Course summary

Plymouth College of Art has been granted full university status and formally recognised with the new title of Arts University Plymouth, following approval by the Privy Council. This makes us the City of Plymouth’s first specialist arts university. The title of Arts University Plymouth signifies a change to the way that the world will see us, our position within the sector and the mobility of our graduates; but not a change in the way that we see ourselves or what we do. Arts University Plymouth will build upon the existing strength of our unique culture and incredible community; we have no plans to change the specialist focus of the work we do together. The name Arts University Plymouth will appear on our qualifications, making it easier for employers and peers to recognise that our students were taught at a leading specialist arts university. In May 2022 we were awarded the Best Small or Specialist University at the 2022 WhatUni Student Choice Awards, coming top in a list of well-respected specialist UK universities, based on unbiased and honest reviews from students across the UK, in a category that highlights the quality of our provision as a specialist creative university. Our MA Jewellery programme encourages the development of an individual and distinctive jewellery practice through engagement with contemporary approaches to materials, body and form. Ethos Our MA Jewellery encourages you to consider what it means to be a designer and craftsperson in the twenty-first century, when sustainability, material life cycles, added value and approaches to marketing of artisanal products are key issues. The programme sets out to challenge preconceptions about materials and status within the world of jewellery and fashion. Explored through playful investigation of a diverse range of materials, Jewellery is conceived as both a conceptual and material language of adornment. You will be encouraged to explore your current position in relation to design, materials and making, by developing technical skills, and by exploring critical frameworks. Outline Throughout your studies, reflective practice will enable you to integrate conceptual and material thinking, helping you arrive at a clear position as a maker. There will be the opportunity to investigate the relevance of different markets, from the commercial to the conceptual and the performative. The programme is uniquely placed to offer a rich cross-disciplinary practice; you will have access to our spacious and well-equipped metal and jewellery studios, as well as ceramics, glass and resistant materials workshops, and our superbly equipped Fab Lab. Taught delivery within the programme provides a mix of discipline-specific methods and cross-disciplinary approaches that can be applied across creative and commercial sectors. Our shared module structure allows you to develop a dialogue with creative practitioners across the Graduate School. Supported practices This programme supports a range of traditional and experimental jewellery design as well as conceptually-informed jewellery practices.