Master’s Degree Level Courses in Hair and Makeup

Who Master’s Level Training Is For

Master’s degree level courses are not entry-level training. They are built for hair and makeup artists who are ready to move beyond junior work and into roles that require creative leadership, departmental responsibility, and the professional authority that comes with advanced training. To be considered, applicants should have junior-level industry experience or have completed a comprehensive certificate course, hold a working portfolio that demonstrates technical competence across hair and makeup, and be ready to commit to a full-time, year-long postgraduate programme.

If you are earlier in your career, the Advanced Certificate in Makeup and Hair Artistry or the Industry Ready Certificate in Makeup and Hair Artistry are the more appropriate starting points. Both are recognised pathways into our master’s level programmes, and many of our MA applicants began their training with us at certificate level.

Our Master’s Degree Courses

MA in Hair and Makeup for Film and Television (NFTS)
Duration: 12 months, full-time (January to December) Qualification: Master’s degree, validated by NFTS Location: NFTS, Beaconsfield Studios and The Iver Makeup Academy, Pinewood Studios Course Leader: Elizabeth Tagg, Principal of The Iver Makeup Academy

This industry-embedded MA is designed for junior-level practitioners ready to progress into supervising and designing roles. Students develop advanced craft in hair, makeup, wigs, and introductory prosthetics while working as leads and assistants on real NFTS film productions. Alongside the practical work, the programme develops the leadership, budgeting, and collaboration skills that senior departmental roles demand. Every student completes a Master’s Portfolio, leaving the programme with a body of work and a set of professional capabilities that reflect genuine readiness for senior industry responsibility.

Why Train at Master’s Level with The Iver Makeup Academy

Industry-Embedded Learning Master’s students train within real filmmaking environments. Working on NFTS productions alongside directors, producers, cinematographers, and production designers, students operate within professional workflows from the first week of the programme. The skills developed here are tested against the demands of actual productions, not simulated scenarios.

Led by Award-Winning Industry Professionals Course leadership and tutoring is delivered by BAFTA and Emmy-nominated makeup and hair artists whose credits include Star Wars, Avengers, Black Mirror, Ghostbusters, Supergirl, and Nuremberg. These are practitioners who continue to work at the top of the industry alongside their teaching roles, which means the knowledge they bring into the room is current, relevant, and grounded in the realities of professional production.

Based at Pinewood Studios Practical training takes place at The Iver Makeup Academy’s studios within Pinewood Studios, one of the most significant film production hubs in the world. Students have direct access to working sets, production designers, and supervisors throughout their training, in an environment where the industry they are preparing for is operating around them.

A Pathway to Supervising and Designing Roles The step from junior artist to supervisor requires more than technical skill. It demands budgeting awareness, team leadership, and a clear understanding of how hair and makeup departments collaborate with costume, VFX, and production. This programme is built specifically to develop those capabilities, giving graduates the professional foundation to pursue senior roles with confidence.

Accreditations and Industry Recognition

The Iver Makeup Academy is ScreenSkills Select accredited, a formal partner of the National Film and Television School, and the only independent makeup academy whose students have received multiple BAFTA Scholarships. Our partnership with NFTS brings together two of the UK’s most respected screen training institutions, ensuring that the MA qualification our students complete carries genuine professional weight with employers across film, television, and streaming.

Funding Your Master’s

The NFTS has a strong track record of supporting British students through scholarships and bursaries, and funding information is provided directly to successful applicants by the NFTS funding team. If funding is a consideration in your application decision, we encourage you to apply and explore the options available to you at that stage.

Learn more about funding options

How to Apply

Applying for a master’s level course at The Iver Makeup Academy and NFTS is a three-stage process.

The first step is to review the course entry requirements in full and confirm that your experience and portfolio meet the standard expected of applicants. The second step is to submit your application directly to NFTS, which includes a portfolio demonstrating your existing hair and makeup work. Shortlisted candidates are then invited to an interview, and some applicants will be asked to attend a practical assessment as part of the selection process.

Start Your Application

Not Ready for Master’s Level Yet?

Master’s level training requires a foundation of practical experience and technical competence before it can be fully realised. If you are earlier in your career, our certificate-level courses provide the skills, industry grounding, and professional credibility that form the natural pathway to postgraduate study.

• (30 weeks)
• (15 weeks)
• Book an Open Day to discuss the right pathway for you

The Advanced Certificate in Makeup and Hair Artistry is a 30-week full-time programme covering the full breadth of hair, makeup, and SFX for the screen industries. The Industry Ready Certificate in Makeup and Hair Artistry is a 15-week programme for those building foundational competence before entering the industry. You are also welcome to book an Open Day to speak with the team about the right pathway for your goals and experience level.