MSc Events Management

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Full time according to Funding Council definitions, Part-Time, Sandwich (Thick) out of college.

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This is one of the largest events management Master’s degrees in the UK and, as a conversion course, is ideal for anyone looking for a new career direction.

You’ll receive practical training from research-active and industry-experienced staff in a truly multicultural environment, enhancing your knowledge of diversity and awareness of the cultural differences associated with managerial work in an international environment. Those are vital skills for working as part of a mixed-nationality workforce and for a mixed-nationality clientele.

This course will help you to develop skills essential for working in the events sector, using theories and processes of project and operational management. You’ll learn about the event management cycle, including the planning, design, implementation and evaluation of a variety of events.

As an academically driven course, you’ll also learn to critically evaluate a range of theories and models relevant to events management. The practical element of this course focuses on the application of theories and models to event examples, including the organisation of your own live event as part of a group.

An optional 30-week work placement provides you with transferable skills working in a role such as Event Manager, Exhibition Development Manager, Event Coordinator, Account Manager or Project Manager. You can begin your placement once the taught units are completed, before you begin your dissertation.

Key information

Next start date:

September 2019, January 2020, September 2020, January 2021

Location:

Bournemouth University, Talbot Campus

Duration:

September: 1 year full-time (16 months with optional study exchange). January: 16 months full-time (18 months with optional study exchange); 2 years with optional 30-week work placement or 2 years part-time

Accreditations:

Association for Project Management (APM)

Required subjects:

All subjects considered

Entry requirements:

A Bachelors Honours degree with 2:2 in any subject, or equivalent or substantial industrial experience at senior management level

International entry requirements:

If English is not your first language you'll need IELTS (Academic) 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in each component of writing, speaking, listening and reading. For more information check out our full entry requirements.

Course details

If you want to study part-time, you’ll study alongside full-time students over two years. You’ll be expected to study a minimum of three units per year, along with your dissertation towards the end of your second year.

The timetable for when units take place varies each year but the typical delivery for one unit is four hours a week, split between two sessions, so you will be required to be on campus at least two days a week. We can work with you to consider the timetable and make an appropriate individual plan in terms of which order to study which units.

Download the programme specification (pdf 456kb)

Core units

Contemporary Issues in Events Management: You’ll learn to develop an understanding of the contemporary issues affecting the events management industry. Students will be equipped with the skills and knowledge to critically evaluate a range of current management issues and how they affect the events industry.
Organisation, Strategy & Finance: You will learn about the foundations of strategic analysis and choices that tie into an organisation’s business decisions. This includes private, public and third sectors. You’ll study the corporate finance sources of organisations, reporting and interpreting financial data. This will help you understand the dynamics of the events and leisure sector.
Bidding for & Managing International Events: You will learn to critically evaluate and apply management theories and techniques to the effective organisation of and bidding for international events. In this way the unit facilitates preparation for and support careers operating in international events and markets.
Live Event Development & Delivery: This unit encompasses the key components of event planning, using theories and processes of project and operational management. As part of this unit you will cover all elements of planning, designing, implementing and evaluating a variety of events. You will work with resource scheduling tools and undertake logistical planning tasks.
Sustainable Project Management for Events: Since events are increasing in scale and complexity, the areas of programme and project management are important to future event managers. You’ll develop these skills by designing a themed event programme comprised of a number of event projects.
Study skills will be taught as a non-assessed unit: You will learn how to collect, analyse, interpret and present both qualitative and quantitative data. You will be able to understand the nature of research and its associated ethics which will provide an essential underpinning for your research project
Dissertation: An opportunity to study a subject in-depth, showing your understanding of it. The dissertation is the conclusion of your learning experience, where you'll carry out a research project. You'll use appropriate research methodology to collect and analyse data and present your findings. Your dissertation will be 15,000 words, and you'll be taught about research methods

Option units (choose one)

Community, Events, Sports & the Third Sector: You will learn how organisations and communities address social policy agendas, including social justice, human rights, wellbeing and equity, while exploring how social policy campaigners can utilize events and sport in advocacy, activism, political lobbying and to further public understanding. The unit will prepare you to analyse contemporary societal challenges from the local to the global and from Corporate Social Responsibility to bringing awareness to ‘taboo’ societal issues by allowing critical inquiry and independent research. It is aimed at equipping you with the knowledge to understand the process of managing events from a perspective of a growing third sector.
Carnival & Festivals: This unit seeks to provide you with an understanding of the rites and rituals of traditional Carnivals as well as facilitate reflection on contemporary festival practices.
Conference Tourism: You'll reflect on the conference sector's growth, and examine its present state by identifying the size, value, trends and growth of major conference destinations throughout the world. You'll also suggest how destinations and venues can develop a better conference product.
Fashion Retailing: You will explore how fashion can be used to appeal to fashion-conscious consumers.
Crisis & Disaster Management: You'll develop a systematic understanding of the unique needs and critical resources that exist within key sectors and activities of Tourism, Hospitality and Events. You'll complete a number of strategic and tactical planning exercises aimed at addressing the need to integrate tourism and events within risk reduction, response and recovery strategies.
Entrepreneurship: The process of creating a new entrepreneurial venture, and funding sources for new and upcoming entrepreneurs. There's a focus on identifying and evaluating entrepreneurial opportunities. Entrepreneurial development may cover a single entity, a further investment by a portfolio entrepreneur, a management buy-out, a spin-out or a venture in an existing organisation.
Global Food & Drink: The unit will provide an in-depth analysis of the role of food and drink in the international hospitality, tourism, retail and events business environment. An understanding of the nature of our relationship with food socially, economically, politically, environmentally and in terms of technology is a valuable addition to other strategic and operational areas of expertise.
Sport Tourism: You will learn about the features of sport tourism and the changing demands for it, along with its supply structures and impacts on and responses from sport and tourism providers.

Please note that option units require minimum numbers in order to run and may only be available on a semester by semester basis. They may also change from year to year.

Optional work placement

The placement is intended to foster personal and professional development, and to help you to make a connection between academic learning and the working world.

You should consider how a range of management theories can be used, and if management in industry could be improved. The transferable skills developed will improve your performance in your future career, both as employee and manager.

Optional study abroad

Studying abroad is an incredible opportunity to experience a new country and culture while continuing your degree. If you choose the study abroad option, you will complete a semester (around 3 months) overseas at one of our partner institutions.

If you start your course in September, you will complete semester one and two at BU then finish for the summer break. You will start the study abroad option in September of your second year, at the same time as completing your dissertation and complete the course in January of the second year.

If you start your course in January, you will complete semester one, break for summer and then complete semester two at BU. You will start the study abroad option in January of your second year, at the same time as completing your dissertation and complete the course in July of the second year.

You can choose to study abroad or take the optional work placement but not both.

Find out more about studying abroad.

Programme specification

Programme specifications provide definitive records of the university’s taught degrees in line with Quality Assurance Agency requirements. Every taught course leading to a BU Award has a programme specification which describes its aims, structure, content and learning outcomes, plus the teaching, learning and assessment methods used.

Whilst every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the programme specification, the information is liable to change to take advantage of exciting new approaches to teaching and learning as well as developments in industry. If you have been unable to locate the programme specification for the course you are interested in, it will be available as soon as the latest version is ready. Alternatively please contact us for assistance.

Placement opportunities

An exciting part of your studies with us is the opportunity to do a minimum 30-week industry placement. This takes place after the taught elements of the course are complete (before the dissertation), and provides you with the opportunity to gain valuable experience and apply the learning that you have achieved through the course.

The placement should be a paid job but voluntary work can be just as enjoyable.

Find out more about postgraduate placements

Example placement roles

What support is available?

International students

If you choose to do a placement as part of your course

If you have previously studied in the UK, we will consider any study limit that may apply. We will issue your CAS according to the length of time you are entitled to under UKVI regulations (if you do not have enough time left for a work placement year, we will issue your CAS to cover your course dates only).
If you decide after you have enrolled on your course that you do not want to do a placement, this will be reported to the UKVI when you have successfully completed your course.

If you choose not to do a placement as part of your course

We will note this on your CAS and your visa will only be granted long enough to cover your taught course, excluding placement.
If you change your mind while you are here and decide you want to do a placement, you will need to leave the UK to make a new Tier 4 visa application for the additional year of study. You would need to pay for your return travel back to your home country, as well as the cost of a new Tier 4 student visa application.

Your application

This course will be suited to applicants who:

Enjoy working with other people from a diverse range of cultural backgrounds
Can multitask and are well organised
Are flexible with time and energy levels
Are creative and enthusiastic
Can adapt to varying demands/workloads.

What we’re looking for

Students who study on our course bring a range of different experiences with them from educational, professional and recreational environments, whether it is music, sport, drama or the arts. Students on this course will typically have a passion for events and an appreciation of their wide scope.

As an academically driven course, you will learn to critically evaluate a range of theories and models relevant to the events sector. We encourage applications from those individuals who are academically driven, have the ability to work well in groups and are prepared to commit to their studies in the field of events management.

Selection methods

Entry requirements

General entry requirements

International entry requirements

You can find details of the international qualifications we accept, and what level of study they apply to, on our entry requirements for non-UK students' page.

If English is not your first language, you will need to provide evidence that you understand English to a satisfactory level. English language requirements for this course are normally:

IELTS (Academic) 6.0 with minimum 5.5 in each component, or equivalent.

View further information about our English language requirements.

Bournemouth University International College offers a number of pre-sessional English and preparatory programmes to prepare international students for postgraduate study at BU. Admission to the degree is guaranteed on successful completion of your course to the required level.

Careers

Events range in scope, scale and complexity from mega events to corporate meetings. They cover activities from sport and culture to product launches and fundraising. As an event manager you must have abilities in a wide range of subject areas.

Graduates from this course are now working in organisations all over the world, such as Mehr Entertainment in Germany, Capital Club East Africa in Kenya and Moody's Analytics and Concerto Live in the UK.

Potential roles and industries

Our Events Management graduates are in roles such as:

Account Executive
Conference & Events Organiser
Events Manager
Events Co-ordinator
Assistant Manager
Head of Sales.

They work in sectors such as events, media and finance. As you progress through the course, selecting option units and setting up your placement – should you choose to complete one – will help you establish the exact career path you want to follow, and the sector in which you want to put your studies to use.

Further study

Costs and fees

You can find full information about the deposits required and how to pay your fees in our postgraduate fees and funding section, including details of the Postgraduate Loan (subject to fee status).

All fees are quoted in pounds sterling and are per annum. Fees quoted are for tuition only unless stated otherwise. Your tuition fees will be the same for each year of your course.

Find information on living costs for postgraduate students

No hidden extras

What's included in your tuition fee?

Your tuition fee covers expenses associated with your course including tuition materials, access to facilities, mandatory field trips and the following:

One set of study-related consumables such as a memory stick/ DVD
Materials for laboratory and field-based teaching activity
Support for finding placements (UK or abroad) and fieldwork, and non-financial support whilst on placement.
A range of student services – advisors, help desks, counsellors, placement support and careers service
The Library – access to a wide range of electronic resources (databases, e-journals and e-books), print and multimedia collections, subject librarians and study spaces
IT labs (some open 24/7), wireless network, AV equipment to borrow
Peer Assisted Learning (PAL) scheme
Disability and additional learning support
The BU Language Centre to help you develop/improve foreign or English language skills
24 hours a day, 365 days a year security team.

Costs of living and other expenses you need to consider

Additional cost

We are committed to offering you value for money and ensuring there are no hidden costs while you are studying with us, therefore we have listed below any additional costs you may incur that are not covered by your tuition fee:

Accommodation and living costs. Our accommodation price guide can be found on our website.
Optional fieldwork travel, outdoor wear and footwear (where applicable)
Text books, general stationery and other supplies. Our award-winning library is stocked with a large range of text books and online resources, free of charge. The Students’ Union shops stock a wide range of stationery supplies on both campuses.

Repeat units

Financial help available from BU

Deposits

International (non-EU) students need to pay a non-refundable £2,000 deposit to secure their place on a postgraduate course. You will need to pay your deposit by the date stated in your offer letter. The remainder of your fee will be payable on registration/enrolment. There are two exceptions to the non-refundable rule on the deposit:

You fail to meet the academic or English requirements of your offer
You are refused a visa to enter the UK, provided the reason for the refusal is not a fraudulent application.

Our staff

On this course you will be taught by staff with relevant expertise and knowledge appropriate to the content of the unit. This could include senior academic staff, qualified professional practitioners and research students, many of whom are actively engaged in research and/or professional practice which is integrated into the teaching of this course. Please note that teaching staff can change.

Dr Julie Whitfield – Senior Lecturer In Conference & Events Management

Julie is a Senior Lecturer in Conference and Events Management. Prior to joining Bournemouth University, Julie lectured at the Institute for Tourism Studies, Macau, China, IHTTI School of Hotel Management, Neuchâtel, Switzerland and at Mahidol University International College, Bangkok. Julie has also been a visiting lecturer at Ramat-Gan College, Israel and in Nicosia, Cyprus.

This has given her extensive experience of teaching to international students in a wide range of cultures. Julie's field of study is the U.K. conference and events sector, and her research interests include examining the adoption of corporate social responsibility within both the UK and Chinese conference sectors.

View Dr Julie Whitfield’s staff profile

Course changes

Changes in 2018

Date	Changes to this course
25/06/2018	Where the change was made: Course details Change: Following a course review the unit content has been revised and updated for September 2019 onwards. The previous content can be found in the programme specification.
04/06/2018	Where the change was made: Course details Change: Amendment of Food & Drink option unit from 'Food & Drink' to ' Global Food & Drink' Previous text: Food & Drink: Food and drink gives us sustenance, meets our nutritional needs, and forms the basis for many of life’s experiences. It's also central to the hospitality, tourism, retail and events sectors. As such, understanding our relationship with food socially, economically, politically, environmentally and technologically is valuable for strategic and operational areas of expertise.

Date

Changes to this course

25/06/2018

Where the change was made: Course details
Change: Following a course review the unit content has been revised and updated for September 2019 onwards. The previous content can be found in the programme specification.

04/06/2018

Where the change was made: Course details
Change: Amendment of Food & Drink option unit from 'Food & Drink' to ' Global Food & Drink'
Previous text: Food & Drink: Food and drink gives us sustenance, meets our nutritional needs, and forms the basis for many of life’s experiences. It's also central to the hospitality, tourism, retail and events sectors. As such, understanding our relationship with food socially, economically, politically, environmentally and technologically is valuable for strategic and operational areas of expertise.

Changes in 2017

Date	Changes to this course
15/11/2017	Where the change was made: Fees Change: After an annual review of the placement year tuition fee, a price increase in line with current inflation, equating to 3% has been introduced for September 2018 entrants. Previous text: £790

Changes in 2016

Date	Changes to this course
04/03/2016	Where the change was made: Course details Change: A new option unit: Creative Industries in Tourism & Events Previous text: N/A
02/03/2016	Where the change was made: Course details Change: Elective unit change. Removal of the unit Managing Organisations and addition of the unit Research Methods Previous text: Managing Organisations: Develop competence in organisational management and behaviour for a management career in the leisure sector. You'll investigate key roles and how these may be affected by operational environments and organisational structures and cultures, particularly in international and multinational organisations.

Date

Changes to this course

04/03/2016

Where the change was made: Course details
Change: A new option unit: Creative Industries in Tourism & Events
Previous text: N/A

02/03/2016

Where the change was made: Course details
Change: Elective unit change. Removal of the unit Managing Organisations and addition of the unit Research Methods
Previous text: Managing Organisations: Develop competence in organisational management and behaviour for a management career in the leisure sector. You'll investigate key roles and how these may be affected by operational environments and organisational structures and cultures, particularly in international and multinational organisations.

Hear from our staff

Professor Dimitrios Buhalis

You’ll learn from people with first-hand knowledge, well respected in industry. We use our experience and insights to give in-depth understanding of the subject.

What our graduates think

Christina Tzoneva

The best thing about the course was the multinational origin of both the academic staff and the students providing different perspectives and opinions.