You can do a foundation degree, higher national diploma or degree in:

• jewellery design
• jewellery and silversmithing
• design crafts
• art and design
• fine art

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

• a foundation diploma in art and design
• 1 or 2 A levels, or equivalent, for a foundation degree or higher national diploma
• 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree

You can do a college course to start your career in jewellery making, such as:

• art and design
• design crafts
• T Level in Craft and Design

You can also do short courses in specific types of jewellery making at a college, or with a private course provider like a jewellery studio or workshop.

Short courses vary in content, so it's important to check details carefully to make sure they cover what you want to do.

Entry requirements

Entry requirements for these courses vary.

• 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths for a T Level

You may be able to start in this job through a Jewellery, Silversmithing and Allied Trades Professional Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship.

The British Academy of Jewellery also offers apprenticeships in jewellery and silversmithing in Birmingham and London.

The Goldsmiths' Company offers apprenticeships for young people aged 16 to 24 in London and the south-east.

Entry requirements

Employers will set their own entry requirements.

You could do short, specialist courses run by organisations like the British Academy of Jewellery and Goldsmiths' Foundation Programme.

Courses like these can lead on to apprenticeships or training in further or higher education.

You'll need:

• design skills and knowledge
• the ability to work well with your hands
• to be thorough and pay attention to detail
• customer service skills
• the ability to come up with new ways of doing things
• the ability to use your initiative
• excellent verbal communication skills
• ambition and a desire to succeed
• to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently

As a jewellery designer-maker, you would:

• discuss design ideas with your client
• produce designs and scale drawings by hand or with CAD software
• cut, shape and set precious stones and metals with hand and machine tools
• repair or restore jewellery and silverwork to its original condition
• finish items by polishing, enamelling and engraving
• check the quality of finished products

You would also market and sell your work, if you're self-employed.

We've identified this as a potential green job

For a jewellery designer-maker to be a green job, you could:

• use recycled materials and gemstones
• choose energy saving equipment in the workshop
• use biodegradable or recycled packaging for jewellery orders

Find out more about green careers

You could work in a creative studio, from home, in a workshop or in a factory.