BA (Hons) Costume

The third-year focus is on ‘doing it for real’. Projects will range from supervising or making for a live production that BA (Hons) Acting or BA (Hons) Dance will stage, to making a costume for a museum or exhibition. Other opportunities include making costumes for short films produced by our BA (Hons) Film Production students or making for external theatre companies.

The atmosphere in the studios reflects the pace and intensity of the industry and you’ll have the opportunity to work collaboratively with other courses whilst learning transferable skills, such as teamwork, problem-solving and communication techniques.

In the Research Project unit, you'll write a 5,000-word essay based on your own practice in context.

The Major Project unit is designed to develop your professional skills by working on productions or other live projects. You’ll develop your professional identity by designing your portfolio, CV and personal promotional materials for your launch into the world of theatre and film. You’ll also curate your work as part of the graduate summer exhibitions in Bournemouth and London*.

*The London exhibition is subject to competition.

All students are registered for the award of BA (Hons). However, exit awards are available if you leave the course early, having successfully completed one or two levels. If you successfully complete a level of the course, you'll automatically be entitled to progress to the next level.

For the award of a Certificate of Higher Education (CertHE), you must have achieved a minimum of 120 credits at Level 4. This qualification may be awarded if you leave the University following successful completion of the first year of your course.

For the award of a Diploma of Higher Education (DipHE), you must have achieved a minimum of 240 credits of which a minimum of 120 must be at Level 5. This qualification may be awarded if you leave the University following successful completion of the second year of your course.

For the award of a BA (Hons) you must have achieved a minimum of 360 credits of which a minimum of 240 must be at Level 5 or above, of which a minimum of 120 credits must be at Level 6. This qualification will be awarded upon successful completion of your course.

A BA without Honours may be awarded if you have achieved 300 credits, at least 180 of which are at Level 5 or above, and at least 60 of which are at Level 6.

In consultation with the Course Leader, staff are responsible for co-ordinating individual units of study, and for selecting appropriate methods of delivery according to subject matter and student experience. The methods employed induct you to the disciplines required of a creative practitioner and promote the development of transferable skills.

The study time allocated to each unit in the course incorporates a balance of formal teaching, tutorial support and independent learning. The course is structured progressively to provide increased opportunities for independent learning as you reach the later stages of the course.

Although teaching is directed at supporting individual engagement in learning, there'll be opportunities for you to work in teams to enable you to learn the value of peer co-operation.

The integration of theory and practice is promoted and reinforced through a team teaching approach. Lectures, seminars and tutorials may be delivered by team members, as appropriate, in the creative environment of the studio.

The progressive promotion of independent learning reflects your anticipated maturity as a student and allows you to guide your learning towards individual goals. The teaching is directed at providing you with the knowledge, concepts and skills to take increasing responsibility for the management of your own learning.

For every unit of your course, we'll inform you of what you're expected to learn, what you have to submit, how your work will be assessed, and the deadline for presenting your work for assessment. This is made available through Unit Information, which is on your course blog.

You'll receive a final mark for each unit in the form of a percentage, which will be recorded on your formal record of achievement (transcript). Each component of assessment is graded using a notched marking scale, whereby only certain marks are used within each grade. The only marks available within any ten-point band are *2, *5 and *8 (e.g. 62, 65, 68). These marks correspond to a low, mid, and high level of achievement within each grade band.

All learning outcomes must be passed to successfully complete the unit. On successful completion of your Honours degree course, you'll be awarded a degree classification based on your unit marks. The final classification is determined using all unit marks at Levels 5 and 6 using two different algorithms, which are detailed in the HE Student Regulations. If the two algorithms produce different results, you'll be awarded the higher class of degree.

If you have joined Level 6 through either the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) route or having completed a Foundation Degree (FdA), the final classification is determined using only your unit marks at Level 6. For further information on assessment, progression, awards and classifications, please visit viewpoint.aub.ac.uk.

Graduates from the costume pathway of BA (Hons) Costume and Performance Design are employed at some of the most prestigious organisations in the UK and internationally, including the BBC, Channel 4, ITV, Pinewood Studios, Glyndebourne, Royal Opera House, the Royal Shakespeare Company and the National Theatre. Some graduates have careers as:

• Costume Supervisor for Theatre or Film
• Head of Running Wardrobe
• Costume Maker
• Costume Prop Maker
• Costume Buyer
• Costume Standby for film
• Costume Assistant for Film
• Costume Tailor
• Alternation Hand – film and theatre
• Curator
• Museum Conservation
• Costume Academic
• Textiles teacher
• Teaching Assistant
• Head of Running Wardrobe
• Dresser
• Stylist
• Milliner
• Couture Dressmaker (Bridal and Fashion)

Students studying this course achieve great things and have won prestigious and high-profile awards, such as:

• Winner 2017 for the Costume Society Patterns of Fashion Award
• 2 Runner’s Up 2019 for the Costume Society Patterns of Fashion Award
• Brancott Estate World of Wearable Art Awards, New Zealand
• Podium Awards – Bronze Award for Successful Student Led Activity
• Podium Awards – Silver Medal in Creative Cultural Project Award
• Prime Cuts Festival; Free Range – Best Costume