BDes Jewellery & Metal Design
About this course
BDes (Hons) in Jewellery & Metal Design is a design degree centred on the practice of making objects, jewellery and metalwork through studio work and technical workshops. Core topics include Research Methods, Fieldwork, Critical & Analytical Thinking, and Design & Creative Practice. Students can optionally undertake a foundation year or a year abroad, and the final year culminates in an exhibition of student outcomes. The second year focuses on sustainability, intellectual tools, and jewellery research through compulsory modules such as Change by Design, Jewellery Research and Making 1, The 21st Century Designer, and Jewellery Research and Making 2. The third year continues with partnership design and academic research through modules like Shape Your Future, Design in Partnership 1, Alternative Futures Part 1, and Design in Partnership 2, alongside optional modules including Art, Science and Visual Thinking, The Contemporary Portrait, Print and Printability, and Undergraduate Work Placement. The final year focuses on self-initiated projects and contemporary design issues through compulsory modules including Design in Action and Alternative Futures Part 2.
Written by AI from the university's course page and module list. It can get details wrong, so check the official course page before you rely on it.
Entry requirements
A level: CCC (Recommended subject: a literate or art & design subject) IB: 28 points, including 5, 5, 4 at higher level Higher / Advanced Higher, SQA (standard): BBBB (Recommended subject: a literate or art & design subject at Higher).
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What students say
Based on about 10 final-year students who answered (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Teaching on my course: 95%
- Learning opportunities: 87%
- Assessment and feedback: 87%
- Academic support: 96%
- Organisation and management: 54%
- Learning resources: 95%
- Student voice: 70%
Do students stay on the course?
Based on about 10 students who started (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Continued on course: 70%
- Gained a higher qualification: 10%
- Left higher education: 20%
What graduates do next
Based on about 5 graduates who answered (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Working: 50%
- Working and studying: 30%
- Unemployed: 10%
Most common jobs
- Web and Multimedia Design Professionals: 13%
- Artistic, literary and media occupations: 13%
- Design occupations: 13%
- Skilled trades occupations: 9%
- Sales occupations: 8%
- Find their work meaningful: 75%
- Feel on track for their future plans: 75%
- Use what they learnt on the course: 50%
Where graduates work (5 years on)
Based on about 200 graduates, across similar courses at this university
- North East: 2%
- North West: 1%
- East Midlands: 1%
- East of England: 1%
- London: 9%
- South East: 1%
- South West: 1%
- Scotland: 85%
- Northern Ireland: 2%
Who gets in
Based on about 10 students who started (a small group: a rough guide only)
- A levels: 10%
- Foundation course: 10%
- A degree: 10%
- Other HE qualification: 70%
Modules
- Change by Design
- Jewellery Research and Making 1
- The 21st Century Designer
- Jewellery Research and Making 2
- Shape Your Future
- Design in Partnership 1
- Alternative Futures Part 1
- Design in Partnership 2
- Art, Science and Visual Thinking
- The Contemporary Portrait
- Print and Printability
- The Undiscovered Landscape
- Principles of Visual Effects
- Comic Art & Graphic Novels
- Critical Making: Materials & Fabrication
- Thinking Photography
- Contemporary Painting
- Communication in Moving Image
- Design for Living: The Domestic Object
- AI in Creative Practices
- Undergraduate Work Placement
- Design in Action
- Alternative Futures Part 2
Questions about this course
How much do graduates of BDes Jewellery & Metal Design at University of Dundee earn?
The median salary is £24,500 after 15 months, £20,500 after 3 years, £26,500 after 5 years. After five years the middle half of graduates earn between £20,500 and £32,500. The £26,500 median after five years is £500 more than the UK median for Design studies.
What do graduates of BDes Jewellery & Metal Design at University of Dundee do next?
80% were in work or further study 15 months after finishing (Graduate Outcomes 2023-24).
Are students happy with the teaching on BDes Jewellery & Metal Design at University of Dundee?
95% of final-year students were positive about the teaching in the National Student Survey 2025-26.
What grades do I need for BDes Jewellery & Metal Design at University of Dundee?
The typical offer is CCC at A level, or 28 points in the IB. The average entrant had 173 UCAS points.
Does BDes Jewellery & Metal Design at University of Dundee include a placement year or year abroad?
The course has an optional year abroad.
How many students continue on BDes Jewellery & Metal Design at University of Dundee?
70% of students continued into their second year, and 20% left higher education.