Costumes are a vehicle to tell stories, convey character and create atmosphere in a performance. This specialist degree focuses on developing both your costume design and costume construction skills. You’ll learn how to translate your creative ideas into professional, bespoke costumes for theatre, film and television, dance, opera and other performance areas.

You will study subjects exploring visual research, character and text analysis, contemporary design development and innovative 2D to 3D realisation. Explore skills such as corsetry, pattern cutting, tailoring, millinery, costume props, fabric knowledge, and print and dye.

Key features

• The course is accredited by The Textile Institute at Associateship (CText ATI) level, reassuring employers that our students graduate with a high standard of professional skills as well as their degree
• Work in a dedicated studio fully equipped with professional design, sewing, and costume construction equipment. 
• Take part in live industry projects. This has recently involved designing and making costumes for Curve in Leicester, working at Lichfield Garrick Theatre on Cinderella, working with Bruce Asbestos and Nottingham Contemporary on live art catwalk.
• Receive support for work placements, gaining experience with national organisations such as Scottish Opera, Birmingham Royal Ballet, and Manchester International Festival.
• Visit design exhibitions at venues like the V&A Museum in London, and the National Theatre costume department.
• Go on national and international study trips, visit exhibitions and see opera, ballet, theatre and dance performances.
• Showcase your work in your final year, with the opportunity to be selected to exhibit at other graduate events in London.
• Focus equally on your designing and construction skills.
• We are proud to be in the top ten in England and Wales for Art and Design (QS World University Rankings by Subject 2020).
• We're ranked 12th best University for Art and Design in the UK. (The Complete University Guide 2021).
• NTU is ranked the top 15 universities in the UK for Design and Crafts (14th). (Guardian University Guide 2021).

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.