FAQs
Brushstroke FAQs are here to help you find answers
FAQs
Brushstroke FAQs are here to help you find answers
We hope your next question will be “When can I visit Brushstroke?”
General Questions
How do I choose the best course for me?
Hopefully this website will give you a taster of the kind of make-up artist roles available to you with Brushstroke training. Then we suggest you get in touch with us and arrange a visit to the Brushstroke. We’ll show you round, introduce you to some students and tutors, and help you find a course that suits you.
Which courses are your most popular?
Our most popular courses are the 2 Year Make-Up and Hair Course (BTEC level 3 diploma) and our 7 Month Make-Up & Hair Course (ITEC level 3 diploma.) This is because on each course, students receive in-depth training across a broad syllabus and, of course, graduate with nationally-recognised qualifications.
Are your courses suitable for 'older' students?
Do you take students under the age of 18?
Is accommodation available?
Yes, we have a managed property local to Shepperton Studios which is ideal accommodation for Brushstroke students.
What are my chances of getting a job after I finish my Brushstroke course?
Much better than someone who hasn’t trained at Brushstroke! Apart from having really valuable skills, you’ll benefit from Brushstroke’s excellent reputation and links with the world of entertainment. Many of our students having attended our diploma courses are now working in film, TV, stage and fashion.
Will you still pass on work opportunities to us once we have completed our Brushstroke course?
Absolutely! We like to stay in contact with all of our students and keep up to date with their progress so we are able to pass on any relevant opportunities. Brushstroke has a very high success rate with placements and work experience. For example, our make-up tutors are often in need of trainees, and past Brushstroke students often come across job opportunities.
What is Brushstroke Life-long Learning?
Brushstroke ‘Life-long learning’ is how we support our past students and their ongoing development. They can catch up or refresh themselves on any subject completely free of charge – either joining a class or getting guidance from one of our tutors. After all, once a Brushstroke make-up artist, always a Brushstroke make-up artist.
Visiting Brushstroke
Can I visit Brushstroke?
Yes of course! We recommend every prospective student visits us make-up training facilities at Shepperton Studios before enrolling on a course. You can see us in action, talk to our tutors and students, and we can help you decide which course suits you best. Contact Brushstroke to arrange a suitable time to view the school.
Do you have Open Days?
No, we prefer prospective students to have individual appointments and meet us on a normal working day. That way, you can observe any classes in progress and get a real feel for how we work. Get inspired on our make-up artist gallery and then contact Brushstroke to make an appointment.
How long will my visit take?
Enrolment and Fees
How do I enrol?
Our enrolment process is straightforward. Once you have selected one of our diploma courses or short courses, we have some simple procedures to follow and forms to complete. This includes setting up the payment structure and your personal student record. Contact Brushstroke and we’ll take you through the process.
How much are the course fees?
You’ll find details of fees and payment structure on individual course pages.
Are payment plans available?
What kind of funding is available?
Professional and Career Development Loans are available to help you pay for work-related training (details on our make-up course funding page). You can borrow between £300 and £10,000 to help support the cost of up to a maximum of 2 years of learning (or 3 if it includes 1 year’s relevant unpaid practical work).
What’s included in the course fees?
Our Courses
Why should I choose Brushstroke instead of university?
Simply because Brushstroke is a specialist make-up and hair training company. University isn’t always the right place to learn technical and specialist skills. Like other professions (eg sport, music, film-making, drama), make-up artistry is best taught by a dedicated and professional team of people close to the business. Clearly, the more prepared and proficient you are the better your chances of succeeding in this exciting but competitive industry.
Our knowledge, experience and structure is entirely focused around our students and the needs of the industry they are entering. Brushstroke make-up tutors are working artists, specialists in their fields and we have access to decision-makers and influencers across the industry (some are past Brushstroke students). We run our professional training from within Shepperton – one of the busiest film studios in the UK. Both our make-up training facilities and working environment enable our students to develop their skills and get a feel for working on set. For this reason our students can be confident in the relevance and depth of our training which includes on-set experience – both as observers and paid trainees.
Is a qualification important?
Yes, because it demonstrates you’ve completed a course and have the necessary skills and knowledge as a result. With our BTEC and ITEC diploma courses you can also have confidence in the fact that the syllabuses are government-approved as well as industry-focused.
What are the class times?
How many students are typically in a class?
Who are your tutors?
Will I be able to create a portfolio of my work?
Will I get a Certificate once I complete my course?
International Students
What courses are best for international students?
This depends upon your visa arrangements. If our 2 Year course is too long for you, we’ve created the 7 Month Make-Up and Hair with bespoke modules.
Do I need a Visa?
Brushstroke is accredited by ASIC (Accreditation Service for International Colleges) having obtained ‘Premier Institution’ status. ASIC is government-approved and our accreditation means non-EU nationals can apply for a student visitor visa to study on a course in the UK for a maximum of six months. We suggest you visit for the most up-to-date information on visas and visiting the UK from abroad.
What standard of English is required?
You must have a good standard of English in order to enrol on one of our courses. All our classes are taught in English and though you would get help from our bi-lingual make-up tutors, you still need to be reasonably proficient in English in order to get the very best out of Brushstroke training.