18Apr
UndergraduateCourse summary
Jewellery Design at Hereford College of Arts is for creative makers who want to explore contemporary jewellery through material experimentation, craftsmanship and personal expression. You will investigate how jewellery functions as adornment, narrative object and creative statement developing strong technical skills alongside an exploratory, design-led approach. Across three years, you will explore metalworking, fabrication, casting, forming, surface treatments and mixed-material experimentation. You will learn how ideas move from sketchbook research to prototype to finished pieces, supported by tutors who are practicing jewellers and designer makers. The course encourages curiosity, critical thinking and a willingness to push beyond traditional approaches into sculptural, conceptual or interdisciplinary work. A supportive studio environment allows you to test ideas, develop your artistic voice and build confidence as you grow into an independent contemporary jeweller. You will: ● Develop strong technical skills in metalworking, forming, fabrication and finishing ● Experiment with plastics, wood, textiles and found materials ● Learn how to design, prototype and refine wearable pieces ● Build confidence responding to briefs and communicating design ideas ● Produce a portfolio and collection that reflect your personal design identity FACILITIES You will work in specialist studios equipped with individual jewellery benches for soldering, forming, polishing and fabrication. Alongside these is industry standard enameling, etching, PUK welding and lathe machining equipment. You will also access wood, metal and digital fabrication workshops to support experimental or interdisciplinary approaches. CAD software, 3D modelling and prototyping tools expand the possibilities for contemporary jewellery design. INDUSTRY LINKS You will learn from practicing jewellers, metalsmiths and designer-makers through talks, workshops, studio visits and live projects. Students often collaborate with craft galleries, design studios, independent makers and cultural partners, gaining insight into the wider craft industry. Demonstrations and critiques with visiting jewellers and applied artists provide continuous insight into contemporary practice and help you refine your techniques, develop your portfolio and build confidence as a professional maker. Guest speakers have included Lin Cheng, Juliette Bigley and Emily Kidson. CAREERS Graduates progress into roles such as jeweller, designer–maker, metalsmith, production designer, workshop technician, CAD designer, gallery assistant or freelance craft practitioner. You will build a portfolio and collection that demonstrate your technical fluency and creative direction. You will be supported to understand what success looks like for you and build your own plan with this in mind. Alumni have exhibited and won international prizes and the course's professional links include a graduate support scheme with Alloy. SUSTAINABILITY & ETHICAL PRACTICE You will explore responsible approaches to contemporary jewellery, from ethical sourcing and low-impact processes to reuse, upcycling and circular design. Projects may encourage experimentation with sustainable materials or concept-led approaches that highlight environmental or social themes. Live briefs include working with the likes of Precious Collective and Fairlux. EXTERNAL OPPORTUNITIES Students are supported to take part in craft fairs, online showcases, international networks and collaborative projects that expand professional visibility and offer insight into global jewellery practice. Modules include entries to Goldsmiths Craft & Design Award and British Arts Medal Society Student Award – both of which have seen students win awards and recognition. Trips to COLLECT, London and Birmingham Jewellery Quarter also enhance learning. For information about modules: www.hca.ac.uk/courses/bahons-jewellery-design
Modules
From your first day at HCA you will work as a creative, developing your skills and your own voice through a series of projects. You will develop your creative practice, practical skills alongside your critical awareness and theoretical knowledge. You will study a range of modules that build your knowledge and confidence and total 120 credits each year. YEAR ONE: Practice in Context 1 (20 Credits), Practice 1 (30), Practice 2 (30), Foundations for Learning (20). Skills 1 (20) YEAR TWO: Practice in Context 2 (20), Practice 3 (30), Practice 4 (30), Professional Practice 1 (20), Skills 2 (20) YEAR THREE: Practice in Context 3 (20), Practice 5 (30), Practice 6 (60), Professional Practice 2 (10)
How to apply
14Jan
This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.
Application codes
- Course code:
- W700
- Institution code:
- H18
- Campus name:
- Main Site
- Campus code:
- -
Points of entry
The following entry points are available for this course:
- Year 1
- Year 2
International applicants
We are unable to accept applications from international students (including EU/EEA) for this course.
Entry requirements
Qualification requirements
UCAS Tariff - 96 - 112 points
Mature applicants with relevant experience will be considered.
Additional entry requirements
Portfolio
You will be invited to share a portfolio of your work related to this course. A selection of 20 images showcasing concepts, inspirations, sketches and finished work which can presented in person or digitally via a PowerPoint presentation or PDF document. You will receive an email with full guidance on this after we have received your application. In some cases, we may contact you to arrange a further chat. Don’t worry, this will be an informal meeting either face-to-face or online, to find out more about you and your work.
Student Outcomes
Operated by the Office for Students
Employment after 15 months (Most common jobs)
Go onto work and study
The number of student respondents and response rates can be important in interpreting the data – it is important to note your experience may be different from theirs. This data will be based on the subject area rather than the specific course. Read more about this data on the Discover Uni website.
Fees and funding
Tuition fees
| England | £9275 | Year 1 |
| Northern Ireland | £9275 | Year 1 |
| Scotland | £9275 | Year 1 |
| Wales | £9275 | Year 1 |
| Channel Islands | £9275 | Year 1 |
| Republic of Ireland | £9275 | Year 1 |
Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website .
Additional fee information
In addition to the degree fees, the nature of creative arts practice means you'll need to allow for additional costs, such as the materials you choose to use in your work and for trips to external events & exhibitions. The courses at HCA have been designed to minimise the impact of additional costs; all course leaders have an annual budget with some trips & materials fully funded by the College or heavily subsidised. Typically, a student will choose to spend an additional £250 in the first year, £375 in the second year & £400 in their final year, depending on the nature of their work and materials chosen.
We appreciate that not all students can invest the same money in their work, and staff assessing it will not judge work by the cost of resources. The college shop includes many specialist materials at good value and digital equipment can be borrowed from the media stores at no cost to students.
Students are offered an optional Adobe Creative Cloud subscription for use outside of college. In the 2023-24 academic year this cost £16.24 per month. NB: Adobe Creative Cloud is provided free to use for any student working within the college.
Students on all courses may also have the chance to take part in optional trips that require payments towards their costs. Again, non-attendance will not incur assessment penalties, though trips are designed to help students develop their practice. There is an optional annual cross-course residential trip abroad. In the 2023-24 academic year, the trip was a four-day visit to Paris at a cost to students of £425. This fee included a shared dorm room and all travel costs from Hereford to Paris including Eurostar tickets.
*Support Available from Hereford College of Arts*
The HCA Cash Bursary: is designed to benefit students who are starting Higher Education for the first time; are ordinarily resident in England; the student must be liable to pay the full £9,000 tuition fee for their course and be from a low-income family (£25,000 a year or less). The student must also be in receipt of the full Higher Education Maintenance Loan. Each cash bursary is £1,000 which students receive in their first year only.
*Care Leaver Bursary*
Care leavers will be offered free accommodation with City Heart at Station Approach accommodation for their first year only. Care leaver students will be able to stay there until the end of their first year (not over the Summer) and will also receive the Cash Bursary of £1,000. Care leaver students will also receive a Care Leaver Bursary of £1,000 in both their second and third year. Evidence of being a care leaver must be in the form of an original letter showing Care Leaver Status from your local authority.
*Partner Colleges Progression Bursary*
A Progression Bursary of £500 for full-time study or £250 for part-time is available to students from our progression partner colleges*, in their first year only, who have successfully completed a Level 3 or equivalent course within the last 2 academic years and progress on to a degree programme at HCA.
*Partner Colleges: Bath College, Belfast Met, Bourneville, South & City College, Cirencester College, City of Bristol College, Coleg y Cymoedd, Dudley College, Evesham College, Gloucestershire College – ALL Campuses, Gower College, Grantham College, Halesowen College, Heart of Worcestershire College, Hereford College of Arts, Herefordshire & Ludlow College, Hereford Sixth Form, Malvern Hills College, Newent Sixth Form, NWRC Derry, NPTC group, Plumpton College, Shrewsbury College, South Gloucestershire & Stroud College, Stratford Upon Avon College, Swindon College & Worcester Sixth Form.
*Internal Progression Bursary*
All students who have successfully completed a Level 3 course within the last two academic years at HCA and progress to undergraduate study at HCA will be eligible to receive a bursary of £500 for full-time study or £250 for Part-time in their first year only.
Provider information
Hereford College of Arts
Folly Lane
Hereford
HR1 1LT