Master of Arts - Costume
- 1 year
- Duration
- 30,890 GBP
- Price
- September
- Start
- June
- Deadline
- Master
- Degree
- Campus
- Format
- London / United Kingdom
- Location
Program description
The MA Costume programme at London College of Fashion embraces traditional handcraft and construction excellence while integrating digital design and production techniques like digital print, embroidery, and 3D printing. The first two units expand your research and practical skills, while the final two focus on applying research methods to produce a complete costume, with an emphasis on sustainable and ethical production practices.
The course provides a pathway for BA Costume graduates and industry practitioners to advance their skills, preparing you to become a specialist costume researcher and maker for roles in conservation, production, supervision, curation, and other research‑based fields. Assessment prioritises the quality of ideas over material cost, with an estimated £600 needed for equipment and materials, depending on your project ambitions.
Program structure
- Unit 1: Research into practice
In this unit, you will explore garment construction methods and historical contexts through analysis of visual sources like portraiture, photography, and archival artefacts. In response, you will develop your realisation skills through practical studio work, transforming research into a 3‑dimensional costume artefact and applying creative costume‑making strategies to explore representation and realisation methods.
Regular tutorials with your tutor will help you create a plan to shape and achieve your goals for the final project.
- Unit 2: Sustaining the future
In this unit, you will investigate the social and political value of historical fabrics through archival research and their representations in the creative industries, examining their production contexts. You will also explore textile conservation techniques and restoration conditions, uncovering sustainable and social impacts to inform future decision‑making in contemporary costume practices and fabrication.
- Unit 3: Realising the past
Building on previous research, you will utilise theoretical and practical skills to create a costume artefact that reflects historical depth, addresses social contexts for a contemporary audience, and demonstrates awareness of its carbon footprint in production. You may also explore contemporary digital processes to meet these realisation requirements.
- Unit 4: Costume and audience
In this final unit, you will plan and create a thoroughly researched, historically accurate costume, applying the decision‑making skills developed throughout your studies. You will integrate research findings, make ethical choices, and present the work to contemporary audiences, collaborating with others to achieve your goals and demonstrate a comprehensive grasp of costume design.
Your process will be documented in a portfolio that reflects your progress, commitment to ethical and sustainable practices, and showcases your expertise as a costume practitioner.
Price
Tuition fee:
- 30,890 GBP per education*
*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.
You may need to cover additional costs which are not included in your tuition fees, such as materials and equipment specific to your course.
Requirements for applicants
The standard minimum entry requirements for this course are:
- BA (Hons) degree or equivalent academic qualifications
- Alternative qualifications and experience will also be taken into consideration
- Personal statement
- Portfolio of work
Entry to this course will also be determined by the quality of your application, looking primarily at your portfolio of work and personal statement.
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
- 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 6.5 or above, with at least 5.5 in reading, writing, listening and speaking
About the university
The University of the Arts London (UAL) produces and encourages the creativity essential for a better future. Its colleges have been at the forefront of innovative education since 1842, creating work with a lasting impact on people and the planet, driven by curiosity, imagination, and purpose.
London is fundamental to UAL's identity, providing a vital context where the university connects and exchanges ideas with individuals from all walks of life. Globally, its creative network influences education, culture, business, and society.
Through innovative research and creative instruction, UAL's faculty and staff bring fresh perspectives to education. The university enables students to build the careers they desire by working with them at every level - from pre-degree to postgraduate, and from short courses to online learning.
UAL's colleges
Ranked second in the world for art and design, UAL comprises six distinct colleges:
- Camberwell College of Arts
- Central Saint Martins
- Chelsea College of Arts
- London College of Communication
- London College of Fashion
- Wimbledon College of Arts
Together, they form a community of creatives, innovators, trailblazers, and storytellers, united in their mission to reimagine the future.
Courses in the visual arts, animation, screen, communication, fashion, media, and performance are available at the undergraduate and graduate levels.
