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Performance Costume

  • Bachelor of Arts (with Honours)
  • 4 Years
  • Full-Time
  • 13 September 2027
  • Undergraduate
Central area campus
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Course options

2026-20272027-2028
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Course summary

The Edinburgh College of Art Performance Costume Programme is renowned for its holistic approach to costume design and making.

We encourage you to make individual and innovative creative responses, grounded in strong craft practice and practical expertise.

This programme will make sure you are well prepared for a successful career in the stage and screen industries.

The curriculum also provides you with core costume cut and construction skills and techniques, both historical and contemporary.

Visual and analytics research practice is developed together with:

  • costume making

  • historical pattern cutting

  • puppetry

  • character and text analysis

  • life drawing

  • textiles

  • millinery

  • set design

  • model making

  • computer skills

Through concept, colour, cut and texture, performance costume designers' ideas can respond to:

  • the written and spoken word

  • music

  • movement

  • location

  • historic period

You will learn to become skilled at producing accurate recreations of costumes as well as expressing imaginative flair.

The courses provide an opportunity for a comprehensive understanding and knowledge of costume design for a range of performance media, providing you with excellent training across all relevant art forms, such as:

  • theatre

  • dance

  • opera

  • television

  • film

  • performance art

  • music video

  • installation

The highlight of the academic year is our renowned performance costume shows where students work with professionals and performers to showcase their costumes to the public and industry.

Our graduates are highly sought after due to the flexibility and balance of skills gained, with impressive graduate employment rates and international profile of our alumni's work.

Programme benefits

  • You will be encouraged to be an innovative, individual and adaptable designer and maker. Our programme is highly respected by the industry, demonstrated by our impressive graduate employment rates and the international profile of alumni work.

  • We have excellent facilities and resources. You will have your own studio space and access to specialist workrooms for pattern cutting, sewing, digital printers, textiles, laser cutters, 3D printers, CAD embroidery machines, casting, wood and metal workshops.

  • Engage with academics and industry practitioners from a range of costume backgrounds who will enhance your learning experience with a wide range of skills and perspectives.

  • We have many links with the film and stage industry. These provide invaluable work experience opportunities while you study, giving you the best chance of employment on graduation.

  • Benefit from talks and workshops with professional practitioners and take part in exhibitions, competitions and live projects that help you prepare for professional practice.

  • Our graduates qualify ready for industry, with the confidence to establish themselves as independent and adaptable designers with a range of transferable skills.

Ways to study this course

Campuses

  • Central area campus

Study options

  • Bachelor of Arts (with Honours) • Full-Time • 4 Years

Start dates

  • 13 September 2027

Apply by
13 January 2027

This is the equal consideration deadline. You can still apply after this date, but your application may not receive guaranteed consideration.

Application codes

Course code:
W451
Institution code:
E56
Campus name:
Central area campus
Points of Entry:
Year 1, 2

How to apply

Apply by
13 January 2027

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:
W451
Institution code:
E56
Campus name:
Central area campus

Points of entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

  • Year 1
  • Year 2

Entry requirements

Typical qualification requirements

A level
ABB

Required subjects: A levels: no specific A level subjects required. GCSEs: English at C or 4.

UCAS Tariff
Not accepted

Scottish Higher
ABBB

ABBB by end of S5 or AABB/ABBBB by end of S6 (Standard). ABBB by end of S6 (Minimum). BBB must be achieved in one year of S4-S6. Required subjects: Highers: no specific Higher subjects required. National 5s: English at C.

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme
Offer: 34

34 points with 655 at HL. Required subjects: HL: no specific subjects required. SL: English at 5.

Direct entry to second year is available; see our website for entry requirements.

Applicants studying Pearson BTEC Level 3 Nationals in art and design subjects will be considered for entry with the following:

  • Pearson BTEC Extended Diploma with DMM

  • Pearson BTEC Diploma with MM plus one A level at A (or DM plus B at A level)

  • Pearson BTEC Extended Certificate / Subsidiary Diploma with D plus two A levels at B (or M plus AB at A level)

Find out which BTEC subjects we accept for entry to art and design degrees on our website.

Applicants studying the University of the Arts London Level 3 Extended Diploma in Art and Design will be considered with Merit.

Detailed entry requirements, including typical offer levels, and information about other qualifications we accept, are available on the University of Edinburgh’s website. You’ll also find important information on how to apply. You must submit a fully completed UCAS application that includes details of the qualifications you are taking, including full predicted grades for qualifications not yet completed, your personal statement and your reference. https://study.ed.ac.uk/programmes/undergraduate/2027/504-performance-costume?utm_source=ucas&utm_medium=programme&utm_campaign=ug_institution_profiles&utm_content=listing

Minimum Qualification Requirements

Typical qualification requirements

A level ABB

Required subjects: A levels: no specific A level subjects required. GCSEs: English at C or 4.

Scottish Higher ABBB

ABBB by end of S5 or AABB/ABBBB by end of S6 (Standard). ABBB by end of S6 (Minimum). BBB must be achieved in one year of S4-S6. Required subjects: Highers: no specific Higher subjects required. National 5s: English at C.

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme Offer: 34

34 points with 655 at HL. Required subjects: HL: no specific subjects required. SL: English at 5.

Additional entry requirements

Portfolio
You need to submit a digital portfolio to show your artistic skill and potential. This portfolio is an important part of the application process for this programme.

English language requirements

TestGradeAdditional details
IELTS (Academic)6.5total 6.5 with at least 5.5 in each component.We do not accept IELTS One Skill Retake to meet our English language requirements.
TOEFL (iBT)total 92 with at least 20 in each component (before 21 Jan 2026); total 4.5 with at least 4.0 in each component (from 21 Jan 2026). We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements.
Cambridge English Advancedtotal 176 with at least 162 in each component.
Cambridge English Proficiencytotal 176 with at least 162 in each component.
Trinity ISEISE II with distinctions in all four components.

You must prove that you can read, write, listen and speak in the English language at a level that will allow you to succeed in your studies. This is the case for all applicants, including UK nationals. You can meet our English language requirements with qualifications from school or an English language test. We accept any of the following, at the specified grade or higher: National 5: English at C; GCSE: English at C or 4; Level 2 Certificate: English at C; International Baccalaureate (IB) Standard Level: English at 5 (English ab initio is not accepted for entry). Before you apply, check the required subjects for this programme, as you may need a higher English grade to meet the academic requirements. If you don’t have school qualifications that meet our requirements, we accept any of the English language tests, at the specified grade or higher, as detailed above. We also accept other English language tests and qualifications from around the world. Qualifications from the following English language tests must be no more than two years old from the start date of your programme, regardless of your nationality: IELTS, TOEFL, Oxford ELLT, Oxford Test of English Advanced, Trinity ISE. All other types of English language qualification must be no more than three and a half years old from the start date of your programme. If you are a national of a majority English-speaking country or region, as defined by UKVI, there is no time limit on how old these other types of English language qualifications can be.https://study.ed.ac.uk/undergraduate/entry-requirements/english-language

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.

The University of Edinburgh welcomes students from the UK and all over the world. We accept a wide range of qualifications and our policies support students with diverse backgrounds and experience. UCAS entry grade data is currently not available for our degrees but we publish admissions statistics on our website. We also provide information on widening access offers and entry requirements.

Learn more on the The University of Edinburgh website

International entry requirements

We accept a wide range of international qualifications. https://study.ed.ac.uk/undergraduate/entry-requirements/international-qualifications

Historical entry grades data

This section shows the range of grades that students who received offers were previously accepted on to this course 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 available

Historical entry grades data is not currently available for The University of Edinburgh - we are working with them to try and make it available soon - learn more.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

Per year tuition fees

LocationFeeYear
Scotland£1820
England, Wales, Northern Ireland, Channel Islands & Republic of Ireland£10050
EU & International£40900

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

Scotland - Scottish students must apply to the Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS) for payment of their tuition fees.

England/Wales/Northern Ireland - The Rest of UK (RUK) students commencing or continuing their studies in September 2027, the tuition fees will be £10,050.

EU On 9th July 2020 the decision was made by the Scottish Government to end free university tuition for European Union (EU) students starting in 2021-22. Funding policy for EU nationals and associated groups starting a course of study in academic year 2022-23 or later will be in line with international fees.

Full time international and EU students will pay a fixed annual fee rate for the duration of their programme

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