Emma Minkley
Lecturer
Diploma in Jewellery Design
Accreditation: Three-Year Diploma | NQF Level 6 | 360 Credits | SAQA ID: 83426
3 Years, full-time
NQF Level 6
360 credits
SAQA ID 83426
Overview
The Diploma in Jewellery Design at Ruth Prowse School of Art is a rare combination: you learn both the design and the professional manufacture of jewellery in one three-year programme. From early on, you work with precious metals, casting and stone setting alongside digital design in Rhino 3D, building the technical precision the industry demands alongside your own design identity. Business management and brand-building are built into the programme, so you leave understanding not only how jewellery is made, but how it is positioned, priced and taken to market.
Key Programme Facts
- Faculty
- Jewellery Design
- Duration
- 3 Years
- Credits
- 360 Credits
- Language
- English
About the Programme
Your first year builds a strong technical foundation across design, jewellery drawing, design and manufacture, and digital design using Rhino, supported by visual discourse and jewellery theory. In your second year, your design and manufacture work deepens into your major, backed by digital photography, jewellery discourse, gemology and professional practice. Learning takes place in small classes for highly individualised, hands-on attention, led by an academic team of practising jewellery designers and goldsmiths.
- Duration: 3 Years (Full-Time)
- Total Credits: 360 Credits (NQF Level 6 | SAQA ID: 83426)
- Language: English is the official language
Core Curriculum Topics
- Design and Jewellery Drawing.
- Jewellery Design and Manufacture (metalwork, casting, stone setting).
- Digital Design (Rhino 3D CAD/CAM).
- Gemology and Jewellery Theory.
- Visual Discourse and Jewellery Discourse.
- Professional Practice, Business Management and Portfolio Curation.
Curriculum Overview
The curriculum integrates a balanced approach to practice and theory. It begins with foundational principles across all subjects, from drawing through to design and manufacture, exploring traditional and non-traditional materials. From there, emphasis shifts to integrating your own design thinking with your growing technical skill. Your final year is spent focused on your major, so you graduate with an internationally recognised qualification and a highly competitive, individualised portfolio.
Breakdown & Core Courses
To qualify for the undergraduate diploma, you must successfully complete a total of 360 credits broken down over three years of contact learning:
Year 1
120 credits| Module | Credits | NQF |
|---|---|---|
| Design | 12 | 5 |
| Design & Manufacture | 68 | 5 |
| Jewellery Drawing | 12 | 5 |
| Digital Design – Rhino | 4 | 5 |
| Visual Discourse | 18 | 6 |
| Jewellery Theory | 6 | 5 |
Year 2
120 credits| Module | Credits | NQF |
|---|---|---|
| Design | 9 | 6 |
| Design & Manufacture | 66 | 6 |
| Jewellery Drawing | 9 | 6 |
| Digital Design – Rhino | 6 | 6 |
| Photography Digital | 3 | 6 |
| Jewellery Discourse | 18 | 7 |
| Gemology | 3 | 6 |
| Professional Practice | 6 | 6 |
Year 3
120 credits| Module | Credits | NQF |
|---|---|---|
| Design & Manufacture | 63 | 6 |
| Digital Design – Rhino | 6 | 6 |
| Professional Portfolio | 9 | 6 |
| Extended Essay | 30 | 7 |
| Professional Practice | 12 | 7 |
Taught by practising jewellers
Lecturers
James Labuschagne
Lecturer
Ferdinand Kidd
Lecturer
Programme Costs
As a non-profit public benefit organisation, Ruth Prowse School of Art sets highly competitive tuition fees to actively facilitate access and address past educational imbalances. While the school supplies substantive materials and consumables for daily operations, students should budget independently for their personal creative production. Crucially, all creative work produced throughout the course belongs entirely to the student.
| Fees | Current fee |
|---|---|
| Application Fee | R0There are no application fees |
| Registration Fee | R12,000Non-refundable; required to secure placement upon acceptance and included in the total annual tuition fee. |
| Tuition Fees | First Year JD Fees are R88,000. Second and Third Year JD Fees are R86,358. These include the Registration Fee. Please note that a 10% administration levy applies to international students from non-SADC countries. |
Payment Plans & Early Settlements
Our fees are designed to stay transparent, competitive and accessible for students from diverse backgrounds. Settle early for a discount, pay by the standard deadline, or apply for a monthly instalment plan.
- Full Settlement Discounts
- Receive a 10% discount if annual fees are paid in full by 15 January, or a 5% discount if settled by 15 February.
- Standard Payment Deadline
- Fees must be settled in full by 30 May annually
- Extended Monthly Plan
- An optional 9-month installment plan is available from February to October upon written board approval at the start of the year.
Scholarships & Financial Assistance
An extensive, need-based scholarship programme is available to provide full, substantive, or partial tuition support to deserving talent from previously disadvantaged communities. Funding may also be sourced to assist with creative materials and transport costs. Continued renewal of financial aid relies on maintaining a class attendance record of at least 80% and an academic average above 65%.
Fees & funding FAQsApply Now
Kickstart your creative career without upfront costs. Submit your application digitally or connect directly with our admissions team on WhatsApp.
Requirements and Deadlines
Joining the Ruth Prowse School of Art community begins with showcasing your unique creative potential and meeting our foundational academic benchmarks. Because we maintain small class sizes to ensure highly individualised attention, the school accepts a strictly limited number of students each academic year. To give your application the best chance of success, make sure to submit your original practical portfolio, written essay, and supporting academic documents well ahead of key dates to secure your place.
Admissions Requirements
Standard Academic Criteria
- A National Senior Certificate (NSC) or National Certificate (Vocational) Level 4 with Diploma access. Applicants must achieve at least 40% in three fundamental subjects (including English) and at least 50% in three compulsory vocational subjects.
Mature Students (Aged 23 or older)
- Candidates who do not meet standard academic criteria can apply via the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) pathway by submitting a detailed Portfolio of Evidence, a CV, and attending an interview.
International Students
- Must possess a valid study visa prior to the commencement of formal classes.
Required Application Documents
- A completed RPSA Application Form
- A certified copy of your ID or Passport
- A copy of your National Senior Certificate or latest interim Grade 12 results
The Practical Portfolio
- 5–8 original artworks (portraiture, self-portrait, landscapes, still life, or 3D pieces) that display your conceptual capability and your handling of mixed or traditional media.
The Written Essay
- A document answering three specific questions: Why do you want to study at RPSA? Why Jewellery Design? Tell us about an artist or artwork you love.
Application Deadlines
- General Course Applications
- RPSA accepts a strictly limited number of students per year to maintain small class sizes; early application is highly recommended to secure a place.
- Scholarship Application Deadline
- Applications for financial assistance and scholarships must be submitted by 31 October annually.
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2026 Jewellery Intermediate Wednesday
This exciting ongoing jewellery course will consolidate skills in jewellery manufacturing of smelting, sawing, piercing, filing, soldering, bending, sanding and polishing to create unique pieces.
28 October 2026 - 18 November 2026
Wednesday 5:15pm - 8:15pm
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