International Jewellery Business Birmingham City University

Programme Structure

Year I

• Principles of Jewellery Marketing

• History and Culture of Jewellery

• Principles of Strategy and Jewellery Business Management

• Gemmology or Diamond Grading

In your first year you will learn about the history of jewellery and its place in different cultures in the History and Culture of Jewellery module, which will provide you with a good understanding of the context of the Jewellery Industry.

You will also study Principles of Jewellery Marketing and use the knowledge you gain from the History and Culture of Jewellery module to apply what you learn to the marketing challenges faced by international jewellery businesses. You will then study Principles of Strategy and Jewellery Business Management and will explore the different strategies that international businesses use to identify and take advantage of new business opportunities.

The choice of two option modules in your second semester will make it possible to specialise in either Gemmology or Diamond Grading, and the chance to gain an internationally recognised qualification in Diamond Grading (additional industry accreditation fees apply).

Year II

• Retail Marketing for Jewellery

• Consumer Behaviour or Luxury Jewellery Branding

• Event and Project Management

• 'Live' Project or Collaborative Practice 2 or Work Placement

In the second year of your studies on the BA (Hons) International Jewellery Business you will continue to develop your marketing and management skills and learn about the challenges faced by international jewellery companies in selling to different markets around the world in the Retail Marketing for Jewellery module.

You will also have the choice of modules for specialising in either Consumer Behaviour or Luxury Jewellery Branding, depending on your own interests and which skills are best suited for your career ambitions. In semester two you will work on creative industry projects, studying the Event and Project Management module.

Depending on your choice of the option modules offered, you will then take part in creating and running a 'Live' Project that would connect with the Jewellery Industry, or work in a Collaborative Project with students from other schools in the Faculty of Arts, Design and Media, or gain industry experience through a Work Placement module.

Year III

• Trend Forecasting and Entrepreneurship

• Academic and Market Research

• Major Project

You will begin your third year of the degree by learning about Trend Forecasting and Entrepreneurship, and practising the skills that will help you in your future career in the jewellery industry. This will be supported by your studies in Academic and Market Research, which will teach you the tools, practices and skills needed to conduct reliable and relevant research that will support your marketing and management decisions.

Your year will conclude with a Major Project, which will let you apply everything you have learned over the preceding three years. Projects vary from year to year, but might include researching a consulting project for a jewellery brand; developing and running a jewellery industry conference that brings together designers, brands and students; researching marketing opportunities and developing strategies for international jewellery brands that want to enter new markets. The Major Project will be you chance to show what you have achieved on the degree and demonstrate your skill and talent to potential future employers around the world.