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Makeup Artistry, Prosthetic FX and Wig Making

Course details
  • BA (Hons)
  • 3 Years
  • Full-time
  • 14/09/2026
  • Undergraduate
Course location
Taunton Campus
Awarded by:
The Open University

Course summary

This course is for students wishing to pursue a career as a Makeup Artist in the Film, TV, Theatre or health industries. This course has been designed with input from some of the top Makeup Artists in the industry who regularly work with our students and provide opportunities for placements and jobs. A broad range of areas are taught and the course allows you to specialise in an area to develop more specialist skills later in the course.

Over the first year you will study a broad range of skills within a variety of modules. These are developed and diversified within the second year of the course allowing for individual specialisms to be developed. In the final year, there are no set pathways within the degree, which allows for flexibility to enable you to develop independence within specialisms.

The qualification has been designed in collaboration with industry, ensuring that you will develop the necessary skills and knowledge for employment.

You will have access to excellent resources and facilities with state-of-the-art make-up studios and workshops including 3D resin printers and digital software.

Residential trips may be available: previous trips have been to New York, Los Angeles, Warner Bros, Harry Potter studios, London West End theatre productions and backstage tours such as Les Misérables, Aladdin, Wicked and more.

In addition to our End of Year Degree Show, selected students may have the opportunity to showcase their work at industry events such as IMATS and the Prosthetics Event.

Progression Opportunities
On successful completion of this course you will be equipped with a high level of subject practical skills and a portfolio of work. Students often take up employment opportunities within theatre, television and film productions, as well as working with makeup agencies in fashion and editorial. Others have gone on to work within the medical sector, making training appliances, prosthetic limbs and medical wigs.

Previous students have gained employment in places such as English National Opera, Madame Tussauds, Allure Magazine, London Fashion Week and on productions such as Star Wars, Game of Thrones, His Dark Materials and Doctor Who, in addition to self-employment. Students can progress on to postgraduate studies.

Assessment method

Modules are taught with a mixture of in-class lectures, practical sessions, tutorials, industry-based master classes, presentations and workshop skills. Assessment includes practical assessments, written coursework, presentations and creative portfolios.
As part of your course you will be required to undertake some work experience. This falls within the Professional Practice module in the first year of the course. Other opportunities that arise are encouraged throughout the course.

Qualified teacher status (QTS)

To work as a teacher at a state school in England or Wales, you will need to achieve qualified teacher status (QTS). This is offered on this course for the following level:

  • Course does not award QTS

How to apply

Apply by
14 January

This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.

Application codes

Course code:
W453
Institution code:
B70
Campus name:
Taunton Campus
Campus Code:
T

Points of entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

  • Year 1

International applicants

We are currently not issuing CAS for International student visas.

Entry requirements

Qualification requirements

UCAS Tariff - 80 points

from a relevant Level 3 qualification (Media Make-up, Art and Design or similar) Also required are four GCSEs including English, and preferably maths and art, at grade 4 and above, or recognised equivalent.

Additional entry requirements

Interview
Portfolio
Details of the content of your portfolio will be given at the time you are invited in for interview

Contextual admissions

Universities and colleges consider more than grades when assessing applications and may make offers based on a range of criteria. Learn more about contextual offers.

UCS is committed to providing equal opportunities for all applicants, and seeks to recognise an individual’s potential to succeed. To do this, we consider qualifications and experience in the context of each applicant’s background. We make offers based on evidence that suggests a student’s suitability to excel on their chosen course. As such, where appropriate, we will consider making a contextual offer to study that recognises life experience and potential as well previous academic achievement.

Historical entry grades data BETA

This section shows the range of grades students (with UK A-Levels or Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diplomas) who received offers were previously accepted with (learn more). It is designed to support your research but does not guarantee whether you will or won't get a place. Admissions teams consider various factors, including interviews, subject requirements, and entrance tests. Check all course entry requirements for eligibility.

Not enough data available

We are unable to show previous accepted grades for this course. This could be because the course is new, it's a postgraduate course, there isn't enough historical data, or the provider has opted out of sharing their entry grades data for this course - learn more.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

No fee information has been provided for this course

Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website.

Additional fee information

Additional kit and materials will be required. Please see the course page on our website for further details

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