Wimbledon staff, students and alumni address the urgent issue of sustainability in the costume industry
Guest post by Kathleen Ridley, Lecturer for BA Costume for Theatre and Screen on sustainability in the costume industry.
BA (Hons) Technical Arts for Theatre and Performance
BA Technical Arts for Theatre and Performance at Wimbledon College of Arts teaches you how to make props, puppets and prosthetics for the entertainment industry.
This course is subject to validation. Validation is a process that makes sure students get a high quality academic experience. During validation there maybe be some changes to course content and structure. Please contact us if you have any questions about this course.
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Course overview
The course covers the key techniques of concept development, design, engineering and sculpting. These creative practical and conceptual skills and methods can be applied within the fields of film, performance and theatre. You will be encouraged to experiment with material and digital practices.
What to expect
An introduction to a wide range of unique and specialist skills, technical knowledge and understanding taught by highly experienced professional practitioners.
The course will cover:
- Mechatronics, electronics and animatronics
- Sculpting, moulding, casting with specialised life casting
- Fabrication using analogue and digital techniques, including 3D printing
- Painting and finishing techniques
- Experimentation within staging, scenographic context and design
- Prosthetics for the cultural industries
You will:
- Develop your conceptual, creative, critical thinking to enable you to engage with the material and spatial practices of fabrication and design in this specialist field
- Have opportunities to collaborate with other design and performance courses and professionals
- Have the chance to visit studios and workshops of industry professionals
- Have access to Wimbledon's shared workshops. View the Wimbledon facilities
Mode of study
BA Technical Arts for Theatre and Performance is offered in full-time mode. It is divided into 3 stages over 3 academic years. Each stage consists of 30 teaching weeks. You will be expected to commit an average of 40 hours per week to your course, including teaching hours and independent study.
Course units
A short description of what you can expect.
Year 1
You will receive an introduction to the subject. You will be given a series of projects that will enable you to learn about and use technical arts methods, techniques and materials used in theatre or screen production.
- Unit 1 - Introduction to BA Technical Arts for Theatre and Performance
- Unit 2 - Designing and making 1
- Unit 3 - Designing and making 2
- Unit 4 - Exploring ideas
- Unit 5 - Who are you? Establishing practice
Year 2
In the second year you will further explore and refine techniques that interest you. Projects will become more challenging allowing you to experiment with ideas, materials and formats.
There will be opportunities for collaboration and work placements. These will further your contextual knowledge of contemporary practice and improve your creative research skills.
- Unit 6 - Practice as laboratory
- Unit 7 - Collaboration unit
- Unit 8 - Where in the world? 1
- Unit 9 - Where in the world? 2
Year 3
You will bring together the knowledge, methods and techniques you have learnt on the course. You will produce body of work which will be supported by research, experimentation and technical information. This will form a portfolio enabling you to transition into professional practice or Master’s level study. You will present your work in the college degree show.
- Unit 10 - Finding your voice: portfolio design, crafting research skills and career planning
- Unit 11 - Show your work: independent practice
Option Diploma between year 2 and 3
Between year 2 and 3 you can opt to undertake the Diploma in Professional Studies or the Diploma in Creative Computing.
How to apply
Opportunities for all
We are committed to making university education an achievable option for a wider range of people and to supporting all of our students in achieving their potential both during and after their courses.
We welcome applications from people with disabilities. If you have a disability (e.g. mobility difficulties, sensory impairments, medical or mental health conditions or Asperger’s syndrome) we strongly encourage you to contact us on disability@arts.ac.uk or +44 (0)20 7514 6156 so that we can plan the right support for you. All enquiries are treated confidentially. To find out more, visit our Disability & Dyslexia webpages.
Entry requirements
The standard minimum entry requirements for this course are one or a combination of the following qualifications:
- Pass at Foundation Diploma in Art and Design (Level 3 or 4)
- 2 A Levels at grade C or above
- Merit, Pass, Pass (MPP) at BTEC Extended Diploma
- Pass at UAL Extended Diploma
- Access to Higher Education Diploma
- Or equivalent EU/International qualifications, such as International Baccalaureate Diploma
- And 3 GCSE passes at grade 4 or above (grade A*-C)
Entry to this course will also be determined by the quality of your application, looking primarily at your portfolio of work, personal statement and reference.
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
- 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
All classes are taught in English. If English isn't your first language you must provide evidence at enrolment of the following:
- IELTS level 6.0 or above, with at least 5.5 in reading, writing, listening and speaking (please check our English language requirements)
Selection criteria
What we look for:
- An interest, commitment and motivation for studying technical arts for theatre and performance
- An ability to work imaginatively and creatively in 2D and 3D visual media, materials and processes
- Potential for creative problem solving
- An ability to create and develop new ideas
- A desire to learn and an ability to investigate and develop ideas independently
- Ability to communicate your ideas visually, verbally and in writing
- Visual awareness and an understanding of the creative process
- Ability to self-direct and evaluate your own work
- Cultural and historical awareness of technical arts
- Motivation for working in the related industries
- A desire to succeed
Making your application
Portfolio advice
We look for:
- A range of visual recording, such as drawing, life drawing and photography
- Experimentation, which demonstrates idea generation and development
- Visual work which uses form, structure, colour, texture and space
- Design development showing how problems are solved
- Previous experience of theatre work
- Sketchbooks and notebooks
Please remember:
- The quality of the work is more important than the quantity
- Where possible, large or 3D work should be photographed and scanned
- To organise your work by project, with supporting work presented alongside final outcomes
You must apply through UCAS, where you’ll need the following information:
- University code - U65
- UCAS course code - W443
Application deadline
We recommend you apply by 15 January for equal consideration.
However, this course will consider applications after that date, subject to places being available.
Entry to Year 2 or Year 3:
If you have successfully completed 120 credits (year 1) or 240 credits (year 1 and 2) in the equivalent units or modules on a degree course at another institution and wish to continue your studies at Wimbledon College of Arts, you can apply to transfer to year 2 or year 3 respectively. The Admissions Tutor will consider applicants for entry to year 2 and 3 on a case by case basis, subject to places being available on the course. You must apply through UCAS and indicate POE 2 for entry to year 2 or POE 3 for entry to year 3 on your application. Further information can be found in our UAL External Student Transfer Policy.
Deferred entry application:
This course will consider deferred entry applications.
What happens next
Communicating with you
After you’ve submitted your application, you’ll receive a confirmation email providing you with your login details for the UAL Portal. We’ll use this portal to contact you to request any additional information, including inviting you to upload documents or book an interview, so please check it regularly.
Initial application check
We check your application to see if you meet the standard entry requirements for the course. If you do, you’ll be invited to or asked to book onto a suitable date to attend an interview selection event.
Interview selection event
You will be expected to bring your portfolio, which will be reviewed by the academics conducting the event. Please be prepared to talk about your work, what inspires you and your influences. We may not discuss all of these topics at the event.
The event will also give you a chance to meet current students, take a tour of the college and see the facilities.
More details about your interview selection event will be emailed to you once you have chosen or been allocated your date.
Selection for Home/EU applicants happens in a variety of different ways:
- In person at Wimbledon College of Arts
- By phone or Skype
If you choose phone or Skype, you will be sent an email requesting that you upload a digital portfolio using UAL’s online portfolio review system.
How we notify you of the outcome of your application
You will receive the final outcome of your application through UCAS track.
Please note that applicants for this course may be given an alternative offer. This decision will be based on our assessment of your creative and potential interests.
There are 3 ways international students can apply to an undergraduate course at Wimbledon College of Arts:
- Through one of our official representatives in your country
- Through UCAS
- By direct application
If you are applying via UCAS you will need the following information:
- University code - U65
- UCAS course code - W443
You can only apply to the same course once per year whether you are applying via UCAS, UAL representative or using the UAL online application system. Any duplicate applications will be withdrawn. Read the UAL international application advice for further information on how to apply.
Application deadline
We recommend you apply by 15 January for equal consideration.
However, this course will consider applications after that date, subject to places being available.
Entry to Year 2 or Year 3:
If you have successfully completed 120 credits (year 1) or 240 credits (year 1 and 2) in the equivalent units or modules on a degree course at another institution and wish to continue your studies at Wimbledon College of Arts, you can apply to transfer to year 2 or year 3 respectively. The Admissions Tutor will consider applicants for entry to year 2 and 3 on a case by case basis, subject to places being available on the course. You must apply through UCAS and indicate POE 2 for entry to year 2 or POE 3 for entry to year 3 on your application. Further information can be found in our UAL External Student Transfer Policy.
Deferred entry application:
This course will consider deferred entry applications.
What happens next
Communicating with you
After you’ve submitted your application, you’ll receive a confirmation email providing you with your login details for the UAL Portal. We’ll use this portal to contact you to request any additional information, including inviting you to upload documents or book an interview, so please check it regularly.
Immigration history check
Whether you’re applying online via UCAS, through a UAL representative or by direct application you will need to complete an Immigration History Check to establish whether you are eligible to study at UAL. If you don’t complete the check we won’t be able to proceed with your application.
Initial application check
We check your application to see if you meet the standard entry requirements for the course. If you do, you will be asked to upload a digital portfolio. Once you have uploaded your portfolio, you’ll be invited to or asked to book onto a suitable date to attend an interview selection event.
Interview selection event
You will be expected to bring your portfolio, which will be reviewed by the academics conducting the event. Please be prepared to talk about your work, what inspires you and your influences. We may not discuss all of these topics at the event.
More details about your interview selection event will be emailed to you once you have chosen or been allocated your date.
Selection for international applicants happens in a variety of different ways:
- By phone or Skype
- In your country, if your application was made through one of our official representatives
- In person at our international office based at Chelsea College of Arts
If you choose phone or Skype your portfolio that you uploaded via UAL’s online portfolio review system will be used during the interview.
How we notify you of the outcome of your application
- If you applied through UCAS you will receive the final outcome of of your application through UCAS track
- If you applied directly or through an agent, we will notify you through the UAL portal
Please note that applicants for this course may be given an alternative offer. This decision will be based on our assessment of your creative and potential interests.
Study Abroad
Through the Study Abroad programme international students can apply to join an undergraduate course.
For information on how to apply visit the Study Abroad section
Fees & Funding
Home / EU fee
£9,250 (2020/21).
Tuition fees may increase in future years for new and continuing students, in line with an inflationary amount determined by government. Please visit our undergraduate tuition fees page for more information.
International fee
£22,920 (2020/21).
Additional costs
In addition to tuition fees you are very likely to incur additional costs such as travel expenses and the cost of materials. Please read the information on our additional costs page.
Accommodation
Find out about the accommodation options available and how much they will cost.
Scholarships and awards
Use our search tool to find out more about the scholarships and awards available to students.