Life is a Dream (2019) Photo: Manuel Rotenberg.

Application Information for the MFA Program in Design

We thank you for your interest in our Costume Design MFA Program!

Applications for Fall 2026 will open on Wednesday, September 3rd 2025 and close on Wednesday, January 7th 2026.

Application Information

The following are required application materials:

• Unofficial copies of academic records from all post-secondary institutions attended.
  
• A minimum of three letters of recommendation, submitted online through the application portal.
  
• Statement of purpose. 
• Design Portfolio (more information below).

Please apply through the UC San Diego application portal. 

Costume Design Portfolio

Design applicants must upload a small representative portfolio of sketches, drawings, photographs, color reproductions with your application.

Your design portfolio is the most important part of your application to the Design program. It is a measure of your ability to communicate design ideas through visual and aural material, to work with space, color, sound, and form, and the use of research materials. It should document the growth of your work over time, and should include your own work from the last few years. Please do not include examples of work you assisted on, UNLESS the work shown is actually your own.

Consider the following when uploading your design portfolio:

• We would like to see rough sketches, research, work-in-progress, and finished work. This helps us assess your design process.
• Costume design sketches should be swatched where possible, and include production photos/slides for fully realized shows.
• Any Rendering or Drawing class example sketches should also be included, as well as photos/slides or examples of any artwork, in any medium, that expresses your individual artistic aesthetic.

Interviews

All design students are encouraged to apply early. Once your application materials have been received and reviewed, you will be contacted by email or phone to set up an interview appointment with the faculty. 

If you have questions or would like more information about our Graduate programs, please contact the Graduate Coordinator at cpcaswell@ucsd.edu

In accordance with applicable Federal and State law and University policy, the University of California does not discriminate, or grant preferences, on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, and/or other protected categories.

More information about Proposition 209 can be found here.
More information about the University of California Anti-Discrimination Policy can be found here.