Special Effects Make-up Artistry
BA (Hons) (Top-Up)
Leaflet Code: CR26779FT
Overview
If you’ve completed a foundation degree in make-up (or similar level 5 course), take your skills in special effects to the next level, ‘top up’ your qualification and expand the knowledge you’ll need for a rewarding career with this BA (Hons) Degree in Special Effects Make-Up Artistry.
Manchester is a hub for innovation and production, with make-up artists much sought after for work at the BBC and ITV at Media City. With this course, you’ll extend the essential key skills and attributes required of a professional make-up artist, develop advanced techniques and technical abilities in the art of make-up transformation and benefit from significant experience and work placements.
The full-time course is delivered over two to three days by specialist staff, and will ensure you can adapt and respond to the challenging demands of the make-up industry. Alongside this, you’ll enjoy a range of guest speakers, travel to industry exhibitions and events, and take part in a variety of educational trips if you study with us.
- City Campus Manchester
- Full Time
- 1 year
- September 2025
Awarding Partner:
Staff profile
Supported by industry experience, our staff are all exceptionally dedicated to their subject related field, highly qualified and industry trained.
The Special Effects Make-up Artistry team are all industry-based practitioners, using their industry contacts to present high profile work experience opportunities and placements to students like you.
Academic Entry Requirements
• Foundation degree or Level 5 Qualification in Media Make-up or related subject area.
Non-Academic Entry Requirements
Applicants are invited to attend an interview where you’ll be asked to provide examples of written work, a portfolio of images demonstrating your skills within make-up / hair, or provide examples of designs work/illustrations. You will also hear more about the course structure, see the facilities and meet the staff, with the whole process taking between 2-3 hours.
Mature applicants (aged 21 or over) who are able to demonstrate relevant skills or knowledge gained in employment or vocational activity will be considered and may be invited to interview.
UCEN Manchester is unable to consider international applications due to UKVI regulations.
What will I be studying
Year 1: Advanced Character Creation (20 credits)
Year 1: Advanced Materials and Processes (20 credits)
Complete an individual project to extend your personal design and research approaches, applying your skills towards developing continuity for stage, screen and media productions.
Year 1: Major Project (40 credits)
Year 1: Marketing and Promotions (20 credits)
Year 1: Research Project (20 credits)
How will I be assessed?
You ‘ll be assessed via a range of methods, including:
• Extended essay/dissertation
• Portfolio of Evidence
• Evaluation
• Presentations
• Reports
• Research
• Practical Applications
• Website
• Online Blog
Fees, Finance and Funding
There are two main costs you will have whilst studying and if you are a home student studying on a full-time course, you can apply for student finance to cover both of these:
Your tuition fees for each year of your course.
Help with your living costs e.g. rent, food, clothing, course materials, entertainment.
You can find more details, including the actual tuition fee charged on our Fees, Funding and Finance Page.
Learn moreCourse Associated Costs
You are required to buy or have the equivalent kits; airbrush, Special Effects Make-up, Hair, brushes, sculpting tools
(Order forms for kits are given to students within welcome packs prior to September, prices for these items vary each year, estimated cost of these items is around £600).
All students are subject to UCEN Manchester’s Terms and Conditions from the date they accept an offer to study here. The UCEN Manchester Admissions Policy and Procedure can be found here.