Hair, Make-up and Prosthetics for Stage and Screen

Hair, make-up and prosthetics for stage and screen is a specialist creative discipline that sits at the intersection of craftsmanship, artistry and technical skill. Professionals in this field transform performers for theatre, film, television and other visual media, creating characters that range from subtle everyday looks to elaborate period styles, fantasy creatures, aged appearances and complex wounds and special effects. It is a physically demanding, detail-intensive craft that requires both aesthetic sensibility and a thorough knowledge of materials, anatomy and the specific requirements of different production environments.

At the University of Northampton, this three-year full-time programme is specifically designed to prepare you for a career in the make-up and special effects sector of the creative industries. You will develop a varied and practical skill set across hair styling, cosmetic make-up, character and period make-up, special effects, ageing, creature design and prosthetics construction. The programme combines practical technique with an understanding of the professional etiquette and working practices of industry environments, preparing you to enter productions with the conduct and adaptability that employers expect.

Alongside the practical training, you will develop the historical and cultural knowledge to contextualise hair, make-up and prosthetics across a wide range of stage and screen contexts.

Graduates from this kind of programme work in film, television, theatre, opera, ballet, commercial photography, fashion and music video productions. Roles include hair and make-up artist, prosthetics technician, special effects make-up artist and department head. Many practitioners work freelance, building a portfolio of productions across different sectors.

The creative industries are highly competitive but also constantly growing, and the specialist technical skills developed on this programme are in genuine demand from productions of all scales. Further training and postgraduate study in specialist areas of prosthetics or special effects are options for those who want to deepen their expertise.