The CUA51020 Diploma of Screen and Media (Specialist Make-up Services) has a number of valuable learning outcomes. You will:

• gain skills and knowledge to design and apply make-up, create wigs and style hair and hair pieces.
• learn specialist skills relating to prosthetics and special effects make-up
• develop the ability to work as a part of a team or independently in make-up services.
• develop autonomy in responding to make-up and hair design briefs.
• develop problem-solving skills for a range of collaborative situations.
• develop skills to work collaboratively with other creative professionals and performers.

2027 dates

Term 1             Monday 1 February – Friday 9 April

Term 2            Monday 26 April – Friday 2 July

Term 3            Monday 19 July – Friday 8 October

 Download the 2027 Calendar

2026 dates

Term 1             Monday 2 February – Friday 10 April

Term 2            Monday 27 April – Friday 3 July

Term 3            Monday 20 July – Friday 9 October

 Download the 2026 Calendar

 Classes are scheduled 4 days per week, 9am–5pm.

The scheduling and delivery of this course each year is subject to minimum enrolment numbers.

The CUA51020 Diploma of Screen and Media (Specialist Make-up Services) course comprises of the following units of competency:

• CUAIND412 Provide freelance services
• CUAIND512 Enhance professional practice using creative arts industry knowledge
• CUAPPR411 Realise a creative project
• CUAPPR515 Establish and maintain safe creative practice
• CUAMUP411 Design, apply and remove make-up
• CUAMUP412 Maintain make-up and hair continuity
• CUAMUP413 Style hair for productions
• CUAMUP414 Style wigs and hairpieces for productions
• CUAMUP512 Design and apply specialised make-up
• CUAMUP513 Design and apply special make-up effects
• CUASFX411 Create special effects items
• SHBHDES004 Create classic long hair up-styles
• SHBHDES005 Select and apply hair extensions
• BSBCRT512 Originate and develop concepts
• BSBCRT413 Collaborate in creative processes

NIDA make-up graduates have worked on feature films including Thor, and Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, screen productions including Home & Away and Netflix’s Heartbreak High, and theatre productions with Opera Australia, and musicals such as Beauty and the Beast, Frozen, Tina: The Musical, and The Lion King.

Potential careers include:

Make-up artist, hair and wig stylist, special effects and prosthetics make-up artist across traditional performance (film, TV, theatre, opera, dance), digital (film, screen, video, game design), immersive theatre and events.

To be eligible for entry to the NIDA CUA51020 Diploma of Screen and Media (Specialist Make-up Services) you must:

• Be an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or New Zealand citizen. This course does not accept international students.
• Have reached the age of 18 before the commencement of the course (in some circumstances NIDA may select candidates who turn 18 during their course).
• Have completed their Higher School Certificate or equivalent; ATAR is not required.
• Demonstrate a high level of practical ability, potential and motivation at the interview or audition.
• Complete the interview/audition requirements for the course.

We select applicants who:

• Demonstrate potential to create and/or apply make-up and hair designs.
• Exhibit a capacity to collaborate.
• Communicate effectively.
• Respond to direction and feedback.

Original Work Requirement (All Applicants)

All submitted work must be your own original creation, including writing, design, performance, and any supporting material.

The use of Artificial Intelligence to generate or substantially develop any part of your submission is not permitted. This includes (but is not limited to) ideas, written text, imagery, design outcomes, dialogue, or performance content.

You may use research, reference material, and feedback to inform your work; however, the final submission must clearly reflect your own thinking, creative development, and decision-making.

Submissions that do not meet this requirement may not be considered for assessment.

Recognition of Prior Learning is a process that involves assessment of an individual’s relevant prior learning to determine the credit outcomes of an individual application for credit.

NIDA may grant credit for:

• Formal study undertaken in recognised education institutions in Australia, including universities, colleges, TAFE and other post-secondary education institutions, and for study at recognised overseas institutions.
• Credentialed courses provided by recognised professional bodies, employers and other authorities, where appropriate certification is available.
• Prior learning, where such learning can be sufficiently evidenced.

The principles underlying the assessment of credit transfer/Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) applications are that the policy and procedures are:

1. Aligned to the Higher Education Standards Framework and the Vocational Standards for RTOs.
2. Designed to maintain the integrity and reputation of NIDA’s accredited courses for which credit or RPL is applied and support the collaborative nature of NIDA’s conservatoire training model.
3. Consistent, equitable, transparent and accountable.
4. Based on processes of comparable standard and integrity to those used to assess the relevant subject.
5. That students are not disadvantaged in achieving the expected learning outcomes for the course of study or qualification.

NIDA Recognition of Prior Learning Policy

Apply for a Credit Transfer and/or RPL

Applying to this course will involve:

Round One: Online Application, Video Introduction and Portfolio
Round Two: Callback Interview (shortlisted applicants only)

View our Course Specific Application Requirements for a detailed breakdown of what to include in your online application and what to expect if you progress to Round Two of the application process.

View Course Specific Application Requirements

Applicants MUST apply online via the NIDA application portal.

View details about how to complete your online application as well as key dates and timelines.

View Details on How To Apply

Visit our Fees and Payments page for information about our tuition fees and payment information for NIDA courses, including payment options and additional costs.

NIDA is committed to making its education and learning more accessible to the most creative and talented individuals across Australia with a range of scholarships aimed to remove financial barriers, providing students with the opportunity to study at NIDA while being relieved of some of the cost of living, relocating and study expenses.
NIDA scholarships are made available by the generous support of donors, sponsors, corporate partners, trusts and bequests, through the NIDA Foundation Trust, and enable a significant increase in financial assistance to ongoing and students commencing study in 2027.
Scholarship applications for 2027 will open in early October. Learn more about our Scholarships.

Further information regarding NIDA’s vocational training products can be found at Training.gov.au

NIDA is registered by the Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA) under the National Vocational Education and Regulator Act 2011 to deliver Vocational Education and Training (VET) services. NIDA is a NVR Registered Training Organisation (RTO): ID number 90349.