BA (Hons) Events Management

Why study this subject?

The UK events industry is thriving, with knowledgeable graduates in high demand. With no two days the same in an events role, an Events Management degree can give you the skills and experience to handle whatever comes your way.

Why study at Buckinghamshire New University?

Our programme is delivered by established industry professionals with diverse backgrounds within the industry. Your teaching team includes a Mercury Music Prize winner, an award-winning concert promoter, wedding planners, former record company executives, touring musicians, and digital & brand partnership specialists. As well as this you’ll benefit from guest lectures and workshops from visiting industry associates, which can introduce you to new and emerging issues across the sector.

Our course combines theory and practical work, covering all the fundamental principles of event management, setting you up perfectly to enter this industry. You’ll learn key business skills such as PR and risk assessment as well as work on the real-life, real-time production of small, medium and large-scale events. From the beginning of your studies, you’ll collaborate with fellow students on other programmes, such as music or film courses, to bring events together.

To kick off your time with us you’ll learn about the basic structures of the various types of events, such as conferences, exhibitions, festivals, sport events and the entertainment and experience industry as whole; details of how events are planned and organised professionally and about marketing and promotion of various types of events. You’ll also study core management skills, both for yourself and for the development of venues, artists and companies. You’ll also discover the art of public relation (PR) as well as risk assessment and knowledge of various legislations required by the government in order to operate in the event industry safely and responsibly.

Continuing with your studies you’ll work on producing real events and learning the skills necessary to translate business ideas into practice. This year will foster and develop communication and interpersonal skills, and problem-solving in real time, pressurised situations. Your final year will be focused on an individual project, supported by modules that look at the strategic and long-term thinking that informs the industry. 

Opportunity modules are a key part of the BNU curriculum. You’ll choose modules in both your first and second year from a broad selection in areas such as sustainability, entrepreneurship, creativity, digital skills, personal growth, civic engagement, health & wellbeing and employment. Opportunity modules are designed to enable you to develop outside the traditional boundaries of your discipline and help you to further stand out from the crowd to future employers.

All our music degrees at Buckinghamshire New University come with membership of UK Music’s Music Academic Partnership (MAP). UK Music is the collective voice of the UK’s world-leading music industry. We represent all sectors of our industry – bringing them together to collaborate, campaign, and champion music. The members of UK Music are: AIM, BPI, FAC, The Ivors Academy, MMF, MPA, MPG, MU, PPL, PRS for Music. UK Music also has an informal association with LIVE (Live music Industry Venues & Entertainment). MAP is a ground-breaking collaboration between educational institutions and UK Music, and is designed to maximise the relationship between the industry and educational institutions in order to inform the next generation of industry professionals.

Our specialisms

Buckinghamshire New University gives you the opportunity to choose your specialism for your future career after your experience of the core curriculum in year one. Rather than having to make your big decision before you join us, we introduce you to various specialisms and offer you the flexibility to choose the specialism which leads to your chosen speciality. You can choose between BA (Hons) Events Management and BA (Hons) Music and Live Events Management.

These specialisms are also offered as four-year programmes, including an initial Foundation Year. The Foundation Year will allow you to develop your academic study skills and build confidence in your abilities, identifying your own strengths and development needs for progression onto an undergraduate programme.

What facilities can I use?

BNU is the only university in the UK to offer FREE access to a huge range of activities and opportunities to enrich your time with us. We call this The Big Deal.

Run by the Students’ Union, the Big Deal gives you FREE access not only to our Students’ Union’s events and entertainment, but a huge range of competitive and recreational sport; skill workshops, CV building activities and of course our societies.

Unlike many other universities, our SU venue is on campus. Our 1,100-capacity event space has hosted some of the hottest live touring bands, renowned DJ club nights, and all kinds of other activities including comedy, theatre, and exhibitions. We also hold Jam Session nights where anyone can get up and get involved. 

Our library is packed with all the information you need for your assessments and there’s plenty of room to knuckle down for some quiet study.

Whilst studying with us you will also use our AppsAnywhere web service, which provides access to many of the software applications you use for learning and studying. AppsAnywhere can be used from your own device or from a University owned PC or laptop, from any location.

What will I study?

This programme gives you all the skills to start a career in the events industry, whether you want to join an existing company or set up your own business. Whether you dream of being a wedding planner or organising international corporate events, the BA (Hons) Events Management specialism can give you the skills you need to succeed.

Through our network of alumni, guest lecturers and industry-experts, you’ll gain a real-time insight into the industry and what employers are looking for in graduates. Our visiting professionals often return to give tutorials, workshops, mentoring, advice, placements, internships and even jobs.

In previous years we’ve been able to offer our students a range of different opportunities to work at a range of different events, festivals, exhibitions & projects. Including, but not limited to:

• Reading Festival - Assistant Zone Managers
• Wireless Festival - H&S Inductions, Licensing Office
• Hyde Park British Summertime - H&S Inductions, Licensing Office
• Wembley Arena
• Creamfields - H&S Inductions, Licensing Office
• Download Festival - H&S Inductions, Licensing Office
• Aylesbury Waterside Theatre
• Mind Body & Spirit
• Common & Steelyard - H&S Inductions, Licensing Office
• Ginger Owl Productions - Various Roles and Opportunities across a wide range of events.
• BBC Radio 1 Weekender - H&S Inductions, Licensing Office & Production Office
• ILMC Conference - Assistants roles at the biggest Music Industry Conference in UK, with all major Artists Agents, Promoters, Artists Management companies, Venue and Arena Operators and Festival Organisers
• Plus many more!

How will I be taught and assessed?

During your time study on this course you will be taught and assessed with a mixture of :

• Lectures
• Seminars
• Workshops
• Event planning tasks
• Individual and group studies 
• Practical exams
• Written assignments
• Presentations.

You’ll study in a close-knit tutor group where everyone’s input is recognised and valued. Not only will you make friends for life, but you’ll also make important connections that will last through your career, and you’ll form a network, just like you’d find in the working-world.