Undergraduate

BA(Hons) Jewellery Design

  • Duration

    3 years

  • Cost

    £9000

  • Course code

    W700

  • Institution code

    H18

silver chain

We are jewellers - with a love of materials, making and contemporary design. By blending physical and digital skills, we develop authentic, relevant and critically engaged jewellery practices. 

Overview


BA Jewellery Design is a practice-based degree, where you will work dynamically with experienced staff across dedicated studio and workshop spaces.  

You will develop your unique jewellery practice, underpinned by a depth of skill in a range of materials. Our specialist workshops allow for playful exploration, design development and growth of technical skill. Digital skills are imbedded within the course, allowing effective industry and production links. 

Throughout the Jewellery Design BA, you will develop a strong design identity and build a toolkit of skills ranging from traditional metalworking to more contemporary alternative materials and emerging technologies.  

Students gain confidence and are used to reaching for external opportunities, working on live briefs and exhibiting work. You will know your professional contexts, hold a coherent portfolio and be aware of your future progression. 

Sliver jewellery pendant on a chain
A sliver linked bracelet
Silver tooth jewellery which looks like a flame

Recent professional insight

  • Faye Hall
  • Sheng Zhang
  • Studio Morison
  • Elizabeth Terzza
  • Katie Treggiden
  • Emily Kidson
  • Lucie Gledhill
  • Sarah James
  • Attua Aparicio

93.42

In the last National Student Survey, HCA scored 93.42 for how easy it was to access subject-specific resources - more than 8 points ahead of the sector average.

It is important to us that we don't limit what workshops you can or can't access depending on your course or your year. 

Our students and grads exhibit at:

  • Yorkshire Sculpture Park
  • New Designers, London
  • Craft Festival – Cheltenham & Bovey Tracy
  • Cornwall Contemporary
  • Made By Hand
  • Dazzle Contemporary Jewellery Exhibitions
  • Cambridge Contemporary Crafts
  • Diana Porter Contemporary Jewellery
  • Kath Libbert Jewellery Gallery
  • MOSTYN

92.05

In the 2023/2024 NSS Survey HCA students rated the teaching on their course at 92.05. 

This is significantly higher than the sector average and something we aim to continuously improve on. 

NSS
Silver rings made to look like buildings
BA (Hons) Jewellery Design

What you'll learn

LAYING FOUNDATIONS

Your first year provides the foundational skills for approaching creative projects from design and practical perspectives. 

Projects involving research, design development and experimentation run alongside technique-focused modules, allowing for continual investment in practical bench skills. 

Our workshop and studio-based modules utilise research, learning journals, drawing and digital skills to develop a reflective, evaluative and articulate contemporary jewellery practice. 

As we encourage critical engagement, by June you will have had opportunity to apply for multiple competitions and exhibitions.

A DEEPER INVESTMENT

Your second year encourages deeper investment of practical skills through technique deep-dives, whilst continuing the research and development of your contemporary jewellery design language. 

You will gain greater knowledge of your materials, combining traditional approaches with new technologies. 

Live briefs allow for development of style in different professional contexts and build your portfolio and CV, whilst professional practice modules allow you to gain work experience or research and test future career possibilities.

PUSHING YOUR POTENTIAL

Your final year provides you with the critical and creative space to push the potential of your contemporary jewellery practice. 

Your work will become increasingly self-directed, innovative and professional. You will continue to refine your making skills, further underpinned by research and critical reflective decision making to create contemporary jewellery work for public exhibition. 

You will develop a creative portfolio and connect with industry professionals to enable you to launch your career beyond graduation.

Meet the team

As part of the School of Materials and Design, you will explore the interface of new and old technologies in the intellectual and creative context of an arts college. 

We are at the forefront of education in multidisciplinary design, participating in a vibrant community of practice. You will have the unique opportunity to learn to use a wide range of materials and combine them with creative design skills and critical thinking.  

In one day you can experience the materiality of Wood, Metal, Textile and Clay, and then switch to exploring design possibilities in our up-to-the-minute, new £1m digital skills centre.

You’ll discover design tools such as laser cutters, 3D printers and scanners and a professional suite of software to enable you to visualise, iterate and test outcomes quickly, and to convey your intention before bringing them to life back in the workshops. The next day you’ll be drawing and designing in your dedicated space in the design studio followed by an afternoon lecture or seminar that will hone your critical thinking skills through analysis, evaluation and debate, supported by our dedicated Art & Design library. 

While the college is rooted in 170 years' of history in Herefordshire, as a student the course will broaden your horizons through insight and input from incredible artists and designers from across the UK and internationally. 

Our commitment to small-scale teaching enables you to get the most out of masterclasses and talks from visiting professionals like Sheng Zhang, Lucie Gledhill and Emily Kidson - making the connections and asking the kind of questions that will help you launch the type of practice you want post-graduation.

The course has a formal partnership with the regional jewellery collective Alloy, and HCA students exhibit alongside the top emerging designers in the UK at national events like New Designers, PORTAL and the Great Northern Contemporary Craft Fair soon after graduating.

This is a practical course, based in your dedicated space in a studio with easy access to our range specialist workshops. 

You will learn to harness your creativity through traditional making skills that reflect the subject’s rich heritage, whilst embracing contemporary ideas, materials, processes and technologies. 

You will be given the support and freedom to find your creative voice, to express it through developing your personal design and making practice, and to develop your unique professional career trajectory.

Make something that means something


This degree is a creative journey, where you will develop a distinct design language that is authentic to you as a contemporary jeweller.

 Gaining an in-depth understanding of the context behind your work, you will explore possibilities and test ideas in materials as you refine your technical skills. Through different projects, you will understand ways of working that matter to you, expand practical skillsets and develop an exciting and durable contemporary jewellery practice. 

A community you can make your own


BA Jewellery Design provides an intimate, creative, material driven environment with dedicated studio space that supports your development. 

Through masterclasses, guest lectures, trips and exhibitions you will engage with contemporary makers. You will make connections relevant to your future; such as professional bodies, guilds, galleries and industry links. You will apply for competitions and live briefs; communicating your ideas coherently, building your portfolio and enabling you to graduate with practical experience of wider professional contexts. 

Applying to HCA

  • Minimum age 18.
  • UCAS Points: For anyone applying for September 2025 entry and beyond, we are looking for applicants who have achieved at or beyond 96 – 112 UCAS Tariff Points. 

    However, whilst qualifications are important, our offers are not solely based on academic results. We may make offers based on other evidence of talent and suitability for the course –  for more details about UCAS Tariffs please see tariff explanation and advice on the UCAS website

  • Mature students: Applications from mature students with relevant experience will also be considered.
  • Recognition of Prior Learning Opportunities: the college welcomes applications from students with prior learning and/or previous experience. Further details on eligibility can be found on page 15 of our Admissions Policy.
  • Applicants whose first language is not English – proof of IELTS overall score of 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in all sections (reading, writing, listening & speaking) is required.

If you are unsure or have any questions, please contact us at registry@hca.ac.uk and we can offer further advice on HCA and the UWTSD awarding body requirements.

You can apply at any point during the year directly to HCA, or you can choose to apply via UCAS.

We receive a high number of application all our subject areas so we recommend that you make your application as early as possible.

You can find out out everything you need about the application process using the link below. If you have any questions, just email registry@hca.ac.uk

As soon as you apply, our Registry team will be in touch to let you know they have received your application. At this point they will also send out information on portfolios or auditions.

Portfolios and auditions are a chance for you to showcase yourself in a different way. They give us an idea of what excites you about the subject, and what you might want to explore further on the course. 

We will send out guidance on how to submit your portfolio, or book and audition date, and if you have any questions you will always be able to reach out to us for assistance or clarification.

After submitting your portfolio online, your work will be reviewed by a course lead, and you will receive personal feedback alongside your offer.

Studying is an investment in yourself, and in your future. It’s important to understand the financial support that is available to you, and to be clear about any fees or funding associated with the course you want to study.

Follow the link below to visit our Fees and Funding pages. These pages are designed to help you plan for your future, so you can start your course with confidence in your financial situation.

Everyone’s personal circumstances are different. If you can’t find the information you need, our Student Finance team can offer additional advice.

Term dates (HE)

Term Enrolment
Dates (2024 - 2025) Monday 23rd September 2024 – Friday 27th September 2024
Term Semester 1
Dates (2024 - 2025) Monday 30th September 2024 – Friday 13th December 2024, Tuesday 7th January 2025 – Friday 31st January 2025, Monday 3rd February 2025 – Friday 7th February 2025 (Research Week)
Term Semester 2
Dates (2024 - 2025) Monday 10th February 2025 – Friday 11th April 2025, Monday 28th April 2024 – Friday 13th June 2025

More information

Your degree

All undergraduate degrees at HCA are validated by University of Wales Trinity St David.

You can view a detailed breakdown of the course content in the Key Information Document.

This can be downloaded below.

How to apply

Everything you need to know about applying to HCA - and starting the next stage of your journey as an artist

Apply now

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