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Undergraduate

BA (Hons) Hair and Make-up for Fashion

Female model with pearl facial jewellery, makeup and lilies.
Image by Jiyoon Lee | BA (Hons) Hair and Make-up for Fashion | London College of Fashion | University of Arts London
College
London College of Fashion
UCAS code
9P43
Start date
September 2024
Course length
3 years (optional 1 year placement)

BA (Hons) Hair and Make-up for Fashion considers a broad range of visual communication tools and relevant critical frameworks for hair and make-up as an artistic discipline. The course focuses on key creative and technical hair and make up for fashion skills and applying those to a range of versatile outputs and in consideration of diverse audiences.

Course summary

Applications closed 2024/25 

We are no longer accepting applications for 2024/25 entry to this course.

Visit the Courses with places available page for a full list of UAL courses that are open for application.

Course subject to re-approval

Please note that this course is undergoing re-approval. This is the process by which we ensure the course continues to provide a high quality academic experience. During re-approval there may be some changes to the course content displayed on this page. Please contact us if you have any questions about the course.

Why choose this course at London College of Fashion

  • Diverse skills: students are prepared for entry into the fashion industries as skilled practitioners, for a range of employment opportunities.
  • Industry Links: students will benefit from regular interaction with industry experts, helping to build the creative and professional practice they will need in the industry.
  • Innovation: students explore the application and appreciation of fashion hair and make-up design as a product, business, industry and cultural phenomenon.
  • Future directions: students develop critical thinking abilities through robust research and analysis, that supports opportunities both in industry and for postgraduate study and progression.

Open days

The next LCF Open Day is taking place on Saturday 12 October.

Scholarships, bursaries and awards

Course overview

Introduction  

As a BA (Hons) Hair and Make-up for Fashion student you will be prepared to work as a professional artist within various fashion platforms and contexts. Development of technical skills, industry insights and engagement with emerging fashion contexts will underpin your journey. 

In a nurturing environment you will develop your experimental design process and practice, engage with critical theory and wider perspectives on contemporary fashion and culture. Analytical and reflective skills are developed and throughout the course an engagement with climate, racial and social justice underpins the curriculum. This allows you to develop into to conceptually aware practitioners and future change makers.   

Collaboration and networking are at the core of the curriculum, through embedded units the course works closely with the complimentary courses in the Fashion Media Department. Through a combination of individual and collaborative projects, strong industry connections and a focus on employability and enterprise, you will be well prepared for the professional landscape after graduation. 

What to expect  

  • Develop sought-after hair and make-up skills: Through an industry-focused curriculum, become a confident, multifaceted practitioner with ability to adapt to industry requirements. 
  • A blend of theory and practice: Alongside practical workshops, engage with research practice to support your future creative or academic practice and ambitions. 
  • An expert teaching team: Learn from a supportive teaching team who will encourage experimental risk taking in your creative work and help you throughout your personal, creative journey as a hair and make-up artist. 
  • Collaboration: Participate in collaborative projects within industry-simulated environments and develop essential teamwork skills. This will include working with students from BA (Hons) Fashion Styling and Production, BA (Hons) Fashion Photography and BA (Hons) Fashion Imaging and Illustration. 
  • Hands-on experience:  With access to industry-standard facilities, your technical skills and applications through specialist workshops and masterclasses. 
  • Exposure to industry: Opportunities for work experience, internships and regular industry call outs for collaboration will support the development of your professional practice, protocol and etiquette 
  • Opportunities to develop your professional network: Benefit from the course’s excellent connections and grow your personal and professional network through the extensive network of high-profile academics and creatives across UAL. 

Work experience and opportunities  

You will be given the opportunity to undertake a short work experience placement during your second year of study. This provides increased industry awareness as well as crucial experience and valuable contacts within the industry. Contact with the industry throughout the course increases opportunities for employment after graduation, as does the opportunity to attend workshops to hone diverse skills in preparing for employment. 

The course’s vocational focus is supported by group work and industry practitioners simulating real-life working environments whilst providing networking opportunities for you. You will further be offered the optional opportunity of a Dips (Diploma. in Professional Studies) year in between second and third year of your studies.  

Mode of study  

BA (Hons) Hair and Make-up for Fashion runs for 90 weeks in full time mode. It is divided into 3 stages over 3 academic years. Each stage lasts 30 weeks.  

Climate, Social and Racial Justice 

The course is committed to ensuring that your skills are set within an ethical framework and are working to embed UAL’s Principles for Climate, Social and Racial Justice into the course. 

Contact us

Register your interest to receive information and updates about studying at UAL.

Contact us to make an enquiry.

Course units

In Stage 1 you are required to complete 120 credits at Level 4 in order to progress to Stage 2 and level 5. 

  • Introduction to Fashion Media; 20 credits 

In this unit, you will be introduced to your course, its subject specialism and effective learning at undergraduate level. You’ll learn the practices and knowledge base needed to understand your discipline and develop skills for independent & collaborative learning, reflection, and your own self-development. You’ll also consider your own background and how it shapes your approach to the course.   

  • Fashion: Process and Practice; 40 credits 

This unit explores the interplay between fashion hairstyling and make-up application, with a focus on process, conceptual application, contexts, and audiences of fashion image productions. You will be introduced to key fashion topics and global themes relating to hair and make-up design for contemporary fashion imaging. You will also begin to develop your professional identity for employability. 

  • Fashion Moving Image Production; 40 credits 

In this unit, you’ll take a specific role relevant to your hair and make-up specialism and work as part of a collaborative, cross-program team to create a socially-engaged fashion film production. You’ll learn the tools, processes, and roles required for successful moving image practice and how to communicate impactful fashion narratives through visual storytelling. 

  • Fashion Cultures and Histories; 20 credits 

You’ll take a philosophical and theoretical approach to the study of fashion and its role in representing and communicating identity. Understand key ways of thinking about fashion across its cultural, historical, social and political contexts. Engage in debate and analysis of fashion as a key marker of social and cultural change and a means of understanding the relationship between individuals and communities. 

In Stage 2 you are required to complete 120 credits at Level 5 in order to progress to Stage 3 and level 6.  

  • Critical Issues in Fashion Research; 20 credits 

Expand your critical understanding of fashion in a global context and examine emerging debates in fashion research. You’ll engage in collaborative research around current and emerging cultural issues and be guided through approaches to researching and writing about fashion across its social, historical, political and cultural contexts, building on the first-year unit Fashion Cultures and Histories. You’ll develop your own independent research path and interests. 

 

  • Artistry in Industry; 40 credits 

Gain an understanding of the many roles a hair and make-up artist can occupy in industry and learn how to develop a professional identity. You will unpack the essential dynamics between a hair and make-up artist, the client, and audiences to produce a fashion hair and make-up production which aligns with your future ambitions. You will be supported in consolidating and reflecting on your second year of study. 

 

  • Collaborative Practice: Fashion Spreads; 40 credits 

Explore how the editorial format has been articulated in historical and contemporary contexts and create contemporary fashion stories in response to climate, racial and social justice principles. Through teamwork, collective enterprise and cooperation you will apply your fashion hair and make-up skills across the editorial space and understand relevant career prospects. You’ll also explore the relationship between fashion content and audience.   

 

  • Elective option 1: Creative Directions; 20 credits 

In this unit, you’ll critically reflect upon your developing practice in the course so far and map your creative directions moving forward. You will think about the interplay between your hair and make-up practice in academic and industry contexts to consider potential audiences and develop your portfolio and network.  

You’ll also consider the value of assets, content creation, curation, editing, art direction, and networks in relation to your discipline. 

 

  • Elective option 2: Fashion Media Placement; 20 credits 

In this unit, you’ll develop your professional skills within an industry environment. On your placement, you’ll experience the pace, atmosphere and discipline of working in the industry and gain practical experience of its roles, functions and operations. The unit requires a minimum of 30 work placement hours and there is lots of support to help you find a placement available via our Graduate Futures Placement Team. 

Optional Diploma Year 

CCI Creative Computing 

Between years 2 and 3, you can undertake the year-long Diploma in Creative Computing. This will develop your skills in creative computing alongside your degree. After successfully completing the diploma and your undergraduate degree, you’ll graduate with an enhanced degree: BA (Hons) Hair and Make-up for Fashion (with Creative Computing). 

Industry DIPS    

This optional diploma can be taken between years 2 and 3. With support from your tutors, you’ll undertake an industry placement for a minimum of 100 days/20 weeks. As well as developing industry skills, you’ll gain an additional qualification upon successful completion.    

Enterprise DIPS    

This optional diploma can be taken between years 2 and 3. With support from your tutors, you’ll undertake an enterprise placement year where you will explore a business idea from proposal to minimal viable product (MVP). As well as developing enterprise skills, you’ll gain an additional qualification upon successful completion.    

CCI Apple Diploma  

Between years 2 and 3, you can undertake the year-long Diploma in Apple Development. This will give you an opportunity to become an accredited apple developer alongside your degree. After successfully completing the diploma and your undergraduate degree, you’ll graduate with an enhanced degree: BA (Hons) Hair and Make-up for Fashion (with Apple Development).  

In Stage 3 you are required to complete 120 credits at level 6. 

  • Elective Option 1: Fashion Narratives: A Visual Study; 40 credits 

In this unit, you will explore the interplay between research and practice by incorporating a chosen methodology with your existing creative practice. You will be introduced to a range of different research methods. Your chosen methodology will shape your creative practice and build your confidence in future visual work. Building upon previous learning from your Cultural and Historical Studies classes, you’ll produce a narrative-driven visual study comprising of a series of still images, as part of a visual and written essay. 

  • Elective Option 2: Creative Industries: Theories and Practices; 40 credits 

In this unit, you’ll complete an independent research project and engage with industry professionals to learn about current debates and issues that shape and inform cultural production across media, communication and performance. You’ll be encouraged to respond to these debates in the form of an extended essay with supporting research materials. This unit will equip you with critical thinking, literacy and communication skills for both academic and professional contexts. 

  • Fashion, Employability, and Enterprise; 20 credits 

In this unit, you’ll consider your future employment aspirations and be supported in researching the current employment landscape in relation to hair and make-up. You’ll explore employment opportunities within academic and creative industries, considering the platform, audience, and context of your work. You’ll create a fashion enterprise toolkit which summarises your research, including the skills and resources required to orientate yourself towards your chosen direction. 

  • Fashion Communities and Practice; 60 credits 

In this unit, you’ll explore how fashion has the potential to empower and effect positive change. You’ll produce an experimental fashion media production that explores how your personal fashion-image making can engage with the principles of climate, racial and/or social justice. You will situate your personal creative practice within a community context that has resonance for you. You’ll have the opportunity to expand the parameters of your work through collaborations that facilitate experimentation, creative thinking, practical testing, and reflective problem solving.   

A 20-credit unit is approximately equivalent to 200 hours of learning time, which includes a mixture of taught time, independent study and assessment. 

All students are entitled to a tutorial package that consists of: 

  • one induction tutorial (group or one to one) 
  • one tutorial per term for the duration of their course of study at LCF; 
  • group tutorials as required 
  • an appropriate level of confidentiality 

Learning and teaching methods

  • Academic skills, design thinking and workshops. 
  • Briefings, tutorials and feedback. 
  • Formative Assessment. 
  • Collaborative group project work. 
  • Lectures, seminars and presentations. 
  • Master classes and practical demonstrations.
  • Library and workshop inductions. 
  • Museum, gallery and other visits. 
  • Online learning. 
  • Research methods, theory and practice based. 
  • Studio teaching. 
  • You will also need to undertake self-directed independent study to support your learning. 

Assessment methods

  • Portfolio of work which includes research, testing, documenting developments and experiments.
  • Presentation. 
  • Student self-evaluation. 
  • Peer assessment. 
  • Tutorials.
  • Hair and make-up outcomes. 
  • Fashion moving image production. 
  • Fashion Media Portfolio. 
  • Fashion enterprise toolkit.
  • Research journals, critical reflections and production logs. 
  • Written essays. 
  • Visual or extended essay.

UAL Showcase

Explore work by our recent students on the UAL Showcase

  • Digitalised Beauty
    Digitalised Beauty, Sophie Sheehy, 2024 BA (Hons) Hair and Make-up for Fashion, London College of Fashion, UAL
  • Progressive Provocation
    Progressive Provocation, Callum Olver, 2024 BA (Hons) Hair and Make-up for Fashion, London College of Fashion, UAL
  • Personages
    Personages, Raahat Peshwaria, 2024 BA (Hons) Hair and Make-up for Fashion, London College of Fashion, UAL
  • Elegant Bondage
    Elegant Bondage, Suwen Yang, 2024 BA (Hons) Hair and Make-up for Fashion, London College of Fashion, UAL
  • Just a Game 2.0
    Just a Game 2.0, Yuchen Lin, 2024 BA (Hons) Hair and Make-up for Fashion, London College of Fashion, UAL
  • Disposal
    Disposal, Nayeon Han, 2024 BA (Hons) Hair and Make-up for Fashion, London College of Fashion, UAL

Latest news from this course

Staff

Melissa Moore is course leader. Encouraging a reflective creative practice is an aim of her teaching. Melissa is a London-based artist with a Masters in Photography from the Royal College of Art. Her work is primarily photographic but has included interdisciplinary elements, such as performance, film and illustration, and is exhibited and published internationally. She works to encourage students to find inspiration for their fashion practice from a broad range of possibilities and sees fashion as an interesting crossover point between individuals and culture.

Anna Nwankwo is a Senior Lecturer on the Ba Hair and Make Up for Fashion at LCF. She lectures in Contextual Studies, Creative Practice, Ethics and Critical Theory. The relationship of theory to practice is at the core of her teaching. She works to engage students with image and representation, and the development of a personal practice. She has a particular interest in inclusive art pedagogy and the student experience. She has a background in fine art photography, with a Ba in Media and Culture Studies from LCC and an Ma in Image Communications from Goldsmith College of Art. Her personal work centres around the themes of culture, memory, identity and storytelling.

Diana Donaldson is Senior Lecturer and Year 3 tutor. Alongside her professional industry practice for over 25 years, Diana is an ardent supporter of, and active in producing, projects for the fashion, charitable, medical and HE sector. Her specialist areas of interest in academia are inclusive pedagogy, diverse innovative curriculum development and experiential interventions. She has an impressive record for preparing students for further study and industry by the accurate modelling of real-world applications. The relationship between theory to practice is central to her approach.

Itai Doron is the programme director for Fashion Media courses. He is an established photographer with particular interests in fashion, portraiture, social documentary, body politics, identity and queer theory. Working as a lens-based artist since graduation from Goldsmiths College of Art, Itai has twice received the UAL research project award to develop a body of work on immigration, combining social documentary with notions of fashion. Itai has a proven track record of public dissemination of visual and written work through exhibitions, publications, and academic research and was invited to deliver talks and lectures about his research at various international academic conferences. He has exhibited at the White Cube gallery in London, and participated in numerous group and solo exhibitions in the UK, Europe, Japan, Israel and the United States. He has authored a selection of photography books, including End Of Real in 2005, Yassin in 2009, Chokras’ Mahal (Boys' Palace) in 2011, and Fifteen Minutes With You in 2012.

Associate Lecturers

Jimo Salako

John Vial

Yasmin Heinz

Mirijana Vasovic

Charli Avery

Fees and funding

Home fee

£9,250 per year

This fee is correct for entry in autumn 2024 and is subject to change for entry in autumn 2025.

Tuition fees may increase in future years for new and continuing students.

Home fees are currently charged to UK nationals and UK residents who meet the rules. However, the rules are complex. Find out more about our tuition fees and determining your fee status.

International fee

£28,570 per year

This fee is correct for entry in autumn 2024 and is subject to change for entry in autumn 2025.

Tuition fees for international students may increase by up to 5% in each future year of your course.

Students from countries outside of the UK will generally be charged international fees. The rules are complex so read more about tuition fees and determining your fee status.

Additional costs

You may need to cover additional costs which are not included in your tuition fees. These could include travel expenses and the costs of materials. For a list of general equipment needed for all UAL courses, visit our living expenses and additional costs page.

Accommodation

Find out about accommodation options and how much they will cost.

Scholarships, bursaries and awards

Find out more about bursaries, loans and scholarships.

If you’re based in the UK and plan to visit UAL for an Open Event, check if you’re eligible for our UAL Travel Bursary. This covers the costs of mainland train or airline travel to visit UAL.

How to pay

Find out how you can pay your tuition fees.

Scholarship search

Entry requirements

The standard minimum entry requirements for this course are:

One or a combination of the following accepted full level 3 qualifications.

  • 112 UCAS tariff points from two or more A Levels (preferred subjects include Art, Design, Fashion, Media Studies, and Photography or BTEC National Diploma in a related subject);
  • Distinction Foundation Diploma in Art and Design;
  • Distinction, Merit, Merit at BTEC Extended Diploma (preferred subjects Art & Design);
  • Merit at UAL Extended Diploma;
  • Access Diploma or 112 new UCAS tariff points from the Access to HE Diploma;
  • 112 new UCAS tariff points from a combination of the above qualifications or an equivalent full Level 3 qualification;
  • or equivalent EU or non-EU qualifications such as International Baccalaureate Diploma at 25 points minimum;
  • and three GCSE passes at grade A*-C or grade 9-4.

Entry to this course will also be determined by assessment of your portfolio.

APEL (Accreditation of Prior (Experiential) Learning)

Applicants who do not meet these course entry requirements may still be considered in exceptional cases. The course team will consider each application that demonstrates additional strengths and alternative evidence. This might, for example, be demonstrated by:

  • Related academic or work experience
  • The quality of the personal statement
  • A strong academic or other professional reference
  • OR a combination of these factors

Each application will be considered on its own merit but we cannot guarantee an offer in each case.

English Language Requirements

IELTS level 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in reading, writing, listening and speaking. Please check our main English Language Requirements 

Selection criteria

The course team seeks to recruit students who can demonstrate:

  • An interest in make-up design
  • An enthusiasm for visual communication

Information for disabled applicants

UAL is committed to achieving inclusion and equality for disabled students. This includes students who have:

     
  • Dyslexia or another Specific Learning Difference
  • A sensory impairment
  • A physical impairment
  • A long-term health or mental health condition
  • Autism
  • Another long-term condition which has an impact on your day-to-day life

Our Disability Service arranges adjustments and support for disabled applicants and students.

Read our Disability and dyslexia: applying for a course and joining UAL information.

Apply now

Applications closed 2024/25 

We are no longer accepting applications for 2024/25 entry to this course. Applications for 2025/26 entry will open in Autumn 2024.

Apply now

Applications closed 2024/25 

We are no longer accepting applications for 2024/25 entry to this course. Applications for 2025/26 entry will open in Autumn 2024.

How to apply

Follow this step-by-step guide to apply for this course

Step 1: Initial application

You will need to submit an initial application including your personal statement and CV.

Personal statement advice

Your personal statement should be maximum 4,000 characters and cover the following:

  • Why have you chosen this course? What excites you about the subject?
  • How does your previous or current study relate to the course?
  • Have you got any work experience that might help you?
  • Have any life experiences influenced your decision to apply for this course?
  • What skills do you have that make you perfect for this course?
  • What plans and ambitions do you have for your future career?

Visit the UCAS advice page and our personal statement advice page for more support.

Step 2: Digital portfolio

We will review your initial application. If you have met the standard entry requirements, we will ask you to submit a digital portfolio.

You’ll need to submit this via PebblePad, our online portfolio tool.

Digital portfolio advice

Your portfolio should consist of recent work that reflects your creative strengths.

It should:

  • be maximum 30 pages
  • showcase your technical abilities and understanding of balance, proportion and composition
  • include work in progress to illustrate how you experiment, explore and develop ideas from initial concepts to final outcomes
  • include research to highlight your knowledge and awareness of the cultural contexts of fashion
  • demonstrate your understanding of visual communication principles.

For more support, see our Portfolio advice and PebblePad advice.

Step 3: Interview

You may be invited to an interview following our review of your application. All interviews are held online and last 15 to 20 minutes.

For top tips, see our Interview advice.

You also need to know

Communicating with you

Once you have submitted your initial application, we will email you with your login details for our Applicant portal.

Requests for supplementary documents like qualifications and English language tests will be made through the applicant portal. You can also use it to ask questions regarding your application. Visit our After you apply page for more information.

Visas and immigration history check

All non-UK nationals must complete an immigration history check. Your application may be considered by our course teams before this check takes place. This means that we may request your portfolio and/or video task before we identify any issues arising from your immigration history check. Sometimes your history may mean that we are not able to continue considering your application. Visit our Immigration and visas advice page for more information.

External student transfer policy

UAL accepts transfers from other institutions on a case-by-case basis. Read our Student transfer policy for more information.

Alternative offers

If your application is really strong, but we believe your strengths and skillset are better suited to a different course, we may make you an alternative offer. This means you will be offered a place on a different course or at a different UAL College.

Deferring your place

You must apply in the year that you intend to start your course. If you are made an offer and your circumstances change, you can submit a deferral request to defer your place by 1 academic year. You must have met your conditions by 31 August 2024. If you need an English language test in order to meet the entry requirements, the test must be valid on the deferred start date of your course. If not, you will need to reapply. Requests are granted on a first-come, first-served basis.

Contextual Admissions

This course is part of the Contextual Admissions scheme.

This scheme helps us better understand your personal circumstances so that we can assess your application fairly and in context. This ensures that your individual merit and creative potential can shine through, no matter what opportunities and experiences you have received.

Careers

All of our undergraduate courses offer career development, so that you become a creative thinker, making effective contributions to your relevant sector of the fashion industry.

LCF offers students the opportunity to develop Personal and Professional Development (PPD) skills while studying through:
  • An on-course work experience or placement year. Please note, this is not available on every course; please see the Course Details section for information about work placement opportunities.
  • Access to to speaker programmes and events featuring alumni and industry.
  • Access to careers activities, such as CV clinics and one-to-one advice sessions.
  • Access to a graduate careers service
  • Access to a live jobsboard for all years.
  • Advice on setting up your own brand or company.
Graduates who wish to continue their education at postgraduate level can progress to suitable courses within the College, the University or elsewhere.

Career paths

Many graduates prefer to seek employment as soon as they have completed their undergraduate studies. Recent graduates have gone on to work as freelance hair and make-up artists, assistants to established industry artists and working for brands including MAC Cosmetics and Bobbi Brown Cosmetics.

Graduate Futures

Graduate Futures provides a comprehensive career management service supporting our students to become informed and self-reliant individuals able to plan and manage their own careers.

LCF alumni

Many of our alumni are now impressive, leading industry figures.