BA in Jewellery and Objects
Birmingham City University
Key Information
Campus location
Birmingham, United Kingdom
Languages
English
Study format
On-Campus
Duration
3 - 4 years
Pace
Full time
Tuition fees
GBP 9,250 / per year *
Application deadline
Request Info
Earliest start date
Sep 2024
* UK students: £9,250 per year | international students: £16,870 per year
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Introduction
Experiment with materials, techniques and processes on a highly respected jewellery design degree course. You are encouraged to pursue innovation, challenge conventions and push the boundaries of the discipline.
You will develop practical skills alongside intellectual engagement and inventive thinking. Creative problem-solving is a continuous thread, where a questioning attitude and experimental approach to materials, perceptions, concepts and outcomes are encouraged.
Individuality is fundamental to your creative development, personal philosophy and direction. The School is uniquely positioned in the heart of the Jewellery Quarter enabling you to be fully immersed in the industry from the first day of your studies.
What's covered in this course?
This practical degree is an internationally-respected jewellery design course. It gives you the freedom to develop your own creativity by encouraging you to experiment with a variety of ideas, materials, processes and techniques.
You’ll be supported and encouraged to create innovative designs to a high standard of professionalism and have the chance to enter competitions and awards.
In your first year of study, the focus is on developing traditional processes followed by experimental materials investigation, allowing you to enter the second year with a range of skills and the confidence to explore various optional topics, and live and collaborative projects.
Past student Ruth Hallows was chosen to produce an exclusive jewellery collection, to be sold in Argos nationwide and online. She gained the opportunity to work alongside Argos' jewellery buying team and manufacturer Optima, spending time learning the process of how her collection would be developed from design through to production.
Past students have also undertaken work experience with the likes of Topshop, Tatty Devine and Kath Libert.
You can be guided by your own inspiration. While studying, you will have the opportunity to host a number of jewellery exhibitions, which gives you the opportunity to exhibit and sell your pieces to the public.
You and your peer's final collections span the breadth of the discipline of contemporary jewellery and objects, often relating to broader art and design disciplines such as fashion, accessories, theatre, product design and fine art.
The School of Jewellery is internationally renowned, in the heart of Birmingham’s famous Jewellery Quarter. The historical facade of our Vittoria Street building conceals a contemporary environment including workshops, a specialist library, the Vittoria Gallery and exhibition space.
Professional placement year
This course offers a professional placement year. This allows you to spend a whole year with an employer, between the second and third years of your degree and is a great way to find out more about your chosen career. Some students even return to the same employers after completing their studies.
The University will draw on its extensive network of local, regional and national employers to support you in finding a suitable placement to complement your chosen area of study. If you do not find a suitable placement, you will be automatically transferred back to the standard, non-placement version of the course.
Please note that fees are payable during your placement year, equivalent to 20% of the total full-time course fee for that year (£1,850 for UK students).
Why choose us?
- The jewellery and objects course encourages you to develop your own personal style and enables you to design, develop and launch your own highly innovative, contemporary and thought-provoking products.
- Founded in 1890, our internationally renowned School of Jewellery is the largest in Europe, located in the heart of Birmingham’s famous Jewellery Quarter. An estimated 40 per cent of British jewellery is still made there today and you’ll gain contacts, inspiration and experience.
- The course benefits from specialist technicians, and academic and support staff. We also have a rolling programme of Artists in Residences (AIRs) who have diverse skills and knowledge to share with you and contribute to your learning experience.
- Sponsorship, prizes, live projects and strong collaborative links with the industry will help you to develop an entrepreneurial outlook and an insight into the professional world.
- We have an excellent reputation for highly employable, creative graduates with an in-depth understanding of the latest technology and the manufacturing industry. With many graduates progressing to postgraduate study.
- Our onsite Technology Hub offers expertise in a range of industry-related techniques, including CAD and manufacturing, rapid prototyping, surface finishing, reverse engineering and project management.
Gallery
Curriculum
Year one
During your first year, you’ll be introduced to techniques and ways of working as well as materials exploration and experimentation.
Contextual study modules will encourage a wider discussion and awareness of the field and allow you to develop a further understanding of the discipline.
In order to complete this course a student must successfully complete all the following core modules (totalling 100 credits):
- Jewellery and Objects in Context
- Specialist Techniques
- Contextual Exploration
In order to complete this course a student must successfully complete at least 20 credits from the following list of optional modules:
- Surface and Ornament
- Silversmithing and Objects
- Fine Jewellery Techniques
- Introduction to Gemmology
- Introduction to Diamonds and Diamond Grading
Core modules are guaranteed to run. Optional modules will vary from year to year and the published list is indicative only.
Year two
The second year explores further awareness of the breadth of the discipline, experimentation and risk-taking, with an introduction to more specialist pathways and optional modules, as well as exploring employability and collaborative practice.
In order to complete this course a student must successfully complete all the following core modules (totalling 80 credits):
- Contextual Specialism
- Jewellery and Objects in depth
In order to complete this course a student must successfully complete at least 40 credits from the following list of optional modules.
- Narrative of Objects
- Body and Identity
- Material Exploration
- Luxury Jewellery Branding
- Live Project
- Collaborative Practice
- Work Placement
Core modules are guaranteed to run. Optional modules will vary from year to year and the published list is indicative only.
Year three
In order to complete this course a student must successfully complete all the following core modules (totalling 120 credits):
- Major Project: Jewellery and Objects
- Studio Perspectives
- Professional Practice
Career Opportunities
Enhancing your employability skills
Upon completing this programme, you will have gained an understanding of a range of materials, their properties and the processes used to create jewellery and objects. Your appreciation of the breadth of the discipline will permit innovative creative practice beyond the boundaries of jewellery and objects.
Graduates demonstrate critical thinking skills and are confident and able to challenge concepts and make judgements in order to enable personal directions to be followed, as well as bring new opportunities to companies and industry practice.
Using a range of techniques to communicate and realise design ideas, you will develop a professional level of promotion and articulation suitable for a range of situations.
Self-directed study and applied project management skills throughout your studies allow you to utilise time efficiently in your graduate activities and professional roles.
Placements
You will be encouraged to take up any relevant opportunities which are available to you, and we have numerous opportunities for live projects which may lead to part-time employment and more. It is not uncommon for our students to be working in the industry part-time while studying with us.
Links to Industry
The School is uniquely positioned in the heart of the Birmingham Jewellery Quarter, and has over 125 years of history training jewellers and silversmiths for the industry and later for the arts.
It proudly maintains its links with the surrounding industry and receives generous sponsorship through prizes and competitions. This includes The Birmingham Assay Office, Cookson Gold, Weston Beamor, The Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths, Royal Birmingham Society of Arts and numerous others.
Within the School are a number of other specialist courses which further enhance the industry connections from which collaborative practice and related activities can emerge, allowing for a wider range of associated links for our graduates.