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Subject · 80 verified programs

Jewelry and Metalsmithing degrees

Degrees in making jewelry, objects and small-scale work in metal and related materials, combining craft skill with design and art thinking.

Also called: Jewellery, Jewelry Design, Metals, Silversmithing and Jewellery, Goldsmithing.

28 BFA · 17 MFA · 15 Other bachelor’s award · 8 BA / BA (Hons) · 5 MA · 4 Other master’s award · 2 BDes · 1 MDes · 32 official concentration, 6 named major, 41 dedicated degree, 1 documented pathway

80 programs

How results are ordered: alphabetically by institution, or by most recently checked when you choose that sort. There is no price ranking, because tuition in different currencies, fee categories and bases (per year, per credit, whole program) is not comparable. A program appears under a subject only through a verified link (dedicated degree, major, concentration or documented pathway). A value we could not verify is shown as “not published”, never as “no”. Items marked Sponsored are paid placements; they never change verification or order. Online programs are not counted as physically located in a state or city, and an institution’s location does not tell you whether it enrols students from your country.

About jewelry and metalsmithing study

Jewelry and metalsmithing covers the making of wearable objects and of vessels, tools and small sculptural work in metal and other materials. Degree study teaches core techniques such as sawing, soldering, forging, casting, stone setting and surface finishing, and asks students to think about the body, adornment, function, value and cultural meaning.

Programs usually pair intensive bench work with design development, drawing, critique and contextual study. Students may explore enameling, chasing, hollowware, mixed materials and contemporary approaches such as digital modeling and three-dimensional printing for casting. Close attention to precision, material properties and safe workshop practice runs through the curriculum.

This field is a craft and design discipline defined by materials and processes. It differs from sculpture, which is not bound to one material or scale, from ceramics and textile design, which have their own materials, and from industrial design, which concerns products made at scale. Some programs emphasize art jewelry, others design for production, and some cover both.

What study typically involves

  • Bench techniques: sawing, soldering, forging and finishing
  • Casting, stone setting and surface treatments
  • Hollowware, raising and object-making in metal
  • Design development and technical drawing
  • Digital modeling and fabrication in many programs
  • History and contemporary practice in jewelry and metals
  • Critique, professional practice and a final collection or project

Award titles. This subject is commonly studied within BFA, BA or BA (Hons) programs, sometimes under craft or design titles such as BDes, and at postgraduate level within MFA, MA or MDes degrees. Research degrees, including practice-based PhDs, may exist in some countries. Award titles vary, so rely on the official program page.

Jewelry and metalsmithing often appears as an area within a craft, fine arts or design degree, sometimes combined with other materials. The directory lists a program under this subject only with a verified dedicated degree, major, official concentration or documented pathway.

Portfolio and admissions guidance

Requirements differ for every program. Always check the official admissions page; this directory cannot guarantee acceptance.

Applicants to jewelry and metalsmithing programs are generally asked for a portfolio that shows making ability, design thinking and drawing, and may include any experience with metal, craft or three-dimensional work. Detailed photographs of small objects are important. Sketchbooks showing development of ideas are often welcome.

Requirements vary by country and program. Some programs ask for few digital images, others for physical work or an interview, and some hold practical tests. Postgraduate programs commonly expect a coherent body of work and a statement of intent.

Confirm formats, limits and deadlines on each official admissions page. Admission is never guaranteed, and this directory does not set a universal template.

See also the guide to preparing an art portfolio.

Funding and costs

At MFA and PhD level, some programs offer teaching assistantships, studio or workshop technician roles, tuition remission or competitive scholarships. Workshop roles can involve supervising equipment and materials.

Terms vary by program, country and year, and many students receive partial or no support. Verify details with the program and funding bodies directly.

Costs beyond tuition. Students often pay for metals, stones, findings, casting services, tools, workshop fees and insurance or packaging for finished work, and material prices can be significant.