Upholstery: Traditional and Modern - AMU Level 2

Learn and/or improve your upholstery skills with our Level 2 AMU (Association of Master Upholsters) qualification – Upholstery: Traditional and Modern.

You learn in our Rycotewood Furniture Centre workshops and gain an industry qualification so you can further your career in furniture.

You learn how to upholster:

- drop-in seat using traditional methods

- stitched and stuffed seat without springs (traditional)

- stitched and stuffed chair with springs (traditional)

- stool or headboard (modern) to be deep-buttoned

- sprung armless show wood chair (TV/fireside/nursing/Victorian) with seat and back using traditional materials and techniques

- boxed cushion with zip

The majority of this course is taught in the workshop through practical activities and demonstrations. There are lectures on design and materials and tools used, and health and safety.

The programme requires you to produce a mandatory written research project: 20th Century Furniture Design.

Practical assignments are completed and assessed during the year, as is written work. Throughout the course you build a portfolio of underpinning knowledge, and a portfolio of design studies.

You develop your practical skills, gain a greater understanding of the furniture and furnishings industry, and benefit from top-class teaching in a centre renowned for its excellence.

There are no formal qualifications needed for this course.

You can move on to a Level 3 course in upholstery, a furniture-making course at the College, or you can seek employment in the furniture industry.

City of Oxford College runs furniture design-and-make programmes at foundation degree and honours degree level too.

This is a full cost course for students wishing to learn and improve their upholstery skills, one day a week for 216 hours. The course runs for 36 weeks.

As well as the course fees, the additional fees are:

AMU registration fee (approx £30)
Material fees £100