BTEC Level 2 Certificate in Art and Design: Jewellery

When & Where

8 September 2025 - 7 July 2026 ( 350 hours, 35 weeks )
North Kensington Centre

Quick Facts

Availability Yes
Course Code K25MCAD08A
Suitable For 19 year olds and up are permitted on this course

What you will learn

Across a full academic year this BTEC-accredited course will run for one day per week making it ideal for anyone with existing work or family commitments. During the course you will develop and produce your portfolio which will include several finished pieces of jewellery. At all stages your jewellery works will be supported by your sketchbook development and visual research enabling you to design and make jewellery which is individually inspired and conceived. You will experience new techniques and skills to render your own jewellery from initial idea through to finished product. There is a strong emphasis on design, visual research and problem solving. Tutors with many years of teaching experience will support you at every stage of your learning advising and guiding you with structured timetables and project briefs as well as practical expertise in a broad range of jewellery making aspects. There will be individual tutorial support and plenty of group workshop demonstrations and theory. Field trips will provide you with inspiration and trade links in the jewellery industry will prepare you to enter the next stage of your development whether this be a higher level course or employment.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

Practice a range of fundamental jewellery making skills and techniques
Present your own portfolio of jewellery designs and supporting artworks suitable to present at interview for your next step
Identify which area or aspect of the jewellery industry you wish to pursue in your next course, work experience or career development

On successful completion of the course, you will achieve the following qualification: BTEC Certificate in Art and Design Skills [EDEXCEL]

Class format and activities

All work is project-based and BTEC coursework units are assessed at regular intervals across the 3- term academic year. One, 6 hour day will be devoted to bench work, design principles, portfolio building and theory. Held in our spacious and specialist jewellery studio. Activities and will include regular practical demonstrations and hands on metal working tasks. You will learn the fundamental skills and techniques of jewellery making starting with construction, soldering and cabochon stone setting. You will explore casting and wax modelling processes and practice a range of jewellery findings such as earring hooks, pendant bails and brooch pins. The course offers the opportunity to work on a larger scale with silversmithing techniques such as raising, forging, fold forming and anticlastic forms. Alongside these technical skills you will learn fundamental design principles, improve your sketching skills and develop your creative abilities. Topics will include colour theory, perspective drawing and observational drawing for designers. You will develop your imagination and designing skills and learn about visual communication in order to formulate and research your ideas and concepts. You will learn how professional jewellery makers approach the business and cover basics of market research, pricing and costing works, hallmarking legislation and utilising industry professionals for the production of works. In addition to the face-to-face delivery students will have access to course information and the group will share information via Microsoft Teams. Additional support is available if required.

Entry requirements

This course is suitable for beginners, although experience in Jewellery is welcomed.

What you need to know before you enrol

Applicants should have a keen interest in practical jewellery making

What you need

Applicants should have a keen interest in practical jewellery making and/or a level 1 qualification in jewellery or related subject. Students should bring a portfolio which demonstrates their previous experience in art, design and jewellery making. Some of the basic materials will be provided by the college. All students will have access to our well-equipped specialist workshop and use of our wide range of hand tools and workshop equipment. Students will be required to purchase some general art and design materials and metals during the course. Plenty of advice will be given explaining how and where to buy precious metals, gems and other jewellery relevant materials. An apron and a basic tool box to carry small hand tools and work in progress is recommended and students are required to buy one A3 Sketchbook per term.

What you can do next

Students successfully completing this course progress onto level 3 courses or further study in jewellery such as BA degree course. Others seek apprenticeships, self- employment or work in the jewellery industry or retail.