The Master in The Art & Craft of Costume Design develops the cultural, creative and professional skills needed to design and create costumes for the performing arts.
From opera and theatre to film, television series and other screen productions, the programme explores the role of the Costume Designer as a creative professional capable of transforming a story into images by interpreting its period, context and characters’ identities.
Costume is more than clothing: it is a storytelling tool. That is why the Master brings together costume history, visual research, character interpretation, design, materials and tailoring techniques, taking students from the initial concept through to the final realisation of the project.
Training combines lectures, workshops, seminars, visits, internships and project-based activities, offering students first-hand insight into the dynamics of a production. Particular attention is given to collaboration with the different professionals involved in creating the visual language of a production: directing, set design, cinematography, make-up, hair, tailoring and technical departments.
A distinctive feature of the Master is its direct connection with Rome’s rich craft tradition. Theatre costume workshops, footwear manufacturers, make-up and hair studios, millinery and hat-making workshops represent a wealth of expertise, creativity and craftsmanship recognised by major national and international productions.
Through this hands-on approach, students experience the full professional process: from breaking down the script to research, from character development to costume illustration, from material selection to costume realisation, testing the practical feasibility of their designs at every stage.
At the end of the Master, students will have developed the skills needed to enter the professional world as Costume Assistants, Costume Consultants and Costume Designers, working across film, theatre and television productions in Italy and internationally.
From design to stage: build your future in Costume Design. The Master prepares professionals to work across the different stages of costume design and production, responding to the narrative, aesthetic and production requirements of the performing arts and audiovisual industries.
The programme develops a comprehensive understanding of the profession: from historical and visual research to character development, from drawing and material selection to working with costume workshops, specialist laboratories and production departments.
Potential career paths include:
The Master is designed for candidates interested in pursuing education and a career in Costume Design for the performing arts.
Applicants may hold a Bachelor of Arts, a Bachelor’s Degree or another qualification obtained in Italy or abroad and recognised as suitable under current legislation.
Candidates with qualifications relevant to the programme may apply. Where a candidate’s academic background is not directly aligned with the field of study, admission is subject to an assessment of the suitability of their application by the Course Council.
Professionals with proven experience in the field may also be considered, as well as candidates holding relevant specialist qualifications or non-university or non-academic qualifications. In these cases, students will receive a certificate of participation only.
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Bachelor Degree meeting the entry requirements of the course, or another qualification obtained abroad and recognised as suitable by Accademia Costume & Moda, in accordance with current legislation and international agreements;
Minimum B2 level of language proficiency.
The Orientation Office can help you find out about entry requirements, deadlines, scholarships and the admissions process.
Deferred payments: the tuition fee can be paid in 2, 5 or 8 instalments without a loan, or in a greater number of instalments with an interest-free loan.
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The Master in The Art & Craft of Costume Design at Accademia Costume & Moda is a one-year programme dedicated to the design and realisation of costumes for film, theatre, opera, ballet and television productions. The programme combines cultural research, character development, Costume Design and technical and tailoring skills.
The Master is based in Rome, a city closely connected to the history of film, theatre and costume, and the historic home of Accademia Costume & Moda, founded in 1964.
The Master is a one-year, full-time programme and leads to the award of 60 CFA.
The Master is available in both Italian and English.
The Master is designed for graduates and holders of a Bachelor of Arts who wish to specialise in Costume Design and build a career in film, theatre and the performing arts. Candidates from different academic backgrounds and professionals with experience in the field may also be considered.
Professionals with proven experience, as well as candidates holding relevant specialist qualifications or non-university or non-academic qualifications, may also be considered, subject to assessment by the Course Council. In these cases, students will receive a certificate of participation only.
The Master has limited places. The selection process involves the assessment of your CV, motivation letter and portfolio, followed by an admissions interview with the Academic Board.
The programme covers art and costume history, Costume Design for the performing arts, character analysis and psychology, make-up and hairstyling, tailoring techniques, materials, accessories, budgeting and production organisation. Training combines cultural knowledge, design and practical realisation.
The process begins with reading and breaking down the script or text, followed by visual, photographic and artistic research, character analysis, development of costume illustrations, material selection and project development, leading through to the actual realisation of the costume.
Yes. Hands-on training is central to the programme and allows students to explore cutting, construction, production techniques and costume characterisation, translating creative concepts into form, material and detail.
Yes. The programme includes skills that complement Costume Design, including make-up for the performing arts, hairstyling, theatrical masks, millinery and hat-making, enabling students to develop a complete vision of the character.
The programme explores different performing arts and screen languages, including film, theatre, opera and ballet. Students learn to respond to different narrative, aesthetic and production requirements.
Yes. Training includes opportunities to engage with theatre costume houses, specialist workshops and industry professionals, as well as visits, internships, work experience and projects that bring students closer to the realities of the profession.
Yes. The programme includes a curricular internship, which can be completed with companies and organisations in Italy. Alternatively, students may undertake work experience developed in collaboration with a company.
The Master prepares students to work as Costume Assistants, Costume Consultants and Professional Costume Designers in film, theatre, television, opera and dance productions, both in Italy and internationally.
By the end of the programme, students will be able to analyse a screenplay or text, interpret characters, conduct historical and visual research, design and illustrate costumes, select materials and accessories, liaise with costume houses and collaborate with the different departments involved in a production.
