UndergraduateMusic & Performing Arts
Bachelor of Fine Arts (Costume)
National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA), Sydney, NSW, Australia
About this program
NIDA's Bachelor of Fine Arts (Costume) is a 3-year, full-time, on-campus degree that trains costume makers rather than costume designers (that sits with the separate Design for Performance course), building hands-on competency in costume cutting and construction, fitting, fabric dyeing, art finishing and fabrication, underpinnings, leatherwork, tailoring and headwear. Students work with globally recognised tutors and guest practitioners specialising in opera, theatre and film costume, and by third year take on genuine costume-supervisor responsibilities on NIDA's own productions, collaborating directly with actors, stage managers and designers, alongside an industry placement with a professional company or studio.
The school has been recognised for 3 consecutive years by The Hollywood Reporter among the world's Top 10 Costume Design Schools. Graduates have gone on to work at Opera Australia, The Australian Ballet, Sydney Theatre Company, Cosprop (London), Bangarra Dance Theatre and Ensemble Theatre, on productions including Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Frozen, and films such as Aquaman, Elvis and Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga.
Entry is by merit selection through an online application with a portfolio and garment submission, followed by a callback interview for shortlisted applicants.
Fees & duration
English test scores
Verified nida.edu.au ↗
Course structure
Study plan in 4 parts
- Interdisciplinary Collaboration
- Costume Making Techniques
- Costume Cutting and Construction
- Professional Practice
- Clothing Cultures and Histories
- Encountering Performance
- Winjara
- Interdisciplinary Collaboration
- Costume Cutting and Construction
- Clothing Cultures and Histories
- Costume Technology and Art Finishing
- Contexts of Performance
- Professional Practice
- Student Led Project
- Experimental Art Movements and Practice
- Interdisciplinary Collaboration
- Professional Practice
- Clothing Cultures and Histories
- Independent Research Project
- 3 years full-time
- on campus
Admissions
NIDA's general entry requirements (Year 12 completion or equivalent, minimum age 18 by 31 March of first enrolment year, evidenced interest in the performing arts) plus course-specific selection: an online application with portfolio and garment submission (Round One), followed by a callback interview for shortlisted applicants (Round Two). International applicants must also complete a Genuine Temporary Entry (GTE) interview.
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