BA (Hons) Special Effects Make-up Design and Prosthetics
About This Course
Get prepared for the TV and film industries as a Prosthetics and Special Effects Make-up artist. Develop the fascinating skills of life casting and mould making, and learn how to transform your designs and ideas into a complete character.
Student focus is on the design, manufacture and application of prosthetic make-up for stage and screen. Learners are exposed to industry- standard techniques, linking both artistic expressions with key workshop manufacturing fundamentals. Each level of study will engage and challenge the student to expand upon their skillset, using a variety of materials within specific professional contexts.
By exploring a wide range of materials and practices, students will have the chance to explore every aspect of the special make-up effects artist’s role within the industry. Designs and ideas will materialize through experimentation, and a comprehensive portfolio will emerge - allowing graduates to effectively promote themselves as both creative and highly competent technicians.
Our students come from a range of creative backgrounds with disciplines in art & design, media makeup and model making. The learning environment is inclusive and we welcome applicants from all backgrounds and age ranges. The transferable skills that we instill in our students require nothing more than dedication and a desire to learn the craft of these “behind-the-scenes” practices.
The successful candidate will hold 80 UCAS Points, with minimum of Grade C/4 in GCSE Maths and English. This equates to MMP or above at BTEC National Diploma, CCD at A-Level, or Merit on the Diploma Foundation Studies (Art, Design and Media). University Centre Grimsby also encourages applications from non-traditional learners who lack formal academic qualifications. These non-traditional applicants will be interviewed, and will carry out a bespoke assignment in order to assess their academic potential and relevant experience.
Year 1 (Level 4):
In your first year, you will be introduced and exposed to a wide variety of vital skills, such as designing, sculpting, moulding, casting, application and painting. This is coupled with academic input, which is contextualized around the specialism of arts and society in general.
- Casualty Simulation
- Mask Making Techniques
- Media, Arts and Society
- Life Casting and Moulding
- Character Transformation
- Anatomy and Lifelike Sculpture
Year 2 (Level 5):
In your second year, you will move on to application and development of the skills learnt in level 4, with more advanced practical applications of prosthetics, designs and sculpting processes. Again, some theory is embedded in delivery in order to deepen your understanding of the subject and prepare yourself for the requirements of level 6.
- Prosthetic Techniques 1 & 2
- Creative Practitioner
- Critical Approaches
- Creature Design and Sculpture
- Researching the Arts
Year 3 (Level 6):
The last year of your studies is the “springboard to industry”; the culmination of progressively increased self-direction, critique and responsibility. As well as dissertation, you will design and produce a final major project, calling on key principles that have been delivered since level 4 and expanding on them. You will focus on finding and presenting to the world your own professional identity, and have a chance to practically prepare yourself for the industry.
- Dissertation
- Preliminary Practical Project
- Professional Identity and Employability
- Final Major Project
The majority of assessments will be practical makeup applications, assignments and presentations.
Since the entire course is designed to address individual needs, and each learner has a lot of one-to-one time with the tutors, the opportunities are endless. Students achieve an extremely high level of development because we leave no questions unanswered. As well as the default skills that the course provides to learners, we are always open to new ideas and innovating techniques. Alongside research, we continuously seek for the newest methods and materials to keep our teaching up to date.
Learners have gone on to work in various areas of the industry including film, television and workshops labs covering both work in the UK and abroad. Students could progress to studying for a Masters in a special effects related subject.
