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Costume Welcome Guide : Preparing for your course

We're delighted that you've chosen to join our creative community at Arts University Bournemouth. We can't wait to see what you'll create.

A person in Elizabethan-style costume looking down towards the floor.

Welcome to BA (Hons) Costume and BA (Hons) Costume for Film

This welcome pack is designed to give you an idea of what to expect during the first weeks of your course. Please take the time to read it carefully and take particular note of the pre-course preparation. We hope that you will enjoy a happy and productive time with us, and we look forward to meeting you in October.

A message from your Course Leader

Congratulations on achieving your place on BA (Hons) Costume at AUB!

We look forward to welcoming you to AUB at induction week, when you'll have the opportunity to meet staff and current students, find your way around the University, discover Bournemouth and learn more about studying at AUB. The course is delivered over 30 weeks, with a Christmas and Easter break, and one consolidation week.

You can find information below about what the course provides for you and what you need to bring.

– Dr Helen Walter, Course Leader

Before you join us

There is no summer project as such, but we recommend practising drawing and sewing, reading around your subject, watching live and online productions and films, and visiting exhibitions and art galleries.

The Library at AUB is extremely well resourced and includes all key texts that you'll need, and there's no need to do any reading in advance of joining the course. You'll receive a comprehensive reading list in the Course Handbook when you enrol and at the start of each unit of study, and all these texts will be available through the Library.

In the first unit, we'll be using Mandy Barrington’s book on stays and corsets, so if you'd like to have a look in advance, the details are below – you'll be provided with access to a copy through the department when you arrive.

  • Barrington, M. (2016) Stays and Corsets: Historical Patterns Translated for the Modern Body. New York: Focal Press.

We also recommend that you read around the subject over the summer, looking at production reviews or articles or books on costume, film and performance through any source available to you; try your local library for inspiration. Anything that gives you a wider understanding of costume, theatre or film will help you begin to understand costume within an historical, social and cultural context.

Current student work

Have a look through some of the work our current students are producing to get an idea of the type of work you may be making on our course.

Two mannequins dressed in 19th century Wuthering Heights-inspired costumes. One with a men's frock coat, waistcoat, trousers and top hat and holding a cane; the other wearing an orange patterned day dress and bonnet.
A 17th century jacket embroidered on one side with an intricate floral pattern.
A model shown side-on, wearing a 19th century lobster-inspired dress.
A BA (Hons) Acting student wearing an 18th century costume and wig, performing in La Casa Nova at Palace Court Theatre.
Several BA (Hons) Acting students performing a ballroom scene in a performance of "Masque Macabre". Several couples are in the middle of a waltz.
Cast photo of community play SALT, showing all performers in costume, posing for a photo in front of a black brick wall.
Close-up of a purple men's 19th century double-breasted jacket on a mannequin.
A model poses for a photo wearing a pantomime dame-style dress and bonnet.
A model poses for a photo in a period-style riding habit and headdress.
BA (Hons) Costume students viewing costumes at Blandford Fashion Museum.
Six BA (Hons) Acting students sitting along a high-backed wooden bench, all wearing period-style costumes while performing AUB Productions' "Masque Macabre".
Close-up of a long men's jacket with a red and gold waistcoat underneath, on a mannequin.
A model poses for a photo while wearing a pink period-style costume.
Close-up of the front of a period-style dress, with two winged snakes embroidered onto the chest.
Six BA (Hons) Acting students dressed in period-style costume while performing AUB Productions' "Masque Macabre".
A BA (Hons) Costume student adjusts a BA (Hons) Acting student's costume backstage during a performance of "Wolves of Willoughby Chase".
A performer in pantomime dame-style costume and make-up, pictured while leaping.
A model poses for a photo while dressed in a long druid-style costume and headdress, holding a staff.
BA (Hons) Costume students adjusting a BA (Hons) Acting student's costume backstage at Palace Court Theatre during a performance of La Casa Nova.
A BA (Hons) Acting student wearing an 18th century-style dress while performing La Casa Nova at Palace Court Theatre.
A BA (Hons) Acting student in 18th century-style costume and holding a cane sits on a sofa, performing in La Casa Nova.
Several BA (Hons) Acting students on stage during a performance of "The Wolves of Willoughby Chase".
Two BA (Hons) Acting students wearing 18th century-style costumes performing a scene of "La Casa Nova" at Palace Court Theatre.

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If you watch one thing before you arrive, we recommend...

"Abstract: The Art of Design" on Netflix

Episodes on Ruth Carter and Es Devlin

Watch now

Course equipment

The course provides all new first-year students with a free induction kit. Please note the exact items included may vary.

Making:

  • Bobbin and bobbin case for industrial sewing machine
  • Thread
  • Pins
  • Hand sewing needles
  • Chalk
  • Tape measure
  • Calico
  • Tracing wheel
  • Propelling pencil
  • Masking tape

You'll need to purchase additional specialist items and we've included a list of specialist suppliers below. Additional items, not included in the free induction kit, but are required:

Making:

Essential:

  • Fabric scissors/Tailor’s shears
  • Small embroidery/needlework scissors
  • Paper scissors
  • Thimbles
  • Pack of safety pins in different sizes

Optional:

  • Pinking Shears
  • L-Square/ pattern master (although these can be loaned from the course)
  • French Curve (although these can be loaned from the course)

Recommended suppliers:


General Additional Equipment

  • A small work box to store your items - you'll need to carry this kit to and from campus as there is limited storage space in the studios
  • Old clothes/overall/apron (for Dye Room work)
  • Reusable water bottle
  • Basic Domestic Sewing machine for continuing your work at home
  • Iron and ironing board
  • Laptop (we recommend a Mac, but if you already have a PC this is also compatible. Laptops are available to hire for short periods from the library). The Adobe suite including Photoshop and Illustrator will be provided by the AUB for free.
  • Digital camera/ phone to record your learning journey

What to bring on your first day

On your first day, bring along:

  • Something to write with
  • Your ID and documents for face-to-face registration (see the "Next Steps" tab for more details)
  • Your Registration Passport enclosed with your Welcome notebook

We provide all new first year students with a free induction kit for the first unit of study. A rough guide to unit costs can be found below so that you can budget for the academic year.

Level Approximate costs

Level 4 (autumn)

Core Skills: approx. £30

Level 4 (spring)

Design and Making: approx. £100

Level 4 (summer)

Costume Workshop: approx. £70

Level 5 (autumn)

Historical Costume: approx. £200

Level 5 (spring)

Tailoring: approx. £180

Level 5 (summer)

Experimental Costume: approx. £100

Level 6

See below

Level 6 units

There is always a broad selection of projects available for you to work on, which varies from year to year. AUB Productions, AUB Dance productions, external museum commissions and external performance collaborations are paid for, whereas a personal project will need to be funded by you. This might range from a collection of period underwear costing £500 to a full historical costume costing £1,500.

Digital capability

This course uses both Apple and Windows products.

You're encouraged to bring your own laptop and mobile device to support online learning, collaboration and communication while at university.

Follow BA (Hons) Costume on social media

Explore more

Overview

We’re delighted for you to join us at AUB – we can’t wait to see what you’ll create.

Exterior of the North Building on AUB Campus, with the words "Arts University Bournemouth" going vertically down a purple background on one side. A couple of trees line either side of the pavement in the foreground.

Next Steps

Find out the useful dates and contact before you start here

Photograph of a large university building with metal mesh exterior and trees in the foreground

Arrival and your first week

We’re looking forward to you welcoming you to BA (Hons) Costume and BA (Hons) Costume for Film. See you in a few weeks!

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An art gallery showcasing four large artworks on white walls. On the left, a black and white fabric piece displays intricate patterns and motifs. In the centre, a framed monochrome portrait is displayed. The right side features two textured pieces of art.
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