Costume Design and Making, BA (Hons)

This is a specialised course with an emphasis on the development of both design and making skills. Using traditional, technical and bespoke techniques you will learn how to translate creative concepts into professional finished costume for use in theatre, film, television, commercials, events, festivals, concerts and historical contexts.

Nottingham Trent University benefits from over 30 years' experience in the area of theatre and related costume design. This course is based on project and studio work which combines design, technology and theory, where you will develop your creativity alongside practical skills.

Why choose this course?

You will have the opportunity to:

• Develop your skills in corsetry, pattern cutting, tailoring, millinery and wigs, costume props, puppets, fabric knowledge and print and dye.
• Undertake work experience placements across a range of UK theatre and performance companies.
• Visit national and international design exhibitions.
• Work with a range of visiting professionals on projects and briefs.
• Work in our dedicated costume design studios with support from our expert staff.
• Enter national and international competitions and costume design events.
• Exhibit your final year work in an exhibition as part of our Degree Shows in Nottingham.

Courses at NTU in this subject area have a 95% student satisfaction rate (2013 National Student Survey).

Costume Design and Making gallery
Have a look at some of the work our students have created, in our Costume Design and Making gallery.

Can't visit us? Talk to us online...
We know it's not always possible to come along to one of our open events, particularly if you don't live in the UK. Throughout the year we will be running a series of live chat sessions, where you can log on and talk to us remotely.

Find out more about live chats for this course on our live chat webpage.

Any questions?
Email us
Telephone: +44 (0)115 941 8418
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How many places are available on this course?

There are 40 places available in Year One.

When does the course start?

This course starts in September. For more information take a look at our academic calendar for details of term start and end dates.

What will I study?

Year One

• Costume Design and Making: Introductions (100 credits)
• Visual Communication One (20 credits)

Year Two

• Costume Design and Making: Explorations (100 credits)
• Visual Communication Two (20 credits)

Final Year

• Costume Design and Making: Exposition (120 credits)

Find out what you will cover in each module of our Costume Design and Making course in more detail.

Degree Shows

In your final year you will exhibit your work as part of our Degree Shows at the University. The Degree Shows include all final year students across NTU's Art and Design-based courses, and are a great platform for you to celebrate your studies and showcase your work to members of the creative industries.

How will I learn?

You will be taught through a variety of teaching and learning experiences which will include:

• lectures and briefings
• independent studio practice
• feedback tutorials
• studio seminars
• individual and group presentations
• practical creative workshops
• projects and critiques
• presentations
• study visits
• self-directed research
• workshop inductions
• technical demonstrations
• self and peer evaluations.

You will also be involved in self-directed project work where you will have the support of Degree Shows.

This course is based on 40 hours of learning each week which includes both scheduled learning and self-directed independent study.

Scheduled learning includes things like:

• lectures
• seminars
• tutorials
• demonstrations.

It also includes time you'll spend working in the studios and workshops with technical support.

Self-directed independent study is time which you spend completing research or coursework, either at University or at home. In Year One you will have 26 hours of scheduled learning and 23.2 hours in Year Two. In Year Three you will have less scheduled learning (19.2 hours) as you will be working more independently on your final year projects.

How will I be assessed?

Assessment for this course is 100% through coursework.

You will be assessed at the end of each module and awarded a grand band (First, 2.1, 2.2 etc). You will receive feedback through the module so you know what level you are working at.

How you are assessed will depend on the individual module, but may take the form of:

• 2D visual research
• sketchbooks
• design development work
• 3D development work
• toiles and final product
• portfolio work
• reports and evaluations
• essays
• costume research projects or rationales
• visual and verbal presentations.

To progress through the course you must achieve 120 credits each year. Your final degree mark will be based 100% on your final year work.

Links with industry

During the course you will have the opportunity to get involved with various industry and cultural activities to develop your understanding and provide you with links to the industry.

You will be actively encouraged and supported to undertake work experience placements, which usually take place during holiday times, outside of term time.

In Year Three there will be the opportunity to work with local cultural centres (theatres, museums, events, heritage centres and festivals). You will also be encouraged to participate in national competition and costume events as they are available.

Learn from expert staff

Our Costume Design and Making team is made up of expert academic and technical staff who have extensive experience in both education and industry.

Course Leader: Karen Bartlett

What do the course fees cover?

Find out what is included in the course fees for our BA (Hons) Costume Design and Making.

Where will I study?

You will study this course on NTU's City site, based in Nottingham city centre.

Our Costume Design and Making studios are based in the Waverley building, a dedicated Art and Design building. You may have some lectures in other buildings across the campus, including our recently renovated Newton building.

Trips and study visits

Recent trips have included a backstage tour of the National Theatre and the Hollywood costume exhibition at the Victoria and Albert museum in London. Students have also been to watch the Birmingham Royal Ballet's Cinderella designed by John Macfarlane.

Exchange opportunities – study abroad

You will have the opportunity to apply for an exchange in Year Two, to study at another university in Europe through our Erasmus scheme.

View the full course specification
Please note that course specifications may be subject to change

Our Costume Design and Making studios are lively, highly creative environments based in the Waverley building, a dedicated Art and Design building.

Access to facilities

The Waverley building is open during term-time from:

• 8 am – 8 pm (Monday – Thursday)
• 8 am – 7.30 pm (Fridays).

During these times you can access workshops and studios.

Technical support in studios

The following is a guide to when technical support is available in our studios:

• 8.30 am – 5. 30 pm (Monday – Thursday) (lunch break from 1 – 2 pm)
• 8.30 am – 4.30 pm (Friday) (lunch break from 1 – 2 pm).

You can use the studio facilities outside of these times, but you won't be able to use any machinery or equipment that needs power.

Costume Design facilities:

• a dedicated costume department
• studio space with workstations, domestic sewing and garment construction machinery
• on-site print and dye facilities
• textile development facilities, including digital embroidery and laser cutting
• photography studios
• workshops with specialist industry equipment for metal, glass and ceramics.

Books and library resources

In our library you will have access to an extensive and diverse range of resources, both print and online. The library's OneSearch system provides access to all our electronic resources, journals and books. It also offers group and individual study spaces, and has a large team of staff to help you find what you need for your studies.

Within the library there is a liaison librarian who has specialist Fashion Design subject knowledge and can offer detailed help in finding and using print and electronic resources and also support on things such as Harvard referencing and research skills.

Bonington Art Shop

Our specialist in-house art shop is based in the Bonington building, just a short walk away from the Waverley building. Run by experience and friendly University staff, the shop stocks a wide variety of arts and crafts materials.

The shop responds to the requirements of our students, and the stock on offer grows each year to support the courses offered within the School of Art & Design.

Bonington Colour Bureau

Located in the Bonington building, our Colour Bureau provides a range of in-house printing for NTU students and staff.

Specialising in graphic arts printing, the Colour Bureau offers high quality prints on a non-standard range of media in any size up to B0. It also operates a drop-off service so you won't have to queue, and aims to offer A4/A3 prints for same-day collection where possible.

The Bonington Gallery

The Bonington Gallery presents a number of exhibitions throughout the year as part of a comprehensive programme of visual arts and design events.

Exhibitors include national and international artists and designers, current students and staff from within the University and NTU alumni.

IT resources

Our IT resource rooms and PC clusters are distributed across the City site, with PCs providing access to Microsoft Office, email, web browsing, networked file storage and high-speed online printing services (with a free printing allowance for each student). Resource rooms are available 24 hours a day.