Overview
Inspirational events which create lasting memories, need careful management and preparation, in order to ensure they are delivered efficiently, effectively and safely. This course will not only aim to give you the opportunity to gain the skills and knowledge necessary for organising successful, memorable and safe events, but will also provide the opportunity to allow you to explore a broad range of highly transferable management skills, particularly in the area of leadership and project management.
From sporting championships to music festivals, conferences and corporate events to wedding planning and charity fundraisers, the events industry is big business. It contributes £42.3 billion to the UK’s economy, accounting for 35% of the UK’s visitor economy.
Events play a critical role in entertainment, cultural appreciation, tourism, destination marketing, civic or national pride and community cohesion. As current members of the Association of Event Management Education (AEME), we aim to follow industry trends closely to ensure your skills and knowledge match employer needs.
In the past, students have had the opportunity to undertake multiple industry visits and field trips, at home and abroad, and have also in the past had the opportunity to experience managing real-life events (subject to availability, competitive application processes, meeting applicable visa requirements, and additional costs may apply).
The optional sandwich year gives you the opportunity to apply for a placement, or study abroad year, which can be spent overseas (studying with one of our partner universities, or working) or on a placement in the UK (subject to availability, competitive application, visa requirements and additional costs) Sandwich years could give you the opportunity to improve your employability skills through workplace experience, or develop your abilities to work or study in different countries and with people from different backgrounds.
If you have a passion for events and want to work in the event sector, upon successful completion, our course could help you realise your ambition.
Why Coventry University?
An award-winning university, we are committed to providing our students with the best possible experience. We continue to invest in both our facilities and our innovative approach to education. Our students benefit from industry-relevant teaching, and resources and support designed to help them succeed. These range from our modern library and computing facilities to dedicated careers advice and our impressive Students’ Union activities.
Global ready
An international outlook, with global opportunitiesEmployability
Career-ready graduates, with the skills to succeedTeaching Excellence
Taught by lecturers who are experts in their fieldCourse essentials
A degree which offers you more, at no extra costAccreditation and Professional Recognition
This course is accredited and recognised by the following bodies:
Chartered Management Institute (CMI)
This course is currently accredited by the Chartered Management Institute (CMI) offering you the option to register and gain a Level 5 Certificate, which can help to enhance your employability skills with a professional qualification (fees apply to become a registered CMI student, and securing a professional qualification is subject to meeting any applicable requirements).
Coventry University’s accreditation with CMI for this course is valid until 2022. Whilst Coventry University hopes and anticipates that any renewal would be successful, if the renewal were to be unsuccessful, this course would no longer be accredited and we would notify applicants and students as soon as possible.
Association of Event Management Education (AEME)
Coventry Business School is currently a member of the Association of Event Management Education (AEME), which supports, undertakes and disseminates event management research. This membership currently runs until 2020, but is renewed yearly, and if for any reason Coventry Business School does not seek to renew its membership we would notify applicants and students as soon as possible.
European Foundation for Management Development (EFMD)
Coventry Business School is currently an active member of the European Foundation for Management Development, a global membership organisation dedicated to management development, covering over 900 members across 91 countries.
Chartered Association of Business Schools (CABS)
Coventry Business School is currently an active member of the Chartered Association of Business Schools., which has a membership of over 120 business schools and higher education providers, and supports its members in maintaining world-class standards of teaching and research.
Our Facilities
DigiComm Lab
Designed to build creative minds, the DigiComm Lab is equipped with the latest industry-standard marketing and advertising software and devices to support your creative development.
Business Simulation Suite
Coventry Business School's Business Simulation Suite utilises the latest business simulation software to give students the opportunity to improve their business skills.
Trading Floor
Students have opportunities to practice simulated trading and other finance-related activities using the various types of demo software available in the Trading Floor.
What our students say
I was able to make some great contacts and find out more about work opportunities. I have since signed up to work at the BodyPower Expo and am in the works of applying for a job at Grenade, both opportunities I wouldn’t have if I hadn’t come to guest lecture week. I also went to a talk about about drugs and events ,which is what my dissertation is based on, it was really interesting and he was able to recommend some good resources for my dissertation.
Course information
Upon successful completion, this dynamic course is designed to prepare you for the fast-paced and exciting events industry, with the course having a strong practitioner focus based on real world working problems.
We aim to combine the study of events with management theory, providing a broad-based business education in the context of event industry. You’ll be given the opportunity to learn how to apply business principles, such as financial management, marking theory and strategic management to the solution of event management problems. You’ll also study the concepts, characteristics and operations of events and festivals, particularly from a commercial perspective.
Course Specification
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Modules
The Coventry University Group assessment strategy ensures that our courses are fairly assessed and allows us to monitor student progression towards the achieving the intended learning outcomes. Assessments may include exams, individual assignments or group work elements.
In more detail...
Events are a major part of not only the UK economy, but also the global economy – from large scale sports events, such as the World Cup or the Olympics, to major festivals, such as Glastonbury or Coachella, through to conferences organised across almost every business sector, and charity fundraising events. The events industry covers not only the planning and organisation of these events, but also the strategies behind them, including how they are marketed and sponsored.
This course’s links with industry could allow you to engage directly with companies, with companies such as the Ricoh Arena, Coventry Blaze, the British Council and Bosch all previously being involved in the course. Previously students have had the opportunity to organise and attend real-life events, experiencing each stage and progress from the bidding process, design and costing to logistics, marketing, implementation and feedback with the client. Our students in the past have run overseas activities for the British Council and have worked on major music concerts at the National Exhibition Centre (NEC), National Indoor Arena (NIA) and the Ricoh Arena. They’ve also previously supported the World Cup Rugby Sevens and the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games Ltd. (LOCOG).
As well as working to give you the opportunity to go out into the world to experience the event industry, we also aim to bring the event industry to you through our annual Guest Lecture Week which has previously seen professionals working in a range of areas, give advice and insight into the industry. Some of the speakers in previous years have also included Coventry University alumni, meaning they have been able to give first-hand advice to students on the transition from studying with us to starting a career.
Please note that all opportunities are subject to availability, a competitive application process, meeting applicable visa requirements, and additional costs may apply.
- Students in the past have collaborated with the Students’ Union to promote and manage events on behalf of its many clubs and societies (subject to availability).
- Links with local, national and international event management companies, such as Eventsforce, Fargo and N200, who have previously provided opportunities for direct work experience, both paid and voluntary (subject to availability and a competitive application process, visa requirements and additional costs may apply).
- Current memberships of the Association of Event Management Education (AEME), Chartered Association of Business Schools (CABS), and European Foundation for Management Development (EFMD).
- Accredited by the Chartered Management Institute (CMI) this course gives you the option of registering and gaining a Level 5 Certificate, which can enhance your employability skills (subject to meeting applicable requirements, and registration fees apply).
- Access to a range of industry visits and fieldtrips, which has previously included visits to well-known event venues and talks from events professionals at the Echo Arena, Cavern Club and St. Georges Hall in Liverpool, and Aviva Stadium and Croke Park in Dublin (subject to availability and additional costs may apply).
- Experienced teaching staff, with mix of academic and industry experience, currently including staff who have worked as operations managers in conference venues and luxury hotels, sports marketing companies and managing sport venues, as well as a current committee member of the Association of Event Management Education (AEME).
Support from our dedicated employability support unit, who can help you secure a placement, internship or graduate role through support on topics including CV writing and assessment centre preparation.
The main study themes covered on this couse are:
- Live Event Management: You will have the opportunity to undertake real project management and event management experiences, focusing on group work, planning and execution of an innovative, creative or cultural event, as well as closure and evaluation of the project. You will be given the opportunity to put your event management knowledge and skills into action, taking appropriate decisions when choosing a viable event to execute, selecting an appropriate venue and promoting the event.
- Event Business Management: We cover the core principles and practices of management, but in the context of organising events. Upon successful completion, you should gain a solid understanding of strategy, human resource management (HRM), economics and finance, all critically important when managing professional events.
- Event Marketing: Covers the principles of event marketing and specifically the application of service sector marketing to the event industry. Upon successful completion, you should gain an appreciation of the importance of customer satisfaction as a key feature of the marketing process, as well as critical success factors for success, such as market segmentation, the marketing mix and promotional strategies.
This course is available on a three-year full-time basis or a four-year sandwich basis, where between Years Two and Three there is one year of optional work experience or study abroad at a partner Institution. (subject to availability, a competitive application process, visa requirements and additional costs).
You can choose to undertake your placement year in a sport, event, or hospitality related position in a private, public or charitable organisation (subject to availability, a competitive application process and additional costs). Previously, placements have varied from conference and banqueting venues to entertainment complexes and music stadiums, including venues such as SkyDome and the Ricoh Arena.
We aim to discuss current issues in event management and regularly invite people, currently working in the events industry, to share their experiences and views, in particular during our annual guest lecture week. Previous guest speakers have included luxury wedding planners and event designers, health and safety experts responsible for festivals, professionals from the Royal Opera House, National Events and Intelligence Unit, Pandora Events and Eventsforce. These lectures, and guest lecture week, aim to provide the opportunity to enable you to build your professional networks with a view to future placements or employment (all guest speakers and guest lectures are subject to availability).
In your final year, you will be required to research and write a project, which can be tailored to your interests and ideally the area of event management you wish to work in.
In addition, as a student of Coventry Business School, you will have access to a Progress Coach, who will be able to support your academic progress through drop-in sessions or one-to-one meetings.
Teaching methods include: lectures and workshops, typically breaking off into smaller seminar groups to discuss and debate a particular theme or subject area.
This course will be assessed using a variety of methods which will could vary depending upon the module. Assessment methods include formal examinations, coursework, reports, group work and presentations.
The Coventry University Group assessment strategy ensures that our courses are fairly assessed and allows us to monitor student progression towards the achieving the intended learning outcomes.
On successful completion of the course, you should be equipped with the skills to:
- Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the holistic nature of a business organisation and how to apply business principles associated with the operational and strategic management of financial, marketing, human and physical resources to events.
- Analyse and produce event management solutions to appropriate business decisions. Students will be required to plan and deliver a live event in year two of their studies.
- Apply skills of critical inquiry and independent research, using a range of resources, methods and methodologies, in order to evaluate evidence, arguments and assumptions, to reach sound judgements and to communicate them effectively.
- Recognise and continually develop a relevant set of transferable skills required by the event industry such as numeracy, communication and self-reflection for continuous professional development.
- Evaluate and develop expertise in a range of digital technologies that will enhance effectiveness in the workplace.
- Apply innovative and entrepreneurial approaches in providing solutions to real event management issues and problems.
- Critique the principles of policy and governance and evaluate the global contemporary issues and theories challenging event organisations.
- Work effectively, efficiently and dynamically within teams using critical thinking to solve complex event management problems.
- Evaluate the management of events in global settings and reflect upon intercultural and international dimensions.
- Use the principles of responsible management to design and implement activities which meaningfully engage communities.
We set out below the typical teaching contact hours that you will receive on this course. Teaching contact hours will vary in different semesters and years of study and may vary due to module selection. In addition to the contact hours below, we offer the opportunity to attend additional optional sessions, including sessions with the Faculty’s progress coaches, meeting staff during their advice and feedback hours, or attending field visits and industry talks.
Within your first and second year, you will have around 12 contact hours of teaching a week which includes:
- Medium group teaching such as seminars and workshops per week
- Large group teaching such as lectures each week
In your final year, if you are undertaking a project/dissertation, there is a greater emphasis placed on independent study and therefore total contact hours may be reduced.
In addition, you will be expected to undertake a significant amount of self-directed studying in your own time, including some guided study using handouts and online activities.
The global events sector generated $1,100 billion in 2018, with projections that figure will reach $2,330 billion by 2026, with a rise in the number of sponsors, and an increasing interest amongst young people in events driving that growth. Against this backdrop, the events industry offers opportunities for exciting careers throughout the world – whether you are based in a company overseas or simply organising an event for international audiences.
We fully appreciate that our students need a global outlook and throughout the course we aim to expose you to the events industry in different countries and cultures. We currently have a number of global partners focusing on the events industry in the United States, Brazil, Russia, Europe, Dubai, Qatar, China and Australia. In the past, these links have open up exciting opportunities for students to volunteer abroad; the British Council has taken students to conferences in Dubai, Miami and Cape Town in recent years, while other students have visited Qatar, Berlin and Washington DC to provide support at high profile conferences.
We are looking to develop Online International Learning (OIL) projects, which aim to provide students with the opportunity to work with international students on projects together. In the past, students have worked alongside EU students as part of a week-long case study in Groningen (Holland). Alongside this, our modules consider international perspectives, through relevant case studies, and our module International Event Management builds on this with a direct focus on managing international events.
Please note that all opportunities are subject to availability, a competitive application process, meeting applicable visa requirements and additional costs apply.
Global ready
Did you know we help more students travel internationally than any other UK university according to data from the experts in higher education data and analysis, HESA?
In 2016/17, we were able to provide a total of 3,482 experiences abroad that lasted at least five days.
Much of this travel is made possible through our Global Leaders Programme, which enables students to prepare for the challenges of the global employment market, as well as strengthening and developing their broader personal and professional skills.
1st for
international experiences
Sending more students overseas than any other UK uni (HESA 2016/17)
3,482
Student experiences
The number of student trips abroad for at least 5 days in 2016/17
21,000
and counting
The number of students we’ve helped travel internationally so far
12
global programmes
As well as trips, we offer other opportunities like language courses
What our alumni say
Excelling at University is down to the attitude you have, but my personal success would not have been possible without the support from my lecturers. With a really strong support network, there really is someone willing to help you 24/7. The staff are incredibly supportive of those who wish to take on voluntary events-based work.
I often travelled down to London at the weekend to work on various types of events. The hardworking attitude you have is reflected by even more opportunities such as working for the British Council at their international ‘Going Global’ conferences (I went to Dubai!). I was offered a job a week after my last exam and am now an event manager at The Royal Opera House. I organise the catering for gala dinners, private receptions, the Wimbledon Champions dinner, GQ Man of the Year and even the BAFTA Awards just to name a few.”
Entry Requirements
What our alumni say
Coventry University’s Event Management degree course has given me phenomenal opportunities both nationally and internationally. These opportunities are what I like best about the course, and sets it apart from other institutions. With many professional connections, there are always fantastic opportunities being offered to students to enable you to explore the industry. These experiences are for a range of industry sectors including conferences, corporate events, charity fundraisers and sporting events.”
Tuition Fees
We pride ourselves on offering competitive tuition fees which we review on an annual basis and offer a wide range of scholarships to support students with their studies. Course fees are calculated on the basis of what it costs to teach each course and we aim for total financial transparency.
For more information, please visit our Finance pages.
Course essentials at no extra cost
We're committed to communicating study costs clearly to make sure you're not faced with having to make any unexpected payments.
This is why our ‘Flying Start’ package provides you with a few course essentials. Your full-time fee for an undergraduate degree will cover the following:
UK field trips
Any mandatory site visits and trips within the United Kingdom.Key material
This can include core textbooks, software and equipment.Laser prints
1,000 A4 sides of black and white laser printing credits per year.Optional year
Pay no tuition fees for optional work placements or study abroad trips.The following are additional costs not included in the fees:
- Any optional field trips or visits (whether in the UK or abroad)
- Any costs associated with securing, attending or completing a placement (whether in the UK or abroad)
- Any optional exams towards professional body qualifications
EU student fees
EU nationals and their family members starting in the 2019/20 academic year remain eligible for the same fees as home students and the same financial support. Financial support comes from Student Finance England, and covers undergraduate and postgraduate study for the duration of their course, providing they meet the residency requirement.
For tuition fee loans
EU nationals must have resided in the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland for the three years prior to the start of their course. The purpose of that three year residency should not have been mainly for the purpose of receiving full time education.
For maintenance loans
EU nationals must have resided in the UK and Islands for the five years prior to the start of their course. The purpose of that five year residency should not have been mainly for the purpose of receiving full time education.
What our alumni say
The Event Management course provided a gateway to my chosen field of work. It did this through an ‘anything is possible’ attitude along with the support needed to succeed. In my third year on the course, I opted to study in Spain at the University of Valencia as part of the Erasmus scheme. The experience of living and studying in a foreign country not only provided me with an international perspective of event management, but also increased my level of fluency in Spanish.”
Career prospects
With a whole host of high profile sporting events in the UK in recent years, including the Olympics and Rugby World Cup, coupled with a growth in other major events, such as music festivals, the UK events industry now employs over half a million people – and this growth drives the need for people looking to work in the sector. As well as offering you the opportunity to learn the unique characteristics of the events industry, this course also provides you with an opportunity to gain knowledge of topics such as marketing, hospitality management, and business management, potentially preparing you for roles in these areas, within or outside of the events industry.
From day one, you’ll be exposed to the events industry and encouraged to enhance and build your CV with practical work experience through placements.
We provide volunteering opportunities at a number of local events organisations, which have previously included Fashion Live Events, Live Buzz Events, Ricoh Arena, Pandora Events, NEC, Barclaycard Arena, Local wedding venues, Coventry Blaze, Warwick Racecourse, Conference Care, as well as various charities, including Bethany’s Wish (volunteering opportunities are subject to availability, may include a competitive application process, visa requirements and additional associated costs may apply).
The support of a dedicated Personal Employment Tutor is available to you during your studies through our employability unit, who have access to a database of employers, and can support you in applying to a wide range of internship opportunities. Our employability unit can also support you with workshops and guidance on the various aspects of the employment process such as preparing your CV, interview practice and mock assessment centres. They have also previously ran employer events throughout the year, providing previous students with the opportunity to network with employers offering placements, internships and graduate roles within the sport sector.
Coventry University is committed to preparing you for your future career and giving you a competitive edge in the graduate job market. The university's Talent Team provide a wide range of support services to help you plan and prepare for your career.
Where our graduates work
Our graduates have gone on to occupy positions in the event industry within a variety of national and international companies, including The Royal Opera House, Live Buzz Events, Ricoh Arena, Chelsea Football Club Events Team, Gordon Ramsey Events, Pandora Events, Conference Care, Virgin Media Pioneers.
What our alumni say
Throughout my studies the staff placed emphasis on gaining applicable sport and event experiences, alongside academic studies. Their partnerships allowed me to work with businesses including Vauxhall Motors, Compass, British Council, World Rugby and Coventry Blaze.
The main highlights of my experience include the copious industry visits, trips and international opportunities I was fortunate enough to participate within. This ranged from cultural exchanges in China and Holland, volunteering experiences in Dubai, Moscow and South Africa and team-bonding opportunities in Dublin and Newquay.”
Disclaimer
By accepting your offer of a place and enrolling with us, a Student Contract will be formed between you and the university. A copy of the 19/20 Contract can be found here. The Contract details your rights and the obligations you will be bound by during your time as a student and contains the obligations that the university will owe to you. You should read the Contract before you accept an offer of a place and before you enrol at the university.
The university will charge the tuition fees that are stated on the course webpage and in the prospectus for the first year of study. The university will review tuition fees each year. For UK and EU students, if Parliament permit an increase in tuition fees, the university may increase fees for each subsequent year of study in line with any such changes. Note that any increase is expected to be in line with inflation. Following the UK’s planned exit from the European Union, EU students should be aware that there may be a change to UK laws following the UK’s exit from the European Union, this may change their student status, their eligibility to study part time, and/or their eligibility for student finance. Coventry University will act in accordance with the UK’s laws in force in relation to student tuition fees and finance at that time. For international students, the university may increase fees for each subsequent year of study but such increases will be no more than 5% above inflation.
Graduate Immigration Route visa – Based on current information from the UK Government, students whose study extends beyond summer 2021 may be eligible for a visa under the UK Government’s Graduate Immigration Route, which will enable students to stay and work, or look for work, in the UK at any skill level for up to two (2) years. Check the most up to date guidance available to check your eligibility and any updates from the UK Government before making an application or enrolment decision.
