Historical Costume | Arts University Bournemouth

Course summary

The MA Historical Costume course engages the student in the potential of performance design and garment construction to explore complex ideas; some of which could stray into other areas of artistic experimentation. Students may come to the course with a background in costume, fashion, textiles or theatre/performance design or may have studied subjects from across the humanities including arts and performance. This masters programme supports and encourages the student to investigate individual practice within an interdisciplinary framework, whilst developing a critical theoretical context for their work. The very special and unique nature of course delivery, through shared lectures, seminars, critiques and tutorials encourages both a ‘freewheeling’ atmosphere as well as an intense immersion in creative practice.

Whether students are interested in looking at historical influences or current socio-political issues related to dress, students will challenge the context of their study in design or historical costume construction within the broader framework of contemporary practice.

The course is supported by lectures and seminars in areas of dress history, construction and design to enable students to critically reflect on, and to consider the place of their practice within the discipline. Seminar discussion with a diverse range of artists will invite critique of students’ work. The intense testing of work and practice in a challenging but safe arena is a particular element of the MA programme and an innate strength of the learning process that is engendered at the Graduate School.

MA Historical Costume is designed to enable the student to follow their research interests whether that interest lies in historical costume construction or performance design. Working with students and staff from across a breadth of MA disciplines students will enrich the wider post-graduate dynamic at AUB with the individual experience and graduate expertise they bring with them.

The first unit of study Strategies for Practice: Identification allows for investigation into the specific area of study, which will involve research in the area of costume history that will be the focus of the following units of study.

As students’ progress through the Strategies for Practice: Identification unit they will be expected to choose and connect with a theme and exploit its interpretation and potential to inform the direction of their Masters’ Project 1 and 2.

Entry requirements

We encourage application from students with a broad range of qualifications and we welcome students from all educational backgrounds. We'll take into account the knowledge and skills that you've developed outside the classroom as well as your previous qualifications.

Academic entry requirements
You'll usually have BA (Hons) degree graded at 2.1 or above, or an equivalent UK or international qualification in your chosen subject or a related discipline.

Alternative Qualifications/Experience

Applicants with other than the required academic qualifications will be considered for entry if there is sufficient evidence to indicate that they have the potential to fulfil the objectives of the course of study and to achieve the standard of the final award.

Applications are also welcomed from those with other qualifications or with work experience which demonstrates appropriate knowledge and skills to study at postgraduate level. https://aub.ac.uk/apply/postgraduate

English language requirements

Test	Grade	Additional details
IELTS (Academic)	6	6.0 overall with a minimum of 5.5 in each component (reading, writing, speaking and listening). We will also accept the Academic IELTS Online.
Cambridge English Advanced	C	Overall score of 180
Cambridge English Proficiency	C	Overall score of 200
PTE Academic	64	Minimum score of 59 in each component (reading, writing, speaking and listening)
TOEFL (iBT)	4.5	A minimum score of 4 in each section. Please note the home version of this test is not accepted.
Trinity ISE	Pass	An overall score of 90 with at least 80 in each skill
Institution's Own Test	OIDI ELLT overall score of 6	Oxford International Digital Institute's English Language Level Test with a score of 5 or above in each section. If you wish to take this test at a discounted rate, please contact international@aub.ac.uk for a bespoke link.

See our website for more information on other accepted English qualifications including national curricula and required scores.https://aub.ac.uk/elp

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

Per year tuition fees

Location	Fee	Year
England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, Channel Islands & Republic of Ireland	£9975*
EU & International	£19950*

* This is a provisional fee and subject to change.

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.