MA Make-up and Hair Design Futures
Explore the rapidly evolving field of designing for future bodies, beauty cultures and creature design using speculative design strategies and augmented realities
BA (Hons)Make-Up and Hair Design
Apply on UCAS
- 2025
- 2026
- 3 years
- 4 years with foundation year
UCAS code: MHD1
Institution code: S30
UCAS points: 104-120Flexible entry options available
Campus: Southampton City CentreView on Google Maps
Why study a make-up and hair design degree at Solent University
Superb connections, amazing facilities, and the opportunity to work alongside students of photography, TV, film, and SFX make Solent’s course a first choice: the gateway to careers across the world.
- £0minvested in a dedicated art and design school
- 0thin the top 20 best student cities (StudentCrowd, 2023)
- 0thin the sector for graduate start-ups (HESA 2023)
- Solent was one of the first universities in the UK ever to offer a degree in make-up and hair design – you will learn from some of the best in the business.
- Solent ranked in the top 20% of UK universities for teaching quality (out of 131 institutions) (The Times Good University Guide 2025).
- First university to offer professional make-up teams, led by students and graduates, inside the industry.
- Solent has fantastic, industry-standard make-up, hair, and prosthetics studios. The beauty room, the body lab and the prosthetics studio are just three of the areas you'll work in while capturing your work in our specialist photography, TV and film studios. There are amazing opportunities for collaboration and friendships with students from other courses.
- You will learn from professionals and academics with specialised experience in editing, digital media, performance, journalism, film, magazines, styling, art direction, editorial, advertising, PR, and critical and theoretical studies.
- A wide range of exciting guest speakers, including Terry Barber (Director of Make-up & Artistry at MAC Cosmetics), Ateh Jewel, Pablo Rodriguez (Director of Artistry, Illamasqua).
- Collaborative study and work with students from our prosthetics and special effects design programmes.
- Solent students have recently worked with Fashion Scout, London Fashion Week, Graduate Fashion Week, gaining fantastic experience to add to their CVs and improving employability.
- Study trips (to amazing fashionista locations such as New York and Paris).
- Competitions that celebrate talent and innovation.
- You’ll be assigned a personal tutor who can assist you with pastoral support to help you make the most of your learning.
- Every student at Solent University will also have the option to study an additional Certificate in Practical Artificial Intelligence qualification alongside their course. Free of charge, the course ensures you'll be prepared for a fantastic and varied career after graduation.
Course overview
This challenging, creative course delivers all the skills you need to start your career as a professional make-up artist and more. You will develop your knowledge and understanding of the professional roles in the key areas of the industry from editorial and catwalk, to film, television and theatre.
With a focus on real-world learning, you'll gain key skills needed to stand-out in industry and make your unique mark, through character design and studio practice, underpinned with a thorough understanding of culture and consumer behaviour. You'll explore make-up and hair styling for fashion editorial, wig work for theatre, TV, as well as alternative design contexts (eg, publications, galleries and the catwalk). And to enable you to operate across contemporary design platforms, you will also be trained in photography, film and digital publishing.
On this course you will explore the many contexts of make-up and hair design within the creative industries and be encouraged to take an experimental approach to application, materials and creative development processes to make your mark in industry.Â
We emphasise diversity and inclusion within design, while debating beauty ideals, gender politics and the changing face of identity. Throughout the course you will also be encouraged to embrace and develop new ways of working, alongside the study of historic and contemporary techniques.
With specialist studios and workshops, ranging from make-up, hair and special effects studios, to photography studios, IT suites, and a comprehensive Virtual Learning Environment (VLE), you gain the experience needed to be prepared as a professional in industry.Â
You will be taught by a team with strong reputations as practicing professional designers or researchers, as well as visiting lecturers, a dynamic programme of industry speakers, and international visits.
Thanks to the course team's close links with industry you will have the opportunity to work on a range of live project briefs with organisations, which have recently included Mac Pro, Nars, Rimmel Ingolot and Huda Beauty.
You'll also benefit from a range of industry speakers and workshops. Recent speakers have included Carly Utting for Mac Pro And Lan Nguyen Grealis.
Practical experience is at the core of our real-world learning. Each year, our students work as part of a make-up team at Graduate Fashion Week, and we regularly host industry demonstrations. Students also benefit from kit support provided by leading brands, which have included Mac Pro, NARS, and Rimmel. Additionally, you are encouraged to attend events such as British Beauty Council gatherings and Mac Pro demonstrations in London."
We also provide in-house competitions, with prizes from our kit suppliers, and we encourage our students get regular experience at local theatres such as MAST, Mayflower and The Grange Theatres.
And there is also many collaborative opportunities with other students within Solent, on projects such as GUNK Collective, an online multi-media platform, showcasing the cutting edge vision of Solent University undergraduates in Makeup, Hair, Prosthetics and Special Effects, as well as a mutlitude of experiences on shoots and catwalk events. You will also have the opportunity to apply to work with our professional make-up team at London Fashion Week,
This practical experience, provides you with the opportunity for cross-programme collaborations to help you contextualise your place within the industry, offering you a rich and stimulating education and preparing you for future employment.
Any questions?
Contact international admissions
Email:Â Call:ÂCourse features
Specialist facilities
This course has access to specialist facilities
Foundation year available
If you're not quite ready for a full undergraduate degree, there's alternative entry through one of our foundation years
Further studies
After successfully completing your studies, there's an opportunity to continue your studies at Solent
Top-up option
If you have an appropriate Level 5 qualification, you can top it up to a degree in just a year
Study abroad
You have the opportunity to study abroad in one of our partner universities for a semester on this course
Who is this course for?
Solent’s Make Up and Hair course is ideally suited to students who wish to expand their  knowledge  and develop their creative design skills in  make up and hair - across editorial and catwalk, theatre and Film / TV. Applicants should have ideally studied a creative subject and have a portfolio of  related art and design work to show as part of their application to the courseÂ
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What does this course lead to?
Make-up and hair graduates from Solent are renowned for their excellent design conceptualisation skills and clear understanding of the requirements of industry, alongside an innovative and professional approach to the discipline.
The course will transform your understanding of this area, and provide you with a wide range of career options as a make-up designer in the creative industries. From working within creative direction, to pursuing a career in advertising, fashion, beauty, TV, film or theatre, you will leave this degree with the creative skills to formulate, design and present self-initiated outcomes to start a fantastic career in this ever-evolving industry.
Meet the team
The University cannot guarantee any particular members of staff will teach specific aspects of the course in the future, but will endeavour to ensure the teaching team maintains their balance of experience and qualifications.
Facilities
Our industry ready make-up and hair studios provide the ideal learning environment, while linking with photography, film and performance spaces. The Beauty Room, and The Body Lab are just two of the areas you will work in while capturing your work in our specialist photography, TV and film studios.
Our vibrant campus brings state-of-the-art facilities to enhance your learning and elevate your student experience. Our award-winning teaching building, The Spark is centred around students and offers a stimulating study environment with flexible learning spaces. Away from studying, why not try out the gyms, fitness studios and sports halls in our £28 million Sports Complex, or watch a blockbuster film at our student-run cinema with Dolby Atmos audio.
International opportunities
Broaden your horizons by adding an international dimension to your CV – essential to achieving success in today’s fast-changing, global environment.
Studying, working or volunteering in another country could be the experience of a lifetime. Enhance your degree by developing important global skills such as knowledge of other countries, language skills, intercultural awareness, adaptability and confidence.
For more information, please email international.mobility@solent.ac.uk.
What you'll study
Core modules
Character Design
In this module, you will be introduced to creating characters and conceptualising your ideas for a specific cinematic genre and will learn the most appropriate characterisation techniques to develop your interpretation of a character based on a literary classic book.
Creative Image
On this module you'll be introduced to photographic language from both a practice and conceptual perspective. You will look at the mechanics of image making and become familiar with the function of cameras, lenses and lighting, as well as ideas around image making, the history of the medium and its place within contemporary culture.
Culture and Context
This module will enhance ways of seeing, thinking and writing about visual culture. You will learn about key cultural developments, practices and movements related to the history of design, visual and popular culture and the styled body since 1900 to the present day.
Design Practice
This module explores design as a visual strategy for not only resolving problems but also posing questions. Enabling you to place your practice in a broader social and cultural context, and help you recognise yourself as an independent, creative designer.
Studio Practice
In this module you will work closely with your Technical Instructors who will provide you with the discipline and rigour needed to engage in practical tasks. You'll have an introduction to make-up and hair application and theory, including skincare, creating a polished professional base and colour theory as well as the basics of working with hair correctly – from washing and blow drying, to using suitable products with electrical tools for a variation of styles and a basic knowledge of hair practice.
Subculture and Style
During this module you will be introduced to the visual and cultural history of style, how this has influenced a range of subcultures, and also how these varied identities continue to influence contemporary design and media. You will learn to place your practical work in a creative context, by critically exploring a range of historical, socio political and ethical issues.
How you will learn and be assessed
You will learn by:
You may be assessed by a combination of:
- Sketchbooks
- Research projects
- Portfolios
- Individual presentations
- Assignments
Solent’s curriculum framework builds on our unique, creative and applied approach to teaching. The transformation of students’ lives is at the heart of our mission as a university, and our curriculum – informed by the latest theory – reflects this shared educational vision.
Find out more
Study support
The student achievement team are on hand to help you succeed during your studies at Solent. They aim to contact you at key times during your time here with personalised information, advice and guidance, by email or phone.
The disability advice team provides information, advice and guidance for disabled students.
All students can access Succeed@Solent, Solent's online guide to getting better grades. It offers extensive, practical information and advice on topics such as academic writing, research and presentations.
Why choose a career in hair and make-up design?
Make-up and hair artists can work in a broad range of professions, spanning events, promotional campaigns, theatre, film, TV, editorial magazines and fashion shows.Â
The ethos of the course is that it operates as a creative hub, providing students with the skills to develop creative concepts and alternative approaches. Our key objective is to nurture exceptional make-up and hair designers, enabling them to be expressive, visionary and provocative with a wide range of abilities. Working in specialist photography, TV and film studios, there are amazing opportunities for collaboration with students from other courses.
You could earn:
Make-up artist
Typical salary: £170 - £450 per day
Make-up artists working in fashion can earn £450 a day for an event like London Fashion Week, and around £275 for other events. For fashion editorial work head make-up artists earn £170 to £320 per day, depending on the designer. On major feature films, with budgets over £30million, a trainee make-up artist can earn £140 for a ten-hour day, while a key hair and make-up artist with several years' experience, will earn £410.
The stated salaries are published on prospects.ac.uk.
Solent Careers
The Solent Careers team is committed to getting students into great careers.
While you are studying, the team can help you with finding work experience or placements, link you with a mentor, check your CV, or offer one-to-one guidance.
We also have graduate job opportunities just for Solent graduates.
6th
UK uni for sustained employment
Longitudinal Educational Outcomes, 2022
Certificate in Practical Artificial Intelligence
Every student at Solent University will also have the option to study an additional Certificate in Practical Artificial Intelligence qualification alongside their course. Free of charge, the course ensures you'll be prepared for a fantastic and varied career after graduation.Â
Further study
Thinking about studying further than an undergraduate degree? Alumni can get 20% off their postgraduate study.
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Tuition fees
The tuition fees for the 2025/26 academic year are:
- UK, ROI, EU (settled status) and Channel Island full-time fees: £9,535 per year
- International full-time fees: £17,750 per year
For further information, please visit our tuition fees page.
Extra course costs
While most course costs are covered by your tuition fees, some essential resources and optional extras may need to be paid for separately. These additional costs are listed below. For advice on budgeting and managing your money, please contact student.funding@solent.ac.uk.
The 2025/26 other costs are not yet available. For guidance, the 2024/25 costs were:
Compulsory costs
- Year one
Make-up and hair kit: £600
Lighting rig and backdrop: £40 - Year two
Optional module - Radical Bodies: £315
Optional module - The Make-Up Morgue: £140
Optional costs
- Year one
Study trip: approx £350 - £1,300 - Year two
Study trips: approx £350 - £1,300 - Year three
Study trips: approx £350 - £1,300
Bursaries, scholarships and financial support
Solent University offers a range of bursaries and scholarships that provide financial assistance or waive fees for tuition or accommodation. Each bursary or scholarship has specific eligibility criteria. Check out our bursaries and scholarships pages to find out more.
Solent EU Welcome Scholarship (Fee Discount)
This scholarship is available to students from an EU country, with EU nationality, who are applying for an undergraduate course starting in September 2025. The scholarship will reduce your tuition fees to £10,500 per year - this includes foundation years.
Find out more about the scholarship
Cost of living support
At Solent, we understand that the cost of living crisis may be of some concern. To help, we've put together some detailed information to show what support is available and how to make your money go further.
Graduation costs
There is no charge to attend graduation, but you will be required to pay for the rental of your academic gown (approximately £45 per graduate, depending on your award). You may also wish to purchase official photography packages, which range in price from £15 to £200+. Graduation is not compulsory, so if you prefer to have your award sent to you, there is no cost. Extra guest tickets will go on sale after results publication and will be sold on a first-come-first-served basis. The cost per ticket is currently £15. Please note, we do not guarantee there will be any extra tickets available to purchase.
Student finance videos
Student finance Video transcript, with a description of visuals available.Student funding - the essentials Video transcript, with a description of visuals available.
Entry requirements
Please select an option below:
Key entry requirements
104-120 UCAS tariff points
- A minimum of two completed A-levels, a BTEC Extended Diploma at MMM or BTEC Diploma at D*D, a T-Level Pass (C+), or equivalent qualification, or a combination of qualifications which comply with the minimum entry requirement of 104 UCAS points.
- Direct entry into the second or third years may be considered for this course.
- Applicants over the age of 21 may be considered based on relevant experience, without having the required tariff points.
- UK applicants are required to send an electronic portfolio and may be required to attend an interview.
- For further information about UK qualifications, please contact admissions.
Key entry requirements
As a general guide, we look for qualifications that are equivalent to the British high school A-levels.
Applicants from outside the UK will be required to send an electronic portfolio and may be interviewed by video call.
If you are applying from outside the UK, find information about entry requirements, visas and agents for your country here.
For further information about UK, EU and international qualifications, please see our course entry requirements document.
For international students who do not meet the direct entry requirements for this undergraduate degree, our trusted partner, QA Higher Education offers the following pathway programme designed to develop your academic and English language skills:
- International Foundation Year - for progression to the first year of an undergraduate degree
Key entry requirements
As a general guide, we look for qualifications that are equivalent to the British high school A-levels.
Applicants from outside the UK will be required to send an electronic portfolio and may be interviewed by video call.
If you are applying from outside the UK, find information about entry requirements, visas and agents for your country here.
For more information about qualifications, please see our course entry requirements document.
For international students who do not meet the direct entry requirements for this undergraduate degree, our trusted partner, QA Higher Education offers the following pathway programme designed to develop your academic and English language skills:
- International Foundation Year - for progression to the first year of an undergraduate degree
Note to all international students requiring a visa
All international applicants need to be aware that the English language requirements to attend Solent University, and the English language requirements to obtain a visa from the Home Office, may be different. This means that if you meet the Solent University language requirement to gain a place on the course, you may still have to meet additional requirements to be granted with a visa by the Home Office.
We strongly advise all applicants to visit the Home Office website which outlines all the requirements for a successful visa application.
104-120UCAS points
Any questions?
Contact international admissions
Email:Â Call:ÂHow to apply
Full-time
Any student applying for the first year of a full-time/sandwich undergraduate course must apply through UCAS (University and Colleges Admissions Service). This includes mature, overseas and EU students.
Nearly all schools and colleges offer their students the facility of applying electronically through the UCAS website using 'Apply'; it may also be used by those applying independently in the UK and overseas. This facility and all course information can be found on the UCAS website: www.ucas.com.
Your application should reach UCAS by 31 January if you hope to enter a course the following autumn. Early application is advised for the most popular subject areas. Late applications may be made until the end of June. The UCAS Code for the University is S30, code name SOLNT.
Find out what happens after you apply
Contextual offers
Solent endeavours to offer learning opportunities to students from all backgrounds. When we receive and review an application, we take into consideration the context and personal circumstances of applicants when making a decision, which means our advertised entry tariff could be reduced.
Alternative entry options
Top-up route:
We welcome applications from students currently studying a Foundation Degree, DipHE, HNC, HND or modules of an undergraduate degree course at another university, who wish to enter directly into Years 2 or 3 of one of our undergraduate degree courses. Please contact our admissions team for more information: contact us
Language requirements
Applicants who do not have English as their first language will be required to demonstrate an approved level of proficiency in the use of the English language. The agreed minimum requirements for this course are:
- IELTS minimum 6.0 overall with a minimum of 5.5 in each individual component
- TOEFL IBT minimum 80 with a minimum of 20 in each individual component
- Duolingo English Language Test - 115 overall with minimum of 95 in each component or equivalent.
Qualifications are checked before enrolment, and international students must bring their original certificates or certified copies when coming to study at the University.
Pre-Sessional English programme
The University also offers a pre-sessional English programme for international students who wish to improve their level of English before starting a degree course.
Make your application
- 3 years
- 4 years with foundation year
