Event Management BA (Hons)

at Coventry University

Why you should study this course

• Real-world experience - Gain hands-on experience managing live events*. Previous students have worked on major music concerts at the National Exhibition Centre (NEC), National Indoor Arena (NIA) and the Ricoh Arena as well as helping to run overseas activities for the British Council. Students are encouraged to produce their own events in the multiple venues available within Coventry, and have also previously supported the World Cup Rugby Sevens and the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games Ltd. (LOCOG).
• AEME, EFMD and CABS membership - As current members* of the Association of Event Management Education (AEME), European Foundation for Management Development (EFMD) and Chartered Association of Business Schools (CABS), we aim to follow industry trends closely to ensure your skills and knowledge match employer needs.
• Industry insight - Access a range of industry visits and field trips* (see disclaimer section), which has previously included visits to the Echo Arena, Cavern Club and St. Georges Hall in Liverpool, and Aviva Stadium and Croke Park in Dublin. We also invite experts to speak to our students, most notably through our annual Guest Lecture Week, which welcomes a variety of speakers, many of whom are Coventry University alumni, who are now leaders in industry.
• CMI accreditation - Study on our course accredited by the Chartered Management Institute (CMI) and you will have the option to register and gain a Level 5 Certificate, which can help to enhance your employability skills with a professional qualification. (Please see accreditation section of the overview tab for further information).
• Prepare for your future - Prepare for a future career in event management with a work placement*. We currently have 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.

What you'll study

The main study themes covered on the course 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.
• Event Business Management - We cover the core principles and practices of management, but in the context of organising events.
• Event Marketing - Covers the principles of event marketing and specifically the application of service sector marketing to the event industry.
   

Year one
In your first year, we aim to introduce you to some of the key concepts in business management, as well as showing you the diversity of the events industry. You will also have opportunities to further refine and plan the areas of the events industry you wish to focus on. While some of the first-year modules are shared with our Sport Management BA (Hons) course, for most of them you will be taught alongside solely other event management students, with management concepts explored with a focus on the event industry.

All year one modules are mandatory.
 

Modules

• Academic and Professional Skills - 10 credits

• Introduction to the Event Industry - 20 credits

• Marketing in Events - 20 credits

• Management and Leadership in Sport and Events - 20 credits

• Managing People in the Sport and Event Industry - 20 credits

• The Sport and Event Business Environment - 20 credits

• Add+vantage module - 10 credits

Year two
In your second year, modules become more practical and learning is applied to case studies and live projects. You will have the opportunity to deepen your knowledge about the events sector and refine your skills in project management, as well as select optional modules to focus on areas of interest.
 

Modules

• Corporate Events - 20 credits

• Developing a Professional Identity - 10 credits

• Research Methods - 20 credits

• Live Event Management - 20 credits

• Add+vantage module - 10 credits

• Optional Modules

Final year
In your final year, you will conduct an in-depth piece of research for your final year project; the choice of subject matter is yours and may reflect your career aspirations or personal interests. Past students have considered a diverse range of events-related topics, including how to manage the threat of terrorism at mega events, how to encourage destination weddings in the UK, an investigation into the effect of social media and celebrity endorsement on festival branding, the commercialisation of religious festivals, such as Christmas and Ramadan, and the impact of culture on video game events.

Modules

• Strategic Management in Sport and Events - 20 credits

• Managing Your Career - 10 credits

• International Event Management - 20 credits

• Event Design - 20 credits

• Project - 20 credits

• Add+vantage module - 10 credits

• Optional Modules

English language requirements

• IELTS: 6.0 overall, with no component lower than 5.5 

International Tuition Fees:

£16800 per year

Upon successful completion, you will be able 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. 
• Apply skills of critical inquiry and independent research, using a range of resources, methods and methodologies, 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.

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 future career options 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.

Previous students have done placements such as Project Intern at Live Group, Training Events Coordinator Intern at Porsche Cars and Marketing Placement at IBM. Students can apply for volunteering opportunities at a number of local events organisations, which have previously included, 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, which have previously included Bethany’s Wish.