Advanced Diploma of Jewellery and Object Design
Overview
2 years full time
2 years
February
February
Design your future in jewellery
Pursue your passion and emerging career in jewellery with Melbourne Polytechnic’s Advanced Diploma of Jewellery and Object Design MEM60222. This two year course introduces you to fundamental jewellery hand skills through to advanced jewellery making techniques that will allow you to design and create beautiful jewellery and objects of value and sentiment. Become qualified to work as a jeweller or object designer in Melbourne’s thriving art, design and craft industries.
Develop hands-on and practical skills
When you study Melbourne Polytechnic’s Advanced Diploma, you will learn from industry-based jewellery professionals. Gain skills in designing and crafting jewellery and 3D objects with an emphasis on current trends as well as traditional design. You will study jewellery-making techniques and materials, practise wax carving and casting, perform ring manufacturing and develop skills in surface embellishment, chain making, stone setting and silversmithing.
Study areas include design and research, drawing and rendering, gemmology, CAD (Computer Aided Design) for jewellery and small business studies to prepare you for industry. Melbourne Polytechnic has one of the only courses in Victoria that focuses on technical jewellery design and construction.
Our industry partners include, Gold and Silversmiths Guild of Australia, Craft Victoria, The Jewellers Association of Australia (JAA) and JamFactory - Adelaide. We also have connections with contemporary jewellery galleries in Melbourne, such as e.g.etal, Studio Ingot, Pieces of Eight, Black Finch, Small Space Gallery, in.cub8r, Bini Gallery and Metal Couture.
Learn from gems of the industry
Working within modern, light-filled, industry-standard workshops, Melbourne Polytechnic’s jewellery teachers have advanced knowledge in both traditional and contemporary design and techniques. In order to prepare you for the job marketplace, this course will also introduce and instruct you in the fields of design development, production jewellery, small business set-up and exhibition planning and design.
In second year the course culminates in an online fundraising auction and a graduate exhibition giving students the opportunity to showcase their work to family, friends, and industry specialists. Melbourne Polytechnic has an excellent reputation for jewellery and object design, with students winning a number of industry-recognised and prestigious awards including the JAA Australasian Jewellery Awards, WorldSkills competition, Nationwide Jewellers’ Apprentice of the Year, Design Institute of Australia’s Graduate of the Year and even the Lord Coconut Melbourne Cufflink Prize.
Set your career in stone
An Advanced Diploma of Jewellery and Object Design MEM60222 will set you apart within a creative and competitive industry. Experienced teaching staff and the industry-dedicated projects this course has to offer will ensure you are equipped to pursue your own studio practice producing both limited edition production ranges and client-based commissions.
Career Pathways
Where will the Advanced Diploma of Jewellery and Object Design MEM60222 take me?
The Advanced Diploma of Jewellery and Object Design MEM60222 is designed to prepare you to establish your own designer/maker studio, creating bespoke, one off commissions for clients as well as production jewellery and objects for sale in retail/online outlets.
Melbourne Polytechnic jewellery graduates from the Advanced Diploma have gone on to secure jobs across all areas of the ever-evolving industry to work as jewellery manufacturers, jewellery gallery assistants, technical assistants in the area of bionic technologies and watch case assembly, jewellery studio technicians and jewellery production assistants.
- Jewellery Manufacturer
- Jewellery Technical Assistant
- Watch case assembly technician
- Jewellery Production Assistant
- Artisan Jeweller
- Jewellery Designer
- Jewellery Studio Technician
- Jewellery Repairer
Study Pathways
You may wish to extend your qualifications by undertaking further study in the areas of gemmology, diamond technology and jewellery valuation. You may also choose to articulate into further study of jewellery, object design and fine arts at other tertiary institutions including RMIT and Monash University or apply for the two-year Associate training program at JamFactory - Adelaide.
Jewellery Courses at Melbourne Polytechnic
Course Details
How you will study
Each course has a dedicated learning method that is designed to let you thrive in your studies.
On-campus / Virtual classroom
A blend of both face-to-face and virtual learning with scheduled classes taking place on-campus and in virtual classrooms. Visit the How You'll Study page for more information.
Class Schedule
Fairfield campus:
Either:
- Mon, Tue and Wed 9.30am - 4.30pm, OR
- Mon, Thurs and Fri 9.30am - 4.30pm
Prahran campus:
- Mon, Tue and Wed 9.30am - 4.30pm
Note: The second year of this course is held at the Fairfield campus only.
Assessment Methods
Various forms of assessment are used, including practical exercises, written exercises and knowledge questions in the form of online quizzes, studio journals, and folios of work.
Units of Study
The hours displayed are nominal, actual classroom hours delivered may differ. Please contact us for the latest student contact hours information.
| Code | Subject | Elective | Hours |
| BSBESB407 | Manage finances for new business ventures | Elective | 60 |
| CUAACD537 | Refine 3-D design ideas and processes | Elective | 70 |
| CUADES412 | Interpret and respond to a design brief | Elective | 30 |
| CUADES512 | Establish, negotiate and refine a design brief | Core | 65 |
| CUADES612 | Research global design trends | Elective | 30 |
| CUAPPR511 | Realise a body of creative work | Core | 80 |
| CUAPPR513 | Present a body of own creative work | Elective | 60 |
| CUAPPR611 | Originate a body of independent creative work | Elective | 75 |
| CUAPPR614 | Publicly present a body of own creative work | Elective | 60 |
| CUARES503 | Analyse cultural history and theory | Core | 70 |
| MEM05006 | Perform brazing and/or silver soldering | Elective | 20 |
| MEM08010 | Manually finish/polish materials | Elective | 60 |
| MEM11011 | Undertake manual handling | Elective | 20 |
| MEM12023 | Perform engineering measurements | Elective | 30 |
| MEM13003 | Work safely with industrial chemicals and materials | Elective | 20 |
| MEM13015 | Work safely and effectively in manufacturing and engineering | Core | 40 |
| MEM16006 | Organise and communicate information | Elective | 20 |
| MEM18001 | Use hand tools | Elective | 20 |
| MEM18002 | Use power tools/hand held operations | Elective | 20 |
| MEM18003 | Use tools for precision work | Elective | 40 |
| MEM19012 | Produce jewellery wax model | Elective | 40 |
| MEM19023 | Apply drawing and rendering techniques to jewellery or object design | Core | 40 |
| MEM19024 | Use computer-aided design (CAD) to create and display 3D jewellery or object models | Elective | 40 |
| MEM19026 | Investigate quality and application of jewellery materials | Core | 20 |
| MEM19029 | Produce a professional jewellery design or 3D object portfolio | Elective | 60 |
| MEM19031 | Produce renderings and technical drawings for jewellery or object design construction | Elective | 40 |
| MEM19032 | Design and implement mechanisms in jewellery items | Elective | 60 |
| MEM19033 | Create silversmithing objects | Elective | 60 |
| MEM19034 | Apply chain manufacture process | Elective | 40 |
| MEM19036 | Use specialised techniques to produce jewellery or objects | Elective | 80 |
| MEM19037 | Plan and implement chenier fabrication process | Elective | 20 |
| MEM19038 | Apply traditional techniques to jewellery or 3D object production | Elective | 60 |
| MEM19039 | Plan, conduct and supervise a jewellery or object exhibition or program | Elective | 60 |
| MEM19040 | Create and manufacture jewellery or object design prototypes for the mass market | Core | 60 |
| MEM19041 | Experiment with jewellery or object designs | Core | 60 |
| MSMENV272 | Participate in environmentally sustainable work practices | Core | 30 |
Fees & Costs
| Government subsidised fee | Non-subsidised fee | |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition fee | $20850 | $25200 |
| Maximum annual amenities | $250 | $250 |
| Total payable | $21100 | $25450 |
| Per year | $18600 |
| Per semester | $9300 |
The student tuition fees as published are subject to change given individual circumstances at enrolment.
Displayed course fees are indicative only. There are many variables that impact the total amount of your full course costs including qualification for government subsidies, concessions or recognition of prior learning. Tuition fees do not include the cost of student amenities or material costs.
This training is delivered with Victorian and Commonwealth Government funding. Contact us to find out if you’re eligible for a Government subsidy.
Melbourne Polytechnic offers a range of payment options to help you pay your tuition fees, so you can get on with your studies.
Fees displayed are effective for new applications received on or after 1st of November. Tuition fees do not include textbooks, course materials or overseas student health insurance and visa fees.
After initial deposit, international students are able to pay tuition fees in installments, four times per year.
For more detailed information please read the International Student Fees.
Fees explained
The fees for those ineligible for a government-funded enrolment.
The cost of tuition for those eligible for government funding.
Additional expenses
The Student Services and Amenities Fee is charged at forty cents (40 cents) per student contact hour and is capped over a twelve (12) month period, effective from the enrolment date, to:
- $250 for full fee-paying students; and
- $175 for concession-paying students studying Certificate I, II, III, or IV.
Amenities fees are used to improve non-academic services including libraries, counselling services, student support, and recreational activities.
Tool kit lists, resource books and timetables will be provided at class enrolment or course induction by the teaching department.
You are required to purchase your own jewellery tool kit. The minimum requirements will be discussed at your induction. The initial cost for Start-up Tool Kit #1 is approximately $1,100.00. Additional Tool Kit #2 costs approximately $900.00. We will provide some basic materials and base metal for projects but precious metal is not supplied by Melbourne Polytechnic.
Requirements
- All applicants selected by interview/folio presentation conducted via Zoom.
- Interviews will resume in September for courses starting in 2024.
English: Academic IELTS 5.5 with no individual band below 5.0, Pearson PTE Academic 42 overall with no individual communicative skill below 36, or Melbourne Polytechnic recognised equivalency.
Other:Folio presentation – digital or in person via appointment.
Next Steps
We're really excited for you to join the Melbourne Polytechnic community and we look forward to supporting you on your education journey.
The first step to enrolling is completing the application short form from the Apply Now page.
You'll then receive a link to complete a few more personal details.
You will be asked to attend an interview to ensure that this is the right course for you.
It is a mandatory government requirement for all prospective students to complete an online literacy and numeracy assessment.
Once you are ready to enrol, you will be invited to enrol online or come to campus to complete your enrolment in person.
Diploma students may be eligible for a VET Student Loan. Read more about them here.
If you need assistance with your application and the next steps, you can contact one of our Education and Course Advisors on 1300 635 276 or follow a step-by-step guide to enrolling for vocational education local students.
When we receive your application, the International Office will be in contact with you shortly to discuss your application and provide you additional instructions.
If you'd like to speak to one of our International Office staff directly, call 1300 635 276
Jewellery at Melbourne Polytechnic
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Jewellery teacher Gary Swift gets creative with timber
Discover the world-famous Melbourne Polytechnic annual Jewellery and Object Design auction.
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Jewellery Student Wins 2018 Cufflink Design Competition
A new honour adorns the artistic career of Melbourne Polytechnic jewellery student Jean-Nicolas Weryha – the Lord Coconut Melbourne Cufflink prize.
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Jewellery Workshop
Located at our beautiful, historic Fairfield campus, Melbourne Polytechnic’s Jewellery Workshop provides access to a vast range of tools and equipment.
Learn MoreRecognising Organisations
Nationally Recognised Training This course is government accredited and has national recognition.
Local student means; you are an Australian citizen or permanent resident, a New Zealand citizen or a permanent humanitarian visa holder.