Hair, Make-up and Prosthetics for Film and Performance

Become part of the team behind films and theatre. Your role in hair and make-up will help bring to life the vision of entertainment.

Our creative briefs and projects will help you develop a portfolio showing off your talent as an expert storyteller in the form of hair, make-up and prosthetics for film and performance.

Why study BA (Hons) Hair, Make-up and Prosthetics for Film and Performance at BNU?

Facilities

Studying on this course will give you access to a range of specialist teaching spaces. These include bespoke hair, make-up and SFX workshops, built to mimic professional standard requirements.

These include a daylight hair, make-up teaching and application room, SFX teaching and sculpting workshop and a moulding, casting and extraction room for the safe manufacture of prosthetics.

Alongside this, you will have access to the photography studios, which will allow you to record and photograph your work, which will support the development of your portfolio.

Industry Connections

Led by a dedicated and experienced course team, you’ll benefit from their industry knowledge and the industry links they bring to the course.

You’ll get direct access to guest lectures, who are specialists in the sector, and can benefit from live project briefs, master classes, and networking opportunities.

Our High Wycombe Campus is only a short train ride away from London, meaning you are only a stones-throw away from the hustle and bustle, where you’ll also have the chance to visit outside bodies, such as make-up suppliers, wig stores, museums and galleries.

Here you’ll gain inspiration, insight and a feeling for how the industry works.

Career-focused

With a history of delivering expert craft, art and design education for more than 130 years, Buckinghamshire New University is the perfect place to start your creative career in hair, make-up and prosthetics.

During your time on the course, you’ll lend your hand to a range of styles, techniques and periods. Your modules and briefs allow you to develop the skills that employers are looking for, whilst ensuring you have a varied and desirable portfolio.

What will I study?

The practical elements of our hair and makeup course are designed with industry in mind. On the course you will explore pre-production and film set etiquette, which will help you understand the roles and responsibilities of individuals on a production team, as well as explaining the industry hierarchy and where your starting point will be.

It is key to master different makeup and hair techniques; you will explore a range of period hair and make-up styles, which is essential knowledge for work in theatre, film, and TV. You will master the application of facial hair, alongside styling and applying wigs. Editorial and body painting are explored, building on your precision skills and creativity.

SFX prosthetics manufacture and application will challenge your research, creativity and artistic skills, with particular attention given to sculpting techniques which are an integral part of the manufacturing process. You will learn how to cast faces, make moulds, apply, and colour your prosthetics to create realistic characters suitable for 4K film productions.

You will learn how to read and break down scripts in the creation of characters. The importance of continuity and how this is monitored on a busy film production. You will explore a range of industry-style documents, which are vital for the smooth running of the hair and make-up departments.

You'll get to grips with professional practice, and we will help you to develop essential entrepreneurial skills. As many people in this area work as freelancers, we’ll teach you everything you need to know for success, from how to set up to paying taxes and creating a winning portfolio.

At Bucks New University, you'll benefit from career-focused teaching, hands-on learning and a supportive community that helps you thrive throughout your degree and beyond.

You'll learn from lecturers with industry experience, gain practical skills in professional-standard facilities and receive personalised support through smaller class sizes. Beyond your course, The Big Deal gives every student free access to sports clubs, societies, fitness facilities, social events, trips, volunteering opportunities and career-boosting workshops. It's Bucks way of helping you discover new interests, meet like-minded people, build your CV and make the most of university life – all without paying extra membership fees.

Whether you're preparing for your future career, growing your confidence or looking for an unforgettable student experience, Bucks offers the opportunities and support to help you achieve your goals.