MA Costume embraces the past to inform the future. Students will focus on handcraft and traditional excellence in cut and construction. You’ll combine these with digital design and production techniques.

You'll carry out research by exploring fabric, handling and fabrication treatments. You'll utilise digital print, digital embroidery, laser cutting and 3D printing. You’ll also consider the impact of costume for diverse performances and audiences.

The first 2 units of the course will focus on expanding your research skills. Practical workshops develop your costume interests in the making or realisation of work. In the final 2 units you'll use research methods to support your costume practice. The outcome of the final unit will be a full costume.

The course places emphasis on sustainable and ethical production methods in:

current industry practice

past perspectives of the industrialisation of costume-dependent materials such as fabrics

cultural readings of representation and character

audience reading or interpretation

professional practices that relate to economic, social/racial and environmental justice.

The course provides a pathway for BA Costume students to advance to Masters-level. It is also an opportunity for practitioners in industry to develop their skillset. Applicants should have a solid grounding in costume-making approaches, processes and techniques.

At the end of your studies, you’ll graduate as a specialist costume researcher and maker. You’ll be able to contribute to costume practice within the industry. This could be as a practitioner in:

conservation

restoration

fabric production

costume supervision

costume production

costume curation

other associated, research-based, costume roles in live or recorded performance mediums.

Your work will be graded on the quality of your ideas, rather than on the materials used or how much they cost. We estimate you will need to spend approximately £600 on equipment and materials. This may be more, depending on your choices and ambitions for your final project.