Makeup Courses London

BTEC Level 3, ITEC, VTCT, HNC + HND Certified Qualifications

We’re the only makeup academy in London to offer makeup courses at BTEC level, and the only one in the world to offer makeup courses from two famous film studios.

Showing prospective students around (including school holidays) for enrolment in 2025 & 2026. The 2-year BTEC Make up & Hair Course starts 22 September 2025 at Elstree Studios or 29 September 2025 at Longcross Studios.

 

 

For availability or to book a visit, call +44 (0) 1344 635 522 or email us at [email protected] 

 

3-Day Special Effects Taster Course

Elstree - 17, 18 & 19 February 2025

Longcross - 18, 19 & 20 February 2025

3-Day Instaglam Taster Course

Elstree - 17, 18 & 19 February 2025

Longcross - 18, 19 & 20 February 2025

 

Our taster courses are popular for Christmas gifts 🎁 
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2 Year Makeup Course Photoshoot - Black Dress
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Our Makeup Courses

Brushstroke is one of the few London makeup schools to offer professional makeup courses, and the only makeup academy in London to offer both the comprehensive two-year BTEC and ITEC Level 3 Diploma makeup courses, alongside short makeup courses in areas like special effects, airbrushing, and editorial techniques.

With a focus on practical skills for film, TV, stage, and fashion industries, Brushstroke’s curriculum is designed to provide students with the qualifications and hands-on experience needed for a successful career in makeup artistry.

Things that make Brushstroke makeup courses unique include:

  1. A choice from the largest range of professional makeup courses (BTEC, ITEC, VTCT, HNC & HND)
  2. More hours of industry-relevant training than most university and college courses
  3. Training from two famous film and TV Studios (Elstree and Longcross Studios), with offices in the famous Pinewood Studios.
  4. The highest calibre of makeup artist training for over 34 years, making Brushstroke one of the oldest, most reputable and most experienced makeup academies in the UK.
  5. Access to 65,000 wig stock for training and practice.
  6. The opportunity to learn from our tutors who are professionals actively working across different sectors of the industry.

Full-Time Makeup Courses in London

for Careers in Film, Fashion, Stage, and TV

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2 Year Makeup Course (BTEC & ITEC Level 3 Diploma)

This BTEC and ITEC Level 3 Diploma Makeup Course is our most thorough and comprehensive makeup artist course at Brushstroke Makeup School, London.

Deposit: £3,000

Cost: 6 termly payments of £4,000

Start Dates: Enrolling now for Longcross Studios (29 September 2025) Elstree Studios (22 September 2025)

About the Course:

Brushstroke’s two-year Make-up and Hair: BTEC Level 3 Diploma in Production Arts (Make-up) is the best make-up artistry education available.

This is an industry-relevant course for people looking to work as a professionally trained make-up and hair artist in the film, television, stage, and fashion industries.

The 2-year BTEC, which is taught over six terms, is the most in-depth and comprehensive of our courses. Period make-up and hair, special effects make-up and prosthetics, stage make-up, facial hair and wigs, airbrushing, haircutting and styling, wedding and fashion, and photographic make-up and hair are among the topics covered.

Girl with White Hair and Red Body Makeup

7 Month Hair & Makeup Course (ITEC LEVEL 3 Diploma)

This ITEC level 3 Diploma Course can be taken as a full 7 Month Module, or as separate short courses in makeup.

Deposit: £2000 

Cost: 4 Instalments of £2,250

Start Dates: Enrolling now for Longcross Studios (15 September 2025) Elstree Studios ( 06 November 2025)

Brushstroke students practicing hairstyling on clients in a classroom setting

Level 2 VTCT Diploma in Women’s Hairdressing and Men’s Barbering Fast Track Full Time (32 weeks)

An intensive VTCT Level 2 makeup course taught by Toni & Guy-trained tutors to complete your training as a versatile artist

Deposit: £2000

Cost: 3 termly payments of £2,500

Start Dates: Enrolling Now for Longcross Studios 15 September 2025

Short Makeup Courses in London

12 Week Media Make up and Hair Course

Dates: Please contact us for new start dates.

Timings: Monday to Thursday: 10:30 – 16:00

Fees: £5,000 inclusive.

Deposit: £1,000 Balance of £4,000 to be paid 6 weeks prior to course commencement

2 Week Special Effects Make up Course

Dates: Please contact us for new start dates.

Timings: Monday to Thursday: 10:30 – 16:00

Fees: £1,500 inclusive.

Deposit: £500 Balance of £1,000 to be paid 6 weeks prior to course commencement

1 Week Airbrushing and Editorial Techniques Course

Longcross: 15 January 2024 to 18 January 2024

Elstree: 05 February 2024 to 08 February 2024

Timings: Monday to Thursday: 10:30 – 16:00

Fees: £750 inclusive.

Deposit: £250 Balance of £500 to be paid 6 weeks prior to course commencement.

8 Week Fashion Make up and Hair

Longcross: 22 January 2024 to 14 March 2024

Elstree: 12 February 2024 to 04 April 2024

Timings: Monday to Thursday: 10:30 – 16:00

Fees: £5,000 inclusive.

Deposit: £1,000 Balance of £4,000 to be paid 6 weeks prior to course commencement

Short Courses in Hairdressing and Barbering

2 Week Bridal Makeup and Hair Course

Longcross: 08 April 2024 to 18 April 2024

Elstree: 29 April 2024 to 09 May 2024

Timings: Monday to Thursday: 10:30 – 16:00

Fees: £1,500 inclusive.

Deposit:  £500 balance of £1,000 to be paid 6 weeks prior to course commencement.

1 Week Hair Knotting Course

Longcross: 18 March 2024 to 21 March 2024

Elstree: 08 April 2024 to 11 April 2024

Timings: Monday to Thursday: 10:30 – 16:00

Fees: £750 inclusive.

Deposit: £250 Balance of £500 to be paid 6 weeks prior to course commencement

2 Week Basic Hairdressing and Barbering Course

Longcross: 25 March 2024 to 04 April 2024

Elstree: 15 April 2024 to 25 April 2024

Timings: Monday to Thursday: 10:30 – 16:00

Fees: £1,500 inclusive.

Deposit: £500 balance of £1,000 to be paid 6 weeks prior to course commencement.

How Can A Professional Makeup Course Help Me In My Career?

A makeup course can help you whether you’re an aspiring make up artist, or someone interested in makeup artistry and looking to work in areas such as film, TV, stage, or fashion. If you’re leaving school or looking to change your career, we’ve got the right courses in make up artistry for you.

Whether you’re an aspiring makeup artist, or someone interested in makeup artistry, there is a range of professional makeup courses to help build your career. At Brushstroke, we offer both full-time makeup courses (BTEC and ITEC diplomas) as well as short courses aimed at entry-level makeup artists and those looking to enhance certain areas of their careers in film, TV, stage, or fashion. If you’re leaving school or looking to change your career, we have the right courses in makeup artistry for you.

At Brushstroke makeup school you’ll get all the proper make-up training that you need to succeed, and you’ll gain qualifications that will set you up for work in the industry. Whichever makeup course you choose (be it our 2 Year Makeup Course (BTEC and ITEC Level 3 Diploma) or 7 Month Makeup Course (ITEC Level 3 Diploma) you’ll get excellent tuition, hours of training, and a set of valuable skills that provide you with a good foundation for a successful career.

While Instagram and YouTube are great ways to introduce you to makeup (and keep you up to date with the latest ideas and products) there’s no substitute for well-structured training. That’s the type of training that Brushstroke makeup courses provide you. If you’re tempted by taking on short beauty courses, we’d like to offer you more substantial training for a more exciting, fulfilling, and successful career.

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How Do I Start a Career As a Makeup Artist?

There is something for everyone in makeup artistry, which accommodates a variety of personalities. On the one hand, it has a clear career trajectory and is a reasonably organised profession. On the other side, you have the opportunity to challenge yourself and indulge whatever creative urges you may have.

A vast deal of people work in it. Even as the head of makeup, you are a member of a team at all times. You also have an opportunity to stand out and have your hard effort recognised. This is particularly true if you have completed the appropriate makeup training and education.

It’s very remarkable how diverse the work is. The variety on TV alone is enormous, ranging from drama and comedy to reality and presenter-based programmes. With blockbusters, documentaries, and independent movies always under development, there are a lot of prospects in the film industry. Then there is the stage, where you can see opera and musicals, and fashion has photo shoots and the catwalk. You might also work on films and studio shoots for businesses.

To help you identify your expertise, we encourage our students on our makeup lessons to be open-minded. Do you like travelling or do you prefer the stability of a running soap opera? Is special effects and prosthetics where your heart is? If so, you could be an organiser and like working in a congested environment.

Once you’ve moved on from trainee and progressed through an assistant to ‘artist’ in your own right, where next? With the right makeup training behind you, it could easily be the designer role should you wish.

For additional details, visit our post on the top 10 suggestions for picking the best cosmetics course.

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Why are Some Make Up Courses Better Than Others?

Not all makeup courses give you the training you need, so you need to be selective. For example, we teach hair skills in our courses because we know that when a makeup designer is putting a team together they want good all-rounders. Being able to cut and style hair could get you selected above anyone else for a makeup job.

The best makeup courses reflect the needs of the industry – it’s as simple as that. Makeup courses are everywhere, so how do you choose? This quick checklist is a good guide for choosing the right makeup course:

  1. Tutors– are they makeup artists currently working across different parts of the industry? Do they specialize in what they teach (SFX, fashion, hair, etc)?
  2. Syllabus– are the makeup classes well-structured with the right balance of practice and theory?
  3. Industry relevance– do the makeup courses give students excellent employment prospects
  4. Qualifications– could you graduate with recognised BTEC and ITEC qualifications?
  5. Facilities– are they well equipped within an inspirational environment?
  6. Atmosphere– do you get a good feeling when you visit?

(Brushstroke makeup courses tick every single one of these boxes.)

Short Makeup Courses in London

Is it Time to Do a Makeup Course?

Are university makeup courses not for you? Are you bored with your job and looking for a change of career? Are you mad about the beauty industry and looking to do a beauty course? Well, then it’s probably time to talk to us about the makeup courses on offer at Brushstroke Makeup Academy. Our makeup courses can help you find your niche in film, TV, stage or fashion.

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Our Tutors

Proper professional training from our tutors will set you on the road to becoming a skilled makeup artist.

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Leaving School?

Leaving school at 16 means you can train as a makeup artist with Brushstroke.

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Changing Career?

Changing career to become a makeup artist is within your reach – with Brushstroke training behind you.

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Makeup Artist Roles

There’s a range of makeup artist roles to chose from. From film and TV to stage, theatre and photographic shoots – which one fits you?

16 critical Things you Could Learn From a Brushstroke Makeup Course.

Whichever Brushstroke make up course you choose, you’ll learn more than the essentials. Our BTEC and ITEC courses in makeup, for instance, will gain you a recognisable qualification. The longer courses will equip you to start work as a makeup artist.

  1. Break down a script to understand what kind of make-up is required for each actor in the production (and it could be 100s if there’s a crowd involved)
  2. Create impressive prosthetics – start with a nose, and finish with a complete character. There’s a whole set of skills we’ll teach you to master your career.
  3. Learn special effects (SFX) makeup – if you’ve ever wondered how to create realistic cuts and wounds, fake blood, burns, and scars, here’s your chance to learn. Brushstroke offers courses on how to do just that.
  4. Transform the look of someone – age them, make them bald, give them more hair, make them look tired, glamorous, injured, from another era, another planet even!
  5. Apply temporary tattoo makeup – you’ll learn how to tattoo someone (temporarily)
  6. Prepare actors for sets – you’ll develop your people skills and really help an actor prepare for a set.
  7. Build your professional hair skills – you’ll learn to be a professional hairdresser and barber
  8. Go beyond the beauty salon – You’ll learn skills that will enable you to take your career well beyond the average beauty profession.
  9. Combine hair and makeup Skills – you’ll learn to be a make-up and hair artist all rolled into one
  10. Interpret period makeup artistry – you’ll learn to interpret any period of history from the 18th century to the swinging 60s
  11. Design authentic makeup – whether it’s fantasy or austerity, fashion or Halloween makeup, you’ll learn how to create a realistic and authentic look. 
  12. Enhance your creativity – you’ll try new ideas, themes, and creations that you’ve never thought possible but always wanted to do.
  13. Build confidence – with hours of training you’ll become confident in your work and you’ll know how to do it at pace.
  14. Work Calmly at Pace – you’ll learn the skills and gain the proper training to cope at pace with high-pressured settings. This means you’ll be able to create makeup for film, TV, and stage performers expertly and at pace and really thrive in your career.
  15. Work with Wig Stock – Brushstroke has 65’000 wig stock split between our two studios providing you with ample training experience. 
  16. Learn The Career Avenues  – from working on location, in a studio, at a fashion show or film festival, in a field or diving suit, in the dark or under bright lights., on a drama, comedy, sports show, reality TV show, fashion show, or music festival, there are numerous ways to build your career in makeup.

Come and visit us with an open mind and we’ll find the makeup course to suit you.

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Makeup Course FAQs

 

How do I become makeup artist?

1. Enrol in Hands-on Makeup Course – The best place to learn how to be a makeup artist is in the doing. If you haven’t got the experience you want to find a makeup course that offers many hours of training and the appropriate contacts to launch your career. At Brushstroke, we put you in the best possible position for a successful career. Our courses are run in famous film studios putting you right at the center of the action. We also have tutors with years of experience in film and TV productions who can provide unparalleled experience and opportunities. Furthermore, our courses are certified – we offer BTEC, ITEC, HND, and VTCT certifications.

2. Always be on the lookout for new ideas – You’ll discover inspiration wherever you go if you get in the habit of looking for it. Keep your mind open to new ideas and opportunities and you’ll find yourself in a good position for becoming a makeup artist.

3. Organise your ideas and contacts – Organize your Pinterest boards, follow famous makeup artists on Instagram, develop sketchbooks and build photo libraries. Do whatever you can to keep track of our ideas and build your network.

 

What types of qualifications can I achieve at Brushstroke Makeup School?

At Brushstroke Makeup School, you can achieve a variety of professional qualifications, including BTEC Level 3, ITEC, HNC, and HND in Makeup and Hair. These courses are designed to equip you with the skills needed for a successful career in makeup and hair styling within the film, television, and fashion industries.

Are there courses for beginners at Brushstroke Makeup School?

Yes, Brushstroke offers courses suitable for beginners, including the 2-Year BTEC Make-Up and Hair Course, which is recommended for individuals aged 16+ as a continuation of education. This course, along with others like the 7-Month ITEC Make-Up and Hair Course, is designed to accommodate both beginners and those with some level of experience.

What makes Brushstroke Makeup School unique?

Brushstroke Makeup School is uniquely located within Longcross and Elstree Studios, offering students a rare opportunity to learn in the heart of active film studios. This unique setting provides real-world exposure to the film and television industry, enhancing the educational experience with practical insights and opportunities for networking.

What facilities are available to students at Brushstroke Makeup School?

Students at Brushstroke have access to state-of-the-art facilities at Longcross Studios, including film stages, workshops, and backlots. Additionally, the school is equipped with modern classrooms and practical areas for makeup and hair training, all within a short walk from Longcross railway station.

How do I apply for a course at Brushstroke Makeup School?

Hopefully, this website will give you an idea of the kind of make-up artist jobs that are accessible to you once you complete Brushstroke training. We recommend getting in contact with us to schedule a visit to the Brushstroke. We’ll show you around, introduce you to some students and tutors, and assist you in finding the right course for you.

Can international students enrol in courses at Brushstroke Makeup School?

Yes, international students can enrol. Our 6-Month ITEC Makeup & Hair Course is designed specifically for foreign students looking to study makeup abroad. This course offers international students the opportunity to gain industry-recognised qualifications at Brushstroke.

Can I visit Brushstroke Makeup School before enrolling?

Yes, prospective students are encouraged to book a visit to Brushstroke Makeup School, including during school holidays, to see the facilities and meet the staff. To arrange a visit, contact the school directly via phone or email.

What success have Brushstroke graduates achieved in the industry?

Brushstroke graduates have gone on to achieve significant success in the industry, working on major film and television productions, including “Eastenders,” “The Crown,” and various blockbuster movies. The school takes pride in its graduates’ achievements, many of whom are credited in high-profile projects.

How can I select the most appropriate course for me?

Brushstroke graduates have gone on to achieve significant success in the industry, working on major film and television productions, including “Eastenders,” “The Crown,” and various blockbuster movies. The school takes pride in its graduates’ achievements, many of whom are credited in high-profile projects.