BA (Hons)Event Management

Core modules

Working at Events

A key part of your future success in events will be gaining experience by working at a live event. During this module, you'll learn the foundations of event infrastructure and the fundamental stages of an event concept. This practical approach means that you will be using the same techniques and skills used in the industry, helping you to become an event manager in the future.

Event Specialisations

This module will introduce the different types of event work that will be available to you during your career. Throughout the module, you'll identify a wide variety of events, the roles involved in those events, and the skills potential employers will be looking for. This knowledge will enable you to frame your learning and work experience choices during the course.

Event Marketing

To attract attendees, the event must be marketed to the appropriate audience, giving reasons to attend, via the right channels, at the most appropriate moments. In this module, you'll gain an understanding of key event marketing principles, analyse successful marketing campaigns and develop your knowledge of effective techniques to succeed in building an audience.

Events and the Experience Economy

Events are a key aspect of the experience economy, which involves the creation of memorable and meaningful customer experiences, whether at events, exhibitions, conferences, or festivals. In this module, you'll examine the forms and roles that experiences may take in the event management sector, and the various ways in which experiences can be used to theme events and enhance brand image. You'll also examine event experience concepts, business perspectives and relevant academic theories.

Programming and Hosting Events

Successful events take numerous programming elements into consideration. During this module, you'll examine the forms and roles that contribute to programming and hosting, therefore achieving the objectives set for the event. You'll learn how to understand customer needs by using practical and theoretical approaches from the event industry and other commercial sectors.

Event Economics

This module will explore a range of creative business approaches and financial strategies, as used within the event sector. It will examine the typical financial data used by event companies and explore how this data is reported to attendees, the media and other businesses. During the module, you'll also learn how event companies plan and manage their resources, focusing on aspects such as sales, fundraising and expenditure. By the end of the module, you will be equipped to manage event budgets with confidence.

Core modules

Managing Events

In this module, you'll gain further experience and understanding of being part of an event team. During your career, you will work with others to create and achieve an event vision, either for an employer or a client. This module will give you the opportunity to work alongside senior members of an event team, building an in-depth knowledge of event processes. You'll also gain an understanding of what it takes to create a high-functioning team that considers the different roles involved whilst also considering stakeholder agendas.

Experience Design

In a competitive landscape, events need to stand out and provide attendees with an experience that resonates on an emotional level. Identifying similarities and understanding differences between different groups of people is an important skill. Once you understand the needs of your attendees, you can begin the design process. Forging creative solutions to complex problems requires resources, a supportive environment and inspiration. In this module, you'll gain an understanding of the creative process as it relates to events. You'll use your knowledge to create concepts that can inspire both attendees and the event team.

Managing Risk at Events: Health, Wellbeing and the Law

Events offer attendees many opportunities for enjoyment and fun, yet they carry an element of risk that must be considered by managers. This module considers such risks, with a focus on prioritising the health, safety, and wellbeing of attendees. Event managers often face the unexpected, so employers and clients are looking for adaptable and well-informed professionals who can demonstrate awareness of these crucial aspects of successful event delivery. This module therefore provides you with the essential strategic, planning and managerial skills required to manage risk effectively.

Professional Development

For this module, you will explore the career that you are most interested in pursuing in the future. You will also develop the professional and personal skills that you need to achieve your career goals. As part of the module, you will also develop a professional online presence that is essential to making contacts and building your reputation in the music business.

Project Management in Business

Informed by Association for Project Management (APM) standards, this module will teach you best practice including stakeholder engagement, communications and leadership – as well as exploring contemporary challenges in project management. You’ll also have the opportunity to undertake the Project Fundamentals qualification for an additional cost.

Sustainable Event Management and Production

In this module, you'll explore how to create events that take into consideration environmental impact and financial sustainability. Events are typically short-term, often requiring temporary venues, infrastructure and production that are challenging to sustain financially and can damage the local ecosystem if not carefully considered. This module considers how event managers of the future can successfully balance commercial sustainability with the protection of natural resources.

Placement Year

Between years two and three of your course, you'll be able to take a year out from studying to work within your chosen industry gaining valuable work experience. The course team and our careers service will help you with finding a placement.

Core modules

Producing Events

In your final year of study, you'll be part of the management team for an event. Your role will be focused on creating and delivering an event vision while leading a team of people that you’ll need to inspire and manage well. The event will require comprehensive design, budget, delivery targets and marketing plans. You'll use the knowledge gained earlier in the course, whilst also learning more about managerial roles and responsibilities.

Audiences, Trends and the Future of Events

This module explores a range of contemporary issues and developments that have the potential to impact on the event industry at a national or global level. You'll examine customer and event trends relevant to your specialist area of interest, also developing a broader understanding of relevant political and social debates that may affect decision-making in the future. You'll learn how to interpret information from various sources in relation to your preferred area of the event industry, developing strategies that can respond to current issues and trends in the sector.

Final Major Project

Your Final Major Project allows you to undertake a sustained piece of academic or business research relevant to your subject specialism. You have the choice of completing a dissertation, a practical project or a consultancy project, with guidance provided by the teaching team. You'll apply the research skills that you have developed over the first two years of your degree, also gaining in-depth knowledge about the topic or project that you choose to undertake. You'll design and implement suitable and ethical methods to achieve the objectives of your project, drawing on relevant academic and industry research to support your work.

Optional modules

Please note: Not all optional modules are guaranteed to run each year.

Festival Cultures

This optional module focuses on the culture of music festivals, drawing attention to the historical development of different forms of outdoor event and the stereotypes and expectations that we associate with them.

International Events and Placemaking

This module will give you the opportunity to explore working internationally, also considering the planning process for global events. During the module, you'll also consider the context of such events, whether they are driven by destination promotion or national-level brand positioning. This is an exciting module for those interested in how their work contributes to developing communities, cities and nations.