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In the UK for Art and Design in Complete University Guide 2024

Costume Design and Construction BA (Hons)

Start date

  • Level(s) of Study: Undergraduate
  • Typical Offer: 104 - 112 UCAS tariff points
  • UCAS Code(s): W451
  • Start Date(s): September 2024
  • Duration: 3 / 4 year(s)
  • Study Mode(s): Full-time / Sandwich
  • Campus: City Campus
Information for 2024

Introduction:

Learn to tell stories through costumes.

This specialist degree focuses on developing both your costume design and costume construction skills. You will learn how to translate your creative ideas into professional costumes for theatre, film and television, dance, opera and other performance areas. You will also have the opportunity to explore a range of relevant skills:  corsetry, pattern cutting, draping, tailoring, millinery, costume props, fabric knowledge, textile breaking down, print and dye and other emerging technologies. Our aim on the course is to create future-facing professionals, who are industry relevant, work collaboratively, and are outward-facing autonomous practitioners.

  • You’ll have the opportunity to complete a work experience placement of up to a year in length. Dependent on the duration of your placement, you could gain an additional Diploma or Certificate in Professional Practice.
  • Visit design exhibitions at venues like the V&A in London and the National Theatre costume department. You will also have the opportunity to go on national and European trips to see opera, ballet, theatre and dance performances.
  • You’ll be able to personalise your studies by choosing from a range of up to eight optional modules. Your course also includes our School-wide, sector-leading Co Lab module.

Course accreditation

  • Chartered Society of Designers logo

What you’ll study

Develop the skills you need to become a versatile costume designer and expert in mixed-media construction. You will study subjects exploring visual research, character and text analysis, contemporary design development and innovative 2D to 3D realisation.  Explore such skills as corsetry, pattern cutting, tailoring, millinery, costume props, fabric knowledge, and print and dye. You'll learn how to interpret a brief and work with a creative team to create unique and bespoke costume designs.

As a costume student you will collaborate with students across our Design for Performance courses, as you personalise your learning journey and tailor your skills to meet your career aspirations in this exciting global industry.

Welcome to Costume

(40 credit points)

The start of your journey into exploring what Costume Design and Construction can be for you. Become familiar with tutors, peer groups, buildings, the department and equipment around you.

The module focuses on how to be curious, engage with new ideas in a safe space, take risks and make mistakes as a creative practitioner. You will be engaging with industry-level projects to support building your confidence and awareness of what costume is and possible future paths.

Questioning Costume

(40 credit points)

Combine practice and theory in order to create the foundations of your approach to your studies in costume. Begin your preparation towards your future career within contemporary stage and screen-related related fields you make designs and projects for a range of genres, based on real situations and industry practice.

Skills Passport

(20 credit points)

Establish and build on your knowledge of key professional costume practices as you understand the concepts of safe professional practice. Through exploration of a range of materials and processes, you will build relevant skills and develop your practical knowledge base, while allowing flexibility for personal direction and acquiring an understanding of industry needs.

Sustainability in Context 

(20 credit points)

Discover the many aspects of being a sustainable practitioner in today's cultural landscape. You will look at sustainability through a wide range of lenses from different cultures, genders and perspectives. You will develop skills to research visually, verbally and in writing, as you begin to personalise your creative future through completing the Sustainability in Practice Certificate and negotiating your outcome based on your selected sustainable research.

Costume Exploration

(40 credit points)

Build on your knowledge of costume practice and theory to develop your investigative and experimental approaches. You will operate in situations of increasing complexity and depth and be encouraged to interpret characterisation challenges in 2D and 3D critically and imaginatively, aligning theory with practice and advancing your subject knowledge, understanding and practical skills.

Costume Direction

(40 credit points)

Develop and expand on your first-year studies and what Costume Design and Construction could be for you. Through further exploration of physical and digital media over the module you will expand and strengthen your approaches and effective visual communication within an industry context. You will be encouraged to question the development of your ideas using professional performance contexts and industry projects.

OR

Industry Placement

(40 credit points)

Refine your personal direction and career aspirations with a professional placement to prepare you for entry into the performance/cultural industries. This will take you out into industry to extend the development of your professional practice. You will be expected to document this experience, bringing back your knowledge and sharing it with your peers as part of a presentation at the end of the module.

Co Lab: Research, Exploration and Risk-taking

(20 credit points)

Through active participation with team-based problem-solving, you will work together in mixed teams on a project where you will use your creative ideas to generate solutions to the challenge or brief. Your project will allow you to explore how creativity can make an impact in society, as you choose a theme of sustainability, social justice, enterprise and innovation or community. This collaborative learning experience will expose you to a range of new processes and approaches that will develop your creative thinking.

Optional module

(20 credit points)

You will also choose one module from below:

  • Slow Making and Craftmanship
  • Millinery : Object and Narrative
  • Character Ideation
  • Ethical Design (online and in person)
  • Emerging Textile Technologies
  • Introduction to 3D Virtual Clothing & Product Design
  • Made to Last: Clothing Longevity for Circularity
  • Music Video

Optional Placement Year (Sandwich)*

We have an option for all of our students to undertake a placement year (Sandwich) and allow you to decide whether this is right for you once you have completed years 1 and 2 of your course. This time spent working in industry provides our students with crucial work experience, which is highly prized and much sought after by employers upon graduation. If you are successful in securing a placement you will have the chance to gain an additional Certificate or Diploma in Professional Practice, dependent on duration.

* If you choose to take the sandwich route option, you will still need to apply for this course with the full-time UCAS code: W451

Industry Project

(40 credit points)

Define and refine your personal direction and career aspirations as you prepare yourself for entry into the performance/cultural industries. Through advanced personal practice, teaching and industry guidance you will develop your autonomy and independent costume career. The module will build your skills in engaging and responding to an industry-led project. These exchanges and approaches will echo professional working practices and facilitate both personal growth and transferable and practical skills acquisition.

Next Steps - Professional Practice

(20 credit points)

Through studio practice, professional practice, external speakers, presentations and staff guidance you will prepare your portfolio for your next steps. This module is a culmination of your undergraduate study and will build on previous portfolio iterations that you have developed. You will engage in a reflective, flexible and responsive exchange that echoes professional working practices as you gather feedback and analyse the most effective professional practice output for you.

Major Project - Costume Design and Construction

(60 credit points)

Embark on a self-directed project where you will combine studio practice, autonomous research and staff guidance to present a body of work that represents your chosen genre and professional working practices, and will respond to your goals and aspirations post-degree. You will research in a manner appropriate for this level, exploring the wider cultural, sustainable, ethical and genre-appropriate considerations.

Don’t just take our word for it, hear from our students themselves

Student Profiles

Hannah Varley

I really enjoy having such a variety of projects that have allowed me to develop both my design and making skills in a variety of performance areas, such as ballet, opera, theatre, and film. It has allowed me to consider what route I want to take in my career.

Kitty Hawkins

I've enjoyed working alongside some really talented tutors, designers and makers who have taught me so much.

Sophie Anagnostopoulou

Nottingham is great for me! It isn’t too big and it isn’t too small. There is always something going on, and there are so many things to see and do. It also has good transport links to London; something that is important for art and design students.

Esme Kirk

The course is one of the only costume courses in the country that teaches you both design and making skills, which I believe makes you more employable.

Milicent Heaton

At NTU you gain an unbeatable set and range of skills in the specialism of Costume Designing and Making, combined with consistent and in-depth supportive teaching.

Lorna Black

It is incredible to have staff who specialise in different areas of costume to learn the skills they have to offer, which ultimately helps your work progress.

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How you’re taught

On this course, you will spend your time in creative studio environments. Teaching and learning experiences will include:

  • studio days
  • presentations
  • independent projects
  • demonstrations
  • research
  • reflective journals
  • lectures
  • seminars
  • tutorials
  • study visits.

Co Lab

Want real-world experience alongside your degree? Co Lab is your opportunity to work with peers from different disciplines on live projects set by industry partners. Embrace collaborative practice as you explore how creativity can make an impact in society and develop the skills employers want to see in the creative industries.

Find out more

Exchange opportunities

If you’re thinking about studying part of your degree abroad, the course has exchange agreements with a number of institutions around the world.

Exchanges take place in Year Two of the course. You’ll receive guidance from the University about where you can study, and help in completing your application and arranging your exchange.

Showcase

You will be given the opportunity to exhibit your work during your time at NTU to members of the creative industries. Visit our ‘We Are Creatives’ showcase to take a look at the work of this year's graduating students’.

Contact hours

  • Year 1 lectures/seminars/workshops (28%), independent study (72%).
  • Year 2 lectures/seminars/workshops (22%), independent study (78%).
  • Year 3 lectures/seminars/workshops (20%), independent study (80%).

Staff Profiles

Hayley Meaden - Senior Lecturer

Nottingham School of Art & Design

Hayley Meaden is a Lecturer in the School of Art & Design specialising in wearable art and working across costume, jewellery and the visual arts.

Totie Driver - Senior Lecturer

Nottingham School of Art & Design

Nottingham Trent University’s (NTU) BA (Hons) Theatre Design lecturer and alumna. Totie Driver designed the stage set for 'Miss Saigon'- West End and Broadway and 'Oliver' for world-renowned producer Cameron

Jenny Larkins - Senior Lecturer

Nottingham School of Art & Design

Jenny Larkins is a Lecturer in the School of Art & Design.

Sharon Bainbridge - Senior Lecturer

Nottingham School of Art & Design

Sharon is a Senior Lecturer on BA (Hons) Costume Design & Making, within Design for Stage and Screen at NTU. An outward facing academic with a background in millinery, design,

Neil Dixon - Senior Technician

Nottingham School of Art & Design

Neil Dixon is a Senior Technician for Lighting and Visualisation

How you’re assessed

Assessment is 100% through coursework. You’ll receive feedback throughout each module and will have opportunities to discuss feedback, identify areas of strength and weakness, and set personal goals. Depending on the module, you may be assessed through speculative design and live performances, artefacts, as well as presentations, written work and peer assessment.

Your final degree mark with be based 100% on your final year work.

  • Year 1 coursework (100%).
  • Year 2 coursework (100%).
  • Year 3 coursework (100%).

Careers and employability

Graduate destinations have included costume designing and / or construction for prestigious companies such as Angels Costumiers and the BBC, and freelance or in-house costume designing, making and assisting for a myriad of stage and screen companies, events and performances both large-scale and small-scale. These include everything from Outlander to Not Just Fish & Ships, Lichfield Garrick Pantomime to wardrobe on a cruise ship, and making props on the latest Marvel feature.

Connecting with industry

Live projects or competitions could offer you the chance to gain professional experience and raise your profile. Organisations and programmes the course has collaborated with include:

  • Making Costumes for the Curve, Leicester
  • Working at Lichfield Garrick Theatre on Cinderella
  • Working with Bruce Asbestos and Nottingham Contemporary on live art catwalk

You’ll also be encouraged to participate in national competitions and costume events, seeking out opportunities to work with local cultural centres.

Industry experts who have recently lectured on this course include:

  • television costume designer, Debbie O’Brien
  • specialist costume designer / maker, Ivo Coveney
  • Downton Abbey costume cutter, Sarah Humphrey
  • Society of British Theatre Designers Chair, Fiona Watt

Creative Industries Federation

We are members of the Creative Industries Federation (CIF), which means students in the Nottingham School of Art & Design have the opportunity to sign up to free student membership. Creative Industries Federation are an organisation that represents, champions and supports the UK’s creative industries and membership grants students exclusive access to their selection of resources and events to help advance your career and connect with industry.

Campus and facilities

You’ll be based in the Waverley building – a beautifully restored listed building with real design heritage: it was the original home of the Nottingham School of Art. View our Nottingham School of Art & Design Facilities Hub here.

Entry requirements

BA (Hons) Costume Design and Construction

  • Standard offer: 112 UCAS Tariff points from up to four qualifications
  • Contextual offer: 104 UCAS Tariff points from up to four qualifications

Other requirements

Contextual offers

A lower offer may be made based on a range of factors, including your background (such as where you live and the school or college you attended), your experiences and individual circumstances (you may have been in care, for example). This is called a contextual offer and we get data from UCAS to make these decisions. NTU offers a student experience like no other and this approach helps us to find students who have the potential to succeed here but who may have faced barriers that make it more difficult to access university. Find out how we assess your application.

Other qualifications and experience

We may also consider credits achieved at other universities and your work/life experience through an assessment of prior learning. This may be for year one entry, or beyond the beginning of a course where applicable, for example, into year 2. Our Recognition of Prior Learning and Credit Transfer Policy outlines the process and options available for this route.

Meeting our entry requirements

Hundreds of qualifications in the UK have UCAS tariff points attached to specific grades, including A levels, BTECs, T Levels and many more. You can use your grades and points from up to four different qualifications to meet our criteria. Enter your predicted or achieved grades into our tariff calculator to find out how many points your qualifications are worth.

Getting in touch

If you need more help or information, get in touch through our enquiry form

BA (Hons) Costume Design and Construction

  • 112 UCAS Tariff points from up to four qualifications

Other requirements

International qualifications

We accept qualifications from all over the world – check yours here:

Undergraduate preparation courses (Foundation)

If you don’t yet meet our entry requirements, we offer Foundation courses through our partner Nottingham Trent International College (NTIC), based on our City Campus:

English language requirements

You can meet our language requirements by successfully completing our pre-sessional English course for an agreed length of time, or by submitting the required grade in one of our accepted English language tests, such as IELTS:

Advanced standing (starting your undergraduate degree in year 2 or 3

You may be able to start your undergraduate course in year 2 or 3 based on what you have studied before.  This decision would be made in accordance with our Recognition of Prior Learning and Credit Transfer Policy.

Would you like some advice on your study plans?

Our international teams are highly experienced in answering queries from students all over the world. We also have members of staff based in Vietnam, China, India and Nigeria and work with a worldwide network of education counsellors.

Fees and funding

Preparing for the financial side of student life is important, but there's no need to feel anxious and confused about it. We hope that our fees and funding pages will answer all your questions.

Getting in touch

For more advice and guidance, you can contact our Student Financial Support Service.

Tel: +44 (0)115 848 2494

What's included in the course fees?

As part of the course, we will provide some basic materials and some necessary printed materials.

The School will cover the costs of any mandatory study trips.

In Final Year, the Nottingham School of Art & Design will provide infrastructure costs for your Showcase. If you’re selected to exhibit your work at a graduate show in London, the School will cover the cost of transporting your work, the exhibition stand and event set-up.

Additional costs

Print and copy costs

We advise you to budget up to £100 per year for printing costs.

The University allocates an annual printing and copying allowance of £20 depending on the course you are studying. For more details about costs for additional print and copying required over and above the annual allowance please see the Printing, photocopying and scanning information on the Library website.

Material costs

Depending on the materials you choose to work with, you should budget in the region of £250 (Year One), £350 (Year Two), and up to £500 (Final Year) to cover the production costs associated with your course. This is of course a broad approximation, as your projects are highly personalised.

Stationery and reading materials

Most study modules will recommend one or more core textbooks, which many students choose to purchase. Book costs vary between courses and further information is available in the University’s bookshop, Blackwell’s.

A good supply of these essential text books are available in the University libraries, which students can easily borrow or access on-line/directly whilst studying in the library. You should budget £50 – £100 per year (approximately) for stationery and reading materials.

Field trips

All essential field trip costs will be included in your course fees. There may also be an opportunity to take part in an optional field trip to a European destination that will be tailored to suit your course.

Placements

If you're undertaking a placement year, you'll need to budget for accommodation and any travel costs you may incur whilst on placement. Many of our placement students do earn a salary whilst on placement which can help to cover these living costs.

If you undertake work experience or a longer placement, you will have the chance to gain an additional Certificate or Diploma in Professional Practice, dependent on duration.  The Diploma in Professional Practice incurs a fee for the additional placement year.

Preparing for the financial side of student life is important, but there's no need to feel anxious and confused about it. We hope that our fees and funding pages will answer all your questions.

You might be able to get a scholarship to help fund your studies. We award scholarships to those international students who can demonstrate excellent achievement, passion, and dedication to their studies.

Please take a look at our International students page for information about fees, scholarships for international students, visas and much more.

Getting in touch

For more advice and guidance, you can contact our Student Financial Support Service.

Tel: +44 (0)115 848 2494

What's included in the course fees?

As part of the course, we will provide some basic materials and some necessary printed materials.

The School will cover the costs of any mandatory study trips.

In Final Year, the Nottingham School of Art & Design will provide infrastructure costs for your Showcase. If you’re selected to exhibit your work at a graduate show in London, the School will cover the cost of transporting your work, the exhibition stand and event set-up.

Additional costs

Print and copy costs

We advise you to budget up to £100 per year for printing costs.

The University allocates an annual printing and copying allowance of £20 depending on the course you are studying. For more details about costs for additional print and copying required over and above the annual allowance please see the Printing, photocopying and scanning information on the Library website.

Material costs

Depending on the materials you choose to work with, you should budget in the region of £250 (Year One), £350 (Year Two), and up to £500 (Final Year) to cover the production costs associated with your course. This is of course a broad approximation, as your projects are highly personalised.

Stationery and reading materials

Most study modules will recommend one or more core textbooks, which many students choose to purchase. Book costs vary between courses and further information is available in the University’s bookshop, Blackwell’s.

A good supply of these essential text books are available in the University libraries, which students can easily borrow or access on-line/directly whilst studying in the library. You should budget £50 – £100 per year (approximately) for stationery and reading materials.

Field trips

All essential field trip costs will be included in your course fees. There may also be an opportunity to take part in an optional field trip to a European destination that will be tailored to suit your course.

Placements

If you're undertaking a placement year, you'll need to budget for accommodation and any travel costs you may incur whilst on placement. Many of our placement students do earn a salary whilst on placement which can help to cover these living costs.

If you undertake work experience or a longer placement, you will have the chance to gain an additional Certificate or Diploma in Professional Practice, dependent on duration.  The Diploma in Professional Practice incurs a fee for the additional placement year.

How to apply

Apply through UCAS.

We will ask you to provide a digital portfolio. Visit our webpage which has some advice on what to include to help make your portfolio stand out. After you have submitted your portfolio, we may also invite you to an online interview to help us make our final decision.

You can apply for this course through UCAS. If you are not applying to any other UK universities, you can apply directly to us on our NTU applicant portal.

Application advice

Apply early so that you have enough time to prepare – processing times for Student visas can vary, for example.  After you've applied, we'll be sending you important emails throughout the application process – so check your emails regularly, including your junk mail folder.

Writing your personal statement

Be honest, thorough, and persuasive – we can only make a decision about your application based on what you tell us:

Your portfolio 

If your initial application is successful, you may be asked to upload a portfolio of your work and you may also be asked to attend an interview.

Portfolio advice

Would you like some advice on your study plans? 

Our international teams are highly experienced in answering queries from students all over the world. We also have members of staff based in Vietnam, China, India and Nigeria and work with a worldwide network of education counsellors.

The University's commitment to delivering the educational services advertised.