Course contact details
Main Contact
Email:registry@hca.ac.uk
Phone:01432 273359
Fax: 01432 341099
Hereford College of Arts
Folly Lane
Hereford
HR1 1LT
Jewellery Design
- Bachelor of Arts (with Honours)
- 3 Years
- Full-Time
- September 2027
- Undergraduate
- Main Site
- Awarded by:
- University of Wales Trinity Saint David (Prifysgol Cymru Y Drindod Dewi Sant)
Course summary
Jewellery Design at Hereford College of Arts is for creative makers who want to explore contemporary jewellery through material experimentation, craftsmanship & personal expression. You will investigate how jewellery functions as adornment, narrative object & creative statement developing strong technical skills alongside an exploratory, design-led approach.
Across three years, you will explore metalworking, fabrication, casting, forming, surface treatments & 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 & 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 & build confidence as you grow into an independent contemporary jeweller.
You will:
● Develop strong technical skills in metalworking, forming, fabrication & finishing
● Experiment with plastics, wood, textiles & found materials
● Learn how to design, prototype & 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 & fabrication. Alongside these is industry-standard enameling, etching, PUK welding & lathe machining equipment. You will also access wood, metal & digital fabrication workshops to support experimental or interdisciplinary approaches. CAD software, 3D modelling & prototyping tools expand the possibilities for contemporary jewellery design.
INDUSTRY LINKS
You will learn from practicing jewellers, metalsmiths & designer-makers through talks, workshops, studio visits and live projects. Students often collaborate with craft galleries, design studios, independent makers & 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 & build confidence as a professional maker. Guest speakers have included Lin Cheng, Juliette Bigley & 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 & 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 & collaborative projects that expand professional visibility and offer insight into global jewellery practice. Modules include entries to Goldsmiths Craft & Design Award and the 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.
Subject to revalidation.
Modules
Course 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
This course has limited vacancies, and is no longer accepting applications from some students. See the list below for where you normally live, to check if you're eligible to apply.
- Republic of Ireland does not have vacancies
- International does not have vacancies
- EU does not have vacancies
- United Kingdom does not have vacancies
Apply by
13 January 2027
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
Points of entry
The following entry points are available for this course:
- Year 1
- Year 2
Entry requirements
Typical qualification requirements
UCAS Tariff96-112
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.
Historical entry grades data
This section shows the range of grades that students who received offers were previously accepted on to this course with (learn more).
It is designed to support your research but does not guarantee whether you will or won't get a place.
Admissions teams consider various factors, including interviews, subject requirements, and entrance tests. Check all course entry requirements for eligibility.
Not enough data available
We are unable to show previous accepted grades for this course. This could be because the course is new, it's a postgraduate course, there isn't enough historical data, or the provider has opted out of sharing their entry grades data for this course - learn more.
Historical entry grades report
This report uses your grades to show how students with similar results have done when applying to this course in the past. Sometimes, there isn’t data for every possible set of grades. When that happens, universities and colleges occasionally fill in the gaps for sets of grades that are typically accepted.
Fees and funding
Tuition fees
Per year tuition fees
| Location | Fee | Year |
|---|---|---|
| England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, Channel Islands & Republic of Ireland | £9780 | |
| International | £15115 |
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
HCA offers support for care leavers and students from low-income families. Please contact finance@hca.ac.uk for further details.
Sponsorship information
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 £9,780 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 Aspire Student Living 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 years. Evidence of being a care leaver must be in the form of an original letter showing Care Leaver Status from your local authority.
Related courses
At Hereford College of Arts
Like this page