Since 1992 the department has had an exchange scheme with the Victoria and Albert Museum. Faculty members annually hold a senior research fellowship post at the museum whilst a member of the museum's staff holds a teaching post at Sussex. This enables faculty of gain intimate knowledge of the V and A's collections, while Sussex students gain first hand experience of the workings of the museum.

Recent exchange fellows have included:
2009 Anne Eatwell

2008 Zoe Whitley

2007 Greg Irvine

2006 Flora Dennis

2005 Chris Breward (Research Department) and Susan North (Textiles and Clothing)

2004 Sue Stronge