Jewellery and Objects

Studying Jewellery and Objects at NCAD immerses you in a rich blend of traditional craft skills and contemporary design thinking. You develop hands-on expertise in silversmithing, casting, stone-setting, enamelling, and surface treatments, alongside digital techniques such as CAD and 3D printing for jewellery. Studio practice forms the backbone of your week, with scheduled workshop sessions, critical theory seminars, and individual tutorials with practising makers. You explore material experimentation, scale, and the relationship between objects and the human body. As you progress, you develop a personal design language and build a professional portfolio, with opportunities to exhibit work and engage with industry through the Design and Crafts Council of Ireland.

Entry to this NFQ Level 8 programme at NCAD is through the CAO, and points requirements are typically moderate to high given the college's specialist and competitive intake. You will need to meet NCAD's standard Leaving Certificate entry requirements, including a minimum number of subjects passed at an acceptable level, with English being important for critical and contextual studies. A portfolio of creative work is a central part of the admissions process and often carries significant weight alongside CAO points. Applicants without Leaving Certificate qualifications may enter through QQI Level 5 or Level 6 FET/PLC awards in art and design from a College of Further Education, subject to portfolio review. Mature applicants aged 23 or over may apply through NCAD's mature-student pathway, again with portfolio assessment. HEAR and DARE access schemes are available for eligible applicants.

Demand for skilled, craft-literate jewellers and object designers in Ireland is steady, particularly as interest in Irish-made, ethically produced work continues to grow among consumers and galleries. Many graduates build portfolio careers that combine studio sales, commissions, teaching, and exhibition work rather than following a single employment path. The Irish craft sector, supported by bodies such as the Design and Crafts Council of Ireland, offers grants, residencies, and trade fair opportunities that help graduates establish themselves. Those who develop strong digital skills alongside traditional craft expertise find additional opportunities in product development and manufacturing contexts.