Costume Design and Construction

UCAS code: W451

Here's what Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh says about its Costume Design and Construction course.

On this highly respected vocational course you’ll learn how to research, design and construct costumes for performers of many kinds. You’ll work on live projects with renowned creative companies, and the course has a strong graduate employment record.

Think of a dramatic performance that you loved and you can probably picture the characters’ costumes. Costume design and construction are vital when it comes to creating successful theatre, film and TV productions. It’s a creative and challenging career: you need to know the theory and history of costume design, how to make costumes physically and how to manage the wardrobe of a live production wider world.

At the heart of the course are six professional practice modules (two of them in each of the first three years of the degree). In these, you will work as part of a team delivering the costumes for a series of live projects working in collaboration with partner organisations and companies.

Supporting this practical learning in Years One and Two are a series of modules which will develop your research and design skills, your analytic and writing skills, and your construction and wardrobe management expertise.

In Year Three you can begin to specialise by working in greater depth on two or more of the varieties of pathways that costume practice offers — perhaps masks, puppets and soft props, or the design of costume for film, or historical cut and construction.

You can extend your knowledge of these chosen skills in your industry placement and in your independent research and construction project. You will also fulfil key production roles in live projects, at QMU and with partner companies and organisers, as a designer, supervisor or specialist maker. In Year Four if you decide to undertake the honours year as many of our students do, the emphasis is on refining your chosen areas of future practice, using the independent professional practice options to gain practical experience and make contacts in the wider world.

Year One

Introduction to Theatre Production The Origins of Theatre Introduction to Wardrobe Practice (including Professional Practice) Introduction to Costume Design

Year Two

Advanced Costume Design Advanced Costume Techniques Professional Practice as a Wardrobe Assistant

Year Three

Professional Practice in a Lead Role Practice Informed Research Project Creating in Context: Design Project Theatre of Ideas – Introduction to European Theatre Elective 1

Year Four

Honours study Creative Enterprise in the Performing Arts Creating your Career, Work-based Learning Elective 2

The modules listed here are correct at time of posting (April 2021) but may differ slightly to those offered in 2022. Please check back here for any updates.

You will be taught in lectures, seminars and practical workshops. You will work in a team delivering the costumes for live productions with well-known companies.

Below you can read about Teaching and Learning Activities and Assessment Activities. We believe this will give you a good indication of what the course will be like, but the exact balance of activities may differ depending on the academic year and on the modules you choose.

Teaching and learning activities

Our Teaching and Learning Activities are focused on building your confidence, developing your problem-solving skills and preparing you for a successful career. Here you can read about how much time you should expect to spend undertaking these activities for this course along with a general description of the activity for all courses.

Teaching

You are taught through a combination of lectures, seminars and in some cases practical workshops or laboratories. Seminars enable you to discuss and develop your understanding of topics covered in lectures in smaller groups.

Year One: 44% Year Two: 55% Year Three: 39% Year Four: 8%

Independent Learning

When not attending lectures, seminars, practicals or other timetabled sessions you will be expected to continue learning independently through self-study. Typically, this will involve reading journal articles and books, working on individual and group projects, undertaking research in the Learning Resource Centre, preparing coursework assignments and presentations, and preparing for examinations. You independent learning is supported by a range of excellent facilities, including the Learning Resource Centre and the Hub.

Year One: 56% Year Two: 45% Year Three: 61% Year Four: 70%

Placement

Courses with placements give you the opportunity to put what you are learning into practice and to observe and work with a wide range of individuals and groups of people in diverse settings. Some courses offer placement opportunities in the UK and overseas.

Year One: 0% Year Two: 0% Year Three: 0% Year Four: 22%

Assessment Activities

Assessment Activities provide you with opportunities to test your understanding of the subject and receive feedback on your performance. Here you can read about how much of your final mark is based on each type of formal assessment for this course along with a general description of the activity for all courses.

Exams

Assessment by written examinations normally takes place at the end of each module or semester, but they may also happen during modules.

Year One: 17% Year Two: 0% Year Three: 0% Year Four: 0%

Coursework

Coursework assessments take place in a variety of ways, including assignments, essays, reports, portfolios, project output and your level 4 Honours project. We aim to provide you with feedback on your assessment within 20 working days of the submission date.

Year One: 58% Year Two: 47% Year Three: 83% Year Four: 87%

Practical

Practical assessments can include oral presentations, performance, practical skills assessment, costume design and construction, film making, lab work or clinical practical skills depending on the nature of the course.

Year One: 25% Year Two: 53% Year Three: 17% Year Four: 13%

NB This data is based on activity undertaken by students during academic year 2018/9. Updates will be made shortly.