BA (Hons) Ceramics, Jewellery and Metalwork (with Foundation Year)

What you will study

YEAR 1 (FOUNDATION YEAR)

The foundation year will introduce you to the key elements of jewellery, ceramics and metalwork. You will explore the creative thought process relating to various disciplines, developing your ability to put ideas down on paper quickly.  There will be a range of practice assignments that will increase your recognition of strong ideas and original concepts.

Modules

• Study Skills for Success (Core): This module will equip you with the essential skills needed to thrive in a digital learning environment. It covers time management, research techniques, academic writing, and digital literacy, ensuring that you can navigate online platforms, organise projects, and communicate ideas effectively in higher education.
• Arts Engagement (Core): You will actively explore and respond to art, developing observational and analytical skills. Through hands-on experiences, discussions, and research, you will learn to interpret different artistic styles, techniques, and meanings. This module fosters confidence in engaging with art both critically and creatively.
• Visual Language (Core): This module introduces the fundamental principles of creative thinking in art and design. It explores how elements like composition, colour, and form contribute to visual communication. You will experiment with different media and approaches to develop your own artistic voice.
• Creative Reasoning (Core): Focusing on the practical application of ideas, this module encourages you to consider space, materials, and audience when creating art. You will develop problem-solving skills, refine your decision-making, and experiment with techniques to enhance your creative process.
• Arts in Context (Core): You will examine how art connects to history, culture, and society. By studying artistic movements and influences, you will learn to analyse and interpret artworks within their broader contexts, gaining a deeper understanding of how art reflects and shapes the world around us.
• Progression Project (Core): In this module, you will display your work at a public gallery exhibition, allowing you to celebrate your achievements and develop your confidence.
• Welsh for First Time Learners (Optional): This module provides an introduction to the Welsh language for those taking their first steps.

YEAR 2 (LEVEL 4)

Year two introduces you to the breadth of materials and techniques and have the opportunity to work across all the material areas, experimenting with ceramics, metal and mixed media.

Modules

• Contexts 1: Gain a contextual understanding of your subject area through an introduction to critical thinking, analysis and a structured process of inquiry. 
• Visual Communication: Introduction to fundamental theories of visual communication.
• Material Introduction: Introduction to materials and principles fundamental to 3D makers; health and safety, documenting demonstrations, and recording processes and artist’s practice.
• Material Experimentation: Process driven method of creating work, through mould-making and casting in various materials, including ceramics and metal.
• Material Techniques: Focus is on a specific applied art technique, which advances making skills and builds a professional body of work.
• Introduction to Exhibiting: Getting out of the workshop - investigate principles of communicating your work through study trips and exhibition analysis. Culminating in participation of an end-of-year level 4 group show.

YEAR 3 (LEVEL 5)

Year three expands your making skills within your main material choice, developing a depth of knowledge and understanding about materials and craft skills and allowing you to advance your own creative style. The key professional skills of understanding market, publicity and costings are also developed through practical projects.

Modules

• Contexts 2: Builds on and expands level 4’s Context 1 module to broaden your knowledge and foster critical thinking essential for interpreting the complexities of contemporary art contexts.
• Research and Inspiration: Take personal research through to design proposals, maquettes and material tests suitable for communicating with a client.
• Technical Development: Progress initial designs through to finished object at a professional standard.
• Identity: Develop artistic identity through personal projects in your specialist material area, informed by exploration of open calls for exhibition, design projects and commissions.
• Creative Futures - Making a Living: Develop awareness of career opportunities and professional lives of artists and designers. Explore subject-specific market and marketing methods, record communication with industry bodies and collate costings.

YEAR 4 (LEVEL 6)

Year four allows you to realise your ideas in the direction of your choice, with students developing their own individual themes to produce collections, demonstrating high-quality making skills and innovative design solutions.

Modules

• Research Project: You will undertake a practice-based research project. This approach enables you to locate and establish a connection between your academic and reflective writing within your creative output as an applied artist. 
• Professional Project: Design and create a substantial, self-initiated body of studio work to a professional standard for exhibition.

The information listed in this section is an overview of the academic content of the programme that will take the form of either core or option modules. Modules are designated as core or option in accordance with professional body requirements and internal academic framework review, so may be subject to change.

Entry requirements & applying

Standard entry requirements for BA (Hons) Ceramics, Jewellery and Metalwork is 96-112 UCAS Tariff points at GCE A Level or equivalent.

The programme team welcomes applications from anyone who can demonstrate a commitment to the subject and the potential to complete their chosen programme successfully. This can be established by showing appropriate academic achievements or by demonstrating that they possess the knowledge and ability equivalent to the academic qualifications.

All candidates will either be individually interviewed or invited to an applicants’ day where they will have the opportunity to display a portfolio of their work.

Experience may also be taken into consideration, particularly for those applicants who do not meet the academic requirements above, depending on the extent and depth of subject knowledge. Students from overseas, who are unable to attend an interview are invited to send their portfolio of work digitally for consideration.

Teaching & Assessment

Assessment is designed to reflect the balance of practical making and critical reflection at the heart of jewellery, silversmithing and ceramics.

You will be assessed through:

• Practical and design work – including maquettes, sketchbooks, samples, and finished objects.
• Written work – such as essays, reports, and creative formats like zines, used to demonstrate critical awareness of your subject area.
• Presentation of work – shared with tutors both in person and online.
• Feedback – verbal feedback is given weekly in taught sessions, with more specific written feedback provided part‑way through each module.

Contact time is 14 hours per week for Level 4, 12 hours per week for Level 5, and 10 hours per week for Level 6.

The workshop facilities are open and staffed 5 days a week and students have constant access to the workshops.

Career prospects

Our dedicated Careers and Employability team is committed to helping you achieve your professional goals. They provide personalised advice, useful resources, and extracurricular employability events to prepare you for the job market.

Graduates of this course can pursue careers in: 

• Independent studio maker 
• Arts educator or workshop facilitator
• Community arts and engagement practitioner 
• Postgraduate researcher or lecturer 
• Creative entrepreneur

Additionally, you may choose to further your expertise through postgraduate studies. Explore our postgraduate courses for more information.

Fees & funding

You do not have to pay your tuition fees upfront.

The fees you pay and the support available will depend on a number of different factors. Full information can be found on our fees & finance pages. You will also find information about what your fees include in the fee FAQs.

All fees are subject to any changes in government policy, view our undergraduate fees.

Accommodation

At Wrexham University, we offer on-campus en-suite rooms within our Wrexham Student Village. These private, fully furnished spaces are conveniently located, providing easy access to campus facilities, study areas, and social spaces. Plus, you’re just a 10-minute walk from the city centre!

With all bills included, free Wi-Fi, 24/7 security, and large social areas, you’ll find everything you need for a great student experience.

Explore our student accommodation options to find your perfect home away from home.

Subject to validation

Courses shown as “subject to validation” are new courses which are in development and the details of these courses are in the process of being finalised through the approval cycle, known as the ‘validation’ process. As soon as the programmes are validated the details of the course will be confirmed. The majority of new courses that are still ‘subject to validation’ are approved by the validation process; however, this is not guaranteed and should the course not go ahead as planned, or be significantly amended, you will be informed by the university and assistance will be provided to those who have been offered a place to find a suitable alternative course either at Wrexham University or at another provider.