A part-time (two days a week) over three years, version of our full-time course. Students graduate with the same qualifications but work on slightly different projects.
- Workshop and study based programme
- Design, drawing and manufacture of joinery and furniture pieces in wood
- Making a range of joinery and furniture pieces including staircase, door, cabinet, chair, table, and turned pieces
- Use of hand tools and powered hand tools
- Use of a range of classic woodworking machines
- Complex joinery and furniture making techniques
- Wood turning
- Veneering and laminating
- Wood finishing
- Design history
- CAD
- Age 19 + required for enrolment
The Furniture Design & Making Diploma is an intensive and rigorous 3-year part-time programme structured to provide students with the skills and knowledge to progress towards a professional career in woodworking.
The programme brings together the range of skills such as joinery, wood machining, wood turning and furniture making. These accredited elements will enable students to operate to a professional standard. A strong emphasis on developing competent and confident woodworking skills – using both traditional hand tools and modern timber processing machinery – will provide students with the technical knowledge to start designing and making their own work pieces as they progress further through the course.
Taught by experienced and highly skilled tutors the course also draws on the skills and knowledge of nationally recognised furniture makers and designers and in addition, throughout the course, visits will be made to woodworking industry workshops/suppliers, exhibitions, museums, etc.
The main accredited elements of the programme are:
- NOCN Level 2 Diploma in Bench Joinery
- City & Guilds Level 3 Diploma in Furniture Design & Making
The Fine Woodwork, Furniture Design & Making course delivers a progressive development of skills, knowledge and abilities over a three year period, based on two days a week. Hand skills will be developed to a high level supported by training in the use of portable powered tools and fixed wood cutting machines. The following skills will be covered in the first 18 months:
- Maintenance and sharpening of tools
- Use of hand tools in the preparation of timber and cutting of basic joints, such as halving, bridle, and mortice & tenons
- Timber selection and care of, in the making stages
- Setting out and marking out
- Frame/carcass constructions using rebates, grooves, mortice & tenons, dovetails etc.
- Making a small stair
- Making a door
The qualification will be achieved, in addition to the practical pieces, by the completion of study packs and online tests.
Towards the completion stage of the Bench Joinery qualification (18 months) students will complete a design project.
In the second 18 months students will be working towards a L3 City & Guilds Furniture Design & Making qualification and will:
- Make a cabinet
- Make a chair
- Design and make a table
The College reserves the right to change aspects of the course at any time
- Level 2 Bench Joinery
- City & Guilds Level 3 Furniture Design & Making
- Completion of Maths and English initial assessment
- Commitment to and strong interest in furniture making
- You MUST be 19+ years of age
- 3 years, 2 days per week, 37 weeks per year
- These dates are not fixed and may be changed during the course
- September 2025
- 2025/26 course fees: £9350 per year
- Applications for scholarships can be submitted to help support fee costs
- Into employment/self-employment
For further information please contact admissions@thebcc.ac.uk or why not attend one of our open days!
