Program Overview

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Kick start your exciting career in events planning with a unique Events Management degree from the University of Essex. Graduates of this programme could go onto careers working on weddings, sporting events, festivals, fashion shows, corporate events or conferences. After completing the FdA you will have the opportunity, subject to satisfactory performance, to continue with your studies and finish with a BA degree. This course is not suitable if you need a Student visa to study in the UK. The Events Management degree prepares you for the fast-paced world of planning and managing events. You will learn alongside lecturers who have worked on worldwide and high profile events while gaining experience of real weddings, conferences and private functions alongside your studies. 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 4* Wivenhoe House , some of our high performing Event’s 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 a student experience unlike any other, it may come as no surprise that the Edge Hotel School is ranked 4th for overall student satisfaction and 7th in the UK for Tourism, Transport and Travel (Complete University Guide 2023). You will study topics including:

• Event planning and logistics
• Winning an event contract and proposal design
• Business innovation
• Contemporary management practice
• Cultural events, festivals and weddings
• Human resources management
• Digital marketing

The Edge Hotel School experience is unlike any other student experience. Not only will you graduate from a well-renowned university - you will develop your industry knowledge and professional skills by working within Wivenhoe House , a fully-commercial 4* hotel, alongside your studies. Why we're great.

• Our lecturers have international industry experience to support your learning and development
• Edge Hotel School graduates go onto careers all over the world
• You will gain experience alongside your studies in a real 4* hotel to boost your employability

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 (Year 2) of this 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.

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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.

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Specialist facilities

• Wivenhoe House , where you will gain experience, is 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:
  • Apex Hotels
  • The Arora Group
  • BaxterStorey
  • Claridges
  • Dorchester Collection
  • Edge Foundation
  • EDITION Hotels
  • Exclusive Hotels and Venues
  • Georgian House Hotel
  • Hand Picked Hotels
  • The Landmark London
  • Levy UK and Ireland
  • Master Innholders
  • Moet Hennessey
  • Milsoms Hotels and Restaurants
  • Oakman Inns
  • Royal Lancaster London
  • the Savoy Educational Trust
  • Sbe
  • St Julians Scholars
  and many others.
• 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 just need to provide your own white shirts and black shoes.

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Your future

The Events Management degree at the Edge Hotel School combines both events experience and industry knowledge to provide you with the skills for an exciting career in many aspects of events management. 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 this programme can go onto careers, in the UK or internationally, in areas such as:

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

“Events management graduates need to lead by example at events. Here you will combine management and practical skills to enable you to do the job of planning and running great events to a professional standard– that’s why our graduates are so employable. Working in events management presents exciting opportunities internationally as well as across the UK.” Philip Berners , Lecturer and Course Coordinator