MA Costume

Course overview

MA Costume is driven by the concept of ‘embracing the past to inform the future’. The course focuses on handcraft and traditional excellence in cut and construction. You will integrate these with digital design and production techniques and consider the impact of costume for diverse performances and audiences

The student journey comprises 4 units, of which the first two focus on developing research skills using ‘creative research’ techniques to explore research sources that are applicable to costume practice. These will be underpinned by practical, technical workshops that will introduce and develop costume interests in the making and / or realisation of work. The final two units of study will enable students to apply these acquired, research concepts to underpin costume practice that will result in a full costume for the final Masters unit.

At Wimbledon ‘creative research’ is taught across the programme so that students can develop new tools for devising practice and encourage exploratory thinking that are devised with collaboration and employability in mind and emerge from UAL’s ‘Creative Attributes Framework’ to provide desirable, professional skills for employment. This means that at the end of your studies, you will graduate as a specialist costume maker and researcher and apply the research interests you have developed to contribute to costume practice within the industry. This could be as a practitioner in conservation, restoration, fabric production, costume supervision, costume production or other associated, research-based, costume roles in live or recorded performance mediums. 

The course places an emphasis on sustainable and ethical production methods. The types of ‘ethics’ addressed may be related to several areas of costume practice, including but not restricted  to; current industry practice; past perspectives of the industrialisation of costume-dependent materials such as fabrics; cultural readings of representation and character; audience reading/interpretation; and mainstream/normative professional practices etc that relate to economic, social/racial and environmental justice. This is underpinned by UAL’s strategic approach to addressing climate, racial and social justice which promotes future thinking approaches that critically challenge social biases, norms and practices through creative practice.

During your study you will have the opportunity to expand and complement historical production by utilising digital print, digital embroidery, laser cutting and 3D printing. You will carry out research by exploring fabric, handling and fabrication treatments and will have opportunities to realise your costume practice  through collaborative projects either within the MA,  the School of Performance or, where appropriate, with agreed, industry practitioners.

Collaboration is at the heart of costume practices, and you will create costume with this iterative process in mind, so that the decisions made enhance storytelling and meet the performance needs and the overall aesthetic vision. You will be assessed alongside your peers and individually in how you apply your research thinking to your realisation in practice.

Please note that we do not grade your work on the quality of the materials used. In other words, and to be clear, you will not be penalised by the materials you have used or by how much have spent. Instead, we will be examining the quality of your ideas. You will likely need to spend approximately £600 on basic equipment and materials for your course, though this may be greater depending on your own choices and ambitions for your final project.

The course provides a pathway for BA Costume students at Wimbledon and elsewhere to advance to Masters-level study. It also provides an opportunity for practitioners already working in industry to develop their existing skillset. The course does anticipate that applicants have a solid grounding in costume-making approaches, processes and techniques. 

What to expect  

• Develop construction and cut techniques: You will look at both traditional and new approaches to costume creation.
• Research: You will be taught research methods and skills to support your practice.
• Collaboration: You will work together with other costume and performance students at Wimbledon College of Arts as well as with  external, industry-based contacts.
• An ethical focus: You will explore climate, social and racial justice and learn how to embed these principles into your creative practice.
• Access to Wimbledon's shared workshops. See Wimbledon’s facilities. Facilities | Wimbledon (arts.ac.uk)

Mode of study  

MA Costume is offered in full-time mode and runs for 45 weeks over 12 months. You will be expected to commit an average of 40 hours per week to your course, including teaching hours and independent study.

Home fee

£13,330

This fee is correct for 2024/25 entry and is subject to change for 2025/26 entry.

Tuition fees may increase in future years for new and continuing students on courses lasting more than one year. For this course, you can pay tuition fees in instalments.

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.

International fee

£28,570

This fee is correct for 2024/25 entry and is subject to change for 2025/26 entry.

Tuition fees may increase in future years for new and continuing students on courses lasting more than one year. For this course, you can pay tuition fees in instalments.

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.