Program Overview

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Studio Practice (Make-up & Hair Design) (top-up) at UCA

Our BA (Hons) Studio Practice top-up degree in Make-Up & Hair Design at UCA Epsom is an opportunity to bolster your existing skills and/or prepare for postgraduate study in this niche field of the fashion industry.

What you'll study

The content of the course may be subject to change. Curriculum content is provided as a guide.

Year one (equivalent in level to year 3 of BA course)

Project Pitch

Your year begins with a project pitch week. This is your opportunity to share ideas that you will have developed over the summer about your degree project, receive feedback and fine tune it before you start actively working on it as part of your last year at university.

Creative Partners

In a saturated market, how we communicate and present our concepts for innovation through fashion imagery is crucial to successful visual communication and creative collaborations. In this unit, we will introduce you to a client who will set a research question that is relevant to current industry practice. Using the research question as a starting point, you will take a broader view in response to the client brief and to your own developing portfolio, specialist skills and practice. The outcome will develop through an in-depth knowledge and understanding of all areas in which fashion, makeup and hair operates.

Critical Thinking Through Fashion

You’ll define an angle or argument and communicate this through creative content for a specified platform or publication. The creative outcome will be supported by a research document in which you reflect on your learning journey. You will evidence the growth of the argument and contextualise the topic within the global fashion industry.

Graduate Career Fair

The Graduate Career Fair takes place during the first week of your second term to help your job search as you prepare for life after graduation. Companies that are actively hiring in your sector will be present to give you information about them, the kind of candidates they are looking for and their hiring process.

Your Artistic Practice

For your final project on the course, you are expected to create a substantial project that focuses on your area of professional interest and showcases your specialist skills. This work may take a variety of forms (such as: a body of editorial work within a publication; a series of films; an exploration of digital media platforms; photography, product development, design, collage and illustration, ethical or culturally specific narratives, virtual reality, retail or an installation concept; or a combination of some, none, or all of these). You’ll also complete a research document, as well as your final Personal Development Planning Career Document to support you in your professional practice after graduation.

Specifications

• Course information 2025/26 entry
• Student regulations

Fees & financial support

Tuition fees - 2025/26

• BA (top-up) course: £9,535
• BA (top-up) course: £9,535 (see fee discount information)
• BA (top-up) course: £17,500

UCA scholarships and fee discounts

At UCA we have a number of scholarships and fee discounts available to assist you with the cost of your studies.

Financial support

There are lots of ways you can access additional financial support to help you fund your studies - both from UCA and from external sources. Discover what support you might qualify for please see our financial support information.

Additional course costs

In addition to the tuition fees there may be other costs for your course. The things that you are likely to need to budget for to get the most out of a creative arts education will include books, printing costs, occasional or optional study trips and/or project materials.

Facilities & Equipment

Study in our brand new beauty studios at UCA Epsom. The campus also has a wide range of facilities including fully equipped photography studios and digital media suites with Macs and PCs with latest programmes for editing as well as general design work.

Entry & portfolio requirements

UK

• BA (Hons) course (top-up)
  • 240 credits from a relevant degree (120 credits at level 4 and 120 credits at level 5), with a minimum of 55% overall
  • Foundation Degree in a relevant subject
  • Higher National Diploma in a relevant subject
  • Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning (APEL)

International and EU

• BA (Hons) course (top-up)
  • Non-UK equivalent qualifications
  • Any additional entry requirements listed in the UK requirements section, e.g., subject requirements, work experience or professional qualifications, also apply to international applicants applying with equivalent qualifications.

Portfolio requirements

• For this course, we’ll need to see your portfolio for review. We’ll invite you to attend an Applicant Day so you can have your portfolio review in person, meet the course team and learn more about your course. Further information will be provided once you have applied. View more portfolio advice