COURSE CURRICULUM

The MA Historical Costume course at Arts University Bournemouth is defined by its comprehensive and flexible approach, allowing students to explore a wide range of historical costume practices. A key strength of the program lies in its integration of design, costume making, and heritage. This combination allows students to tailor their research and creative work to align with personal interests while situating their outcomes within a broader academic and professional context. The course also benefits from the diversity of staff expertise, offering access to professionals at the forefront of multiple areas in historical costume. This opens up opportunities for interdisciplinary exploration and direct collaboration with staff across both the MA and BA Costume courses. Students are encouraged to draw upon this expertise to inform their own research and creative practice.One of the course’s distinctive features is its strong emphasis on live projects. Students have the opportunity to integrate these into their Master's-level research, gaining practical experience that mirrors real-world industry expectations. These projects not only enhance technical and professional skills but also demonstrate how high-level academic research can support and elevate live, practical work. Collaboration is also central to the student experience, with the course structure promoting regular interaction across the cohort. Students often work together on shared interests, fostering a creative and intellectually stimulating environment. This collaborative culture helps to strengthen both the research and making processes, encouraging students to engage with different perspectives. Altogether, the course is designed to nurture original thinking, technical mastery, and a critical understanding of historical costume. It prepares students for diverse career paths in costume design, heritage, museums, education, and academic research, while also allowing them to develop their own creative identity within the historical costume discipline.