Facebook

The two-year, full-time Costuming for Stage & Screen Diploma teaches students the technical and creative aspects of costuming for theatre and film.

If you've ever watched a TV show, play, concert or film and been blown away by the outfits and style of the actors, a career in costume design is for you.

You'll learn costume history, textiles, wardrobe management, cutting and construction techniques while gaining hands-on experience working on campus theatre productions and student film projects.

With productions in B.C.'s film industry in full swing again, graduates of the costuming program are well-qualified for entry-level positions in motion picture and theatre costuming departments.

CapU Costuming student works on sewing their project.

Design beautiful costumes for TV, movies and plays

For two decades, this intensive costume design program has been training costume designers for the film, television and theatre industries. You could be next.

Costuming career paths

  • Film
  • Streaming
  • Television
  • Theatre

Work like the pros right away

Classrooms are set up as professional costume workshops, helping you grow your skills in an authentic setting while learning from experienced instructors with decades of industry experience.

Stand out with specialized skills

In your final term, you'll take part in a skills intensive, working alongside professionals to build your confidence in an array of specialty skills, including millinery, tailoring, special effects costuming, garment draping, corsetry, surface design and garment illustration.

How to make a ribbon skirt with Cecelia

CapU Costuming student Cecelia Mabee demonstrates how to make a ribbon skirt.

Related links

Request more info

Find out about your program of interest and learn about upcoming events, workshops and campus tours.

Sign up now

Contact us

For more information about the Costuming design diploma program, please contact us today.

Get in Touch

Information sessions

Plan ahead with this calendar of important program information sessions and open houses.

Upcoming info sessions

Apply now

Are you ready to rise to the challenge?

Apply Now to CapU

Intakes

Important dates

Applications open

Oct 1, 2024 – Apr 1, 2025

Course Registration & Waitlisting start

Jun 23, 2025

Fee payment deadline

4:00 PM - Aug 25, 2025

NOTE: Important dates may change.

How to Apply

Are you applying as a domestic or as an international student?

Every student must apply to CapU through EducationPlannerBC (EPBC), a website for applying to universities and colleges across British Columbia.

Visit Apply Now to make sure you're ready to fill in your application.

  • When you submit your application, you will need to pay an application fee of $50, which gives you the opportunity to apply for 2 programs. 
  • You will need to upload a digital (PDF) copy of your transcripts and supporting documents at this time.
  • If you are currently in Grade 12, you must request that the Ministry of Education submit your transcript directly to Capilano University.
  • Documents must be in the original language of issue and translated into English by a recognized translator, if required.
Apply on EPBC

After submitting your application on EducationPlannerBC you will receive an acknowledgement message from us to your personal email.

  • This email will include your Student ID number and your myCapU account and email address.
  • Instructions on how to track your application will also be included.
  • All future messages from us will be sent to your myCapU email.
  • If you're applying to CapU as a new student, you can use your myCapU account to apply for entrance awards.

Applicants submit their portfolio through the online portal SlideRoom.

UPLOADE TO SLIDEROOM

Your portfolio must be submitted before the application deadline to be considered for the Costuming for Stage & Screen program. No interviews will be scheduled without a portfolio. 

We are looking for anything that shows your passion for costumes and the arts. This can include any photos of costumes you have created for Theatre, Film or Cosplay including Halloween.

We also like to see any art, sketchbooks, or craft projects. Additionally, we require samples of your sewing abilities, for example: hand sewing, zippers, blind hems, top stitching and buttonholes. The faculty utilizes sewing more to determine the level of the class than to determine acceptance.

A specific sewing list is provided below for when you make your application to the program.

Sewing samples

  • A hand stitched hem
  • At least one zipper sample – either a center, lapped or invisible acceptable
  • Gathering stitches attached to a band
  • Embroidery sample showing a running stitch, chain stich, herringbone, and blanket stitch
  • A collar of any style with top stitching
  • Hand sewn button
  • All sample techniques could be included within a garment / costume or in separate samples.
  • If executed separately a sample of 6” x 12” is required.
  • Please show at least one completed garment and no more than three.

If you have props from cosplay we would be interested to see one piece.

Include photos or small samples in your portfolio in order to show other related skills and artistic interests, for example, photography, drawing, painting, fabric dying and surface design, etc.

For students who have previously attended post-secondary, even though you submitted a digital copy of your transcripts on EducationPlannerBC, you must submit official university or college transcripts for transfer credit.

Please send all official documents to:

Registrar's Office
Library Building, Room LB152
2055 Purcell Way
North Vancouver, BC
V7J 3H5

Official documents may include:

These documents must be sent directly from that institution to Capilano University. They must include the seal of the institution and the signature of the authorizing school representative.

We will accept photocopies of transcripts if certified by the authorizing university or college officer. Notarized copies are not acceptable.

Students may also submit photocopies of academic documents verified by the issuing authority. These authorities include the Ministry of Education, the high school, university, or college, the apostille* or by the appropriate examination board.

Notarized copies are not acceptable.

*Apostille countries refers to an international form of a notary seal as certified by the Hague convention. These would be official notary documents from countries such as Russia, Ukraine, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, etc. and can be accepted in place of original or school-certified documents. The Apostille is prepared by either the Ministry of Education or the Ministry of Justice in these countries.

Please note: Documents issued in a language other than English must also include certified English translations. Documents must be in the original language of the issue and translated into English by a recognized translator, if required.

An academic document is original if issued to the student by the institution following that institution’s policies.

Notarized copies are not acceptable.

Once you've been accepted into a program, you'll need to start planning your courses.

  • You will be notified of your acceptance through your CapU email and your myCapU account.
  • View our page for admitted students to learn how to prepare for your first day.
  • If you wish to receive transfer credits, please submit official university/college/International Baccalaureate (IB)/Advanced Placements (AP) transcripts either electronically or by mail:

     

    Registrar's Office
    Library Building, Room LB152
    2055 Purcell Way
    North Vancouver, BC
    V7J 3H5

New Students

Most CapU programs need proof that you:

Every student must apply to CapU through EducationPlannerBC (EPBC), a website for applying to universities and colleges across British Columbia.

Visit Apply Now to make sure you're ready to fill in your application.

  • When you submit your application, you will need to pay a non-refundable application fee of C$135, which gives you the opportunity to apply for 2 programs.
  • You will need to upload a digital (PDF) copy of your transcripts and supporting documents at this time.
  • If your original transcripts and supporting documents are not written in English, please submit a translated copy.
Apply on EPBC

After submitting your application on EducationPlannerBC you will receive an acknowledgement message from us to your personal email.

  • This email will include your Student ID number and your myCapU account and email address.
  • Instructions on how to track your application will also be included.
  • All future messages from us will be sent to your myCapU email.
  • If you're applying to CapU as a new student, you can use your myCapU account to apply for entrance awards.
Funding for International Students

For students who have previously attended post-secondary in Canada or outside of the country, even though you submitted a digital copy of your transcripts on EducationPlannerBC, you must submit official university or college transcripts only if you’re considering transferring credits.

Note: If you submitted digital copies for admissions, you do not need to submit official transcripts.

Please send all official documents for Transfer Credit to:

Capilano University
Registrar's Office
Birch Building, room BR230
2055 Purcell Way
North Vancouver, B.C.
V7J 3H5

Official documents may include:

Students must submit official high school and university or college transcripts for admission.

These documents must be sent directly from that institution to Capilano University. They must include the seal of the institution and signature of the authorizing school representative.

We will accept photocopies of transcripts if certified by the authorizing high school, university, or college officer. Notarized copies are not acceptable.

Students may also submit photocopies of academic documents verified by the issuing authority. These authorities include the Ministry of Education, the high school, university, or college, the apostille* or by the appropriate examination board. Notarized copies are not acceptable.

*Apostille countries refers to an international form of a notary seal as certified by the Hague convention. These would be official notary documents from countries such as Russia, Ukraine, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, etc. and can be accepted in place of original or school-certified documents. The Apostille is prepared by either the Ministry of Education or the Ministry of Justice in these countries.

Please note: Documents issued in a language other than English must also include certified English translations. Only accept translations made by a certified translator.

An academic document is original if issued to the student by the institution following that institution’s policies.

Notarized copies are not acceptable.

If you are accepted into a program, you will receive a letter of offer in your myCapU email inbox.

  • You will need to confirm your acceptance into the program by paying a tuition deposit outlined in your letter of offer.
  • This deposit will go towards your first-semester tuition once you are registered for courses at CapU.

After paying your tuition deposit, you will receive a letter of acceptance in your myCapU inbox. This may be used to apply for, or renew, a study permit.

  • Depending on your citizenship, you may also need to apply for an entry visa.
Permits & Visas

Once you've been accepted into a program and have applied for your study permit, you'll need to start planning your courses.

  • You will be notified of your acceptance through your CapU email and your myCapU account.
  • View our page for admitted international students to learn how to prepare for your first day.
Info for Admitted International Students

Apply Now

Are you ready to rise to the challenge?

Apply now to CapU

Transfer Students

Find out how you can transfer your credits from another post-secondary institution to CapU.

Applying as a Transfer Student

Returning Students

If you're returning to CapU to complete your program or to apply into a new program, please contact the Registrar's Office.

Contact Registrar's Office

Switching Programs

If you want to change your program of study, you need to submit a new application to CapU.

Re-apply to CapU

Tuition and Fees

Are you applying as a domestic or as an international student?

Tuition Fees Total
Year 1 $11,854 $1,792 $13,646
Year 2 $9,260 $1,751 $11,011
Total $21,114 $3,543 $24,657
Tuition Fees Total
Year 1 $30,222 $1,792 $32,014
Year 2 $23,801 $1,751 $25,552
Total $54,023 $3,543 $57,566

Tuition & Fees Estimator

Get a detailed breakdown of the tuition and fees for your program.

Calculate my fees

Entrance Awards

All new CapU students can fund their education with entrance awards.

See if I qualify

Term Awards

Continuing your studies at CapU? You may be eligible for awards, too.

Take me to the awards

Required Courses

First Term

Total credits: 16.50

Required:
COST 100Costume Cutting and Construction I4.50 credits
COST 102History of Western Costume I3.00 credits
COST 104Wardrobe Management3.00 credits
THTR 152Costume Production I3.00 credits
TXTL 120Dyeing and Breakdown for Film and Theatre I3.00 credits

 

Second Term

Total credits: 16.50

Required:
COST 101Costume Cutting and Construction II4.50 credits
COST 103History of Western Costume II3.00 credits
COST 105Film Costumer Project3.00 credits
THTR 153Costume Production II3.00 credits
TXTL 121Dyeing and Breakdown for Film and Theatre II3.00 credits

 

Third Term

Total credits: 16.50

Required:
COST 200Costume Cutting and Construction III4.50 credits
COST 202Elements of Costume Design3.00 credits
THTR 266Costume Production III3.00 credits
TXTL 220Textile Arts for Costumers3.00 credits
ENGL100-level or higher3.00 credits

 

Fourth Term

Total credits: 15.00

Required:

Note: ENGL 100 is a course which students may take at any time. It is a requirement for graduation.

COST 203Costume Skills Intensive6.00 credits
COST 205Advanced Film Costumer Project3.00 credits
ENGL 100University Writing Strategies3.00 credits
THTR 267Costume Production IV3.00 credits

Total program credits: 64.50

Additional information

Students continuing in the second year of the Diploma must have successful completion of 21.00 COST credits, 6.00 THTR credits and 6.00 TXTL credits, and a minimum GPA of 3.00.

Learning outcomes

  • Apply advanced research techniques.
  • Utilize technical expertise in specific costuming skills (i.e. as costume designer, supervisor, assistant designer, head of wardrobe, cutter, stitcher, dyer, breakdown artist, set supervisor, truck costumer or set costumer.)
  • Present a comprehensive portfolio of work specific to the costuming field.
  • Work in positions of responsibility within the environment reflective of the industry, employ appropriate protocols and procedures, confidently lead the costume team by successfully demonstrating professional standards in leadership, collaboration and communication skills.
  • Develop a personal network of contacts, connections and resources within the industry.
  • Develop a clear sense of personal value and contribution to the department and the overall production.
  • Confidently formulate a strategic plan for entry and advancement within the profession.
  • Apply critical thinking skills to the creative problem-solving demands characteristic of the industry.

How to Declare

For the official publication of programs, course descriptions and admission requirements please view the Capilano University Calendar.

Have a question?

Get in touch with us!

About this program

Costuming for Stage and Screen Diploma

Bosa Centre for Film and Animation
dgingrich@capilanou.ca

About this program

School of Motion Picture Arts
604 990 7868
Bosa Centre for Film and Animation
film@capilanou.ca

General inquiries

Student Information Services
Library Building, room LB152

604-984-4900
604-984-1798 (fax)
registration@capilanou.ca