About MA Make-up And Hair Design Futures in Solent University (Southampton)

This course intends to produce designers and artists who aspire to be at the forefront of this new discipline. The programme of study supports creative investigations enabling you to enter critical dialogue, contributing original insights to the world of beauty ideals; the grotesque, gender politics, creature design and the changing face of body identity.

Based in our industry standard make-up, hair and prosthetics studios, you will work with both practice and theory, and be presented with the principles of speculative and critical design for future bodies using make-up, hair and prosthetics. Each scenario will allow you to explore the key themes of future focused thinking surrounding the dynamics shaping the body of tomorrow. By showing alternative futures are possible, you will learn how to prototype and demonstrate complex design and application concepts.

You will explore and develop creative application skills to generate an enhanced research and design proposal through envisioning new futures.  Based on sub-cultures, cutting edge experiences, speculative design projects, biotechnology and even science fiction, your outcomes can materialise through studies, magazines, artefacts, film, digital and online platforms, objects and performances – culminating in an end of year postgraduate showcase.

Thanks to the course team’s close links with industry, you’ll benefit from a range of guest lectures from across the contemporary design landscape, with representatives from fashion, film, media, beauty and other creative industries. Recent speakers have included Terry Barber - MAC’s Director of Makeup Artistry, Pablo Rodriguez - Illamasqua’s Director of Make-up Artistry, Burton Nitta – Interdisciplinary Design Studio, Helen Casey – Deputy Head of Wigs, National Theatre, and Neill Gorton Studios.

You will also be encouraged to create industry collaborations and take up work placements throughout your studies, and will have opportunities to apply to work with our professional make-up teams at events such as London Fashion Week, Graduate Fashion Week and a range of TV, film and theatre productions.  

​​​Academic qualification equivalents

• A university degree in a related subject.

English language requirements (one of the below):

• IELTS minimum 6.5 overall with minimum of 6.0 in writing and a minimum of 5.5 in reading, listening and speaking
• TOEFL IBT 92 with minimum of 22 in writing and a minimum of 19 in reading, listening and speaking
• or equivalent.

Solent University (Southampton) Highlights

Solent University, United Kingdom Application Process

Solent University offers an online application process for all the courses.

• Undergraduates have to apply through the UCAS application, while graduate applicants have to apply separately for the course of their choice.
• Students have to fill up the application form, pay the application fee of 30 GBP and upload all supporting documents.
• Student class profile –
  • Total number of students – 8800
  • Non-EU students – 5%
• Applicants should have a high school education/bachelors’ degree/international baccalaureate degree to be eligible for admission.
• The general documents required for online application include - official transcripts, TOEFL/IELTS/PTE scores, school leaving certificates, personal statement, financial statement, letters of recommendation and the U.Kstudent visa (for international applicants)

English Language Test Scores

International students can submit the following test scores as proof of English Language Proficiency.

Solent University, United Kingdom Fees and Expenses

The following table presents the tuition fees for various courses at Solent University,

The various charges for different types of accommodation at Solent University are mentioned in the table below,