MA, BA (Hons), PGCE, FHEA
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BA (Hons) Costume
Our BA (Hons) Costume degree teaches the mastery of professional costume-making, tailoring and supervising for film, theatre and events. You'll be at the heart of the wardrobe department creating bespoke and historical costumes.
- Duration: 3 or 4 years full-time
- Placement year: Optional 1 year
- Course code: W452 (UCAS)
- Institution code: A66 (UCAS)
- Duration: 3 or 4 years full-time
- Placement year: Optional 1 year
- Course code: W452 (UCAS)
- Institution code: A66 (UCAS)
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Overview
On BA (Hons) Costume, you'll master the skills you need to become a professional costume maker, tailor and supervisor for the film, theatre and events industries.
BA (Hons) Costume course information
BA (Hons) Costume offers a comprehensive approach to the study, interpretation and creation of costume. You'll become skilled at producing accurate historical recreations of costumes as well as expressing imaginative flair through creative and conceptual costume making. In addition, you'll learn the art of tailoring and couture dressmaking.
Costume supervision is integral to the course and can be described as interpreting a two-dimensional costume design into a three-dimensional costume through sourcing and procuring garments. This exciting role places you at the heart of live productions, as you'll be key to ensuring the smooth running of the wardrobe department.
Our costume courses are award-winning too. The former BA (Hons) Costume and Performance Design course was awarded the Queen’s Anniversary Prize for its ‘distinguished degree-level education in costume design for the UK’s leading creative industries’.
On BA (Hons) Costume, you'll work on exciting costume making and costume supervisory projects. You'll become skilled at producing accurate historical recreations of costumes, contemporary costume and tailoring, as well as expressing imaginative flair.
As well as technical skill, you’ll learn that great costume production depends on your ability to interpret ideas, in addition to being able to place your practice in a wider historical and cultural context. We place real emphasis on research and a deep understanding of social history to support the creation of costumes that tell a narrative within performance. Collaboration is a key aspect of the course and you'll work alongside students from the BA (Hons) Design for Costume and Performance, BA (Hons) Film Production, BA (Hons) Make-up for Media and Performance, and BA (Hons) Acting courses on stage and film productions.
Placement year
All undergraduate courses at AUB offer an optional placement year, to be taken between your second and third years of study.
If you’re unsure about this optional placement, you don’t need to decide now. Once you’re here and studying with us, the course team will discuss the placement options with you, so when the time comes, you can make a decision that’s right for you.
Level 4 (first year)
In your first year, the aim is to give you a solid grounding in Costume Interpretation with Supervision. You’ll explore essential sewing and costume construction skills that'll enable you to learn the creative and technical processes required to be a costume maker. In addition, you'll begin to learn about the role of a costume supervisor through documentation of your projects.
Design-theory and aesthetics are fundamental to costume interpretation and you'll work with a designer to realise their vision through cut, proportion, fabric and surface decoration. The final unit allows you to develop costume and draping construction skills to prepare you for the second year.
In addition, you’ll develop academic research and writing skills through a series of written tasks related to costume in performance.
Level 5 (second year)
In your second year, your first unit, Historical Costume, will encourage you to be a ‘dress detective’ through examination and analysis of period garments (held in our very own Costume Archive) within a broader historical context. You’ll then get the opportunity to make a historically inspired costume and/or underpinnings through the acquisition of period cutting and construction techniques. In addition, you’ll develop your critical and contextual knowledge and academic writing through a written project that explores dress history through a performance case study. This unit is followed by the Tailoring unit where you’ll learn how to make a tailored garment using traditional techniques.
The final unit challenges you to push the boundaries to develop your creativity and prepare you for Level 6. You can opt to specialise in costume making or costume supervision in this unit.
Level 6 (third year)
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 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 while 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.
Our BA (Hons) Costume students and graduates have gone on to win great things.
- Winner | Costume Society Patterns of Fashion Award (2007, 2015, 2020, 2022, 2023)
- Finalists | Costume Society Patterns of Fashion Award (2012, 2019 (x2))
- Highly commended | Costume Society Patterns of Fashion Award (2018, 2023)
- Silver | Podium Awards, Creative Cultural Project
- Bronze | Podium Awards, Successful Student-Led Activity
- Brancott Estate World of Wearable Art Awards, New Zealand
- Prime Cuts Festival; Free Range, Best Costume
Student gallery
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Open Days
Open Days are a great way to get a feel for undergraduate life at AUB. At an Open Day, you'll be able to explore the campus, talk to course teams and discover our industry-standard facilities.
Visit us on:
- 7 December 2024
AUB SHOWCASE
We're proud of our alumni, and rightfully so.
Explore the incredible work of our freshly graduated 'Class of 2024' in our online AUB Showcase.
Browse work by course, student or theme.
Meet the BA (Hons) Costume course team
You’ll be taught by experienced teaching staff during your time at AUB. Find out more about their specialisms and research interests by exploring their profiles below.
BA (Hons), PGCert, FHEA
BA (Hons), MA, PGCE
MA, PGCert, FHEA
BA, PGCE, NCFE, NEBOSH
MA, BA (Hons)
Costume is a vital and exciting part of the storytelling process within performance, from stage to screen and beyond. A costume subconsciously communicates social and cultural clues, backstory and personality to the audience, aiding the performer in their delivery of a character. BA (Hons) Costume teaches you extensive costume cutting and construction skills, whilst developing interpersonal and transferable skills that will enable you to work collaboratively in industry.
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Chat to a student
Our student ambassadors are here to answer any questions you might have on university life, our courses and all things AUB.
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Application process
Once you've found the perfect Undergraduate course, you can apply to study via UCAS, including direct entry applications to second and third year.
When applying through UCAS, use the institution code A66 for courses taught at Arts University Bournemouth. For courses based at Bournemouth and Poole College, use code B49. We'll then use your completed UCAS form to make decisions about your application. You can find out more on entry requirements in our apply section.
When you apply to one of our courses, it's important that you help us get a good picture of both you and your work – so you'll need a great personal statement. We want to know more about why you're interested in the course, your key influences, and what you hope to do after your studies.
If you're invited for an interview, many of our courses will ask to see a portfolio of your work so we can get more insight into your ideas and abilities. To help you, we've created guidelines outlining what we expect from your portfolio for each course.
The fee that you pay the Arts University Bournemouth provides the necessary equipment and training for you to complete your course.
You may also choose to buy some items of personal equipment such as a laptop or tablet computer, but this is not required; desktop and laptop computers are available for you to use in common study areas, including a loan system in the Library.
If you decide to undertake an optional placement year, the tuition fee is £1,850. This is subject to inflationary increases based on government policy, and providing you progress through the course in the normal timeframe (no repeat years or breaks in study).
This course doesn't require a portfolio as part of the application process.
None of our courses currently require an interview.
The only course requiring an audition is BA (Hons) Acting and if you're invited to one you'll have at least 10 days notice.
Meet our Industry Patron – Carol Lingwood
Meet the Industry Patron for BA (Hons) Costume – Carol Lingwood.
Carol is a freelance costume production manager, costume supervisor and assistant designer who works across theatre, film and events.
Her career started in the workroom at BBC TV and then she worked as a costume maker and then costume supervisor in rep theatre in the UK. In 1989, she assumed the position of costume supervisor and later Deputy Head of Costume at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden and, most recently, as Head of Costume at the National Theatre, London (1999–2022).
Studios and resources
Students on the BA (Hons) Costume course benefit from specialist facilities and equipment, tailored to the studies of the course which reflects industry practice.
Costume and Design Studios
We have large open plan studio space with enough industry-standard cutting and designing tables for each student to work on.
Costume stores
BA (Hons) Costume has two costume stores. One houses our 20th century costumes; the other is home to pre-19th century, uniforms and more.
Studio Theatre
The Studio Theatre is a flexible black box space suitable for experimental and intimate theatre, with retractable raked seating...
3D Workshop
Our 3D workshops with manual and digital manufacturing equipment and computers
Drawing Studio
Our iconic blue Drawing Studio is used by student from all courses and was designed by alumnus Sir Peter Cook...
Digital Suites
Our Digital Suites offer a digital post-production facility and digital teaching space.
The Library
The Library at AUB holds an excellent range of print and online collections
Lecture Theatres and Seminar Rooms
We have a number of lecture theatres and seminar rooms scattered around campus to assist students with their studies.
Central Media Store
The Central Media store houses a diverse array of equipment, offering students the means to craft and capture...
Innovation Studio
The Innovation Studio operates as a lab for creative technologies, a nucleus for start-ups and enterprises and an industry engagement hub.
Printroom
Our printmaking facilities are a hub of creativity on campus and have been inspiring students since 1964.
Letterpress and Bindery
The Letterpress and Bindery studio is a central resource, where students can learn and explore bookbinding and letterpress printing.
Costume archive
Use our extensive costume collection spanning 400 years to inform your knowledge of historical dress
Our costume archive includes garments, accessories, sewing patterns and ephemera spanning four centuries. It is utilised regularly to inform teaching, learning and research. Access to extant garments provides students with first-hand knowledge of period cut and construction methods, fabrics, decoration and aesthetic detail, which is vital to historical costume reconstruction. Our collection includes items donated by theatrical costumier, Paddy Dickie, elite garments from the Hooton Pagnell family and a teaching collection belonging to Shelagh Lovett Turner. Items range from a Pearly King jacket to a Victorian mourning bodice made by the court dressmaker to Queen Alexandra.
Teaching, learning and assessment
The course objectives are met by deploying a wide variety of teaching and learning methods, including projects, lectures, seminars, group critiques and tutorials.
Each unit is assessed separately, and the assessment forms part of the unit. Assessment both provides a measure of your achievement, and also gives you regular feedback on how your learning is developing.
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.
What our BA (Hons) Costume graduates are doing
Graduates from BA (Hons) Costume are employed at some of the most prestigious organisations in the UK and internationally, including the BBC, Channel 4, ITV, Pinewood Studios, Sky, Netflix, 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
- Alteration hand – film and theatre
- Curator
- Museum conservator
- Costume academic
- Textiles teacher
- Teaching assistant
- Dresser
- Stylist
- Milliner
- Couture dressmaker (bridal and fashion)
BA (Hons) Costume graduates have gone on to make costumes and costume supervise shows for theatres and film studios all over the world.
Mary & George: Cutter and costume maker David Wood discusses working on Sky period drama
Of the many elements of bringing...
Jay François-Campbell – BA (Hons) Costume
A third-generation tailor born into a family of tailors and seamstresses, Jay François-Campbell began her garment...
Lucy Anderson – BA (Hons) Costume
Lucy was one of several AUB alumni to work on the costumes for the 2015 Disney blockbuster, Cinderella...
Trips and visits
As part of BA (Hons) Costume, you may also get the opportunity to take part in course trips. Previous trips have included:
- New York
- London
*These trips are optional and some may incur additional costs
