Reasons To Study With Us

 Here are our top 8 reasons to choose the School of Jewellery.

1. Multi award winning School

As well as winning top prizes at the Goldsmith Craft and Design Awards 2024, the School have been the proud recipients of the Goldsmiths Craft & Design Awards College trophy six out of eight times. During and after your study you will be encouraged to enter national and international competitions which give you a chance to exhibit at key exhibitions such as New Designers, Paris Couture Fashion Week, the Great Northern Contemporary Craft Fair and more.

2. 125+ years of expertise in the heart of the Jewellery Quarter

Located in the heart of Birmingham’s famous Jewellery Quarter, the School has been a leader in the field since 1890. We have since expanded to include the Assay Office, home to our one-of-a-kind Gemmology courses, adding to our suite of courses from short continuous professional development (CPD) courses, foundation studies to Bachelor's and Master's to Doctorial of Research. These include all of our subjects from Jewellery, Gemmology, Horology, Metalsmithing and Object Making.

3. State-of-the-art facilities

Our industry-standard facilities are unrivalled – we have everything you need, including specialist horology labs, computer aided design and manufacture, metalsmithing and silversmithing, jewellery and gemmology laboratories and more.

4. Industry exposure

You’ll have the chance to gain industry experience through work placements, industry and entrepreneurial projects, guest lectures and study trips. Collaborative projects with the jewellery, horology, gemmology, and objects industry will give you unique insight as well as giving you the experience of responding to real life briefs.

5. Vittoria St Gallery

Situated within the School, Vittoria Street Gallery hosts a dynamic programme of internal, external, and touring exhibitions and events which spans the breadth of the subject disciplines and other associated art and design practices. You’ll get the opportunity to get behind-the-scenes, meet with the exhibitors, help curate and show your own work.

6. Overseas experience

Many of our courses offer you the opportunity to gain an international perspective on the jewellery industry. Students have visited the world-renowned SCHMUCK jewellery fair in Munich, Germany, exhibited in Paris, Milan and Slovenia. There are opportunities to undertake a semester to study abroad, placements for a semester or year in the UK or internationally, as well as apply for Turing Scholarships for funding. There are also internships as the Go Abroad Schemes, such as the Venice Biennale, where in 2024 a BA Jewellery and Objects student won full funding to represent BCU and undertake her own research project.

7. Industry standard staff

Enthusiastic and supportive staff, who are prominent in the jewellery industry, will be working extensively with you throughout your course. Our unique approach to teaching comes from our deep understanding and respect for the profession. We deliver a rich mix of world leading learning through making and doing. Staff have ongoing multiple experiences and huge successes across the industry, from running their own successful practices, producing publications and articles, curating and taking part in touring shows in the UK and abroad, as well as taking part in advisory panels, on boards of industry associations and organisations and join roundtable discussions. All help keep staff up to date with information, knowledge, updates and changes to the wider industry.

8. Earn while you learn

Our student employment agency allows you to apply for paid roles within the University, gaining experience in crucial aspects of job applications and valuable feedback on your work.