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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.

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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.

Course duration

3 or 4 years (full-time)

Placement

Option of a 1-year placement

UCAS course code

W452

UCAS institution code

A66

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.

Exchange and international summer programmes

Students on BA (Hons) Costume have the chance to broaden their horizons through exciting exchange and international summer programmes. These opportunities allow you to study abroad at one of our brilliant partner institutions, experience different cultures, and enhance your academic journey.

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APPLICATIONS ARE OPEN

Now that you've found the perfect course, it's time to apply.

The early deadline may have passed, but applications are still open! Check out our handy 'how to apply' guide and our portfolio top tips.

Apply Now
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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.

Discover AUB Showcase

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.

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Sarah Magill Course Leader BA (Hons) Costume

MA, BA (Hons), PGCE, FHEA

Jennifer Ridge Early Careers Academic

BA (Hons), PGCert, FHEA

Email me jridge@aub.ac.uk

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.

Sarah Magill, Course Leader

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Application process

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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).

Explore our Industry Patrons

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.

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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.

Inside one of AUB's costume stores, with rails of costumes and shelves with boxes, hats and helmets sitting on them.

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.

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Studio Theatre

The Studio Theatre is a flexible black box space suitable for experimental and intimate theatre, with retractable raked seating...

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3D Workshop

Our 3D workshops with manual and digital manufacturing equipment and computers

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Drawing Studio

Our iconic blue Drawing Studio is used by student from all courses and was designed by alumnus Sir Peter Cook​...

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Digital Suites

Our Digital Suites offer a digital post-production facility and digital teaching space.

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The Library

The Library at AUB holds an excellent range of print and online collections

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Lecture Theatres and Seminar Rooms

We have a number of lecture theatres and seminar rooms scattered around campus to assist students with their studies.

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Central Media Store

The Central Media store houses a diverse array of equipment, offering students the means to craft and capture...

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Innovation Studio

The Innovation Studio operates as a lab for creative technologies, a nucleus for start-ups and enterprises and an industry engagement hub.

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Printroom

Our printmaking facilities are a hub of creativity on campus and have been inspiring students since 1964.

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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.

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)

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

Latest from BA (Hons) Costume

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Discover how to create whole new worlds on this exciting course. Design and make costumes and sets for shows, films, plays.

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