Jewellery & Silversmithing BA (Hons)

Program Overview

This three-year BA (Hons) program in Jewellery/Silversmithing at UCA Farnham focuses on developing students' technical skills, critical thinking, and professional practice. Students will explore various materials and processes, engage in research and experimentation, and gain industry experience through placements or live projects. The program culminates in a self-initiated major project that showcases students' individual potential and prepares them for careers in the jewellery and silversmithing industry.

Program Outline

Outline:

Year One:

• LaunchWeek: Introduction to the term, review of summer project, research visits, cross-programme activities with Ceramics & Glass students.
• Maker and Materials: Become familiar and confident within the studio and workshop environment, undertake visual and contextual research, explore the act of making through materials and processes as a key skill.
• Equality, Diversity and Inclusion 1: Investigate the theme of ‘otherness and belonging’ to question histories and practices used within the crafts industries which privilege dominant cultural values.
• 2D CAD Cam: Introduction to 2D digital software, including Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop, to understand the role of digital technology in the design and making process.
• OpportunityWeek: Introduction to the term, research visits, inductions, cross-programme activities with Ceramics & Glass students.
• Form and Surface: Introduction to various production methods, including forming, mould-making, casting, and surface application, as you learn to repeatedly reproduce components for design and making.
• Professional Communication: Learn a range of professional communication methods, identify categories of makers, and make connections with your subject and future ambitions.
• 3D CAD Cam: Extended understanding of the potential of digital technology in the design and manufacturing process through 3D computer-aided design (CAD) application.
• ATOM Activities: Participate in small pieces of individual learning that facilitate interdisciplinary exposure across UCA.
• PLE Digital Outcomes: Edit and present a record of constructive engagement with digital media platforms across the year.

Year Two:

• Launch: Review of summer work, project planning, introduction to peer groups, and other activities.
• OpportunityWeek: Introduction to the term, project planning, project briefing, personalized learning session, cross-programme activities with Ceramics & Glass students.
• Audience and Context: Further develop your creative practice through research, designing, and making as you define your identity as a ceramicist or glassmaker.
Work more independently, and the work you produce here will be used later in the year. Reflect on your experience and progress through an online reflective journal.
• Exhibiting: Organize, curate, and present a group exhibition with the work you created in Audience and Context, providing an opportunity to generate and experience audience engagement and external feedback.
• ATOM Activities and PLE Digital Outcome: Continuation of Year 1 activities with further exploration and development.

Year Three:

• Launch: Review of summer work, project planning, research visits, managing autonomous practice, and introduction to thinking professionally.
• Minor Project: Exploratory Research and Development: Undertake an extensive body of exploratory research, with a focus on material testing and prototyping, and complete a written proposal outlining the project scope and critical analysis.
• OpportunityWeek: Introduction to your final term, project reflection, project planning, research weeks.
• Major Project: Realisation: Frame your individual Jewellery/Silversmithing practice and realise a self-initiated major project reflecting your individual potential.
The project should have a professional impact suitable for public exhibition and/or industry focus, and an emphasis on contextual and critical analysis and evaluation.

Integrated Foundation Year:

• For those who need to develop their creativity before starting the degree.
• Includes a foundation year to help develop your creativity before embarking on year one of a degree.

BA (Hons) with Professional Practice Year:

• Spends an entire year gaining valuable industry experience prior to your final year of study.
• Includes a year on a professional placement gaining valuable industry experience prior to your final year of study.

BA (Hons) with Integrated Foundation Year and Professional Practice Year:

• A five-year program including a foundation year to develop your creativity, followed by an industry placement year before your final year.

Teaching:

• Supported by active practitioners who are highly regarded in their fields.
• Benefit from a tight-knit community of makers.
• Have access to world-class facilities.
• Explore a wide range of other materials and processes in the workshops.

Careers:

• Famous alumni include Stephen Webster MBE, Kyosun Jung, and Miriam Hanid.
• You can expect to learn through making and be taught traditional technical skills that go hand-in-hand with material innovation and experimentation.
• You’ll find UCA is a special and friendly place to study.

Other:

• UCA is located in the World Craft Town of Farnham.
• The course is workshop-based.
• You can also explore a wide range of other materials and processes in the workshops.
The content of the course may be subject to change.

UK

Tuition fees - 2024/25 entry Integrated Foundation Year: £9,250 BA course: £9,250 If you opt to study the Professional Practice Year, for 2024 you will be required to pay a reduced tuition fee of £1,850. You will also incur additional travel and accommodation costs during your Professional Practice year.

EU

Tuition fees - 2024/25 entry Integrated International Foundation Year: £9,250 (see fee discount information) BA course: £9,250 (see fee discount information) If you opt to study the Professional Practice Year, for 2024 you will be required to pay a reduced tuition fee of £1,850. You will also incur additional travel and accommodation costs during your Professional Practice year.

International

Tuition fees - 2024/25 entry Integrated International Foundation Year: £16,950 BA course: £17,500 If you opt to study the Professional Practice Year, for 2024 you will be required to pay a reduced tuition fee of £3,390. You will also incur additional travel and accommodation costs during your Professional Practice year.