Every character has a story. Your costumes will help tell it.
At Hull, you'll join a close-knit community of designers, makers, performers and screen creatives who will challenge and inspire you to realise your full creative potential.
Combining hands-on practice with professional production experience, this course equips you with the skills to design and construct costumes for theatre, film, television and live performance.
Career ready:
build a professional portfolio
Industry-standard
costume facilities
Build technique
through hands-on creative practise
Gain experience
across stage and screen
Test creations
in real environments
Real world experience
through live projects
About this course
Bring characters to life and shape the stories audiences remember. BA (Hons) Costume for Stage and Screen combines creative vision, technical expertise and hands-on practice, preparing you to create costumes for theatre, film, television and new forms of performance.
Working in professional-standard studios, you'll develop skills in costume design and construction, digital technologies, costume supervision and sustainable production. Through industry-focused projects and collaborations with Acting, Drama and Film students, you'll build a professional portfolio showcasing your creativity and technical expertise. Supported by specialist facilities, extensive wardrobe resources and performance spaces, you'll gain the experience and confidence to pursue careers in costume design and making across stage, screen and the wider creative industries.
You'll also gain access to the Gulbenkian Centre and associated performance facilities which will allow you to test costumes in relation to movement, lighting, staging and performance, mirroring professional industry practice. You'll also join Hull's growing creative community, where you'll benefit from industry connections, collaborative opportunities and more.
Character building one stitch at a time.
Module options
Each year, you’ll study modules worth a certain number of credits, and you need 120 credits per year. Most modules are 20 credits – so you’ll study six modules each year. Some longer modules, such as a dissertation, are worth more. In these cases, you’ll study fewer modules - but the number of credits will always add up to 120.
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Costume Theories, Histories & Perspectives
Explore how costume functions across theatre, film, television and live performance. Investigate how clothing shapes character, communicates identity and supports storytelling.
compulsory
20 credits
Form, Cut & Construction
Develop practical skills in pattern cutting, draping and garment assembly. Explore the relationship between the body, silhouette and garment construction.
compulsory
20 credits
Surface, Print & Material Processes
Transform materials into costumes through experimentation and making. Explore texture, embellishment, mark making and surface design through creative sampling.
compulsory
20 credits
Visual Communication & Digital Media
Build confidence in visual storytelling through drawing, photography, image making and digital tools. Develop the communication skills needed to present creative ideas effectively.
compulsory
20 credits
Historical Costume: Interpretation & Realisation
How can historical dress inspire contemporary costume design? Explore historical costume, textiles and silhouette through research and creative development for stage and screen.
compulsory
20 credits
Costume Production
Respond to scripts and production briefs while creating costumes for theatre, film and live performance. Gain experience of collaborative production processes and professional practice.
compulsory
20 credits
Advanced Form, Cut and Construction
Refine advanced skills in pattern cutting, garment construction and fit. Explore more complex approaches to silhouette, form and design realisation.
compulsory
20 credits
Costume for Stage and Screen: Contextualising & Theorising Practice
How does costume shape identity and representation on stage and screen? Explore costume as a cultural, historical and creative practice while developing critical perspectives on contemporary design.
compulsory
20 credits
Experimental Surface & Material Processes
Push the boundaries of creative making through innovative approaches to materiality, surface design and print. Experiment with techniques that transform concepts into distinctive costumes.
compulsory
20 credits
Whose story will your costume tell? Let’s shape the narrative together.
Featured module- compulsory
- 20 credits
How can you bring your creative interests and expertise together in one major project? This module gives you the opportunity to define and develop an independent area of enquiry within costume for stage and/or screen.
Through advanced research, experimentation and self-directed practice, you'll investigate specialist themes, test ideas and develop a substantial body of practical and/or research-led work. Supported by tutorials and project reviews, you'll manage your project from proposal to completion, demonstrating professional judgement, critical reflection and a deep understanding of your chosen focus.
Take ownership of your practice, push your creative boundaries, and produce work that reflects your skills, interests and professional ambitions.
Our facilities
Watchlist
Watchlist
Alumnus James Graham
Student Story
2 mins
The Gold Standard for Teaching
University life
1 min
Life on campus
University life
2 mins
Featured academics
From directing plays to working on virtual theatre resources, our staff are active in the industry. And they bring their experience into everything you learn.
We also work closely with our industry partners, who help deliver the programme.
Emma Drury
Fashion and Costume Supervisor
Fashion and costume specialist skilled in garment construction, draping, and textile construction for stage and screen. Experienced in designing HE programmes integrating craftsmanship with Adobe Creative Cloud and 3D fabrication.
Sylwia Kusiak
Fashion and Costume Supervisor
I'm a fashion and costume specialist with a background in fashion design, garment technology, tailoring and creative pattern cutting. I have strong technical knowledge of garment construction, sewing techniques and industrial sewing equipment.
Entry Requirements
What do I need?
At Hull, you're a name, not a number. It's not just about the grades - we'll look at your whole application.
If you're not eligible for direct entry to this course, we may recommend a foundation year as an alternative route to studying for a degree.
To discuss your options, send us an enquiry or call us from 8am on Results Day on 01482 466100.
Every year, hundreds of students join the University of Hull through Clearing for all sorts of reasons and go on to achieve great things. Learn more about Clearing.
Qualification types
We accept a wide range of qualifications and combinations of qualifications, including A levels, BTECs and other accepted qualifications.
We don’t just see what you’re like on paper, we see you. All of you. Your achievements, work experience, music and sport qualifications and the projects you’ve been involved in. We want to hear it all.
Fees & Funding
How much is it?
Future prospects
Our students go on to work for some of the world’s most prestigious theatres and companies: the Artistic Directors of both the The Royal Court Theatre and the National Theatre are Hull Drama graduates, and our alumni have also gone on to work at the Royal Shakespeare Company, the Royal Opera House, the Bouffes du Nord in Paris, and more. Many go into broadcasting for the BBC, Channel 4 and Sky.
Our alumni are illustrious. James Graham OBE, Olivier Award-winning playwright, graduated from Hull in 2003. His writing credits include This House (National Theatre), Sherwood (BBC One), and Brexit: The Uncivil War (Channel 4). Other Hull graduates include Indhu Rubasingham (Artistic Director of the National Theatre) David Byrne (Artistic Director of the Royal Court), theatre director Marianne Elliott, musical director Martin Lowe, and award-winning sound designer, Paul Arditti.
Become part of the next generation of futuremakers
Like what you've seen? Then it's time to apply.
The standard way is to apply through UCAS. This will give you the chance to showcase your skills qualities and passion for the subject, as well as providing us with your academic qualifications.
Not ready to apply yet?
Visit our next Open Day, and see all that the University of Hull has to offer. Talk to our lecturers about your subject, find out what university is really like from our current students, and take a tour of our beautiful campus and amazing facilities.
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All modules presented on this course page are subject to availability and this list may change at any time.