Costume For Stage & Screen: HND

HND - Glasgow Kelvin College

Course overview

ℹ️ This course is currently full. Applications are still welcome and will be added to a waiting list.

Bring stories to life through costume design and craftsmanship.

This specialist course combines design, history and practical garment construction to prepare you for a creative career in theatre, film or television costume. You’ll explore the evolution of fashion and period dress, developing the skills to design, cut, construct and embellish garments for stage and screen productions.

You’ll study both men’s and women’s tailoring, create period foundation garments such as corsets, and learn decorative embellishment techniques using hand and machine sewing. Working on a range of internal design briefs and simulated production projects, you’ll gain invaluable hands-on experience designing and producing costumes for performance contexts — building a professional portfolio that reflects your creativity and technical precision.

By graduation, you’ll have a strong mix of creative flair, technical accuracy and historical understanding — ready to enter costume departments across film, TV and theatre, or to progress to university-level study.

This course is ideal for:

Creative learners with a passion for design, fashion history and garment construction.
Those who dream of working behind the scenes in film, theatre or TV costume.
Students who enjoy hands-on making and detailed sewing or tailoring work.
Anyone aiming to progress into specialist costume, design or production roles.

Course description

You’ll build a wide range of creative and technical skills used by costume professionals, including:

Costume Design & History of Costume – researching eras, styles and character concepts.
Pattern Construction – developing patterns for men’s and women’s garments.
Ladies’ Period Foundation Garments – creating corsetry and structured underpinnings.
Gents’ Costume Cutting & Construction – advanced tailoring techniques and fit.
Costume Fitting & Alteration Skills – achieving professional, stage-ready finishes.
Costume Embellishment – decorative techniques using embroidery and hand finishing.
Corsetry – precision construction for historical 18th-century and Victorian corsets and modern performance wear.
Production Project Work – creating full costumes for live or display presentation as part of your portfolio.

Entry requirements

✅ NQ Fashion Design and Manufacture, or equivalent award

✅ Alternatively, two Highers, at grade ’C’ or above, in Art, English, or Fashion & Textiles

✅ Entry by interview, with a portfolio showing design sketches, garment work, or customised pieces

ℹ️ For this course, if English is not your first language

you need to have SQA ESOL Higher (or equivalent, click here to see equivalent qualifications)
If you do not have a formal ESOL qualification but your language skills meet this level, you should apply for your course and then contact our Admissions team to organise an internal language assessment here at the College.

Progression

Further study

Graduates may progress to fashion degrees at leading universities including:

The Royal Conservatoire for Scotland

Glasgow Caledonian University

Heriot-Watt University – School of Textiles and Design

Glasgow School of Art and Edinburgh College of Art

Manchester Metropolitan University

Graduates from Glasgow Kelvin College have gone on to work with the Outlander costume team, undertake freelance film and theatre contracts, and create bespoke costume and cosplay pieces.

Career opportunities

Graduates may pursue roles such as:

🎭 Costume or Wardrobe Assistant

🎬 Costume Cutter or Maker for Film/TV

🧵 Self-employed Costume Designer or Cosplayer

🏛️ Museum or Costume Curator

💼 Theatre Costume Technician or Dresser