Award

BA (Hons)

Duration

1 year FT

UCAS Code

N820

Entry

September, February

Fees

View Fees

Department of Hospitality and Tourism
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Saturday 18 January 2025

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Our course offers a range of residential visits, with essential costs covered by the University

Get additional recognition with a leadership award from the CMI

Start in February 2025
This course is also available for February entry, so if you're looking to start your studies sooner, why not apply for February 2025?

 

Want to create events with the ‘wow’ factor? Managing events is an exciting sector offering considerable potential for those with the right blend of communication, leadership and managerial abilities. Building on these skills, our Events Management top-up degree course will help you launch a career working in everything from meetings and exhibitions to sporting events, festivals and wedding planning.

This events management course is designed for anyone who has previously studied a relevant subject (up to Level 5), enhancing your understanding of the sector with detailed examination of events systems, project management and how to oversee a live event. You will also have the chance to go on an overseas residential visit and conduct an international research project.

Our events top-up degree is dual accredited by the Chartered Management Institute (CMI), a recognised professional management body. This means when you complete the top-up course, you will also be eligible for an industry-recognised Award in Leadership and Management from the CMI (subject to payment of an additional fee), boosting your attractiveness to prospective employers.

Why choose this degree course?

  • RESIDENTIAL VISIT – Travel overseas for a residential trip to a European destination as part of your top-up course
  • INDUSTRY APPROVED – Complete our CMI-accredited events management top-up and you will be eligible for an Award in Leadership, with CMI membership and access to learning resources throughout your course
  • DIVERSE SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE – Study a wide range of topics including events planning, marketing and risk management, and gain new skills studying in our Digital Creative Studio
  • SPECIALISE YOUR STUDIES – Tailor your learning with a variety of optional modules including financial strategy, adventure events and ‘dark’ tourism
  • AWARD-WINNING UNIVERSITY – Study at the highest-ranking university in the region according to student choice (Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2023)

Our facilities

Students on our Events Management course have access to our brand new Digital Creative Studio, where you can learn an array of skills for producing digital content including video and audio.

Course breakdown

  • Modules

Core Modules

Festival and Event Tourism

You will study the policy and planning issues surrounding festivals management, events tourism and destination management. You will understand the importance of links between heritage, culture, the arts and festivals, and you will look at promoting and enhancing destinations as part of a regional tourism strategy.

Mega Events

The focus on mega events reflects the current events industry, where events of this scale have become a driving force for change. You will explore the macro environment and analyse key internal and external factors which contribute to staging. You will also consider political, social, cultural, economic and environmental impacts, as well as the challenges of staging international events.

Winning Events Bids

You will have the opportunity to explore, analyse and assess the creative processes which contribute to the production of events and innovative event management. You will learn how to pitch a creative and effective bid to win a contract by using a range of communication tools to develop new concepts and techniques.

International Research Project

You will conduct primary research within the hospitality, tourism and events industry, taking in the wider issues within an international environment. You will learn transferable skills by planning your research methodology, implementation, findings and analysis, as well as reflecting on the success of your research project overall.

Event Crisis Strategy

You will critique and adopt crisis management techniques and consider their role in events management strategy based on a variety of scenarios. This will enable you to compile your own crisis strategy and explore crisis prevention and approaches to recovery.

Plus one option from:

Financial Strategy

An opportunity to consolidate your financial planning knowledge, you will learn how to synthesise and evaluate business performance and strategy. You will develop an in-depth knowledge of financial concepts and how companies portray themselves through their annual reports.

Global Marketing Solutions

This module aims to promote an understanding of the complexity and issues an organisation faces when attempting to enter overseas markets. Organisations increasingly operate in diverse and less understood market environments and emphasis will be placed on identifying the challenges presented by breaking into new markets. The module aims to highlight the practicalities of marketing products and services in new international markets and developing the skills required for exploiting new overseas market opportunities.

Managing Adventure Events

This module addresses the multi-faceted aspects of events within the adventure tourism industry. It focuses on the preparation, research and analysis of a variety of adventure-related events. You will enhance your individual, group and generic professional skills and gain an in-depth understanding of events and adventure development and the various theories that help in understanding the development process in tourism. You will also develop your knowledge and understanding of the key issues associated with international tourism development and globalisation. The module will provide a critical appreciation of the nature of public policy and planning in relation to tourism development. In addition, you will evaluate the role and relevance of the various event organisations involved in the development of the adventure tourism destination.

Dark and Thanatourism Management

Dark tourism (also known as 'Thanatourism') – the act of travelling to sites of death, disaster or the seemingly macabre – has received increasing academic and media attention over the past decade. The purpose of this module is to allow you to study a niche yet important component of the tourist attraction and exhibition sector. The module content will draw upon current thinking and research, and will incorporate up-to-date industry trends and examples linking into history, society, politics, ethics and futures.

Personal Effectiveness and Behavioural Skills

You will identify ways to improve your professional and personal potential by making positive changes and managing yourself. You will benefit from developing your soft skills and self-awareness, which will help you achieve success when managing people.

The modules listed above for this course are regularly reviewed to ensure they are up to date and informed by industry as well as the latest teaching methods. On occasion, we may need to make unexpected changes to modules – if this occurs, we will contact all offer holders as soon as possible.

Entry requirements

Entry requirements

Academic: A relevant HND or a foundation degree in the areas of Events or Events Management, with 240 credits.

If you are unsure if your previous qualification is suitable, please contact us before completing an application. You can complete our enquiry form here or call us on 0121 604 1040

International students

Academic: European and International qualifications studied in a relevant subject matter will also be considered. Applicants will need to have achieved 120 ECTS or equivalent (European Credit Transfer).

If you are unsure if your previous qualification is suitable, please contact us before completing an application. You can call us on 0121 604 1040 or complete our enquiry form:

Enquiry Form

Key information

Teaching and assessment

Note: Indicative information only – actual timetables and assessment regimes will be issued at your induction. 

Teaching

Example of a typical teaching week (up to 14 contact hours): 

  • Large group teaching – 6 hours 
  • Smaller group teaching – 3 hours 
  • Tutorials – 3 hours 
  • Subject advice sessions – 2 hours 
  • Field trips and visits 

You will also need to commit around 20 hours per week for individual study time. 

Assessment

Estimated breakdown of assessment for this top-up course:

  • Coursework – 70%
  • Practical assessment – 5%
  • Written examination – 25%

Our teaching and assessment is underpinned by our Teaching, Learning and Assessment Strategy 2021-2024.

Additional qualifications and training

This course is accredited by the CMI, meaning you will be eligible for a CMI Award in Leadership and Management when you graduate. (This is subject to payment of an additional fee.)

Tuition fees for international students

If you are an international student (or have been fee assessed as an international fee payer) and are enrolling on a full-time bachelor's degree course in 2024/2025, the fee for the academic year will be £14,000. If you complete a placement year, there will be an administration fee of £500 for a full year or £250 for a half-year placement.

In 2025/26, the tuition fee for [Band 3] courses will be £19,750 per year. 

View fees for international students

Kick-Start Scheme

As a new student studying this course full-time, you will receive £300 per year through our Kick-Start Scheme (UK students only, eligibility criteria applies). This scheme will support your studies and future career by contributing to course-related materials, uniform or selected items on campus. You may also qualify for an additional £500 per year.

Find out more about the Kick-Start Scheme here.

Unibuddy Community - meet other students on your course

Starting university is an exciting time, but we understand that it can sometimes feel a little daunting. To support you, you will be invited to join our Unibuddy Community, where you can meet other students who have applied for the same course at University College Birmingham, before you start studying here.

As soon as you have been made an offer, you will be sent an invitation email to complete your registration and join the Unibuddy Community. For more information, check out our Unibuddy Community page.

Percentage
70%

of graduate employers say relevant experience is essential to getting a job with them

Work experience

Work experience is vital for learning how to apply your training in the real world and for building your confidence and skills before you finish your course – and it may even lead to a job when you graduate. Our Hired team can help you find suitable work experience.

We encourage students on our BA Events Management top-up course to gain work experience throughout your studies.

Work alongside experts in your sector

A snapshot of some of the employers we have worked with:

  • Maxin Prague
  • Brussels Marriott Grand Place
  • The Peninsula Hong Kong
  • Nivea (Hamburg)
  • Accenture (Amsterdam)
  • Nike (France)
  • BI Worldwide
  • Hilton Metropole
  • Intu Properties
  • Airbnb

The most valuable part of the course has been, for one, receiving that kind of support to help me get the best out of my studies. On top of that, the trips and visits throughout the course, talks from renowned industry figures and real-life focused assignments have all been amazing.

Nika Gurung Events Management BA (Hons)

Career opportunities

The example roles and salaries below are intended as a guide only.

Events/festival manager

Average Salary: £33,000

Conference centre manager

Average Salary: £36,000

Marketing executive

Average salary: £26,500 – £30,500

Digital marketer

Average Salary: £30,000

Project manager (graduate)

Average Salary: £39,197

Tour manager

Average Salary: £27,500

Want to take your studies to the next level? Completing the BA (Hons) degree will enable you to move onto our postgraduate courses such as Global Meetings and Events Management MSc/PGDip or Hospitality with Tourism Management MSc/PGDip (Pathway A).

Hired

We are here to support your career goals every step of the way. 

 

Find out more

Emma’s Story

As a Birmingham City Council Events Officer, Emma has worked on many iconic events including the famous Frankfurt Christmas Market.

Read Story

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