Skip to main content Go to Site Map

BA (Hons) Costume

  • Duration: 3–5 years full-time
  • Placement year: Optional 1 year
  • Course code: W452 (UCAS)
  • Institution code: A66 (UCAS)
A person in Elizabethan-style costume looking down towards the floor.

Overview

Our BA (Hons) Costume degree gives you an unrivaled opportunity to explore the exciting world of the many aspects of the costume profession, and he creative industries in the UK, which are some of the best in the world.

A 17th century jacket embroidered on one side with an intricate floral pattern.

Our approach encourages students to break boundaries and tell stories that truly resonate.

You'll develop the skills, knowledge, and professional mindset to thrive in the competitive and evolving costume industry.

A BA (Hons) Acting student wearing an 18th century costume and wig, performing in La Casa Nova at Palace Court Theatre.

Join the UK's largest film school outside London

Our unique teaching and learning model places you in real-world production settings, allowing you, as costume makers and designers to work closely with aspiring directors, producers, writers, actors and make-up artists.

Watch our videos

Final-year student Daisy talks about going from self-taught sewing to discovering the art of millinery on BA (Hons) Costume. You can also hear from award-winning alumni Sophie Canale (Saltburn, Bridgerton) and Eleanor Bull (Poor Things) about their respective experiences on the course and working in industry.

In addition, you can hear several students sharing their experiences working and collaborating in different costume roles on AUB Productions shows.

This content can't be displayed, please accept marketing, statistics cookies to view

Accept to view

This content can't be displayed, please accept marketing, statistics cookies to view

Accept to view

This content can't be displayed, please accept marketing, statistics cookies to view

Accept to view

This content can't be displayed, please accept marketing, statistics cookies to view

Accept to view

This content can't be displayed, please accept marketing, statistics cookies to view

Accept to view

This content can't be displayed, please accept marketing, statistics cookies to view

Accept to view

Student gallery

Looking to be inspired? Explore our gallery of costumes designed, produced and tailored by our BA (Hons) Costume students and alumni.

A person in Elizabethan-style costume looking down towards the floor.
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.
Person in pantomime dame-style costume poses for a photo.
A model shown side-on, wearing a 19th century lobster-inspired dress.
Two period costumes – a dress and a three-piece suit – on display on two mannequins.
Close-up of a period-style cress with the model's hands visible.
People gathered in a backstage room in the middle of a costume fitting.
Model in a period dress and hairstyle poses for a photo.
A BA (Hons) Acting student wearing an 18th century costume and wig, performing in La Casa Nova at Palace Court Theatre.
Close-up of a purple men's 19th century double-breasted jacket on a mannequin.
Close-up of a long men's jacket with a red and gold waistcoat underneath, on a mannequin.
Actors wearing 1930s-inspired costumes for Wimbledon.
A model viewed side-on wearing a headdress with a ship in it.
A person standing against a plain background in 18th century costume.
A person standing against a plain background in an 18th century-style costume and wig.

This content can't be displayed, please accept marketing, statistics cookies to view

Accept to view

This content can't be displayed, please accept marketing, statistics cookies to view

Accept to view
A large audience in period costume sitting in stands watching a tennis match.
A person in a ragged fairytale-style costume and floral headdress raises her arms up.
Performers in a period film. An actress in costume as a tennis player holds a gold shield trophy. A crowd of people in period costume are stood behind them, applauding.
Six BA (Hons) Acting students sitting along a high-backed wooden bench, all wearing period-style costumes while performing AUB Productions' "Masque Macabre".
A model poses for a photo in a period-style riding habit and headdress.
A model poses for a photo wearing a pantomime dame-style dress and bonnet.
A model poses for a photo while wearing a pink period-style costume.
Military costume and women's underwear

This content can't be displayed, please accept marketing, statistics cookies to view

Accept to view

This content can't be displayed, please accept marketing, statistics cookies to view

Accept to view

This content can't be displayed, please accept marketing, statistics cookies to view

Accept to view

This content can't be displayed, please accept marketing, statistics cookies to view

Accept to view

This content can't be displayed, please accept marketing, statistics cookies to view

Accept to view
Group of students

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.

Chat on Unibuddy

Student Stories

Theatre stage with dramatic lighting showing performers in period costumes on steps, with bright spotlight beam cutting through dark blue atmosphere.

Eve Stewart – The story behind the set design: The Visit

Studying BA (Hons) Design for Costume and Performance at AUB has created unique experiences that have developed both my...
Two BA (Hons) Acting students on stage: one in teal 1930s dress with headband, the other in dark military uniform. Theatre set with sofa and stone wall backdrop.

Katie Fealy – My experience as lead costume designer on This Happy Breed

Experiencing first-hand how a costume can help a performer slip into their role has...
Theatre stage with blue lighting. Central figure in light blue robes stands on elevated rock. Blurred figures in motion on either side.

El Wright on designing costume across stage and screen

Working on "Still Here" was such a challenging project – to design a set that could transport the audience to three separate...
Vintage mood board of fashion advertisements featuring colourful dresses and outfits. Variety of vibrant patterns, silhouettes, and styles across the image.

Molly Barber – “Everyone should learn and understand the stories of the past... it allows us to be better people..."

My love for both storytelling and history...
Realistic costume illustration of a woman wearing a pink dress, pink background.

Georgie Hartland – "I realised how important costume was for bringing characters to life"

Since I was very little, being creative was a big part of who I was, and as I grew up...
Dancer silhouette behind metal railings with ivy under a dramatic white-blue spotlight.

Charlie Dorey on the language of costume design: “You have to take inspiration in completely different ways”

Costume was so perfect as I felt I could...
A BA (Hons) Design for Costume and Performance student kneels down by a clothes rail and makes adjustments to the back of a long, black coat.

Lizzie Hodge – The responsibilities of a grad film costume designer

You’ll take on basically every costume role in the film industry. I experienced: measuring, designing...
Student being fitted into a 17th century-style costume, red with golden embroidery.

Lauren Mayers on being the Costume Supervisor for Emilia!

Being the Costume Supervisor for AUB Productions’ Emilia! has ignited my passion for supervision and confirmed what I want...
Alice Drury creating a large, round stained glass window in a workshop for AUB Productions' 'I, Joan'.

Alice Drury – Designing the set for AUB Productions' I, Joan

For the costume design, I looked at 1400s clothing, French military wear, and also ways to elevate the presentation of the...
A French Revolution female peasant costume designed by a BA (Hons) Costume student viewed from the front. The model poses with their hands on their hips.

Olivia Wood – Making a French Revolution peasant costume

As our first project of second year, we made late-18th century French Revolution peasant costumes, with different variations of...
Three images of a red and gold Captain Hook costume with a feather hat and ruffles on a mannequin, white background.

Ellie Waters – Creating Captain Hook's costume for SISATA Open Air Theatre

For my major project in Costume, I made a full Captain Hook costume for SISATA...
A person wearing a pollution-inspired dress on Bournemouth beach, blue, green and white with patterns and embroidery.

Beverley Baker – "Everyone should be able to elevate their creativity for others to see"

I knew AUB was the right choice when I went to an Open Day back in 2021 – it was so...
A group of people facing away from the camera pointing at their black shirts which read 'crew'.

Rosie Maddox – "Through BA (Hons) Costume, I found my calling in costume supervision"

A costume supervisor primarily uses organisation and research skills to help...
A model stage set with wooden curving stairs and a screen in the background.

Dora Voros – 'Now, I pursue my passion as a career'

What made me fall in love with creating costumes and accessories is that you can always try new materials and learn...
Singer V Joy in a Regency era costume holding a songbook, looking off to the left. A pianist in costume as Anne Lister sits at a piano and plays.

Verity Joy – How creative passions for music and costume can combine

When I first began studying at AUB, I gave myself one rule: to look outside the box. I’ve always had multiple artistic interests...
BA (Hons) Costume student tying a ribbon on the front of a 1610s jacket on a mannequin.

Beth Lacey and Remi Gene Lever – Making the Patterns of Fashion Awards finals

Final-year Costume students Beth Lacey and Remi Gene Lever are the latest...
Close-up of a Henry VIII costume showing the right panel of the jacket and sleeve.

Kirsty Gaynard – “Without making my Henry VIII, I wouldn’t be where I am in my career”

Before going to University, I was completely unsure on the pathway I wanted to choose...
Fish-eye view of some dead trees and a cityscape behind it.

Ella Kearvell — My time at AUB has been both inspiring and challenging in equal measure

From a dramatic change to online learning, we have all had to get used to a virtual...
A person in a period costume stands smiling outside a house with a brick archway at the front.

Katie Heape — Staying creative in an uncertain world

As we’ve seen over these past few months, creative projects make space for us to come together, whether that be making scrubs...
A coat with a fur collar hangs on a mannequin against a plain wall.

Kayla Bartlett – "It was important for me to work in the busy, collaborative environment of live productions..."

Before applying to the Costume and Performance Design course at AUB, I was...
Modern artwork

Mea Warburton – A Day in the Life at the Circus

Mea joined Cirque du Soleil in 2017 and is currently the Wardrobe Technician on Amaluna. On the show, she’s more...
A curly logo with a crown above it. Text appears below appearing 'The Queen's Anniversary Prizes for higher and further education 2017'.
Logo with text reads, "Arts University Bournemouth Film School". The words "Arts University" are blurred.

Latest from BA (Hons) Costume

Dr H Walter, E Jones, H Conibear and K Lawton standing together in college space with purple 'CREATIVES MAKING' banner visible on wall behind them
3 mins read time
AUB student designs official court dress for newly appointed Dorset High Sheriff
Group of BA (Hons) Costume students posing together in fluorescent-lit room with white walls and grey floor, wearing casual clothing and jumpers.
4 mins read time
AUB students create 25 costumes for new opera production
Person in elaborate silver costume with crown-like headdress, green ribbons, and metallic boots against reflective tiled backdrop.
3 mins read time
A spotlight on AUB’s BAFTA albert Education Partnership
Modern building with bright orange facade displaying "BFS" text. Blurred figure walking past colourful entrance area with green trees.
2 mins read time
Arts University Bournemouth to receive £1.25 million of capital funding from the OfS

Similar courses