Program Overview

Events & Festivals Management BA (Hons)

Overview

The BA (Hons) Events & Festivals Management degree course at UCA Epsom is designed to immerse students in the organisation of events and festivals, and the audience experiences within these arenas. Employability is a key focus, with the course developed by event industry specialists who also teach on it. Students will work directly with venues, artists, audiences, and other industry partners as they develop their skills.

Course Entry Options

• BA (Hons) Events & Festivals Management
• BA (Hons) Events & Festivals Management with Integrated Foundation Year
• BA (Hons) Events & Festivals Management with Professional Practice Year
• BA (Hons) Events & Festivals Management with Integrated Foundation Year and Professional Practice Year

Course Details

Integrated Foundation Year (if undertaken)

• UCA's Integrated Foundation Year is designed to give students the skills they need to start their degree in the best possible way.
• Students will explore a range of creative techniques and develop their portfolio, with their chosen subject in mind.

Year One

• Core Units:
  • Principles of Live Events: Students will be introduced to the fundamental principles of designing, funding, delivering, and evaluating successful events.
  • Introduction to the Creative & Cultural Industries: Students will explore the dynamic and multifaceted landscape of the Creative and Cultural Industries.
  • Fundamentals of Marketing and Social Media: Students will be introduced to foundational concepts, theories, and models used in marketing and social media.
  • Understanding Audiences: Students will explore diverse factors influencing audiences, including their behaviors, preferences, motivation, and engagement.
  • Industry Brief: Audience Evaluation: Students will learn about audience studies, research, and evaluation, and how evaluating audiences plays a key role in shaping creative and cultural experiences.
• Elective Units:
  • Experience Economy: Students will explore experiences as a distinct fourth economic offering (beyond commodities, goods, and services).
  • Brand Logo and Design: Students will understand brand as the external image of a specific product or service that consumers connect with by identifying the name and logo.
  • Managing Creative People: Students will consider and reflect upon the key skills and attributes required to effectively manage creatives.

Year Two

• Core Units:
  • Producing and Managing Cultural Events and Festivals: Students will learn strategies for producing and managing cultural events and festivals.
  • Project Management in the Creative Industries: Students will be given a sound understanding of project management principles and practices specifically tailored to the dynamic fields of creative industries and events management.
  • Designing and Planning Immersive Events: Students will use a range of concepts including imagineering, co-creation, and gamification for idea generation to learn about event design.
  • Professional Practice: Your Professional Self: Students will prepare for the development of their creative professional practice and equip themselves with the critical awareness of current and emerging trends in the global creative industries.
  • Creative Business Brief: Digital Futures: Students will critically reflect on the imminent challenges and opportunities created by new technology and innovation in different contexts within the global creative industries.
• Elective Units:
  • Cross-Cultural Management: Students will be introduced to the importance of cross-cultural awareness and intercultural competence for business success in the global cultural and creative industries.
  • Creative Content: Analogue and Digital: Students will continue building their knowledge of and experience with design approaches and methodologies, specifically related to both analogue and digital design.
  • Managing International Tours & Events: Students will critically examine concepts and working practices related to the touring of arts and music events on an international level.

Professional Practice Year (if undertaken)

• Students will undertake a placement within the creative industries to further develop their skills and CV.
• While on the Professional Practice Year, students will be required to pay a reduced tuition fee.

Year Three

• Core Units:
  • Emerging Trends in Events Management: Students will explore the dynamic landscape of the events industry, focusing on the current trends and technological innovations driving its development.
  • Data Analytics in the Creative Industries: Students will be equipped with the data analytics knowledge and skills required for working in the data-driven global creative industries.
  • Finance and Fundraising in the Creative and Cultural Industries: Students will be introduced to the fundamental guiding principles, theories, and working practices of raising and managing finance in the creative and cultural industries.
  • Degree Project, Creative and Cultural Industries: Students will apply knowledge, skills, and experience gained throughout their course to create a distinctive piece of work for their degree project.

Study Abroad (optional)

• This course is designed to offer students (if eligible) the opportunity to study part of their degree abroad at a UCA partner university, while still earning credits towards their UCA degree.

Specifications

• Course information 2025/26 entry
• Course information annex for Integrated Foundation Year 2025/26 entry
• Student regulations

Facilities & Equipment

• Our Creative Business facilities at our Epsom campus feature dedicated studios, study areas, and digital media suites equipped with Macs and PCs programmed with specialist software including Adobe Creative Suite.
• On campus, there's a modern library with a wealth of books and publications, photography studios, and print studios.

Career Opportunities

• Events Management
• Venue Management
• Promotions Management
• Marketing Executive
• PR Executive/Account Manager
• Advertising Agent
• Postgraduate Study

Entry Requirements

• Standard requirements:
  • 112 UCAS tariff points
  • Pass at Foundation Diploma in Art & Design (Level 3 or 4)
  • Distinction, Merit, Merit at BTEC Extended Diploma / BTEC National Extended Diploma
  • Merit at UAL Extended Diploma
  • 112 UCAS tariff points from an accredited Access to Higher Education Diploma in an appropriate subject
  • 27-30 total points in the International Baccalaureate Diploma with at least 15 IB points at Higher level
  • Four GCSE passes at grade 9-4/A*-C including English (or Functional Skills English/Key Skills Communication Level 2)
• Foundation year requirements:
  • 32 UCAS tariff points
  • Pass at Foundation Diploma in Art & Design (Level 3 or 4)
  • Pass, Pass, Pass at BTEC Extended Diploma / BTEC National Extended Diploma
  • Pass at UAL Extended Diploma
  • 32 UCAS tariff points from an accredited Access to Higher Education Diploma in an appropriate subject
  • 24 points from the International Baccalaureate
  • Four GCSE passes at grade 9-4/A*-C including English (or Functional Skills English/Key Skills Communication Level 2)

International Entry Requirements

• Please select your country to find the equivalent requirements.

English Language Requirements

• Please see the English Language Requirements section for more information.

Fees & Funding

• Tuition fees - 2025/26:
  • Integrated Foundation Year: £9,535
  • BA course: £9,535
• If you opt to study the Professional Practice Year, for 2025 you will be required to pay a reduced tuition fee of £1,900.
• You will also incur additional travel and accommodation costs during your Professional Practice year.

Scholarships and Fee Discounts

• At UCA, we have a number of scholarships and fee discounts available to assist you with the cost of your studies.

Financial Support

• There are lots of ways you can access additional financial support to help you fund your studies - both from UCA and from external sources.

Additional Course Costs

• In addition to the tuition fees, there may be other costs for your course.
• The things that you are likely to need to budget for to get the most out of a creative arts education will include books, printing costs, occasional or optional study trips, and/or project materials.

Contact Us

• If you have any questions or would like to discuss your application, please contact us.