MA Theatre Costume

At RADA, you learn by doing. You will engage in hands-on, vocational training that immerses you in theatre production, ensuring you're fully equipped for success in the industry. Throughout your training, you'll receive personalised career guidance and professional development to expand your expertise and management skills.

Costume-making

We teach costume-making from first principles including basic sewing skills, pattern-cutting and grading, through to the finished product. These skills, as well as other maintenance and alterations, are practised throughout the course by working with peers and professionals on all the RADA public productions as assistants. Through this you will improve work speed and gain experience in using different fabrics and vintage costumes from our store.

You will learn pattern manipulation and grading, block pattern cutting, cutting on the stand and draping and encouraged to explore other forms. Some garments are taken through to completion as class projects, including corsetry, ruffs, period shirt tailoring and millinery. Others form personal projects in the second year, which are supervised, although you will be expected to work semi-independently in preparation for professional work.

Costume Supervising

Costume supervising is taught in the classroom with script analysis, budget skills and communication and management skills. It is also practised in conjunction with other students and with the opportunity to supervise two or three public performances.

We also provide experience of other elements of a wardrobe department, including introductory classes in hair and make-up, wig knotting, history of costume and costume props, fabric treatments and props skills.

The course also includes a research project where you will choose an area in the world and research the fashions during a given period, including influences such as political, environmental and world events.

For more detailed information on course content, assessment and outcomes, download our Programme Specification.

Timetable and workload

The MA Theatre Costume is comprised of eight modules studied across two academic years.  Practical modules form the backbone of the programme, featuring work on public productions.

This programme is taught in-person, with at least 35 contact hours per week on average. Production periods may require longer hours, including evenings and weekends.

Training is mostly onsite at RADA with occasional online and offsite sessions.

Assessment

You will be assessed throughout the course on your progress. Assessment is provided through written feedback, peer review and tutorials. Students will complete a reflective self-assessment, after the completion of each module.

We encourage applications from people of any age, gender, disability, ethnicity, marital status, nationality, sexual orientation, parental status, socio economic status, religion or belief. We are committed to promoting equality and diversity, to pursuing non-discriminatory policies and practice, and eliminating unfair discrimination.

Entry Requirements

We require you to have appropriate educational degree level qualifications and/or professional work experience with demonstrated involvement in theatre, performance, or the broader entertainment industry.

Candidates must also meet at least one of the following criteria:

• A minimum of a 2:2 UK honours degree, or a recognised equivalent international qualification.
• Experience in costume practical execution and supervision OR experience in one of these areas with advanced knowledge of the other.

Application deadline

Your application must be completed and submitted by 26 March 2025 at 11:59pm (UK time).

We operate a rolling admissions process, meaning that applications will close once our cohort is full so we encourage you to apply early. Depending on the volume of applications, a second deadline may be introduced.

Please download the admissions procedure guide for further information.

How to apply

1. Complete the online application form at the top of this page.
2. The admissions team will then contact you to either confirm an interview date or inform you if you were unsuccessful. (Please note that this could take up to six weeks.)
3. If your application is successful, you will be invited to a 30-minute interview, on-site at RADA or online (Microsoft Teams or Zoom) and show your portfolio.

We do not charge an application fee for this course.

We welcome applications from disabled applicants and encourage them to disclose relevant information regarding any disability when completing their application form, to enable us to provide additional support during the admissions process. Find out more about the ways RADA support disabled applicants in our Student Life pages.

If you are a disabled applicant and would like further advice or guidance, please contact the admissions team directly on admissions@rada.ac.uk.

Postgraduate fees for MA Theatre Costume for the academic year 2025-6:

Home (UK) students

£15,500 (per year)

International

£25,000 (per year)

Please see the fees policy for more information about how RADA calculates tuition fee increases for each year of a course.

Find out more about funding your training.

Am I a Home (UK) or International student?

There are strict regulations regarding residency which must be met in order to qualify for Home (UK) student status.

Home (UK) student

In order to be classed as a Home (UK) student you normally need to meet all of the following criteria on the first day of the first academic year of the course:

• You are settled in the UK (this means there is no immigration restriction on the length of your stay).
• You are ordinarily resident in the UK, and have been for the full three years before the first day of the academic year (ordinarily resident means that your main home is in the UK, and you are choosing to live in the UK).
• The main reason for you being in the UK was not to receive full-time education.

Irish nationals who have been living in the Republic of Ireland or the UK can qualify for Home fees as long as they meet the residence requirements which can be found on the UK Council for International Students' (UKCISA) website.

International students

If you do not fall under the Home (UK) definition, then you will be classed as an international student.

International students coming to RADA on a full-time course of more than six months will require a Student visa before coming to the UK to start your course. Without the visa you will not be allowed to enter the UK. Please visit the UK Visas & Immigration website for further details.

The definitions on this page are only a very brief summary and there are a number of exceptions to the conditions listed. For more detailed information, please refer to the UK Council for International Student Affairs guide.

Other costs

Almost all materials and resources you require for your course, including travel for any trips, are included in your tuition fees.

Other material costs (not included in your tuition fee): approximately £300 + laptop

The things not covered include protective footwear, practice clothes, play texts and stationery.

International students will also need to pay for visa costs; please visit the UK Visas & Immigration website for further details.

Laptops, phone/tablet devices and related equipment

To participate in this course, including any online training, you will need to have suitable equipment.

Prices for laptops may vary but costs are likely to be in the region of £550 and upwards. Educational discounts are available, so we advise that you wait until you are enrolled before buying any new equipment. We recognise that not all applicants/ students will own this equipment or be in a financial position to purchase it. RADA, therefore, has ways in which we can provide you with support to ensure that you can access the equipment you need.

Please note that a laptop, phone/tablet devices and related equipment policy is being drawn up. More information is available from the admissions team by emailing admissions@rada.ac.uk.

Read our regulations and policies relating to admissions and current students here.