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Undergraduate

BA (Hons) Hair and Make-up for Fashion

Female model with pearl facial jewellery, makeup and lilies.
Image by Jiyoon Lee | BA (Hons) Hair and Make-up for Fashion | London College of Fashion | University of Arts London
College
London College of Fashion
UCAS code
9P43
Start date
September 2024
Course length
3 years (optional 1 year placement)

BA (Hons) Hair and Make-up for Fashion considers a broad range of visual communication tools and relevant critical frameworks for hair and make-up as an artistic discipline. The course focuses on key creative and technical hair and make up for fashion skills and applying those to a range of versatile outputs and in consideration of diverse audiences.

Course subject to re-approval

Please note that this course is undergoing re-approval. This is the process by which we ensure the course continues to provide a high quality academic experience. During re-approval there may be some changes to the course content displayed on this page. Please contact us if you have any questions about the course.

Why choose this course at London College of Fashion

  • Diverse skills: students are prepared for entry into the fashion industries as skilled practitioners, for a range of employment opportunities.
  • Industry Links: students will benefit from regular interaction with industry experts, helping to build the creative and professional practice they will need in the industry.
  • Innovation: students explore the application and appreciation of fashion hair and make-up design as a product, business, industry and cultural phenomenon.
  • Future directions: students develop critical thinking abilities through robust research and analysis, that supports opportunities both in industry and for postgraduate study and progression.

Open days

There are currently no Open Days scheduled for this course, please check back at a later date.

Scholarships, bursaries and awards

Course overview

Introduction 

BA (Hons) Hair and Make-up for Fashion nurtures students in research, design, concept development and technical capability.  

The course works closely with complementary courses: Fashion Photography, Fashion Styling and Production, and Fashion Imaging and Illustration. This means that every student can learn the skills of relevant disciplines. The importance of teamwork will be explored through collaborative projects but students will also work independently to develop key skills and personal style in preparation for the industry.  

Students acquire the practical skills of make-up and hair design, together with broader academic studies which give a contemporary and historical understanding of the creative disciplines within the wider perspectives of fashion, society and the environment. This will integrate the practical and theoretical aspects of students’ learning. Students also learn research skills which will underpin innovative creative practice and develop valuable analytical skills and critical awareness. 

What to expect 

  • Technical workshops on the specialisms of hair and make-up. 

  • Creative masterclasses.

  • Class room sessions: lectures, presentations, seminars and critiques. 

  • Individual and group tutorials. 

  • Collaborative projects: teamwork with Fashion Styling and Production, Fashion Photography and Fashion Imaging and Illustration.  

  • Opportunities for work experience, internships and regular industry call outs for collaboration. 

  • Cultural and historical academic learning and writing. 

  • Access to library resources and Academic Support.  

Work experience and opportunities 

Students will be given the opportunity to undertake a short work experience placement during their second year of study. This provides increased industry awareness as well as crucial experience and valuable contacts within the industry. Contact with the industry throughout the course increases opportunities for employment after graduation, as does the opportunity to attend workshops to hone diverse skills in preparing for employment. The course’s vocational focus is supported by group work and industry practitioners simulating real-life working environments whilst providing networking opportunities for students. 

Mode of study 

BA (Hons) Hair and Make-up for Fashion runs for 90 weeks in full time mode. It is divided into 3 stages over 3 academic years. Each stage lasts 30 weeks. 

Climate, Social and Racial Justice

We are committed to ensuring that your skills are set within an ethical framework and are working to embed UAL’s Principles for Climate, Social and Racial Justice into the course.

Course units

In Stage 1 you are required to complete 120 credits at level 4 in order to progress to Stage 2.

  • Introduction to Hair and Make-up for Fashion; 20 credits
  • Fashion: Process and Practice; 40 credits
  • Fashion Cultures and Histories; 20 credits
  • Better Lives; 20 credits
  • Collaborative Practice: Fashion Spreads; 20 credits

In Stage 2 you are required to complete 120 credits of which a minimum of 100 must be at level 5.

  • Critical Issues in Fashion Research; 20 credits
  • Beauty in Moving Image; 40 credits
  • Artistry in Industry; 40 credits
  • Situating Your Practice: Media Placement / Situating Your Practice: Fashioned Spaces; 20 credits

Optional Diploma Year

CCI Creative Computing

Between years 2 and 3, you can undertake the year-long Diploma in Creative Computing. This will develop your skills in creative computing alongside your degree. After successfully completing the diploma and your undergraduate degree, you’ll graduate with an enhanced degree: BA (Hons) Hair and Make-up for Fashion (with Creative Computing).

CCI Apple Diploma 

Between years 2 and 3, you can undertake the year-long Diploma in Apple Development. This will give you an opportunity to become an accredited apple developer alongside your degree. After successfully completing the diploma and your undergraduate degree, you’ll graduate with an enhanced degree: BA (Hons) Hair and Make-up for Fashion (with Apple Development).

Industry DIPS 

This optional diploma can be taken between years 2 and 3. With support from your tutors, you’ll undertake an industry placement for a minimum of 100 days/20 weeks. As well as developing industry skills, you’ll gain an additional qualification upon successful completion. 

Enterprise DIPS 

This optional diploma can be taken between years 2 and 3. With support from your tutors, you’ll undertake an enterprise placement year where you will explore a business idea from proposal to minimal viable product (MVP). As well as developing enterprise skills, you’ll gain an additional qualification upon successful completion. 

In Stage 3 you are required to complete 120 credits at level 6.

  • Collaborative and Experimental Practice; 20 credits
  • Dissertation Media; 40 credits
  • Personal and Professional Project; 60 credits

A 20-credit unit is approximately equivalent to 200 hours of learning time, which includes a mixture of taught time, independent study and assessment.

All students are entitled to a tutorial package that consists of:

  • one induction tutorial (group or one to one)
  • one tutorial per term for the duration of their course of study at LCF;
  • group tutorials as required
  • an appropriate level of confidentiality

 

Learning and teaching methods

The following teaching and learning methods are employed to support the integrated achievement of the course outcomes:

  • Academic skills, design thinking and workshops
  • Brainstorming sessions
  • Briefings, tutorials and feedback
  • Collaborative group project work
  • Lectures and seminars
  • Library and workshop inductions
  • Museum, gallery and other visits
  • Online learning
  • Presentations
  • Research methods
  • Studio teaching

Graduate Showcase

Explore work by our recent students on the UAL Showcase

  • Beatrice De Carlo
    Beatrice De Carlo, Beatrice De Carlo, 2023 BA (Hons) Hair and Make-up for Fashion, London College of Fashion, UAL
  • Submerge
    Submerge, Mia Beckhelling, 2023 BA (Hons) Hair and Make-up for Fashion, London College of Fashion, UAL
  • A project on LOVE by Maya Nicholls
    A project on LOVE by Maya Nicholls, Maya Nicholls, 2023 BA (Hons) Hair and Make-up for Fashion, London College of Fashion, UAL
  • Enigmatic Vampires: Reveal Hong Kong's Dark Secret
    Enigmatic Vampires: Reveal Hong Kong's Dark Secret, Si Wai Alika Wong, 2023 BA (Hons) Hair and Make-up for Fashion, London College of Fashion, UAL
  • Raging Women
    Raging Women, Léna Rodrigues, 2023 BA (Hons) Hair and Make-up for Fashion, London College of Fashion, UAL
  • ICELAND
    ICELAND, Hanna Guðnadóttir, 2023 BA (Hons) Hair and Make-up for Fashion, London College of Fashion, UAL

Latest news from this course

Staff

Melissa Moore is course leader. Encouraging a reflective creative practice is an aim of her teaching. Melissa is a London-based artist with a Masters in Photography from the Royal College of Art. Her work is primarily photographic but has included interdisciplinary elements, such as performance, film and illustration, and is exhibited and published internationally. She works to encourage students to find inspiration for their fashion practice from a broad range of possibilities and sees fashion as an interesting crossover point between individuals and culture.

Anna Nwankwo is a Senior Lecturer on the Ba Hair and Make Up for Fashion at LCF. She lectures in Contextual Studies, Creative Practice, Ethics and Critical Theory. The relationship of theory to practice is at the core of her teaching. She works to engage students with image and representation, and the development of a personal practice. She has a particular interest in inclusive art pedagogy and the student experience. She has a background in fine art photography, with a Ba in Media and Culture Studies from LCC and an Ma in Image Communications from Goldsmith College of Art. Her personal work centres around the themes of culture, memory, identity and storytelling.

Diana Donaldson is Senior Lecturer and Year 3 tutor. Alongside her professional industry practice for over 25 years, Diana is an ardent supporter of, and active in producing, projects for the fashion, charitable, medical and HE sector. Her specialist areas of interest in academia are inclusive pedagogy, diverse innovative curriculum development and experiential interventions. She has an impressive record for preparing students for further study and industry by the accurate modelling of real-world applications. The relationship between theory to practice is central to her approach.

Itai Doron is the programme director for Fashion Media courses. He is an established photographer with particular interests in fashion, portraiture, social documentary, body politics, identity and queer theory. Working as a lens-based artist since graduation from Goldsmiths College of Art, Itai has twice received the UAL research project award to develop a body of work on immigration, combining social documentary with notions of fashion. Itai has a proven track record of public dissemination of visual and written work through exhibitions, publications, and academic research and was invited to deliver talks and lectures about his research at various international academic conferences. He has exhibited at the White Cube gallery in London, and participated in numerous group and solo exhibitions in the UK, Europe, Japan, Israel and the United States. He has authored a selection of photography books, including End Of Real in 2005, Yassin in 2009, Chokras’ Mahal (Boys' Palace) in 2011, and Fifteen Minutes With You in 2012.

Associate Lecturers

Jimo Salako

John Vial

Yasmin Heinz

Mirijana Vasovic

Charli Avery

Fees and funding

Home fee

£9,250 per year

This fee is correct for entry in autumn 2024 and is subject to change for entry in autumn 2025.

Tuition fees may increase in future years for new and continuing students.

Home fees are currently charged to UK nationals and UK residents who meet the rules. However, the rules are complex. Find out more about our tuition fees and determining your fee status.

International fee

£28,570 per year

This fee is correct for entry in autumn 2024 and is subject to change for entry in autumn 2025.

Tuition fees for international students may increase by up to 5% in each future year of your course.

Students from countries outside of the UK will generally be charged international fees. The rules are complex so read more about tuition fees and determining your fee status.

Scholarship search

Entry requirements

The standard minimum entry requirements for this course are:

One or a combination of the following accepted full level 3 qualifications.

  • 112 UCAS tariff points from two or more A Levels (preferred subjects include Art, Design, Fashion, Media Studies, and Photography or BTEC National Diploma in a related subject);
  • Distinction Foundation Diploma in Art and Design;
  • Distinction, Merit, Merit at BTEC Extended Diploma (preferred subjects Art & Design);
  • Merit at UAL Extended Diploma;
  • Access Diploma or 112 new UCAS tariff points from the Access to HE Diploma;
  • 112 new UCAS tariff points from a combination of the above qualifications or an equivalent full Level 3 qualification;
  • or equivalent EU or non-EU qualifications such as International Baccalaureate Diploma at 25 points minimum;
  • and three GCSE passes at grade A*-C or grade 9-4.

Entry to this course will also be determined by assessment of your portfolio.

APEL (Accreditation of Prior (Experiential) Learning)

Applicants who do not meet these course entry requirements may still be considered in exceptional cases. The course team will consider each application that 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

Each application will be considered on its own merit but we cannot guarantee an offer in each case.

English Language Requirements

IELTS level 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in reading, writing, listening and speaking. Please check our main English Language Requirements 

Selection criteria

The course team seeks to recruit students who can demonstrate:

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

Apply now

Application deadline

31 January 2024 at 18:00 (UK time)

If there are places available after this date, the course will remain open to applications until places have been filled.

Apply to UAL

Home students can apply to this course through UCAS with the following codes:

University code:

U65

UCAS code:

9P43

Start your application

Apply now

Application deadline

31 January 2024 at 18:00 (UK time)

If there are places available after this date, the course will remain open to applications until places have been filled.

Apply to UAL

International students can apply to this course through UCAS with the following codes:

University code:

U65

UCAS code:

9P43

Start your application
or

Apply with a UAL Representative

Based across the world, our local UAL representatives can support you with your application from your home country. Check to see if there is a representative available in your country currently.

Find your representative

How to apply

Follow this step-by-step guide to apply for this course

Step 1: Initial application

You will need to submit an initial application including your personal statement and CV.

Personal statement advice

Your personal statement should be maximum 4,000 characters and cover the following:

  • Why have you chosen this course? What excites you about the subject?
  • How does your previous or current study relate to the course?
  • Have you got any work experience that might help you?
  • Have any life experiences influenced your decision to apply for this course?
  • What skills do you have that make you perfect for this course?
  • What plans and ambitions do you have for your future career?

Visit the UCAS advice page and our personal statement advice page for more support.

Step 2: Digital portfolio

We will review your initial application. If you have met the standard entry requirements, we will ask you to submit a digital portfolio.

You’ll need to submit this via PebblePad, our online portfolio tool.

Digital portfolio advice

Your portfolio should consist of recent work that reflects your creative strengths.

It should:

  • be maximum 30 pages
  • showcase your technical abilities and understanding of balance, proportion and composition
  • include work in progress to illustrate how you experiment, explore and develop ideas from initial concepts to final outcomes
  • include research to highlight your knowledge and awareness of the cultural contexts of fashion
  • demonstrate your understanding of visual communication principles.

For more support, see our Portfolio advice and PebblePad advice.

Step 3: Interview

You may be invited to an interview following our review of your application. All interviews are held online and last 15 to 20 minutes.

For top tips, see our Interview advice.

You also need to know

Communicating with you

Once you have submitted your initial application, we will email you with your login details for our Applicant portal.

Requests for supplementary documents like qualifications and English language tests will be made through the applicant portal. You can also use it to ask questions regarding your application. Visit our After you apply page for more information.

Visas and immigration history check

All non-UK nationals must complete an immigration history check. Your application may be considered by our course teams before this check takes place. This means that we may request your portfolio and/or video task before we identify any issues arising from your immigration history check. Sometimes your history may mean that we are not able to continue considering your application. Visit our Immigration and visas advice page for more information.

External student transfer policy

UAL accepts transfers from other institutions on a case-by-case basis. Read our Student transfer policy for more information.

Alternative offers

If your application is really strong, but we believe your strengths and skillset are better suited to a different course, we may make you an alternative offer. This means you will be offered a place on a different course or at a different UAL College.

Deferring your place

You must apply in the year that you intend to start your course. If you are made an offer and your circumstances change, you can submit a deferral request to defer your place by 1 academic year. You must have met your conditions by 31 August 2024. If you need an English language test in order to meet the entry requirements, the test must be valid on the deferred start date of your course. If not, you will need to reapply. Requests are granted on a first-come, first-served basis.

Contextual Admissions

This course is part of the Contextual Admissions scheme.

This scheme helps us better understand your personal circumstances so that we can assess your application fairly and in context. This ensures that your individual merit and creative potential can shine through, no matter what opportunities and experiences you have received.

Careers

All of our undergraduate courses offer career development, so that you become a creative thinker, making effective contributions to your relevant sector of the fashion industry.

LCF offers students the opportunity to develop Personal and Professional Development (PPD) skills while studying through:
  • An on-course work experience or placement year. Please note, this is not available on every course; please see the Course Details section for information about work placement opportunities.
  • Access to to speaker programmes and events featuring alumni and industry.
  • Access to careers activities, such as CV clinics and one-to-one advice sessions.
  • Access to a graduate careers service
  • Access to a live jobsboard for all years.
  • Advice on setting up your own brand or company.
Graduates who wish to continue their education at postgraduate level can progress to suitable courses within the College, the University or elsewhere.

Career paths

Many graduates prefer to seek employment as soon as they have completed their undergraduate studies. Recent graduates have gone on to work as freelance hair and make-up artists, assistants to established industry artists and working for brands including MAC Cosmetics and Bobbi Brown Cosmetics.