How to apply

Overview

The details

Course: Events Management with Hospitality

UCAS code: N8N6

Start date: October 2024

Study mode: Full-time

Maximum duration: 2 years

Location: Colchester Campus

Based in: Edge Hotel School

Weddings, festivals, parties, conferences – hospitality events are big business. With a degree from the Edge Hotel School at Essex you'll be right in the thick of it - gaining live experience while you study for a two-year accelerated degree.

With a student experience unlike any other, it may come as no surprise that the Edge Hotel School is ranked in the top 10 in the UK for overall positivity in our subject area (National Student Survey 2023, English Broad Discipline Institutions)./p>

The BA Events Management with Hospitality is only available to students who do not require a VISA to study in the UK. Our three-year BA Events Management has very similar course content, but is structured differently to allow applications from prospective students with any fee status or visa requirements.

Our Events Management with Hospitality degree prepares you for an exciting career in hospitality events management. You will develop your industry knowledge and professional skills by working within Wivenhoe House, a 4* country house hotel, alongside your studies. You will gain experience in the different departments of the hotel including the kitchen, front office, restaurant as well as an extended period of time in the events department. These shifts may involve some late finishes on occasion, as well as weekend work, so that you get to see all aspects of the different events the hotel offers such as weddings, meetings, tribute acts, baby showers, conferences and more.

As well as spending time in our 4* Wivenhoe House, some of our high performing Events Management students have in past had the unforgettable opportunity to work at big name events and venues like the BRIT awards, the O2 arena and the Royal Ascot.

With around 45 weeks of study per year and up to six weeks of annual holiday you will be able to fast-track your degree and start your career sooner. In your final level you will work on a live events project to put all of the experience and knowledge gained throughout your degree into practice. Throughout the course you will study topics including:

Event planning and operations
Budget and resource management
Marketing and sales
Entrepreneurship and business strategy

The Edge Hotel School experience is unlike any other student experience. Not only will you graduate from a fantastic university - you will develop your industry knowledge and professional skills by gaining valuable experience within a fully-commercial 4* country house hotel with real guests and customers.

Professional accreditation

Accredited by the Institute of Hospitality that academic, vocational and professional standards achieved are appropriate and programme content and delivery meet international Institute of Hospitality benchmark standards.

Why we're great.

The first hotel school of its kind in the UK based within a real-life hotel
Accelerated, two-year degree allows you to kick start your career sooner.
Outstanding preparation for employment through innovative combination of professional experience and academic learning

Placement year

Students that wish to broaden their experience in different types of events will also be given the option to swap a rotation in our Events and Conference team for an external work experience during Level 5 of the course. This experience will last 4 weeks, and needs to be instigated by you. The Placement team at the University of Essex and staff of the Edge Hotel School will assist you in sourcing opportunities as well as improving your interview and CV-writing skills. This external work experience will be assessed in the same as your rotations in Wivenhoe House hotel and is a chance for you to experience a broad set of events that you might wish to pursue within your career.

Our expert staff

Our staff includes lecturers with both professional as well as academic backgrounds to ensure you are taught by people with industry-relevant experience themselves. Among our academic staff are a former organiser of the BRIT Awards, London Fashion Week and events for Her Majesty The Queen, a former hotel General Manager, a former Food and Beverage Manager for award-winning cruise lines and a Dr. (PhD) with international research experience.

Specialist facilities

In Wivenhoe House you can gain experience in a 40-bedroom country house hotel on the university campus with a brasserie restaurant and a busy conference and events function that hosts over 300 events and 50 weddings annually. If for any reason the hotel is subject to closures during rotations, we have developed a comprehensive platform of online skills and experience workshops to replicate the practical experience offer as closely as possible.
The Edge Hotel School has connections with a range of organisations across the hospitality and events industries – throughout your studies you can expect guest lectures, masterclasses and an annual careers fair to help further your career prospects. Supporters of the Edge Hotel School include:

The Edge Hotel Society hosts student-organised events including industry speakers, student social events and an annual ball.
As an Edge Hotel School student you will be issued with a uniform to wear for your shifts in Wivenhoe House and when representing the School externally. You will need to provide your own white shirts and black shoes.

Your future

The combination of practical experience and academic learning on our BA (Hons) Events Management with Hospitality gives our students a distinct advantage when starting their careers. The event and hospitality industry are excited by the calibre of our graduates and there are opportunities throughout the course to meet recruitment managers and network.

Graduates of the Events Management with Hospitality programme can go onto careers in:

Events management
Wedding planning
Venue management
Festival planning and management
Food and beverage management
Marketing and sales
Cruise ships and airlines

The events industry is a truly global sector that can give our graduates exciting opportunities to travel the world and experience new cultures, all whilst building essential skills and knowledge for a successful, enjoyable career.

"Through guest lectures, careers fairs, business conferences and field trips this course exposed me to highly recognised organisations such as The BRIT Awards and BPI, hoteliers such as Exclusive, Marriott and Hilton and catering companies such as BaxterStorey."
Elda Neto De Barros - BA (Hons) Events Management with Hospitality student

Entry requirements

UK entry requirements

GCSE: Mathematics and English C/4, or equivalent. We can consider OFQUAL regulated Level 2 Functional Skills in Numeracy as equivalent to GCSE Maths C/4. We are able to consider a range of equivalent English language qualifications, including OFQUAL regulated level 2 Functional Skills, Key Skills level 2, literacy units taken as part of the Access to HE Diploma, or a demonstration of the use of English through essay-based subjects at either GCSE or A-level equivalent. Advice on acceptability can be provided, please contact Undergraduate Admissions for more information.
A-levels: CCC or 96 UCAS tariff points from a minimum of 2 full A-levels.
BTEC: MMM.
Combined qualifications on the UCAS tariff: 120 - 112 UCAS tariff points from a minimum of 2 full A levels or equivalent. Tariff point offers may be made if you are taking a qualification, or mixture of qualifications, from the list on our undergraduate application information page.
IB: 26 points or three Higher Level certificates with 444.
IB Career-related Programme: We consider combinations of IB Diploma Programme courses with BTECs or other qualifications.
QAA-approved Access to HE Diploma: 45 level 3 credits at Merit.
T-levels: We consider T-levels on a case-by-case basis, depending on subject studied. The offer for most courses is Merit overall. Depending on the course applied for there may be additional requirements, which may include a specific grade in the Core.

Additional requirements

All applicants must be aged 18 or over by 31 October 2024 for October 2024 entry.

Unfortunately if you need a Student Visa to study in the UK this course is not suitable for you. This is due to the high percentage of work placement which exceeds the amount permitted in the Student Visa regulations.

International & EU entry requirements

We accept a wide range of qualifications from applicants studying in the EU and other countries. Get in touch with any questions you may have about the qualifications we accept. Remember to tell us about the qualifications you have already completed or are currently taking.

Sorry, the entry requirements for the country that you have selected are not available here. Please select your country page where you'll find this information.

English language requirements

English language requirements for applicants whose first language is not English: IELTS 6.0 overall, or specified score in another equivalent test that we accept.

Details of English language requirements, including component scores, and the tests we accept for applicants who require a Student visa (excluding Nationals of Majority English Speaking Countries) can be found here

If we accept the English component of an international qualification it will be included in the academic levels listed above for the relevant countries.

English language shelf-life

Most English language qualifications have a validity period of 5 years. The validity period of Pearson Test of English, TOEFL and CBSE or CISCE English is 2 years.

If you require a Student visa to study in the UK please see our immigration webpages for the latest Home Office guidance on English language qualifications.

Pre-sessional English courses

If you do not meet our IELTS requirements then you may be able to complete a pre-sessional English pathway that enables you to start your course without retaking IELTS.

Pending English language qualifications

You don’t need to achieve the required level before making your application, but it will be one of the conditions of your offer.

If you cannot find the qualification that you have achieved or are pending, then please email ugquery@essex.ac.uk .

Requirements for second and final year entry

Different requirements apply for second and final year entry, and specified component grades are also required for applicants who require a visa to study in the UK. Details of English language requirements, including UK Visas and Immigration minimum component scores, and the tests we accept for applicants who require a Student visa (excluding Nationals of Majority English Speaking Countries) can be found here

Additional Notes

If you’re an international student, but do not meet the English language or academic requirements for direct admission to this degree, you could prepare and gain entry through a pathway course. Find out more about opportunities available to you at the University of Essex International College

Structure

Course structure

Below are details of modules from the current academic year. Our research-led teaching is continually evolving to address the latest challenges and breakthroughs in the field, therefore all modules listed are subject to change. To view more information about our modules currently on offer, please view the programme specification via the link below.

Please note the two-year accelerated degree course is divided into 8-month levels (Level 4, Level 5 and Level 6) instead of years. Due to the accelerated nature of our two-year degrees the modules have broader titles as your learning experience is fully integrated with your work experience in the hotel. Throughout the course you will cover industry relevant topics such as marketing, finance, human resources, entrepreneurship and business strategy as well as event planning and operations.

See list of modules

Level 4 (8 months)

Level 5 (8 months)

Level 6 (8 months)

We understand that deciding where and what to study is a very important decision for you. We'll make all reasonable efforts to provide you with the courses, services and facilities as described on our website. However, if we need to make material changes, we'll let our applicants and students know as soon as possible.

Components and modules explained

Components

Components are the blocks of study that make up your course. A component may have a set module which you must study, or a number of modules from which you can choose.

Each component has a status and carries a certain number of credits towards your qualification.

Status	What this means
Core	You must take the set module for this component and you must pass. No failure can be permitted.
Core with Options	You can choose which module to study from the available options for this component but you must pass. No failure can be permitted.
Compulsory	You must take the set module for this component. There may be limited opportunities to continue on the course/be eligible for the qualification if you fail.
Compulsory with Options	You can choose which module to study from the available options for this component. There may be limited opportunities to continue on the course/be eligible for the qualification if you fail.
Optional	You can choose which module to study from the available options for this component. There may be limited opportunities to continue on the course/be eligible for the qualification if you fail.

The modules that are available for you to choose for each component will depend on several factors, including which modules you have chosen for other components, which modules you have completed in previous years of your course, and which term the module is taught in.

Modules

Modules are the individual units of study for your course. Each module has its own set of learning outcomes and assessment criteria and also carries a certain number of credits.

In most cases you will study one module per component, but in some cases you may need to study more than one module. For example, a 30-credit component may comprise of either one 30-credit module, or two 15-credit modules, depending on the options available.

Modules may be taught at different times of the year and by a different department or school to the one your course is primarily based in. You can find this information from the module code. For example, the module code HR100-4-FY means:

100

The department or school the module will be taught by.

In this example, the module would be taught by the Department of History.

The module number.

The UK academic level of the module.

A standard undergraduate course will comprise of level 4, 5 and 6 modules - increasing as you progress through the course.

A standard postgraduate taught course will comprise of level 7 modules.

A postgraduate research degree is a level 8 qualification.

The term the module will be taught in.

AU: Autumn term
SP: Spring term
SU: Summer term
FY: Full year
AP: Autumn and Spring terms
PS: Spring and Summer terms
AS: Autumn and Summer terms

COMPONENT 01: COMPULSORY

The Customer Experience

(15 CREDITS)

This module will introduce you to the concept and importance of the centrality of the customer experience as fundamental to all activity within a hospitality business. You will understand the different types of Customer and factors that will influence their behavior and expectations. The module will identify the components of effective customer relationships enabling you to develop the knowledge required to effectively deliver customer excellence.

View The Customer Experience on our Module Directory

COMPONENT 02: COMPULSORY

Event Operations

(15 CREDITS)

This module will enable you to acquire the understanding and knowledge of the operational characteristics of a high quality event business enabling the business to achieve its objectives. You will recognise the importance of effective teamwork as critical in delivering excellence to the guest. You will be introduced to the legal and regulatory context in which events operate, understand and use basic financial and costing skills and utilise relevant technology to enhance business performance.

View Event Operations on our Module Directory

COMPONENT 03: COMPULSORY

Food and Beverage Management

(15 CREDITS)

This module investigates the cultural and contemporary influences on the development of gastronomy and restaurants looking at the changing face of contemporary dining and cultural food trends. You will have an understanding of the physical nature of food and beverage commodities and their usage in professional outlets.

View Food and Beverage Management on our Module Directory

COMPONENT 04: COMPULSORY

EG100-4-FY

(15 CREDITS)

View EG100-4-FY on our Module Directory

COMPONENT 05: COMPULSORY

Delivering the Customer Experience 1

(30 CREDITS)

This module will introduce you to the concept and importance of the centrality of the customer experience as fundamental to all activity within a hotel business. The module will provide you with the opportunity to reflect on and take part in delivering customer excellence within the various functions of the hotel operation, enabling you to acquire the practical skills which will support the understanding and knowledge gained from the module Introduction to the Customer Experience.

View Delivering the Customer Experience 1 on our Module Directory

COMPONENT 06: COMPULSORY

Delivering Event and Hospitality Operations 1

(30 CREDITS)

This module identifies and supports the development of your technical and professional skills within the various functions of the hotel operation. You will be supported in the application of financial measures, legislation and menu planning and its importance in delivering excellent service to the customer.

View Delivering Event and Hospitality Operations 1 on our Module Directory

COMPONENT 07: COMPULSORY

EG302-5-AT

(0 CREDITS)

View EG302-5-AT on our Module Directory

COMPONENT 08: COMPULSORY

EG212-5-AT

(0 CREDITS)

View EG212-5-AT on our Module Directory

COMPONENT 09: COMPULSORY

Continual Professional Development (Assessed in Future Year)

(0 CREDITS)

The purpose of this module is to consolidate professional and personal learning and to provide a focus on the development of techniques and strategies for self-management of your continuous professional development, critical self-reflection of professional experience and application within an organisational setting as well as provide an understanding of the role and relevance of research for managers. The module will also provide opportunity to develop a range of skills to prepare you for career advancement and employment opportunities.

View Continual Professional Development (Assessed in Future Year) on our Module Directory

COMPONENT 10: COMPULSORY

EG101-5-AT

(0 CREDITS)

View EG101-5-AT on our Module Directory

COMPONENT 11: COMPULSORY

Delivering the Customer Experience 2 (Assessed in Future Year)

(0 CREDITS)

This module provides you with an opportunity to develop further the skills needed to deliver customer excellence within a supervisory capacity. You will learn to analyse your team’s performance, based on your understanding of the components of the guest experience.

View Delivering the Customer Experience 2 (Assessed in Future Year) on our Module Directory

COMPONENT 12: COMPULSORY

Delivering Event and Hospitality Operations 2 (Assessed in Future Year)

(0 CREDITS)

You will further develop your supervisory and professional operational skills when responsible for functional areas of the event and hotel operations. You will become responsible for the planning and organising of teams in the delivery of products and services to customers.

View Delivering Event and Hospitality Operations 2 (Assessed in Future Year) on our Module Directory

COMPONENT 01: COMPULSORY

The Customer Experience 2

(15 CREDITS)

This module will build on your understanding of the importance of the centrality of the customer experience as fundamental to all activity within a hotel business. You will develop a greater understanding of the tangible and intangible components of the customer experience and how the components of delivering the customer service encounter and the service need to be in place to exceed customer expectations.

View The Customer Experience 2 on our Module Directory

COMPONENT 02: COMPULSORY

Event Operations 2

(15 CREDITS)

This module continues from the first module, Event Operations 1 by providing you with the opportunity to develop the knowledge of supervising teams as well as aspects of operational management. By planning, implementing and evaluating a live event, you will develop further the knowledge and application required for the delivery of products and services to customers in all aspects of event management operations.

View Event Operations 2 on our Module Directory

COMPONENT 03: COMPULSORY

Continual Professional Development

(15 CREDITS)

View Continual Professional Development on our Module Directory

COMPONENT 04: COMPULSORY

Industry Context 2

(15 CREDITS)

This module will enable you to analyse current concepts in the hotel and hospitality sector. You will analyse the management structure of the different operations and the systems deployed to ensure high levels of customer satisfaction and profitability in relation to deploying staff. You will consider the importance and development of revenue management to the sustainability of the industry together with a consideration of how other industries have shaped or influenced the hotel and hospitality industry. Finally a continuation of further consideration of contemporary issues that impact the industry.

View Industry Context 2 on our Module Directory

COMPONENT 05: COMPULSORY

Delivering the Customer Experience 2

(30 CREDITS)

View Delivering the Customer Experience 2 on our Module Directory

COMPONENT 06: COMPULSORY

Delivering Event and Hospitality Operations 2

(30 CREDITS)

View Delivering Event and Hospitality Operations 2 on our Module Directory

COMPONENT 07: COMPULSORY

EG304-6-FY

(15 CREDITS)

View EG304-6-FY on our Module Directory

COMPONENT 08: COMPULSORY

EG214-6-FY

(15 CREDITS)

View EG214-6-FY on our Module Directory

COMPONENT 09: COMPULSORY

Human Resource Management

(15 CREDITS)

During this module you will evaluate the concept of strategic Human Resource Management and critically analyse retention, engagement and performance management within hospitality operations.

View Human Resource Management on our Module Directory

COMPONENT 10: COMPULSORY

EG102-6-FY

(15 CREDITS)

View EG102-6-FY on our Module Directory

COMPONENT 11: CORE WITH OPTIONS

(30 CREDITS)

COMPONENT 12: CORE

Dissertation

(30 CREDITS)

For your 8,000 word dissertation, you will manage a piece of individual research in the context of the commercial hospitality industry. You will be expected to demonstrate expertise with a range of business data, research resources and methodologies, as well as personal communication skills.

View Dissertation on our Module Directory

Teaching

Your fast track two-year Events Management with Hospitality degree will be divided into three 8-month levels (Level 4, Level 5 and Level 6).
During a teaching week you would spend around 4 hours in lectures, or smaller seminars, Monday – Friday.
During a hotel week you would spend 4 or 5 days on shift, Monday – Sunday, gaining experience and applying the academic theory from your lectures. Most of your time will be spent in the conference and events department, but you will also gain some experience in reception, the kitchens and restaurant.
During the final level of the course (Level 6) you will spend up to 5 weeks working on an Events Project. The remainder of the last 8-months will be spent in lectures/seminars and working on your assessments and dissertation.
Our two-year accelerated degrees include around 6 weeks of annual holiday. Holiday weeks are not necessarily over seasonal periods such as Christmas and hotel shifts over Christmas/New Year are an important part of our two-year courses.
Our two-year accelerated degrees do not follow the standard termly timetable, as students are expected to work and study through the Christmas, Easter and Summer breaks. Please contact the professional services team at ehs@essex.ac.uk for more information.

Assessment

Your Events Management with Hospitality degree has been designed to provide a mix of assessment approaches, including:

Essays
Exams
Posters
Presentations
Reflective statements
Reports
Dissertation
Events Project. The Events Project in Level 6 consists of an individual report, a presentation and a group report focusing on a real-life event with an external client. This is your opportunity to organise a live event for an external client from start to finish.
The Professional Performance Assessment (PPA) which takes the form of an interview is used throughout our courses to allow you to reflect, practise and improve your interview skills before embarking on interviews for your first graduate role.
The Professional Code of Conduct is an important part of your assessment. It focuses on areas that are important for future managers such as attendance, punctuality and team working. The Professional Code of Conduct is available in your Student Handbook.

Fees and funding

Home/UK fee

£11,100 per year

International fee

£23,400 per year

This course is only available to those who do not require a VISA to study in the UK. EU students commencing their course in the 2021-22 academic year will be liable for the International fee. This course is not suitable if you need a Student visa to study in the UK.

Fees will increase for each academic year of study.

Home/UK fees and funding information

International fees and funding information

What's next

Our events are a great way to find out more about studying at Essex. We run a number of Open Days throughout the year which enable you to discover what our campus has to offer. You have the chance to:

tour our campus and accommodation
find out answers to your questions about our courses, student finance, graduate employability, student support and more
meet our students and staff

Check out our Visit Us pages to find out more information about booking onto one of our events. And if the dates aren’t suitable for you, feel free to book a campus tour here.

2024 Open Days (Colchester Campus)

Saturday 15 June 2024 - June Open Day

Saturday 21 September 2024 - September Open Day

Saturday 26 October 2024 - October Open Day

Find out more

Applications for our full-time undergraduate courses should be made through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS). Full details on how to apply can be found on the filling in your UCAS undergraduate application web page.

Our UK students, and some of our EU and international students, who are still at school or college, can apply through their school. Your school will be able to check and then submit your completed application to UCAS. Our other international applicants (EU or worldwide) or independent applicants in the UK can also apply online through UCAS Apply.

The UCAS code for our University of Essex is ESSEX E70. The individual campus codes for our Loughton and Southend Campuses are 'L' and 'S' respectively.

You can find further information on how to apply, including information on transferring from another university, applying if you are not currently at a school or college, and applying for readmission on our How to apply and entry requirements page.

Offer Holder Days

If you receive an undergraduate offer to study with us in October 2024 and live in the UK, you will receive an email invitation to book onto one of our Offer Holder Days. Our Colchester Campus Offer Holder Days run from February to May 2024 on various Wednesdays and Saturdays, and our Southend Campus events run in April and May. These events provide the opportunity to meet your department, tour our campus and accommodation, and chat to current students. To support your attendance, we are offering a travel bursary, allowing you to claim up to £150 as reimbursement for travel expenses. For further information about Offer Holder Days, including terms and conditions and eligibility criteria for our travel bursary, please visit our webpage.

If you are an overseas offer-holder, you will be invited to attend one of our virtual events. However, you are more than welcome to join us at one of our in-person Offer Holder Days if you are able to - we will let you know in your invite email how you can do this.

A sunny day with banners flying on Colchester Campus Square 4.

Set within 200 acres of award-winning parkland - Wivenhoe Park and located two miles from the historic city centre of Colchester – England's oldest recorded development. Our Colchester Campus is also easily reached from London and Stansted Airport in under one hour.

Find out more

View from Square 2 outside the Rab Butler Building looking towards Square 3

If you live too far away to come to Essex (or have a busy lifestyle), no problem. Our 360 degree virtual tours allows you to explore our University from the comfort of your home. Check out our Colchester virtual tour and Southend virtual tour to see accommodation options, facilities and social spaces.

At Essex we pride ourselves on being a welcoming and inclusive student community. We offer a wide range of support to individuals and groups of student members who may have specific requirements, interests or responsibilities.

Find out more

The University makes every effort to ensure that this information on its programme specification is accurate and up-to-date. Exceptionally it can be necessary to make changes, for example to courses, facilities or fees. Examples of such reasons might include, but are not limited to: strikes, other industrial action, staff illness, severe weather, fire, civil commotion, riot, invasion, terrorist attack or threat of terrorist attack (whether declared or not), natural disaster, restrictions imposed by government or public authorities, epidemic or pandemic disease, failure of public utilities or transport systems or the withdrawal/reduction of funding. Changes to courses may for example consist of variations to the content and method of delivery of programmes, courses and other services, to discontinue programmes, courses and other services and to merge or combine programmes or courses. The University will endeavour to keep such changes to a minimum, and will also keep students informed appropriately by updating our programme specifications. The University would inform and engage with you if your course was to be discontinued, and would provide you with options, where appropriate, in line with our Compensation and Refund Policy.

The full Procedures, Rules and Regulations of the University governing how it operates are set out in the Charter, Statutes and Ordinances and in the University Regulations, Policy and Procedures.