Jewellery and Objects - BA (Hons)

Program Overview

Jewellery and Objects - BA (Hons)

Overview

Experiment with materials, techniques and processes on a highly respected jewellery design degree course. You are encouraged to pursue innovation, challenge conventions and push the boundaries of the discipline. You will develop practical skills alongside intellectual engagement and inventive thinking.

Why Choose Us?

• The jewellery and objects course encourages you to develop your own personal style and enables you to design, develop and launch your own highly innovative, contemporary and thought-provoking products.
• Founded in 1890, our internationally renowned School of Jewellery is the largest in Europe, located in the heart of Birmingham’s famous Jewellery Quarter. An estimated 40 per cent of British jewellery is still made there today and you’ll gain contacts, inspiration and experience.
• The course benefits from specialist technicians, academic and support staff. We also have a rolling programme of Artist in Residences (AIRs) who have diverse skills and knowledge to share with you and contribute to your learning experience.
• Sponsorship, prizes, live projects and strong collaborative links with industry will help you to develop an entrepreneurial outlook and an insight into the professional world.
• We have an excellent reputation for highly employable, creative graduates with an in-depth understanding of the latest technology and the manufacturing industry. With many graduates progressing to postgraduate study.

Entry Requirements

Essential requirements

• 112 UCAS Tariff points. Learn more about UCAS Tariff points.
• Applicants will also need to submit a good portfolio.

GCSE and other level 2 requirements

• This course does not require evidence of GCSE qualifications. Please see A Level, BTEC and other level 3 requirements below.

A Level, BTEC and other level 3 requirements

• Qualification| Entry requirements
  • A Level / AS Level |
    • A Level: 112 UCAS Tariff points / BBC (or equivalent)
    • AS Level: Must be in a different subject to A Levels
    • A maximum of four subjects will be considered
  • Pearson BTEC (Diploma / Extended Diploma/ Extended Certificate) |
    • 112 UCAS Tariff points
    • Diploma accepted with one A Level or equivalent level 3 qualifications
    • Extended Certificate accepted with two A Levels or equivalent level 3 qualifications
  • T Level | Merit overall All subjects accepted but Craft and Design preferred.
  • Access to HE Diploma | Pass with 60 credits, 45 credits at level 3 Accepted subjects: Arts, Media and Publishing subjects preferred but other subjects also considered
  • 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)
  • Irish Leaving Certificate (Highers) | Minimum of 112 UCAS Tariff points, achieved in five Higher level subjects
  • Scottish Higher / Advanced Higher | 112 UCAS Tariff points from three Advanced Highers (CCD) or two Advanced Highers (CD) plus two Highers (CC)
  • Welsh Baccalaureate | 112 UCAS Tariff points. Considered with three A Levels or equivalent level 3 qualifications
  • UAL Level 3 Extended Diploma | Merit overall
  • Foundation Studies (Art and Design, and Art, Design and Media) | Distinction overall

International qualifications

• International Baccalaureate Diploma
  • Obtain a minimum of 28 points overall
• EU / International students
  • Please see your country page for further details on the equivalent qualifications we accept. In addition to the academic entry requirements listed above, international and EU students will also require IELTS 6.0 overall with no less than 5.5 in each band.

Fees & How to Apply

UK students

• Annual and modular tuition fees shown are applicable to the first year of study. The University reserves the right to increase fees for subsequent years of study in line with increases in inflation (capped at 5%) or to reflect changes in Government funding policies or changes agreed by Parliament.
• Award: BA (Hons)
• Starting: Sep 2026
• Mode: Full Time
• Duration: 3 years
• Fees: £9,535 in 2026/27

International students

• Annual and modular tuition fees shown are applicable to the first year of study. The University reserves the right to increase fees for subsequent years of study in line with increases in inflation (capped at 5%) or to reflect changes in Government funding policies or changes agreed by Parliament.
• Award: BA (Hons)
• Starting: Sep 2026
• Mode: Full Time
• Duration: 3 years
• Fees: £18,970 in 2026/27

Course in Depth

Year one

• During your first year, you’ll be introduced to techniques and ways of working as well as materials exploration and experimentation.
• Contextual study modules will encourage a wider discussion and awareness of the field and allow you to develop a further understanding of the discipline.
• In order to complete this course a student must successfully complete all the following CORE modules (totalling 100 credits):
  • Jewellery and Objects in Context 20 credits
  • Specialist Techniques 40 credits
  • Contextual Exploration 40 credits
• In order to complete this course a student must successfully complete at least 20 credits from the following list of OPTIONAL modules:
  • Surface and Ornament 20 credits
  • Fine Jewellery Techniques 20 credits
  • Introduction to Gemmology 20 credits

Year two

• The second year explores further awareness of the breadth of the discipline, experimentation and risk taking, with introduction into more specialist pathways and optional modules, as well as exploring employability and collaborative practice.
• In order to complete this course a student must successfully complete all the following CORE modules (totalling 80 credits):
  • Contextual Specialism 40 credits
  • Jewellery and Objects in depth 40 credits
• In order to complete this course a student must successfully complete at least 40 credits from the following list of OPTIONAL modules:
  • Narrative of Objects 20 credits
  • Material Exploration 20 credits
  • Luxury Jewellery Branding 20 credits
  • Live Project 20 credits
  • Work Placement 20 credits

Year three

• In order to complete this course a student must successfully complete all the following CORE modules (totalling 120 credits):
  • Major Project: Jewellery and Objects 40 credits
  • Studio Perspectives 40 credits
  • Professional Practice 20 credits
  • Studio Development 20 credits

Employability

• Upon completing this programme, you will have gained an understanding of a range of materials, their properties and the processes used to create jewellery and objects.
• Graduates demonstrate critical thinking skills, and are confident and able to challenge concepts and make judgements in order to enable personal directions to be followed, as well as bring new opportunities to companies and industry practice.
• Using a range of techniques to communicate and realise design ideas, you will develop a professional level of promotion and articulation suitable for a range of situations.

Facilities & Staff

• The School of Jewellery at Vittoria Street is inspirational and functional. A blend of traditional historic and cutting-edge contemporary, it is light, spacious and extremely well-resourced.
• You’ll have access to industry standard equipment, studio workshops with specialist tools and a shared machine workshop with a wide range of powered equipment, a casting facility and an electroplating laboratory.
• The School’s main computer suite includes CAD design software and Adobe Creative Suite, and you’ll have access to a specialist library.

Our staff

• Rebecca Skeels
  • Course Director, Senior Lecturer
  • Rebecca Skeels started her business in 1994 after graduating from the University of Wales. Since 1994, Rebecca’s thirst for knowledge and her passion for sharing has led her to graduate from Central Saint Martin’s (MA Project by Design) and achieving a PGC in Higher Education from the University for the Creative Arts. Rebecca is a Senior Fellow of...
• Anna Lorenz
  • Senior Lecturer
  • Anna works cross disciplines in a practice-based way and teaches part time on the BA (Hons) Jewellery and Objects course at Birmingham City University. Originally from the South of Germany, Anna apprentice trained with a Master Goldsmiths, gained a BA (Hons) First Class Degree in Jewellery and Silversmithing from the School of Jewellery and...
• Anastasia Young
  • Lecturer
  • Anastasia Young is a jewellery artist, author and lecturer, whose work has been exhibited internationally. Young’s eclectic jewellery is often project based and driven by a combination of ideas and technical investigation; she uses narrative to explore both the design of a piece and its display when not being worn or used. Examples of her work are...
• Kathryn Powell (Partington)
  • Lecturer
  • Kathryn is an established jeweller, designer, maker and passionate educator. Her jewellery/design profile is known as Kathryn Partington. She has worked within higher education for over 10 years and taught within the community alongside her practice.