Leather Technology BSc (Hons)

Key Facts

  • UCAS Code

    BSc: J430
    BSc with Foundation: J436

  • Level

    Undergraduate

  • Duration

    Full Time: 3 years
    Full Time Foundation: 4 years
    Part Time: 4 years

  • Starting

    September

  • CCC at A Level or,
    MMM at BTEC

  • Fees UK 24/25

    Full Time: £9,250
    Part Time: £1,540 (per 20 credits)
    Integrated Foundation Year: £9,250

  • Fees International 24/25

    Full Time: £15,200
    Integrated Foundation Year: £15,200

  • Location

Get in touch


For questions regarding study and admissions please contact us:

UK/EU Students enquiries

study@northampton.ac.uk
0300 303 2772

International Students enquiries

international@northampton.ac.uk
+44 (0)1604 893981

Overview


For those with a technical / scientific / creative interest, this Leather Technology BSc (Hons) qualification will provide opportunities to work and travel within the global leather industry; the benefits offered by this hands-on course are outstanding.

This Leather Technology BSc course is unique in the UK and makes our graduates highly sought after by employers. During this leather engineering course, you are able to specialise in and focus on an aspect of the leather industry that you find particularly interesting. You will be exposed to a number of science disciplines and interact with industrial experts during workshops and seminars.

Find out more about the Institute for Creative Leather Technologies.

Updated 18/03/2024

Highlights


Course Content


  • Our three-year leather technology honours degree course is a complete preparation for entry into the leather industry. Our graduates can work in tanneries and leather chemical companies around the world or, with the increasing demand for leather skills amongst the top leather-using brands, in the sports, luxury goods, footwear, automotive and fashion sectors.

    Structure

    There are compulsory and optional modules that contribute to the total number of credits required for the leather course. The course contains theory sessions with a high proportion of practical content which is undertaken in our tannery and laboratories. 100 credits of the study programme comprises of compulsory modules. You must then select an additional 20 credits ensuring that your total number of credits is 120 for each year. The options are discussed below:

    • Leather Science module: fosters the values and attitudes needed for work in a scientific leather discipline with an in depth understanding of leather manufacture.
    • Marketing based module: combines a blend of theoretical marketing principles with the application to real life business scenarios.
    • Business based module: focuses on the tools and skills that are required in order to drive the leather industry forward.
    Methods of Learning

    Within this highly practical Leather Technology degree you can expect to spend a considerable amount of time in our working tannery and laboratories. You will acquire an extensive knowledge of the leather making process as well as the working properties of leather.

    You will also develop an expertise in the technical practical skills necessary for future career progression within the whole leather supply chain. Depending on your interest and background, each year you can take module options in leather science, marketing or business. Consequently, you will gain relevant skills to facilitate entry into industry sectors of your choice upon graduation.

    Workshops and guest lecturers from key industry members keep students up-to-date with technical developments and current global issues affecting the leather supply chain.

    Assessments

    The leather degree course content is assessed utilising a variety of assessment methods such as practical reports, assignments, presentations, reflective portfolios and examinations.

    MODULES

    Module information can be found in the Award Map.

  • A minimum of:

    • CCC at A Level or,
    • MMM at BTEC/Cambridge Technical or,
    • Pass (C and above) at T Level

    If you have a creative background, you will be considered on your GCSE (or equivalent) science grades and advised not to take Leather Science as a 20-credit module choice but take a marketing- or business-based module instead. You will also be advised to attend our weekly science club.

    We also welcome applicants  with significant prior experience in the leather industry.

    Integrated Foundation Year Entry Requirements
    Normally these are:

    • DEE at A Level or,
    • MPP at BTEC or,
    • Pass (D or E) at T Level

    However, we would also like to hear from you if you have some professional or industry experience, other qualifications or self-developed subject knowledge that relates to Leather Technology.

    We welcome applications from students with a mix of A levels and BTEC/Cambridge Technical qualifications.

  • 2024/25 Tuition Fees

    Fees quoted relate to study in the Academic Year 24/25 only and may be subject to inflationary increases in future years.

    • UK – Full Time: £9,250
    • UK – Part Time: £1,540 per 20 credit module
    • UK – Integrated Foundation Year: £9,250
    • International – Full Time: £15,200
    • International – Integrated Foundation Year: £15,200
    Additional costs
    • £150 to cover PPE (safety glasses, one white lab coat, one blue lab coat, wellington boots and gloves), spray gun and contribution to raw material costs
    • Student Membership to the Society for Leather Technologists and Chemists (six journals per year and free attendance to the Annual Conference) – Optional. £26.50
    • Italy Trip – Although the Italy Trip is heavily subsidised by industry, there is an approximate cost of £150 that students will pay to book flights and transport. The trip is not compulsory. *

    *Subject to Terms and Conditions

    2023/24 Tuition Fees

    Fees quoted relate to study in the Academic Year 23/24 only and may be subject to inflationary increases in future years.

    • UK – Full Time: £9,250
    • UK – Part Time: £1,540 per 20 credit module
    • UK – Integrated Foundation Year: £9,250
    • International – Full Time: £14,750
    • International – Integrated Foundation Year: £14,750
    Additional costs
    • £150 to cover PPE (safety glasses, one white lab coat, one blue lab coat, wellington boots and gloves), spray gun and contribution to raw material costs
    • Student Membership to the Society for Leather Technologists and Chemists (six journals per year and free attendance to the Annual Conference) – Optional. £26.50
    • Italy Trip – Although the Italy Trip is heavily subsidised by industry, there is an approximate cost of £150 that students will pay to book flights and transport. The trip is not compulsory. *

    *Subject to Terms and Conditions

     

    For information on the scholarships available to you, please see our scholarships page.

    For more information about possible funding options, please visit our Fees and Funding pages.

  • At the University of Northampton, everything we do, from funded trips to paid internships, is to give you everything you need to make a difference when you leave.

    If you join this full time leather degree at Northampton, you will receive a laptop when your course begins*. The laptops are built to a bespoke custom specification ideal for use in the seminar room, collaborative group work or studying at home.

    Whatever your ambitions, we’re here to help you to achieve them. We’ll support you to identify the skills you’re learning during your course, find your strengths and secure practical experience so that when it comes to applying for jobs or further study you’ll feel confident in standing out from the crowd. We’ve created the Northampton Employment Promise because we are so confident that if you focus on your studies and complete one of our awards you’ll be highly employable by the time you graduate. Putting you in a great position to secure employment or continue your studies.

    To check out the full list of perks, visit our Student Perks page or dedicated International Perks page.

    *UK fee payers only (see Terms and Conditions for further details).

  • The Integrated Foundation Year (IFY) offers a new and exciting route into studying for a leather degree, attracting ambitious and driven students who are willing to learn and advance.

    If you have non-standard qualifications or do not quite meet the admissions requirements we can offer you a fantastic opportunity to study a four year programme which includes an Integrated Foundation Year. The Integrated Foundation Year will help you develop the theoretical/practical and academic skills you need, in order to successfully progress to the full award.

    Our four-year leather courses will enable you to successfully follow the degree pathway of your choice while gaining essential study skills. The foundation year of your chosen degree will be studied on a full-time basis and is aimed at supporting the transition to higher education. Years two, three and four are then studied as a standard degree programme.

Careers and Employability


Graduates from this leather degree programme are in high demand. We routinely see 100% of graduates entering employment around the world (internal statistics) since the university receives more requests from employers than we have graduates to fill their vacancies.

Our leather course graduates have entered technical management within the leather industry, chemical sales and technical support within research and development departments. Others have become advisers on leather purchasing for clothing, upholstery and automotive industries.

Facilities


As the UK’s only university to integrate leather technology with fashion, marketing, business and environmental concerns, we are proud to house an on-campus working tannery for practical leather making as well as laboratories to enable leather testing.

  • brand new on-campus tannery and laboratories for teaching
  • a variety of modules to cater for a wide range of leather career choices
  • industry-led practical workshops and seminars in technology and supply chain
  • knowledge delivered by international experts
  • opportunity in Stage 1 to attend a week long industry supported trip to Italy (non-compulsory, see additional costs)*
  • continual networking with potential employers within the industry
  • opportunity to attend an international leather fair in Hong Kong*

*Ts and Cs apply