Summary

This course is for those wanting to design and manage special events with a specific focus on fundraising, and aims to lead to an event management account or executive position, or opportunities in event fundraising.

Many organisations plan thousands of events each year to raise money for good causes. You will study designing and creating unique special event experiences and reflect on fundraising and special event management, the development of events policy, and their socio-economic and cultural implications. During the course, you will develop your skills through work experience if you take the internship route, or by working on a specific fundraising project for an organisation.

If you opt not to take the Internship then you will study one less module and will undertake a dissertation. This is often linked to local companies and organisations, where you will develop specialist subject knowledge and research skills, and network in the industry. This adds a practical dimension to your studies, can help you find full-time work and is invaluable to your personal development.

Details

You will study the following modules:

Special Event Design and Experience
This module looks at the design and creativity required to develop special and unique events. It will consider the core design features that a special event requires and explain the use of theming to produce an event experience. You will also examine and analyse the nature of the event experience and the factors that can make an event memorable to guests.

Managing Fundraising Events
Generating income from special events requires careful and detailed planning and management. This module will reflect upon the core planning skills an event manager needs in order to successfully deliver a variety of fundraising events. For example you will learn about the management of different stakeholders, the use of social media to promote events, and the key principles needed to evaluate the success of an event.

Managing Event Risk
All events have some element of risk, but the key to success is being able to identify, prioritise and manage risk. This module will examine the key elements and principles in risk management, the methods and processes required to minimise risk and the conceptual models used to understand and analyse risk.

The remaining modules of your study will be based around a selection of the following:
 - Globalisation and Global Challenges
 - Management and Leadership
 - Critical Issues in Hospitality Management
 - Project management
 - Intercultural Communication in the Business Environment
 - Services Marketing
 - Corporate Social Responsibility and Business ethics
 - Entrepreneurship and Management Innovation
 - Research Methods
 - Thesis.

Entry criteria

Applicants will need a UK honours degree 2:2 or equivalent in a service based degree (for example sport, leisure, tourism, events, business arts or conferences) or an equivalent professional qualification.

We also welcome applications from mature students with considerable work experience but without the formal academic qualifications.

During the course

Teaching methods

The course uses lectures, tutorials, seminars, self-managed personal research, information and communications technology and electronic learning support materials and e-books. You will also learn through essays, reports, presentations, case studies, portfolios, audits, project plans, simulation and role-play.

On course completion

Career progression

You can initially expect to find yourself in a lower managerial position. However, previous experience based on our alumni statistics suggests prospects for career progression to middle management and beyond are good. Typical employment includes positions in event sales and marketing, event management and planning, event logistics, and event fundraising.
Your options may also include becoming an event account manager or event executive. Or you may look for a role as a senior fundraising manager for a major charity or a special event manager for event companies.

Study progression

After completing the course, you may choose to progress onto an MPhil or PhD course.