Jewellery and Metal MA

The Jewellery & Metal MA at the RCA develops your creative jewellery, object and metal practice through material-led research, experimentation and making. You explore the intersections of art, design, technology and science, developing your creative identity within a field that brings together the material and immaterial, digital and analogue. The programme encourages you to question conventions and interrogate the role of jewellery, objects and adornment, while developing a personal, self-directed and critical practice. You gain access to traditional and digital making techniques and develop new methodologies that combine technical rigour with conceptual inquiry, supported by insights from practitioners, theorists and historians across art and design. Programme structure: Term 1 In term 1, you take Interrogating Your Practice and Deconstructing Assumptions, developing analytical tools to critique and rethink your existing practice and methods. You develop personal and investigative research approaches while exploring new contexts and directions for your jewellery, object or metal practice. Term 2 In term 2, you take Developing Methodologies, where you explore new techniques, processes and lines of enquiry through material-led and material-transformational practice. You develop a body of work based on your research from Term 1 while defining your professional context and considering how your practice can operate across art and design. You also take a choice of elective units, allowing you to broaden or deepen your practice while working alongside students from other programmes. Term 3 In term 3, you take Independent Research Project, bringing together your research, making and critical thinking into a substantial body of work. Through advanced practice-led methodologies, production and presentation, you develop your project towards a public exhibition and produce a Print Ready Portfolio that reflects your practice and professional direction.Referring to the website: Please refer to the programme webpage for the most accurate and up-to-date information about the programme, its structure, modules and any updates or changes. About RCA: The Royal College of Art is the world’s leading postgraduate art and design university, providing students with unrivalled opportunities to develop their practice, build their networks, enhance their career and to deliver art and design projects that transform the world. For 12 consecutive years, the RCA has been ranked as the world’s number 1 art & design university in the QS World University subject rankings (2015-2026) - attracting artists, designers and communicators from across the globe.

Candidates are selected entirely on merit and applications are welcomed from all over the world. The selection process considers creativity, imagination and innovation as demonstrated in your portfolio, as well as your potential to benefit from the programme and to achieve high MA standards overall.We seek to recruit students who are talented, enthusiastic, energetic, professionally minded, with an open and critical approach to design and making. You must possess a good undergraduate degree (or non-UK equivalent qualification) in metalwork, jewellery or a related subject, such as textiles, sculpture, architecture and industrial design. Your application should be supported by good, preferably academic, references and you should possess a range of practical skills. Equivalent professional experience or apprenticeships are also taken into account.Applications may be considered from candidates without formal training and/or qualifications in other subjects, but you must clearly demonstrate an understanding of the subject area and potential to bring expertise and knowledge from another discipline that would contribute to the Jewellery & Metal group dynamic.Portfolio requirementsPersonal statementPlease provide a 300-word written personal statement that addresses the following points:Introduce yourself, your interests and your motivations for applying to the Royal College of Art, and to this programme in particular.Briefly summarise any educational background and professional experience to date that will support your application.Tell us what you want to do in the future.Video requirements