Performance Costume - BA (Hons)

There are many career opportunities for our graduates including costume designers, costume makers, costume assistants, costume supervisors for the screen and stage industry.

The professional skills and abilities developed on the programme prepare our graduates for a rewarding career path in the creative industries. Our graduates have an excellent track record of employment across the world including: Dune, Wheel of Time, Shadow and Bones, Downton Abbey, The Father, Game of Thrones, Outlander, The Crown, the Royal Opera house, Scottish Opera, National Theatre, Northern Ballet and the V&A.

If you'd like to study on an undergraduate programme at Edinburgh College of Art, you must apply through UCAS, the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service. You can find out how to do this on the University of Edinburgh Degree Finder, where you'll also be able to

• see the structure of the programme and what you will study each year
• see detailed entrance requirements for each programme on the Degree Finder
• get information on what to expect after you apply
• find out about fees
• find out where to go for further advice and guidance

Take me to the University of Edinburgh Degree Finder

If you have any questions about the application process, your qualifications or deadlines, our Undergraduate Admissions Office will be happy to help you.

Email the Undergraduate Admissions Office: futurestudents@ed.ac.uk

Application process

You are required to submit a digital portfolio as part of your application which evidences your artistic ability and potential, and we strongly suggest that you begin to plan your portfolio as soon as you decide to apply. 

Please allow plenty of time for preparing your digital portfolio as it should be well presented and have a clear structure to it. Scan and photograph your work carefully to ensure clarity of images, you should also add in annotation to contextualise your ideas to the assessors.  

How you decide to put your portfolio together and what you decide to include will give us an insight into you as an individual and as an artist, include work you are proud of and show us your personality through that work, be selective and show your process as well as your final outcomes. The inclusion of drawing, in particular life drawing, is also recommended. 

Portfolios are assessed anonymously by staff on the Performance Costume programme we are looking for: 

Research and visual exploration: 

• What are you interested in? What is influencing your work and what images do you find inspirational and informative in the development of your ideas?  

Idea development: 

• Demonstrate the ability to explore and develop your ideas in a creative and unique manner. 

Selection and resolution: 

• Final choices and presentation of final ideas demonstrate a considered resolution to a design brief. These should show good selection choices from the development stage and be well presented and evidenced. 

Contextual awareness: 

What is occurring in the arts sector at this time and who are the contemporary designers that inspire you and your work. What recent productions have you seen and how does this inform your current practice?    

What happens next?

We will contact you with our decision by mid-May. If you are made an offer, you will be invited to attend an Offer Holder Day.

Offer Holder Days typically take place in April and are opportunities for successful applicants to learn more about their subject areas and life as a student at Edinburgh College of Art and the University of Edinburgh. Whether you visit us in person or attend a virtual Offer Holder Day, you will have the opportunity to meet with academic staff and current students from your programme, tour the studios and other facilities and attend general information sessions.