Skip navigation
Horology at Birmingham City University - UCAS

Course options

Course summary

Discover the evolution of designs and materials behind clocks and watches, alongside exploring the specialist skills required to design, make and repair these fascinating mechanisms yourself using fine hand and machining skills. Our Horology degree, one of the only courses of its kind, will enable you to develop the practical and analytical skills to identify and resolve complex faults, and utilise our traditional and cutting edge facilities to explore a range of techniques. You will benefit from the experience of practising professional horologists and colleagues in a shared learning environment, and have the opportunity to build a series of portfolios of clock/watch repairs and restorations as proof of your professional capabilities. We will develop your digital design and communication skills using a range of industry standard software, using Computer Aided Design and Manufacture (CAD/CAM) and explore rapid prototyping to experience different methods and designs. The Course will embed transferrable skills such as initiative, adaptability and time and project management during your three years with us on the degree. Our many connections with the major brands allow opportunities for working on Live Projects and exploring employment experience in a professional setting, alongside the chance to develop lifelong connections throughout the industry. We have a strong employability record with graduates recently taking up places with employers such as Cartier, Rolex, Tag Heuer, and Xupes. Other Alumni work with Roger Smith, look after significant collections such as at the British Museum, work in major Auction Houses like Bonhams and Fellows, and have even and have restored the Great Clock of Westminster ( AKA Big Ben!) There may well be any number of similar opportunities ahead for you. Professional Placement Year This course offers an optional professional placement year. This allows you to spend a whole year with an employer, following successful completion of your second year, 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.  If you choose to pursue a placement year, you will need to find a suitable placement to complement your chosen area of study. You will be able to draw on the University’s extensive network of local, regional, and national employers, and the support of our Careers teams. If you are able to secure a placement, you can request to be transferred to the 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.


How to apply

Application codes

Course code:
W723
Institution code:
B25
Campus name:
Vittoria Street
Campus code:
V

Points of entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

  • Year 1

Entry requirements

Qualification requirements

Welsh Baccalaureate: 112 UCAS tariff points. Considered with three A Levels or equivalent level 3 qualifications. OCR Cambridge Technical qualifications: 112 UCAS tariff points. NCFE CACHE Level 3 qualifications: 112 UCAS tariff points. WJEC Level 3 qualifications: 112 UCAS tariff points. Considered with two A Levels or equivalent level 3 qualification(s). UAL Level 3 Extended Diploma: Merit overall Foundation Studies (Art and Design, and Art, Design and Media): Distinction overall

Additional entry requirements

Interview

You will be invited to a face-to-face interview at the School of Jewellery. If you cannot attend in person, we can offer an online interview via Microsoft Teams.


English language requirements

TestGradeAdditional details
IELTS (Academic)6overall with no less than 5.5 in any level

Student Outcomes

Operated by the Office for Students
85%
Employment after 15 months (Most common jobs)
90%
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 £9535 Year 1
Northern Ireland £9535 Year 1
Scotland £9535 Year 1
Wales £9535 Year 1
EU £17690 Year 1
International £17690 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

* The Government is proposing to increase the cap on full-time regulated tuition fees to £9,535 for 2025/26 and the University is planning on increasing fees to that maximum level once legislation is enacted. Part-time fees are charged pro-rata, where applicable.
Horology at Birmingham City University - UCAS