MA - Jewellery and Related Products

Miriam Rowe

Miriam is studying for an MA in Jewellery, Silversmithing and Related Products at Birmingham City University’s School of Jewellery, which she is due to complete in 2010.

It was on a visit to Birmingham during a previous trip to the UK that Miriam found herself drawn to the University and its Jewellery School because of its history in the jewellery field. She was studying Jewellery and Metalwork in her home state of Georgia, USA and considering postgraduate study at the time. She found out that the School of Jewellery was based in Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter and came very well-recommended. After that she says applying to the University “was an easy decision to make!”

She noticed that students and alumni from the School of Jewellery had pieces in many shows and exhibitions in the UK and abroad, and the facilities and equipment available at the School would give her a lot of opportunities for development during her studies.

Miriam has found that having access to so much state-of-the-art equipment and a knowledgeable staff has made her studies very enjoyable as they have allowed her to learn many new techniques and processes. This is just one of many reasons she gives for why the course has exceeded her expectations. She says the course is very cohesive and organised in a very logical manner. She was “really pleased with the self-directed study on the course and enjoyed being able to work alone while still receiving project support from tutors and visiting artists.” Miriam says her tutor is “extremely knowledgeable in our subject area” and has “contributed vastly” to her professional development as a designer and maker.

Miriam says “I admire the University’s dedication, not only to the education of its current students, but also to the professional development of current and former students. I have not seen this dedication at any other institution. I am really impressed by what I’ve seen here.”

Miriam also likes being a student in Birmingham. She says: “There are plenty of things to do in and around the city.” She enjoys being in such a central location, allowing her to access London, Manchester and Liverpool in less than two hours. She says: “It’s great having easy access to London without having to have the expensive cost of living.”

After graduating, Miriam plans to live and work in Birmingham. She has begun to make arrangements to set up a studio space with other jewellery artists from the MA course.