First year modules are designed to establish a core platform of essential skills for all students and encourage the development of design and making in glass: Historical studies to develop an enrich the student’s knowledge of glass Visual studies to deepen the student’s drawing an visual literacy Benchwork to build the student’s skills in working the materials Design and material knowledge to provide understanding of design in glass Second year students develop the knowledge, practical abilities and creativity to undertake design and glass artefact realisation. They will be able to work as an individual designer, maker or as part of a multidisciplinary team for the manufacture of decorative glass in architecture. Students successfully completing the second year obtain an HND. This is fully integrated into the BA structure and has a common assessment strategy. The second year provides students with the necessary practical and intellectual skills to function as a practicing glass artist. All students are counselled as they approach the end of this year of study as to their future progression opportunities. The third year modules are designed to allow students to formulate their own individual career direction and aspirations as Glass graduates. Students select and manage their own Major and Minor projects with the support of the staff team so that they can demonstrate their core skills and experience and develop: Advanced knowledge of contemporary glass, thinking and practice. A personal design philosophy to underpin their current and future practice. Advanced awareness of the value of their intellectual and creative ability and a well-defined strategy for personal brand and career development. Third year students prepare for their launch into the highly competitive graduate marketplace with the help of our innovative SMUDGE Enterprise programme and all students are encouraged to protect and exploit their own intellectual property through the University’s patenting and entrepreneurial initiatives.

Final year students prepare for their launch into the highly competitive graduate marketplace with the help of our innovative SMUDGE Enterprise programme and all students are encouraged to protect and exploit their own intellectual property through the University’s patenting and entrepreneurial initiatives. www.smudgeenterprise.blogspot.com Swansea School of Glass has a long and successful record of producing graduates of the highest professional calibre in the field of architectural and stained glass. Possible career pathways have included:- Establishing yourself as an artist, designer or maker. Setting up a studio as a sole supplier or in a partnership with others Employed in specialist glass studios. Engaging in freelance work on architectural and interiors projects. Designing for industry or working in the glass industry. Working on private and public commissions. Working on art projects, community projects. Other opportunities include arts administration, curation, teaching and mentoring, community work and arts editorial. Continuation of studies to postgraduate level on our MA Glass programme. Further academic research leading to MPhil or PhD is available. Graduates may naturally be involved in a broad range of these opportunities and increasingly graduates enter into employment in the wider creative industries sector where the design thinking and project management skills developed on the course come to the fore. The course as a module in Professional Development designed to enable final year students to develop their external profile and prepare for professional practice. The Swansea School of Glass exhibit student work in major graduate design and recruitment exhibitions each year at the National Waterfront Museum in Swansea and at New Designers in London as a launch pad for early design careers. Students of the School benefit from opportunities to work on live commissions through the Architectural Glass Centre (AGC). The AGC is the commercial arm of the School that allows students to gain experience designing for live glass commissions as part of, or in addition to, their course work. Students are chosen on merit to work on live commissions which further demonstrates the high standards achieved.