Historical Costume MA

At the beginning of the MA Historical Costume course, you're given the opportunity to develop a grounding in different approaches to historical costume, including archival research, historical making and costume design and styling. You're then helped to develop individual research projects that tie together a specific element of costume with the opportunity to do detailed research into a specific historical period. You're encouraged to develop these projects with regard for diverse, ethical, and sustainable practice in the creative industries, and to consider the MA as a transformative step towards a future in costume.

Student projects and interests fall into the following types of creative direction:

1. Costume for theatre or film: You're introduced to practical skills required for costume design in each discipline.
2. Historical Costume making: Any area of historical dress may be investigated within a making context, which could include making projects connected with either performance or heritage.
3. Costume curation and heritage: You're encouraged to engage with archival research in all projects but may also choose to specialise in costume within a heritage context.
4. Theoretical study of a specific area of historical costume: You may use the course to develop your research interests in dress history to produce a portfolio of work.