Jewellery and Silversmithing

Jewellery and silversmithing is a craft tradition with roots that stretch back thousands of years, and a contemporary professional practice that encompasses everything from bespoke fine jewellery and silverware to contemporary art objects, fashion accessories, and design-led production. The discipline requires genuine manual dexterity and technical mastery of materials, including precious metals, gemstones, and alternative materials, alongside design intelligence, the ability to develop ideas from concept to finished object, and an understanding of the markets and contexts in which jewellery is produced and sold.

At Birmingham City University this two-year full-time Higher National Diploma programme is positioned within the Birmingham Jewellery Quarter, which is the historic and continuing centre of the UK jewellery industry. This location is not incidental: being based in a working jewellery manufacturing district means you have direct access to the professional community that produces and sells jewellery, and the programme's strong industry reputation reflects the practical, industry-relevant training it provides. You will develop technical skills in metalworking, stone-setting, casting, and related processes, alongside design skills and an understanding of what employers and the industry are actually looking for from graduates.

The programme's two-year structure is intended for students who want to develop professional craft skills and enter the industry efficiently, and the HND qualification is well regarded by jewellery employers.

Graduates move into roles as bench jewellers, goldsmiths, silversmiths, designers, production managers, and retail and trade roles in the jewellery and silversmithing industries, both locally in Birmingham's Jewellery Quarter and in international markets. Many also develop their own independent practices or collections.