Jewellery and Silversmithing (BA) W721

Introducing BA Jewellery and Silversmithing

Our programme aims to produce designers who create fresh, exuberant work demonstrating originality and innovation.

We encourage you to combine new technologies with traditional techniques in a range of materials, including:

• precious or semi-precious metal and gemstones
• plastics
• wood
• paper
• stone
• textiles

Alongside your practical studio work, you will gain a contextual and theoretical understanding of contemporary design through our Design and Screen Cultures courses.

Why Edinburgh

You will be joining a programme with:

• an outstanding international reputation
• an impressive track record of employability and strong industrial links
• expert staff who regularly exhibit their work and lecture internationally

Our staff are committed to sharing their experience to assist you to move rapidly into the professional design world.

Ties with industry

We aim to equip graduates with a realistic understanding of the wider industry, including career and future study opportunities.

Our international exchanges and live projects support you to understand a range of industrial and craft production approaches.

We have close ties with industry professional bodies, including:

• Edinburgh's Scottish Goldsmiths Trust
• London Goldsmiths Company

These bodies annually support our final year students with precious metal awards and sponsorship. They also run or support various events we participate in, including:

• educational events
• training
• mentoring
• competitions
• exhibitions

What our students say

Everything seems to have come together for me, each opportunity inspiring or leading onto the next. The summer costume jewellery internship led onto a costume jewellery workshop in Germany, which inspired the theme for my dissertation that subsequently inspired me to apply for a job with Swarvoski. I felt ready to take that next step into the working world after graduation and hope that the snowball effect of great opportunities is to continue.

• Laura Templeton, graduate

How will I learn?

Most design teaching and learning is through involvement in a range of experiential courses situated in a studio environment.

Conceptual, material and technical issues are explored through:

• seminars
• workshops
• lectures
• tutorials
• critiques

Your development is influenced by research and critical thinking, as well as the following contexts that shape creative design practice:

• visual
• intellectual
• social
• professional

These elements are taught through Design and Screen Cultures courses and involve participation in:

• exhibitions
• competitions
• collaborations
• live industry projects

How will I be assessed?

We use continuous formative assessment throughout your study. This helps give meaningful feedback and encourages experimentation in the studio and beyond.

Formative assessment for compulsory courses can include:

• portfolio
• presentations
• essays against course learning outcomes

There is a mid-session review, usually at the mid-point of any course you study.

Summative assessment at the end of all courses is informed by your:

• academic and creative progress
• performance throughout

Your course grades are calculated through this summative assessment plus a moderation process.

All applicants are required to demonstrate a level of English language competency, regardless of their nationality or country of residence. These requirements are listed by programme.

Our graduates emerge with the confidence to establish themselves as:

• designers and makers
• industrial designers
• teachers within the discipline

Our alumni have exhibited their work internationally.

Our past graduates have gone on to work with many reputable employers, including:

• Edinburgh Assay Office
• Gucci
• Michael Kors
• Hamilton and Inche
• Theo Fennel
• The Royal College of Art
• The Scottish Gallery
• Edinburgh Dovecot Studios