The FdA Hair and Make-up for Film and TV course is situated in the School of Media and Communication and prepares you for a career as a practitioner in hair design and make-up for film and television. You will learn about this sector of the industry and the position of the make-up artist and hair designer within it. The importance of teamwork will be explored through the projects that you will undertake. You will acquire the practical skills of make-up and hair design, together with broader academic studies which give you a contemporary and historical understanding of your creative discipline within the wider perspectives of fashion, society and the environment. You will learn research skills, both visual and academic, which will underpin your creative practice and develop your analytical skills and critical awareness. Recent industry collaborations have included MAC, Levi’s and Illamasqua. High-achieving graduates from this course have the opportunity to do a third year of specialist studies to gain a BA Honours degree.

FdA Hair and Make-up for Film and TV is based at Lime Grove in Shepherd’s Bush, just west of Holland Park and Notting Hill. The area, which is rich in cultural influences from across the world, is home to Shepherd’s Bush Market and the many fabric shops lining the Goldhawk Road. There are numerous restaurants, cafes, delis and food stores, as well as the market, which reflect the many cultures of the people living there. Nearby is the Shepherd’s Bush Empire, an excellent venue for live bands, and the Westfield Shopping Centre, one of the largest retail complexes in Europe that caters for the luxury market as well as the high street. Holland Park with its Orangery and Leighton House Museum are both worth visiting.

Course Units

Year One     Stage One     Level 4     120 credits 

Term One: Introduction to Study in Higher Education (20 credits); Design and Technical Processes (20 credits);

Term Two: Introduction to Cultural and Historical Studies (20 credits); Design and Technical Practice (20 credits);

Term Three: Industrial Practice for Hair and Make-up for Film and TV (40 credits);

Year Two     Stage Two     Level 5     120 credits

Term One: Cultural and Historical Studies (20 credits); Technique, Creativity, Production (20 credits);

Term Two: Collaborative Production for Hair and Make-up for Film and TV (20 credits); Portfolio Review and Professional Practice (20 credits);

Term Three: Negotiated Production (40 credits);

Course Outline

Year One

In the first term you will study two units.

Introduction to Study in Higher Education gives you an understanding of your personal and professional development at university, with three core purposes: to introduce you to the necessary learning skills for undergraduate study; to show you where you are situated within the College and the University; and to help you understand what you will learn on your course and how you will develop your skills.

The Design and Technical Processes unit introduces you to hair and make-up for the film and television industries. Particular emphasis will be placed on hygiene and health and safety within the workplace. You will learn about human facial structure, and will gain an understanding of the precise role of the hair and make-up designer in the film and television industry. You will be introduced to various research, conceptual and design approaches to the practice of hair and make-up design, and will explore a range of practical techniques and vocational skills that can be used creatively in future work.

In the second term you will study two units.

Introduction to Cultural and Historical Studies introduces you to key concepts and ways of thinking about fashion and its context in society and culture. You will attend lectures, seminars and workshops, and do a significant amount of reading of academic texts in order to complete a formal academic essay for assessment.  Completion of this unit will allow you to make an informed choice of subject for study in the second year Cultural and Historical Studies unit.

Design and Technical Practice gives you the opportunity to further develop your knowledge and skills by introducing you to new materials, processes and key effects for hair and make-up. You will focus on the design and practical creation of a complete effect or character. You will be encouraged to experiment with materials and processes, working within the health and safety guidelines, and you will start to develop your own personal working methods. Through project work you will create realistic trauma effects, and explore the practicalities of maintaining a look on set. This work will be underpinned by forensic research and anatomical exercises.

In the third term you will do the Industrial Practice for Hair and Make-up for Film and TV unit, which introduces you to the industry through providing you with a work-based learning (WBL) experience. You will work in a project team collaborating on an assignment that reflects professional practice in the industry, and you will see how each team member contributes to the final outcome, through applying their knowledge of hair, make-up and special effects. You will learn the key skills of team working and time management, and become familiar with budgets, business processes and production methods.

Year Two                                                

In the first term you will be able to study a Cultural and Historical Studies unit of your choice that will broaden or deepen your learning of areas relating to your interests in your chosen field. You will have the opportunity to participate in lectures, seminars and workshops with students from other courses within your School, and will read relevant academic texts and complete a formal academic essay for assessment.

Also studied in the first term, the Technique, Creativity, Production unit gives you the opportunity to explore pre-manufactured prosthetic effects, wig dressing and advanced wig making, and postiche effects. You will learn advanced techniques, such as airbrush effects, that withstand the enlargement of the cinema screen or the demands of HD television. You will be expected to produce a complete character creation, from design through to facial casting, mould making, prosthetic design and wig design. Budgeting and creative business skills will form part of the unit, in preparation for working within the industry.

In the second term you will do two units.

Collaborative Production for Hair and Make-up for Film and TV gives you the chance to work collaboratively through a work-based learning project. You will be working as part of an ‘in-house’ team of film and television artists. Make-up teams will be able to undertake time-intensive techniques such as body prosthetics or full film-standard wig making, which would generally be produced by a team rather than an individual. Each member of the team will be required to provide specific and detailed components of the overall design, and the final work should appear as a consistent and seamless group effort. The key essential skills of effective communication and time management will be developed through this project.

Also in the second term, you will do the Portfolio Review and Professional Practice unit. This will provide support in your preparation for your future career. You will be encouraged to identify and demonstrate your strengths and aspirations in your work by making critical choices of edit, sequence, layout, format and content in the presentation of your portfolio. You will also learn more about the business aspects of the profession, and you will explore opportunities for freelance practice, self-employment and small business management.

In the third term the Negotiated Production unit gives you the opportunity to produce a specialised project that reflects your experiences to date, your ability to challenge yourself creatively in your final term, and your personal and professional aspirations for your future. You will be able to work individually or collaborate as part of a small team. You will formulate and negotiate a self-directed project proposal that will include details of research, planning and budget. This project will extend your knowledge and focus, and develop your professional, creative and academic confidence. The outcome will showcase your abilities in your chosen field.

Learning and Teaching at UAL

Courses in UAL span a broad range of art, design, communication, business, media, science and communication subjects. So the ways in which you learn and how your time is used will vary according to the specific course you are studying; this may be in studios, labs, classes, involve working alone, learning from peers in pairs or groups, or with external partners. Most importantly, no matter which course you enrol on, you will learn not only about your subject but also about how you learn and how to increase your knowledge base.

Our courses will guide you to take increasing responsibility and ownership of your work and your learning. We do this so that you will be ready and able to take full advantage of the full range of opportunities offered by the creative industries in the global economy.

Assessment Methods at UAL

Assessment always sounds austere and foreboding, but it is not. We see assessment as a very real part of learning, rather than just a means of looking back at past work and measuring achievement; we believe that assessment helps you plan future work and develop new ideas.

Your work will be assessed through projects or portfolios, with written papers or research journals, and, on some courses, examinations.  You will be graded according to a set of marking criteria that relate to such things as research, subject knowledge, methodology, and your capacity to analyse and reflect on your achievements. So don’t be afraid of assessment - it is the way to progress.

Developing your skills

All our undergraduate courses are concerned with the development of your personal and professional skills. On your course you will evolve from learning basic skills in your discipline through to a position where you are an independent creative thinker capable of making an effective contribution to the relevant sector of the fashion industry. PPD (Personal and Professional Development) skills are embedded in all units on every course. Speaker programmes with contributions from alumni, members of industry and others are a part of many courses, as are work placement opportunities in industry. Where relevant, students have the chance to attend trade fairs, enter industry competitions, visit exhibitions and go on field trips and visits. The central position of our John Prince’s Street site in the West End affords students easy access to all sectors of the fashion retail market. In addition, our position as a constituent College in the University of the Arts London means that our students have access to the wide range of activities and events that occur in all the Colleges and at the University’s centre. Last but not least, being in London gives every student opportunities to explore and be inspired by the cultural, intellectual and social life of one of the great capital cities of the world.

Resources                                                          

Our excellent resources for educating our students are two-fold: people and premises. People includes everyone at the College who contributes directly in some way to your education, whether as a subject tutor, a technician, an Open Access Officer, a librarian or a study support tutor. Premises include the buildings and the facilities contained in them, such as specialist machinery, design studios and workshops, lecture and seminar rooms, and the library.

The make-up and hairdressing studios at Lime Grove are equipped with the applicable lighting and facilities to ensure that your work can withstand the scrutiny of high definition and provide an industry focussed working environment. Our manufacturing studios include facilities for mould making, casting and the creation of props and prosthetics including silicone and foam latex.

Natalie Brown is the Acting Course Leader for this course. Steven Solomon is a year tutor who combines teaching with working as a make-up artist. He has worked in fashion, theatre and film and currently is specialising in commercial airbrushing work and make-up designs for the body.

Natalie Brown is the Programme Director for the Performance courses, which include BA Costume for Performance, BA Technical Effects for Performance, BA Make-up and Prosthetics for Performance, and FdA Hair and Make-up for Film and TV. She has worked extensively in fashion, accessories and textile design, with a special interest in digital technologies.

Tony Glenville is the Creative Director for the School of Media and Communication, and has done many jobs in fashion during his varied career. He has worked as a journalist on a number of publications, including Paris Vogue, the Financial Times, The Independent, the Evening Standard and Urban Junkies. He has styled Kate Winslet, is a familiar figure at the catwalk shows in the fashion capitals of the world, and has written Top to Toe: the Modern Man’s Guide to Grooming. His broadcast career has included the South Bank Show on John Galliano, and was seen on television commenting on the fashions at the Royal Wedding of Prince William to Catherine Middleton.

Future Careers and Graduate Prospects

High-achieving graduates from this course have the opportunity to do a third year of specialist studies to gain a BA Honours degree.

Many graduates prefer to seek employment as soon as they have completed their undergraduate studies. Recent graduates have been working on the final Harry Potter film and Steven Spielberg’s film version of War Horse. Other companies that are employing graduates from this course include The Royal Ballet, English National Opera, and The Royal Opera. Films include the Harry Potter franchise, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Slumdog Millionaire. Our graduates also provide the backbone of many wig dressing departments in London’s West End theatres.

Enterprise and Employability at UAL

We know what it takes to be successful in your chosen field. Your tutors are professionals in their own right and understand what you need to help you establish your career. Staff in our dedicated Centre for Student Enterprise and Employability Service (SEE) are specialists at supporting you onto the right career path and at helping you to build up work‐relevant skills, knowledge and experience throughout your time here. You will also benefit from our many relationships with industry, which give our students exclusive opportunities and access to networks and funding.

Artists and designers tell us they value UAL’s informed engagement with their career development concerns across a whole spectrum of activities and practice interests and our ability to offer them practical advice, guidance and opportunities across the possible pathways open to them - as entrepreneurs and employees. Staff value the resources and skills UAL makes available to help them deliver effective professional and career development through the curriculum.

Showing your work

All final year students are given the opportunity to profile their work online via Showtime. London College of Fashion can make no guarantee that your work (either in sum or in part) will be shown, exhibited or profiled in any way as part of your course. All student work appearing in College organised events, catwalk shows, exhibitions and other forms of showcase, is selected by a panel of senior staff and, in some instances, external industry judges.

For details of the wide range of careers support provided for students, please visit our Careers Support page.

Opportunities for All

We are committed to making university education an achievable option for a wider range of people and seek to recruit students from diverse socio-economic, cultural and educational backgrounds. We are committed to supporting all our students in achieving their potential both during and after their courses.

Course Entry Requirements

Entry to this course is highly competitive: applicants are expected to achieve, or already have, the course entry requirements detailed below.

One ‘A’ level pass in Art or Design (80 UCAS tariff points required) PLUS three GCSE passes in other subjects at grade C or above

OR

BTEC National Diploma in a relevant subject

OR

NVQ level 3 in a relevant subject

OR

A one year Foundation Diploma in Art and Design

OR

Access course in a related subject

OR equivalent awards

Preferred subjects include Art, Design, Fashion, Media Studies and Photography.

This course requires a minimum 80 UCAS tariff points.

Exceptionally, applicants who do not meet these course entry requirements may still be considered if the course team judges the application demonstrates additional strengths and alternative evidence. This might, for example, be demonstrated by: related academic or work experience; the quality of the personal statement; a strong academic or other professional reference; or a combination of these factors.

This course requires portfolio evidence.

English Language Requirements

All classes are conducted in English. If English is not your first language you will be asked to provide evidence of your English language ability when you enrol.

The level required by the University for this course is IELTS 5.5 with a minimum of 4.5 in any one skill.

Please go to:http://www.arts.ac.uk/international/apply/englishlanguagerequirements/

read carefully and look at the relevant documents.

Student Selection Criteria 

What We Look For

The course team seeks to recruit students who can demonstrate:

• An interest in make-up design
• An enthusiasm for visual communication

This might, for example, be demonstrated by: related academic or work experience; the quality of the personal statement, a strong academic or other professional reference; or a combination of these factors.

Portfolio and Interview Advice

For this course your portfolio should show evidence of: technical ability; understanding of balance, proportion and composition; understanding of visual communication principles; exploration and creativity; and technical knowledge.

Applicants will be expected to demonstrate the following at interview: an interest in hair and make-up for film and TV; a cultural awareness of the film and TV industries; visual awareness evidenced through portfolio work; a motivation for working in the industry; and a motivation to succeed on the course.

* Please note: this course will not be recruiting students for entry in 2014, therefore the final first year of this course will run in 2013-2014, the final second year will run in 2014-2015, and the final Top-up Year will run in 2015-2016. This subject area will be replaced with a new three year Honours degree.

Home/EU Applicants

You apply online through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) at   http://www.ucas.com 

Go to ‘Apply’ from the UCAS home page, where you will be able to register and create a password that gives you unique access as you complete your application form.

The University code is U65.               

The UCAS code for this course is W296.

The deadline for equal consideration of your application is 15 January 2013.

Contact us on:

• Telephone: +44 (0)20 7514 7563 / 7582 / 7344
• Course enquiry form

International Applicants

For specific details on how to apply as an international applicant please click on the following link:

http://www.fashion.arts.ac.uk/lcf-international.htm

The International Recruitment Office at the London College of Fashion will help to guide you through the application process and answer any specific questions that you may have regarding our courses. This may include portfolio advice, the application process and fee advice. We offer a ‘drop-in’ facility for applicants who may be in London and wish to obtain further course and admissions information. Please contact us for further information on this facility. We can also arrange a tour of our facilities if we are given prior notice.

Our contact details are: International Recruitment Office London College of Fashion 20 John Prince’s Street London W1G 0BJ

• Telephone: +44 (0)20 7514 7656/7678/7629
• Course enquiry form

Deferred Entry

Deferred Entry is normally only allowed in exceptional circumstances. Please contact us before you submit your application if you are considering applying for deferred entry.

What Happens Next?

All application forms, personal statements and references are read and considered by the course team against the selection criteria listed under What We Look For. Depending on the quality of your application, you may be asked to submit copies of a small number of pieces of your existing work (not more than ten pieces). If the course team wish to consider your application further you will be invited to a full portfolio review / interview where the course team will look at your work during your interview. If you are successful at the interview stage you will be offered a place. Applicants are not guaranteed a portfolio review or an interview.

Please note that if you are unable to attend the College may not be able to re-schedule.

If you applied through UCAS the result of your application will be communicated to you via UCAS through ucastrack. You will only receive further communication directly from the College if your application has been successful. This will be in the form of a full offer pack including details of accommodation, fees, and other important information.   

Applicants have the right to ask for feedback if their application is unsuccessful. Requests must be made in writing to the Student Administrator, and we will respond within 20 working days. 

Additional Information

Additional Costs

Some courses charge a fee for the bulk purchase of materials and/or equipment used on the course. Further details will be supplied at a later date.