CMU College of Makeup Art & Design

110 Lombard Street, Toronto ON

Possible funding to those who qualify*

Second Career
Loans
Grants
Bursaries
Scholarships

Beauty / Esthetics / Barber
Creative Arts / Interactive / Sound

Programs

Programs offered at each campus may vary, so be sure to check other campus offerings for the course you are most interested in.

Beauty, Esthetics, Barber Programs

The Complete Makeup Artist

This intensive 8-month makeup artist training program provides thorough instruction for aspiring makeup artists in all 7 disciplines of practical makeup artistry. Graduates are fully prepared to work within the film and television, theatre, and fashion industries. They may also find employment in prosthetics design and within special makeup effects labs.

Film and television is a booming industry in Toronto. Makeup artists seeking employment in this field can expect to work on music videos, commercials, documentaries, television series, national newscasts, independent films, major motion pictures, and more. The film unions IATSE and NABET both have chapters within the city. These unions represent makeup artists and other industry professionals.

Did You Know? Many CMU alumni are members of IATSE and/or NABET. They have found work on the sets of major Hollywood productions and within prestigious special makeup effects labs.
The Comprehensive Makeup Artist

This 6-month program offers extensive training in most disciplines of practical makeup artistry. Graduates are prepared to work within the film and television, theatre, and fashion industries.

Makeup artists seeking employment in this field can expect to work on music videos, commercials, documentaries, television series, national newscasts, independent films, major motion pictures, and more. Artists pursuing careers in the performing arts may find work with touring musicals, operatic productions, ballet performances, and other forms of stage performance.

Did You Know? CMU alumni and faculty have been published in major fashion magazines including Elle Canada, Flare, and Fashion.

After consulting with industry experts, employers, and alumni, CMU recently made the decision to update the Comprehensive Makeup Artist Program. The diploma will now focus more heavily on fashion and film & television makeup. In addition, the prosthetics course will now focus on application rather than design.

CMU is proud to routinely re-examine our curricula in order to provide the highest standard of education and to allow our graduates to begin their careers with ease and confidence.

Want to take it up a notch and stay ahead of the competition? Our students often pair this program with our Digital Makeup Effects Artist Program since it prepares them for work in all areas of the makeup industry including the exciting new field of digital makeup effects.
Digital Fx Makeup Effects Artist Diploma

This one-of-a-kind program provides aspiring makeup artists with cutting-edge training in the newest discipline of makeup artistry: digital makeup effects. Students will learn how to conceptualize characters and creatures in both physical and digital form. The Digital Makeup Effects Artist Program also equips students with in-demand skills including ZBrush, Photoshop, and creature design, and introduces them to the world of 3D scanning and printing.

Did you know? Canada is recognized as a world leader in video game development, animation, and visual effects. We rank third internationally for employment in video game development after the United States and Japan.

Makeup artists who pursue this diploma can expect to find work in video game development as well as film & television.

Creative Arts, Interactive, Sound Programs

The Complete Makeup Artist

This intensive 8-month makeup artist training program provides thorough instruction for aspiring makeup artists in all 7 disciplines of practical makeup artistry. Graduates are fully prepared to work within the film and television, theatre, and fashion industries. They may also find employment in prosthetics design and within special makeup effects labs.

Film and television is a booming industry in Toronto. Makeup artists seeking employment in this field can expect to work on music videos, commercials, documentaries, television series, national newscasts, independent films, major motion pictures, and more. The film unions IATSE and NABET both have chapters within the city. These unions represent makeup artists and other industry professionals.

Did You Know? Many CMU alumni are members of IATSE and/or NABET. They have found work on the sets of major Hollywood productions and within prestigious special makeup effects labs.
Digital Fx Makeup Effects Artist Diploma

This one-of-a-kind program provides aspiring makeup artists with cutting-edge training in the newest discipline of makeup artistry: digital makeup effects. Students will learn how to conceptualize characters and creatures in both physical and digital form. The Digital Makeup Effects Artist Program also equips students with in-demand skills including ZBrush, Photoshop, and creature design, and introduces them to the world of 3D scanning and printing.

Did you know? Canada is recognized as a world leader in video game development, animation, and visual effects. We rank third internationally for employment in video game development after the United States and Japan.

Makeup artists who pursue this diploma can expect to find work in video game development as well as film & television.
Total Fashion Makeup Artist

The Total Fashion Makeup Artist Program is a 12-week diploma, ideal for aspiring artists who are interested in working in the fashion makeup industry. Students will use their skills to create beauty and define style from the basics of skin care to elaborate magazine covers. Graduates of this course are equipped to work within areas of the fashion makeup industry including magazine publications, print advertising, department stores, salons, bridal businesses, fashion shows, corporate events, and more.

Toronto Campus

An Unrivalled Education

We set the international standard for advanced makeup artistry education.

About the College

CMU has prepared more than 5000 artists for exciting careers in film & television, fashion, theatre, and digital and special effects. We are sought out by creative minds across North America and around the globe. Our makeup courses are taught by award-winning instructors in an intimate classroom setting. Students flourish within our state-of-the-art facilities, special makeup effects laboratory, on-site photography studio, and encouraging creative environment.

We are the only makeup school that offers courses in all 8 disciplines of makeup artistry: fashion, hairstyling, film & television, theatre, prosthetics, creature & character design, digital sculpting, and Photoshop (computer-aided makeup).

CMU is committed to providing unparalleled training that unleashes our students’ creative potential and champions artistic freedom and experimentation. A diploma or certificate from CMU means that you have the knowledge and skills needed to succeed in today’s makeup industry.

CMU is registered with the Ontario Ministry of Skills Development and Advanced Education. We are a Designated Learning Institution (DLI # O19305293142) for international students. CMU students who reside in Ontario are eligible to receive grant and loan funding from the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP).

CMU is dedicated to providing a safe and inclusive learning environment for all students. Please contact us if you have any questions about any of our policies.

History

CMU was founded in 1987. In 2007, Pamela and Richard Earle acquired the college. As President, Pamela used her background in education to standardize CMU’s curriculum. She continues to seek out innovations in the field of makeup artistry and incorporate them into the college’s programs to ensure that students receive cutting-edge technical training.

In January 2012, CMU moved to its current home at The Old Fire Hall in Toronto. It is located in the heart of downtown Toronto, close to The Canadian Opera Company, Sony Centre for the Performing Arts, Elgin and Winter Garden Theatre, Toronto Film School, and Ryerson University.

In 2016, CMU acquired a satellite campus at Toronto’s Studio City complex, located a few blocks from The Old Fire Hall. Digital sculpting and character and creature design courses are taught at this specialized location.

*All student funding, whether made available privately or through various government branches, is only approved to those who qualify, by the original source of funding. There are many criteria that each candidate must meet to be approved. Schools can only inform you of what may be available.