Integrated Foundation - Bachelor of Arts (Honours) - Event Management

The BA (Hons) Event Management with Foundation Year is designed to develop the practical skills required to stage events alongside the management, leadership, and entrepreneurial abilities needed to succeed in the evolving events industry, particularly as the sector continues to reshape following the Covid pandemic. The course explores how events, tourism, and hospitality combine to form the wider “visitor economy,” with students working collaboratively alongside peers from tourism and hospitality disciplines to broaden professional perspectives and career opportunities. Opportunities are available to study abroad for a semester during the second stage of the course, as well as to undertake a placement year prior to the final stage of study.

All modules are aligned with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, encouraging students to consider the social and environmental impacts of events in addition to financial outcomes. Designed for 2023 and beyond, the programme provides strong management and operational foundations suitable for the challenges of the modern events industry.

Building on the University’s long-standing success in delivering event management education, which has historically achieved student satisfaction ratings above 90 per cent, the curriculum has been updated to ensure relevance to contemporary industry needs. Increased emphasis is placed on business management, entrepreneurship, sustainability, creativity, and design thinking to develop adaptable and innovative graduates capable of challenging established practices and leading positive change. Core business disciplines such as finance, marketing, and human resources are integrated throughout the course rather than taught as standalone modules, enabling the development of financial knowledge through business planning activities and the strengthening of leadership and HR skills through learning how to drive organisational change and transformation.

The inclusion of a foundation year as part of the four-year study programme provides an early academic and professional platform, allowing students to build essential skills, knowledge, and confidence with extensive support from experienced staff before progressing to stage one of the honours degree. The foundation year can also benefit individuals considering a career change or seeking to develop understanding of subject areas that are new to them. Degrees with a foundation year follow a continuous structure, meaning no reapplication is required once the initial year has been successfully completed.