BA (Hons) Events Management

UCAS CODE: VFV1 (Full-time) or VFV4 (Foundation Year)
TARIFF: 88 - 112 (Full-time) or 32 - 56 (Foundation Year)
  • Study Mode: Full Time
  • Location: High Wycombe
  • Duration: Three or Four Years
  • Start Date: September 2023
Are you interested in learning to run events? From large scale festivals and arena gigs to conferences, corporate events, luxury product launches, grass roots venues and concert halls, our Events Management programme can prepare you for all.  
Taught by established industry professionals and experienced academics, you’ll discover the roles and responsibilities associated with the management and operation of every aspect of the event and entertainment industry and the economics, logistics and information flow that sustain it.

Pathways

Our Events Management programme 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 career decision before you join us, we introduce you to various specialisms and offer you the flexibility to choose the pathway which leads to your chosen career.

Make your application to BA (Hons) Events Management. You'll then choose one of the below pathways after your first year and your final degree award will be the pathway you have chosen.

These pathways 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.

Events Festivals and Venue Management
BA (Hons) Events Management Pathway

What will I study on this pathway?

This pathway 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 pathway can give you the skills you need to succeed.

You will graduate with BA (Hons) Events Management.

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BA (Hons) Music and Live Events Management Pathway

What will I study on this pathway?

This programme focuses on the unique nature of working in music event management. You'll study a number of entrepreneurial approaches to the music business and spend time exploring the social and cultural factors that affect the production and consumption of popular music. You'll be able to gain a broad understanding of how events are planned, marketed, developed and run, through both classroom work and practical projects.

You will graduate with BA (Hons) Music and Live 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.

In the first year, 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 finish your first year by learning 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.

In second year, 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.

I graduated in 2019 having taken part in both the first Winterland and the first Bucks Live events to be taken onto another site - SubWoofers. Both of these events were highly valuable to the course and I think they give great advantage to students as I don't know anyone else who has been given these opportunities.
Lauren Robinson

What facilities can I use?

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.

It would have been near impossible for me to have already experienced being an event manager for an event that drew in over 3,000 customers if it wasn’t for Bucks Live. It puts the students on this course a step ahead of those on other event courses across the country, and I imagine it must have a significant impact on the immediate employability of graduating students.
Jessie Hall

How will I be taught and assessed?

  • On this course you will be taught with a mixture of:
  • Lectures
  • Seminars
  • Workshops
  • Event planning tasks

You will be assessed in a number of ways, including written assignments, group presentations, and practical exams.

Previous work experience and internship opportunities

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 & 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!

BA (Hons) Event Management Programme Specification

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Open Days

We understand that when it comes to deciding where you’d like to study, there are a lot of things to consider. Come along to our Open Day and discover why BNU could be the place for you. You can find out more about your course, meet the course team, and get all your questions answered.

 

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Application Guide

For everything you need to know about applying, check out our Application Guide. You can find useful information for each stage of your application journey – from before you even apply to what to do if you receive an offer, and everything in between.   

 

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Students' Union

At BNU, we believe in putting our students first. That’s why we’re the only university in the UK to offer free access to such a diverse and exciting range of activities through our SU – all to enrich your university experience.

 

What are the course entry requirements?

A typical offer will require a UCAS tariff score of: 88 - 112 (Full-time) or 32 - 56 (Foundation Year)

A minimum of 2 A-levels (or equivalent) is required. Every application is considered on an individual basis.

For further details of our international English entry requirements, please visit our international pages.

Applicants who do not meet the minimum requirements for the three-year undergraduate programme, or those who do not feel fully prepared for a degree course, can apply for a four-year programme including a Foundation Year; find out more.

Modules

This provides a guide of the modules that make up your course. You can find more information about how your course is structured on our Academic Advice section.

BA (Hons) Events Management Pathway
BA (Hons) Music and Live Events Management Pathway

What are the tuition fees

Home

Home, Academic Year 2023 - 2024

£9,250 per year

International

Overseas/International, Academic Year 2023 - 2024

£15,000 per year

Most courses will involve some additional costs that are not covered by your fees.

You could benefit from financial support through a bursary or scholarship during your time as a student. For more details visit our financial support, bursaries and scholarships section.

Questions about fees?

Contact our Enquiries Team:

0330 123 2023

advice@bnu.ac.uk

What are my career prospects? 

Throughout your time with us we’ll support you on the route to your chosen career. We’ll help you to develop crucial skills, encouraging you to become enterprising, employable and good leaders. We also help you find employment after graduation. Have a look at our Careers and Employability pages to find out more.

Our BA (Hons) Events Management and BA (Hons) Music and Live Events Management Pathways will help prepare you for a range of career possibilities, such as:

  • Event Planner
  • Wedding Planner
  • Events Marketing & PR
  • Licensing
  • Health & Safety
  • Concert and Live Music Events Promoter
  • Festival Manager
  • Venue Manager
  • Tour Manager

Previous BNU Events students have gone on to work for companies and events including Glastonbury, the SEE Arena Wembley, Broadwick Live, Coda, Festival Republic, IMG, Eventim Apollo, and Ginger Owl Productions.

Graduates can also choose to study for a postgraduate course.

Course leader

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Dr Anahita Malek
  • Senior Lecturer
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Paul Fields
  • Senior Lecturer
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Dave Cronen
  • Associate Lecturer
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Bryan Mace
  • Senior Lecturer
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Paul Cartlidge
  • Senior Lecturer
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Dominique Douglas
  • Associate Lecturer
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BA (Hons) Events Management
BA (Hons) Events Management with Foundation Year