BA (Hons) Costume Design with Foundation Year · University of SalfordBachelor's degree · 4 years
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The University of Salford · Undergraduate

BA (Hons) Costume Design with Foundation Year Bachelor's degree at the University of Salford

BA (Hons) Costume Design with Foundation Year at University of Salford. Costume Design at Salford is built around a Foundation Year that lets you take time exploring art, design and media before specialising.

BA (Hons)
Award
4
Years
Full-time
Study mode
90%
in work/study (15m)

About this course

The shared Foundation Year provides the perfect opportunity for people who want more time to explore the key principles of art, design and media. The course is designed to help you develop your creative skills, it gives you a chance to build a larger portfolio, and provides a good transition period to familiarise yours From the provider’s course page.

BA (Hons) Costume Design with Foundation Year is a Bachelor's degree (BA (Hons)) at the University of Salford. It runs 4 years, studied full-time.

For Drama graduates from this provider, 90% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, 55% in highly skilled roles, typical earnings around £24,000. (HESA Graduate Outcomes / LEO, via Discover Uni.)

For the typical curriculum, specialisations, career paths and graduate earnings for Art & Design, see the sections below.

Course evidence score

The arithmetic mean of the official measures available for this course: NSS satisfaction, graduate activity and continuation.

8.8
/ 10
Excellent
3 of 3 official measures
Student satisfaction
What students say in the National Student Survey
Excellent88

Published threshold met NSS publication requires sufficient responses; small differences are not a rank. NSS mean of 7 published themes (Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)

Graduate outcomes
In work or further study 15 months after graduating
Exceptional90

Limited evidence Published sample: 15; treat comparisons cautiously. Cohort 2022-23. Graduate Outcomes work or further study 90% (2022-23; Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)

Continuation
Students who continue past their first year
Excellent86

Published threshold met Discover Uni suppresses continuation data below its publication threshold. Cohort 2022-23. Continuation 86% (2022-23; Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)

Curriculum & modules

Real modules published for this course, grouped only where the source gives a year, stage or level.

Modules 2 modules
  • Creative Practice Major Project
    Module details

    This module is designed to allow you to bring together all your prior learning from the previous modules. It gives you the opportunity to propose and create your own brief based on a theme, topic, or issue that you are passionate about. Within this module you'll be supported by tutors who will guide you in creating a meaningful body of work that demonstrates confidence in your chosen area. Your work will be exhibited in the Salford School of Arts, Media and Creative Technology's end of year Degr

  • Introduction to the Creative Industries
    Module details

    This module allows you to explore the creative industries and its career opportunities. You'll learn about a range of subjects including responsible design and future trends within your chosen area of art and design. It will allow you to build on the technical skills that you gained in the first semester to produce a creative publication.

Year one 6 modules
  • Design Principles
    Module details

    This module introduces you to the fundamental principles of design and builds your awareness of the vocabulary used within the costume design industry. A design project will allow you to develop your understanding of form, space, colour and materials - the four key elements which make a successful costume.

  • Production Skills and Processes for Costume
    Module details

    This module aims to introduce you to the skills and techniques relating to costume making and technology, including traditional pattern cutting, draping, garment construction and costume crafts.

  • Costume Design for Script
    Module details

    This module is designed to introduce you to the framework and working methodologies which costume designers employ when generating concepts for a script. You will gain a valuable understanding of current industry practice as you develop your design from an initial idea through to reality.

  • Exploring Creative Contexts: Costume Design
    Module details

    This module encourages you to explore, consider and reflect on a range of perspectives in the wider field of creative practice, particularly in the context of your own practice. By introducing key debates in visual culture, this module aims to increase your visual and critical awareness and demonstrate ways in which varied frameworks can inform professional practice in costume design.

  • Establishing Professional Practice: Costume Design
    Module details

    Developing your understanding of professional practice is a core theme which runs throughout the programme. This module encourages you to start aligning your skills with the identified requirements of the costume design industry and includes an emphasis on communication including traditional and digital skills.

  • Design Communication and Realisation
    Module details

    Positioned at the end of the first year, this module provides a holistic view of the costume design process and gives you an understanding of the key roles within the costume design, making and wardrobe supervision process. Working in teams, you will work on a simulated live experience or brief to establish and execute wardrobe needs for both the rehearsal and performance of a specific live event.

Year two 5 modules
  • Costume Design for Film and TV Production
    Module details

    Designing costumes for film and TV brings with it a different set of technical and visual requirements to those of designing for the stage. You will learn about the issues and priorities specific to this medium, and be able to adapt accordingly for any problems that might arise while filming. The module will explore these requirements through a practical design project.

  • Costume Design for Theatre
    Module details

    Expanding upon the skills acquired in the first year, this module aims to explore the considerations needed when designing and constructing costumes for theatre. Working from a design brief, emphasis will be placed on visualising the script, set and lighting as well as collaborating with a production team, director and the actors.

  • Developing Professional Practice for Costume Design
    Module details

    Building upon the professional practice skills introduced in the first year, this module looks at business, employability and enterprise issues, encouraging you to reflect upon your own work and ongoing development. This module is also used to identify and pursue placement opportunities for the final module of the year.

  • Design in Practice
    Module details

    In this module you will have the opportunity to undertake a period of work placement, which enables you to demonstrate and develop your skills while gaining a thorough understanding of working procedures in a professional context.

  • Responding to Creative Contexts: Costume Design
    Module details

    Further developing your visual and critical awareness of the varied contexts of costume design, this module will enhance your understanding of how cultural, commercial and/or historical issues influence current practice. In addition, you will develop an informed view of the disciplines, the relationships between these disciplines and the wider relationships that can be made to other forms of visual, creative and cultural expression.

Year three 5 modules
  • Costume for Live Performance
    Module details

    This module requires you to design and make a costume for a specific individual artist/performer within the music, dance or festival arena. Site specific opportunities will also be available. You will be encouraged to develop concepts which effectively communicate and portray key characteristics of the overall theme or message. It will provide you with as close to an industry experience as possible and will encourage you to reflect upon your current skillset, helping you to recognise your streng

  • Research Methods for Costume Design
    Module details

    The main purpose of this module is for you to undertake the research and develop a design brief for your major project. You will be required to interpret and breakdown a script, build character analysis, research different approaches and concepts, undertake historical and cultural research and explore visual representation.

  • Applied Professional Practice for Costume Design
    Module details

    This module supports you in your final year whilst also encouraging you to consider your career options and define your personal objectives. You will take the first critical steps in pursuing your career aspirations by producing a self-directed portfolio of work, which demonstrates your skills, knowledge and understanding via the use of appropriate professional methods and techniques.

  • Negotiated Major Project
    Module details

    Building upon the work you produced in the Research Methods for Costume Design module, the final self-directed project acts as a conclusion to the course. As such, it enables you to continue in the development of a personalised programme of study, supporting and enhancing your career aspirations. The module also provides a platform for you to initiate engagement with industry over an extended period, providing valuable experience for your potential career direction.

  • Independent Research Project
    Module details

    The emphasis of this module is on independent research, exploration and investigation. This module provides you with the opportunity to pursue a detailed study of relevant creative, cultural and contextual issues in a subject area that is of particular interest to you. You can choose from one of the four following project options: Dissertation, Original visual work with critical text, Presentation with extended essay, Business report.

Source: provider course page. Modules can change; required/optional status, credits, descriptions and assessment are shown only when explicitly published.

Course in depth

What this course covers, who it suits and where it leads.

What you'll study

This course includes a shared Foundation Year designed to give you time to explore the key principles of art, design and media, develop your creative skills and build your portfolio before moving into the main degree. A typical Art & Design degree progresses from foundations through to specialism. In your early years, you'll usually study Visual Studies and Design Principles, colour, composition and form, alongside Materials, Processes and Making through workshops in print, textiles and digital fabrication. Contextual Studies introduces art and design history. As you progress, you'll undertake sustained studio practice, explore Digital and Emerging Media, and work on live briefs with real deadlines. In your later years, you'll focus on a specialist studio pathway, such as fashion and textiles, graphic design, illustration or fine art, while developing your professional practice and building a portfolio. Your degree concludes with a final major project, publicly exhibited in the degree show.

Who it's for

You're drawn to historical and contemporary dress, textiles, performance and visual storytelling. You work well with your hands and your ideas, and you thrive when you can explore materials and construction techniques alongside critical thinking. You might be building a portfolio, or you might be earlier in your creative journey and want proper space to experiment before committing fully to costume specialism. The Foundation Year appeals to people who learn better when given time and support to find their direction, rather than diving straight into a narrow focus.

Careers & job market

Across Art & Design courses nationally, 87% of graduates are in work or further study 15 months after finishing. Among those working, 55% are in highly skilled roles or undertaking further study. Starting salaries typically fall between £22,000 and £27,000; after five years, graduates earn between £20,825 and £29,400. Salaries and job outcomes vary significantly by specialism, region and individual circumstance. The university holds Silver for teaching quality from the Office for Students' TEF 2023.

University & format

This is a full-time BA (Hons) degree awarded by The University of Salford, a public university in Salford. The course is 4 years long and taught in English. The University of Salford is a recognised UK degree-awarding body, so your degree is nationally recognised. The university holds a Silver award for teaching quality from the Office for Students' TEF 2023.

Student satisfaction

How students on this course answered the National Student Survey, by theme.

The teaching on my course
95%
Learning opportunities
93%
Assessment and feedback
85%
Academic Support
94%
Organisation and management
78%
Learning resources
87%
Student voice
84%

Share of students responding positively.

Published threshold met NSS publication requires sufficient responses; small differences are not a rank. NSS mean of 7 published themes (Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)

Applicant information

The next application dates for this course, followed by facts the provider publishes.

Application timelineWhat happens next
  1. 2027 entryCompleted applications can be submitted

    Your application needs a reference before you can send it.

  2. 2026 entryFinal date for 2026 applications

    Applications must reach UCAS by 18:00 UK time.

  3. 2026 entryLast day to add a Clearing choice

    Check that this course still has a vacancy before adding it.

  4. 2027 entryEqual-consideration deadline

    18:00 UK time for most undergraduate courses.

Show 5 later dates
  1. 2027 entryUCAS Extra opens

    Applicants who used all five choices and hold no offer may be able to add another choice.

  2. 2027 entryLast day applications go directly to providers

    Applications received after 18:00 UK time are entered into Clearing.

  3. 2027 entryClearing opens

    Eligible applicants can see vacancies and release themselves into Clearing.

  4. 2027 entryFinal date for 2027 applications

    Applications must reach UCAS by 18:00 UK time.

  5. 2027 entryLast day to add a Clearing choice

    Check that this course still has a vacancy before adding it.

PlacementPublished placement option

Work placement. Availability, selection and pay can vary.

Entry & how to get in

Most entrants held A-levels or equivalent90% of accepted students came in with A-levels or equivalent (entrants over recent years).
Typical UCAS tariff: 112 - 127 pointsThe most common UCAS tariff band among accepted students. This is what entrants had, not a stated requirement.
Entry requirements are set by the universityGrades, subjects and contextual offers vary. Check the University of Salford's official course page for the current offer.

Who gets in

What recently admitted students actually held, official admissions data, not a stated requirement.

UCAS tariff of entrants

Grades are the A-level equivalent of each points band. Tap a band to check your own chances below.

Qualifications held on entry

QualificationShare
A-levels or equivalent90%
a Baccalaureate10%

Entry & your chances

An honest read from the official entry data, plus your personal match.

Offer-based entry

Entry is set by the university and based on your offer. Use your predicted grades to see how you compare, then check the university's stated requirements.

Will you get in? Plot your grades

Pick your predicted A-levels and watch your UCAS points land on the real spread of students admitted to this course.

Each bar is the share of admitted students in that UCAS-points band (lower → higher). Grades show the A-level equivalent.

Add your grades to see where you land

Your points will drop onto the distribution above, with an honest above / within / below read.

Based on the official admitted-student tariff distribution. Many universities make contextual (reduced-grade) offers, so a result below the range doesn’t rule you out.

How to apply

Undergraduate applications go through UCAS. Here’s what matters for this course, the right deadline, the grades to aim for, and the steps in order.

Apply by13 January 2027, 18:00 UK timefor this course
Typical gradesBBBA-level equivalent admitted students held
  1. 1
    Register on UCAS Hub

    Create your UCAS application and add this course. One application covers up to five choices.

  2. 2
    Write your personal statement

    A single statement covers all your choices, so keep it broad enough for similar courses while showing genuine interest in this subject.

  3. 3
    Submit by 13 January 2027, 18:00 UK time

    UCAS equal-consideration deadline for most undergraduate courses. Source: UCAS 2027 dates.

  4. 4
    Reply to your offers

    When decisions are in, pick a firm (first) choice and an insurance (back-up) choice with slightly lower grades.

  5. 5
    Results day & confirmation

    On results day (mid-August) your place is confirmed if you meet the offer. Just missed? Talk to the university, or find a place through Clearing.

💡 Many universities make a contextual (reduced-grade) offer, for example based on your school’s results, time in care, or where you live. Ask University of Salford whether you’re eligible before you apply; it can lower the grades you need.

Fees & funding

What this course costs and how UK student finance covers it.

Tuition per year

Homeup to £9,790 / yr
International£10,050 / yr

Provider fee page (England 2026/27 cap where not stated).

Check fees at University of Salford →

For students who normally live in England

illustrative Maintenance Loan per year
£9,790tuition used per year, illustrative full-time England fee-cap scenario
illustrative borrowing over 4 years

2026/27 Student Finance England figures. Maintenance support is means-tested and this two-point view is not an entitlement calculator. The course total uses its published length and home fee where both are available; a missing full-time fee uses the clearly labelled England-cap scenario, while part-time fees and unknown lengths are never guessed. Use the official calculator. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland use separate systems: SAAS, Student Finance Wales, and Student Finance NI.

Starting on or after 1 January 2027?

The Lifelong Learning Entitlement is a separate system. A new learner’s tuition entitlement is currently stated as £39,160 (about 480 credits at 2026/27 fee levels), subject to prior study and eligibility. Check the official LLE guide.

Paying for it

  • Tuition Fee Loan: can cover eligible tuition up to the applicable limit and is paid straight to the provider.
  • Maintenance Loan: up to £10,830/yr away from home outside London (England, 2026/27), means-tested on household income.
  • Repayment: 9% of income above £25,000, nothing below it; written off after 40 years.
  • Earn alongside: most students work part-time in term, part-time roles on the StudySmarter job board.

England figures shown; Scotland, Wales & NI run their own schemes, check gov.uk.

Funding matched to this course

Scholarships & bursaries you could qualify for

All University of Salford funding →
No verified named award is shown for this provider yet.

That does not mean no funding exists. Check the university directory for current amounts, eligibility and application dates.

We only display a named award when its provider source identifies the award and who it is for.

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Career quizApplication walkthroughSalary & CV check

Careers & earnings

What Art & Design graduates actually earn, from real outcome data, 15 months, 3 years and 5 years after graduating.

Graduate earnings: this course

WhenMedianTypical rangeGraduates
15 months after£24,000£20,000 – £25,00015
3 years after£16,000£12,000 – £21,000150
5 years after£22,000£17,000 – £26,500150

Nominal earnings for graduates of this course/subject at this provider. Limited evidence. Published sample: 15; treat comparisons cautiously. Cohort 2022-23.

Graduate outcomes, 15 months on: this course

90%
in work or further study 15 months on
55%
in highly skilled work or study
86%
continue past their first year
50%
find their work meaningful
60%
say work fits their future plans
  1. 1Graduate roleFirst role after the degree · 0–2 yrs
  2. 2Specialist / PractitionerWorking in art & design · 2–5 yrs
  3. 3Senior / LeadLeading work and people · 5–10 yrs
  4. 4Head of / ExpertSenior leadership or deep expertise · 10+ yrs

How pay grows: this course vs Art & Design nationally

Starting (15 months) HESA GO
£24,000
£22,000 – £27,000
After 3 years LEO
£16,000
£17,000 – £24,000
After 5 years LEO
£22,000
£20,825 – £29,400
national rangethis course’s medianaxis £15,000 – £30,500

National figures for Art & Design graduates, HESA Graduate Outcomes (15 months) and the Longitudinal Education Outcomes (LEO) dataset (3 & 5 years). These are national, not university-specific; actual pay varies by employer, region, role and experience. Different cohorts, so the bars are not one group over time.

Work out your pay

Headline figures hide a lot. Calculate realistic take-home pay for this field by role, region and experience, then check your CV before you apply.

What happened to 100 students?

Choose an outcome to translate the published percentage into a simple 100-person view. Each dot represents one percentage point, not an individual tracked student.

90 of 100

were in work or further study

15 months after graduation

75% working10% working and studying0% in further study55% in highly skilled work or study

Source: Discover Uni, using Graduate Outcomes and continuation data. Cohorts: 2022-23. Limited evidence. Published sample: 15; treat comparisons cautiously. Cohort 2022-23. Each tab is a separate published measure; categories can overlap and should not be added together.

Value compared with similar courses

How this course’s 5-year median earnings compare with Art & Design courses at the same study level.

This course £22,000Peer median £24,500Middle 50% £22,125–£26,500
23rd percentile

Compared with 1,698 courses with compatible official earnings data. This is a course-value comparison, not a quality ranking.

UK occupations graduates enter

Published graduate destinations, joined conservatively to UK SOC 2020, ONS pay and Skills England demand.

  • Artistic, literary and media occupationsSOC 2020 341 · 20% of published destinations · ASHE median £33,824
  • Skilled trades occupationsSOC 2020 5 · 10% of published destinations · ASHE median £34,241
  • Teaching and Childcare Support OccupationDiscover Uni category · 10% of published destinations
  • Teaching ProfessionalsSOC 2020 231 · 10% of published destinations · ASHE median £42,660
  • Business and public service associate professionalsSOC 2020 35 · 10% of published destinations · ASHE median £38,760

Discover Uni JOBLIST/JOBTYPE; ONS ASHE 2025 provisional, all employee jobs; Skills England Occupations in Demand 2025. SOC is shown only for an exact normalised label match; demand is shown only at exact four-digit SOC. Published sample: 65; response rate: 65%. Pay describes the occupation across workers, not a guaranteed graduate salary.

Job market & outlook

How Art & Design graduates fare in the labour market, and how AI is reshaping the work.

87%
in work or further study 15 months after graduating, across Art & Design courses nationally.
Graduate Outcomes
55%
of working graduates are in highly skilled work or further study.
highly skilled
85%
of students continue past their first year (still enrolled or completed).
continuation

How AI is changing the work

AI doesn't replace the profession, it shifts it: routine tasks get automated, while judgement, working with people and using AI well become more valuable.

What AI takes off your plate

  • Routine information gathering
  • First-draft writing and summaries
  • Standard analysis and admin
  • Repetitive processing tasks

More human than ever

  • Judgement and original thinking
  • Working with and leading people
  • Owning and sense-checking AI output
  • Ethics and accountability

The strongest graduates pair subject depth with the ability to use AI tools critically.

Roles & employers

Where Art & Design graduates typically go, indicative destinations from graduate career data. Each role links to live openings on the StudySmarter job board.

Where they work

  • Design studios & agencies
  • In-house brand teams
  • Games & media companies
  • Freelance & self-employed

Is this course right for you?

The essentials UK applicants ask about: finance, outcomes, entry and quality.

💷

Student finance

For comparison, the standard full-time England tuition cap is up to £9,790 per year in 2026/27; the actual fee varies by course and provider. If you normally live in England, eligible students can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan, plus a Maintenance Loan for living costs. Under Plan 5 you repay 9% of income above £25,000, nothing below that, and the balance is written off after 40 years.

📈

Where graduates go

90% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, with a median salary of £24,000. See the full breakdown in Careers & earnings above.

🎯

Your entry chances

Use the UCAS points calculator above to see how your predicted grades compare with admitted students, and whether a contextual offer could apply.

Official-data snapshot

Averaging the official measures published for it, this course scores 8.8 out of 10: NSS 88% · in work or study 90% · continued 86%.

Who studies here and in this subject?

Provider- and UK subject-level context.

The University of Salford

All students26,030
International19.1%
Aged 25+31.8%

Design, and creative and performing arts across the UK

Students178,755
Aged 25+15.7%

HESA student record 2024/25. Counts are rounded.

Local crime-data context

A neutral snapshot around the published teaching location.

Around Salford University

10 street-level reports returned within roughly one mile across 2026-04 to 2026-06.

Violent Crime 7Other Crime 1Other Theft 1Theft From The Person 1

Police.uk street-level API. Approximate locations, not confined to campus. England, Wales and Northern Ireland; not Scotland.

Is Art & Design right for you?

Tick what applies to you and see how good a fit it is.

International students

What applying to University of Salford from outside the UK involves: fees, English, visa, funding and living costs.

Tuition fees

International tuition is £10,050 / year for this course (from the provider’s fee page). You’re not eligible for UK Tuition Fee or Maintenance Loans, so plan for fees plus living costs upfront.

English language

Most UK undergraduate courses ask for around IELTS 6.0–6.5 (no band below 5.5–6.0), or an accepted equivalent. If you’re just short, most universities run a pre-sessional English course that counts towards the requirement.

Student visa

You’ll usually need a Student visa (Student Route). After you accept an offer the university issues a CAS; you then show funds for fees plus about £1,023–£1,334/month living costs and pay the Immigration Health Surcharge for NHS access.

Scholarships & funding

Many universities offer international/global scholarships (often £2,000–£6,000/yr), check University of Salford’s funding pages.

Living costs

Budget roughly £1,100–£1,400/month outside London and £1,400–£1,800/month in London for rent, food and travel; the figure also matters for your visa.

Working while you study

A Student visa usually allows up to 20 hours/week in term time and full-time in holidays, useful alongside study, though not something to rely on for fees.

Visa rules and fees change. Always confirm the current requirements with University of Salford and gov.uk before you apply.

Common questions

Entry is offer-based and set by the university. The most common tariff band among recent entrants was 112 - 127 UCAS points. Use the calculator on this page to see where your predicted grades would put you; many universities also make lower contextual offers.
Set by the University of Salford. Most accepted students held A-levels or equivalent. Check the university's course page for the exact offer.
For Drama graduates from this provider, 90% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, 55% in highly skilled roles, typical earnings around £24,000. (HESA Graduate Outcomes / LEO, via Discover Uni.)
For comparison, the standard full-time England tuition cap is up to £9,790 per year in 2026/27; the actual fee varies by course and provider. If you normally live in England, eligible students can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan, plus a Maintenance Loan for living costs. Under Plan 5 you repay 9% of income above £25,000, nothing below that, and the balance is written off after 40 years. See Fees & funding on this page to work out your numbers.
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