly relevant experience may be considered in place of formal qualifications. If you are applying based on relevant experience, please include a personal statement evidencing this with your application.

English language requirements

 

For further information about English language requirements, please contact the Recruitment and International Office using our enquiry form

For applicants from non-majority English speaking countries, as defined by the UK Government, the University sets a minimum English Language proficiency level.

Accepted English Language Tests

We accept a wide range of English language tests for entry to this programme. Tests must have been taken within 2 years 5 months of programme start date, and requirements must be met using a single test.  

IELTS Academic/IELTS Academic for UKVI/ IELTS Academic online

  • 6.5 overall with no subtest less than 6.0 
  • IELTS One Skill Retake Accepted
  • We do not accept General Training

TOEFL iBT (including MyBest and Home Edition)

Test taken up to 20 January 2026

  • 90 overall with no subtest less than Reading 20; Listening 19; Speaking 19; Writing 21 

Tests taken from 21 January 2026

  • 92 overall with no subtest less than 4.5

PTE Academic (test centre only)

  • 65 overall with no subtest less than Reading 60; Listening 60; Speaking 65; Writing 60
  • We do not accept the online PTE Academic

Cambridge C1 Advanced and C2 Proficiency

  • 176 overall with no subtest less than 169

Oxford ELLT

  • 7 overall with no subtest less than 6

LanguageCert Academic/Academic SELT/ Academic Online

  • 70 overall with no subtest less than 65

Password Skills Plus

  • 6.5 overall with no subtest less than 6.0

Trinity College Integrated Skills in English II

  • 96 overall with no subtest less than 90

Kaplan Test of English

  • Any two subtests at 480 or higher, and any two subtests at 450 or higher

PSI Skills for English

  • B2 Pass with Merit

Duolingo English Test

  • 120 overall with writing at 120 and no subtest less than 110

Oxford Test of English Advanced

  • 140 Overall with any two subtests at 126 or higher, and any two subtests at 136 or higher

Alternatives to English Language test

Degree from majority-English speaking country (as defined by the UKVI including Canada if taught in English)

  • students must have studied for a minimum of their final year at Undergraduate level, or 9 months at Master's level, and must have completed their degree in that majority-English speaking country within 6 years of programme start.

TNE degree from UK university taught at a campus outside of the UK

  • students must be awarded the degree by the UK university and must have completed the degree within 6 years of programme start.

Pre-sessional courses

The University of Glasgow accepts evidence of the required language level from the English for Academic Study Unit Pre-sessional courses. We would strongly encourage you to consider the pre-sessional courses at the University of Glasgow's English for Academic Study (EAS) Unit. Our Pre-sessional courses are the best way to bring your English up to entry level for University study and remain valid for 2 years following date of successful completion.

Our courses give you: 

  • direct entry to your University programme for successful students (no need to take IELTS); 
  • essential academic skills to help you study effectively at University; 
  • flexible entry dates so you can join the right course for your level.

For more detail on our pre-sessional courses please see: https://www.gla.ac.uk/schools/mlc/eas/pre-sessionalcourses/

We can also consider the pre-sessional courses accredited by the below BALEAP approved institutions to meet the language requirements for admission to our postgraduate taught degrees:

  • Heriot Watt
  • Kingston Upon Thames
  • Middlesex University
  • Manchester University
  • Reading University
  • Edinburgh University
  • St Andrews University
  • UCL
  • Durham 

International students

We are proud of our diverse University community that includes students and staff from more than 140 different countries.

How to apply

To apply for a postgraduate taught degree you must apply online. We cannot accept applications any other way.

Please check you meet the Entry requirements for this programme before you begin your application.

Documents

As part of your online application, you also need to submit the following supporting documents:

  • A copy (or copies) of your official degree certificate(s) (if you have already completed your degree)
  • A copy (or copies) of your official academic transcript(s), showing full details of subjects studied and grades/marks obtained
  • Official English translations of the certificate(s) and transcript(s)
  • One reference letter on headed paper
  • Evidence of your English language ability (if your first language is not English)
  • Any additional documents required for this programme (see Entry requirements for this programme)
  • A copy of the photo page of your passport

You have 42 days to submit your application once you begin the process.

You may save and return to your application as many times as you wish to update information, complete sections or upload supporting documents such as your final transcript or your language test.

For more information about submitting documents or other topics related to applying to a postgraduate taught programme, see how to apply for a postgraduate taught degree

Guidance notes for using the online application

These notes are intended to help you complete the online application form accurately; they are also available within the help section of the online application form. 

If you experience any difficulties accessing the online application, see Application System Help.

  • Name and Date of birth: must appear exactly as they do on your passport. Please take time to check the spelling and lay-out.
  • Contact Details: Correspondence address. All contact relevant to your application will be sent to this address including the offer letter(s). If your address changes, please contact us as soon as possible.
  • Choice of course: Please select carefully the course you want to study. As your application will be sent to the admissions committee for each course you select it is important to consider at this stage why you are interested in the course and that it is reflected in your application.
  • Proposed date of entry: Please state your preferred start date including the month and the year. Taught masters degrees tend to begin in September. Research degrees may start in any month.
  • Education and Qualifications: Please complete this section as fully as possible indicating any relevant Higher Education qualifications starting with the most recent. Complete the name of the Institution (s) as it appears on the degree certificate or transcript.
  • English Language Proficiency: Please state the date of any English language test taken (or to be taken) and the award date (or expected award date if known).
  • Employment and Experience: Please complete this section as fully as possible with all employments relevant to your course. Additional details may be attached in your personal statement/proposal where appropriate.

Reference: Please provide one reference. This should typically be an academic reference but in cases where this is not possible then a reference from a current employer may be accepted instead. Certain programmes, such as the MBA programme, may also accept an employer reference. If you already have a copy of a reference on letter headed paper then please upload this to your application. If you do not already have a reference to upload then please enter your referee’s name and contact details on the online application and we will contact your referee directly.

Application deadlines

For entry in September 2027

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All applicant round dates

Applications are considered on a rolling basis within each round, and the decision date shown for each round is the latest date by which you will receive an outcome on your application.

Round 1: 1st October 2026 to 5 November 2026

You will receive our decision on your application by 18 December 2026.

Round 2: 6 November 2026 to 17 December 2026

You will receive our decision on your application by 3 March 2027.

Round 3: 18 December 2026 to 4 February 2027

You will receive our decision on your application 8 April 2027.

Round 4: 5 February 2027 to 25 March 2027

You will receive our decision on your application by 6 May 2027.

Round 5: 26 March 2027 to 13 May 2027

You will receive our decision on your application by 10 June 2027.

Round 6: 14 May 2027 to 8 July 2027

You will receive our decision on your application by 29 July 2027.

As we receive a high volume of applications, prospective students are only allowed to apply to each programme once per year.

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More information about this programme

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