Manchester Sunderland

(Hons) Event Management with Foundation Year

A four-year undergraduate program designed to prepare creative, confident professionals capable of designing and delivering impactful live experiences across the events and creative industries. The curriculum combines professional event management with experience design thinking.

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This route can be pursued with Student Finance when you meet the official criteria.

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Course Description

This program prepares students to become creative, confident professionals capable of designing and delivering impactful live experiences across events and creative industries. The curriculum combines professional event management with experience design thinking, moving beyond logistics to create audience-focused events with social and cultural value. You'll develop core skills in leadership, communication, budgeting, risk management, and stakeholder engagement, with strong emphasis on inclusivity, sustainability, and ethical practice. The course features real-world practice with live projects reflecting industry conditions, interdisciplinary collaboration with industry engagement, and professional portfolio development support. Teaching methods include lectures, seminars, workshops, and project-based learning with interactive, practice-focused activities. Assessment is through written reports and reflective journals, event proposals and project plans, presentations and professional pitches, and portfolio and practical submissions.

What You'll Learn

Real-world practice with live projects reflecting industry conditions

Core skills in leadership, communication, budgeting, and risk management

Strong emphasis on inclusivity, sustainability, and ethical practice

Interdisciplinary collaboration with industry patron scheme engagement

Professional portfolio development with employer-ready skills

Multiple pathways in final year: dissertation or consultancy project

Course Structure

Foundation Year
  • Creative Challenge: Identity, Environment, Community (40 credits)
  • Creative Challenge: Systems, Story and Change (40 credits)
  • Final Major Project (40 credits)
Year 1
  • Introduction to Creative Project Management (40 credits)
  • The Purpose, Meaning and Impact of Creative Projects (40 credits)
  • Project Lab (40 credits)
Year 2
  • Client Brief (40 credits)
  • Audiences Marketing and Programming (20 credits)
  • Creative Entrepreneurship and Business Planning (20 credits)
  • Contemporary Issues in the Creative Industries (20 credits)
  • Industry Insight (20 credits)
Year 3
  • Major Project Planning (20 credits)
  • Dissertation (40 credits)
  • Consultancy Project (40 credits)
  • Major Project (60 credits)

Entry Requirements

Academic Route

  • Minimum two A-Levels at grade DD or equivalent
  • BTEC qualification or T Level Pass
  • Minimum 48 UCAS points
  • Access to HE Diploma

Non-Academic Route

  • Pass Prepare For Foundation assessment day
  • Minimum 2 years post-GCSE experience

Mature Students (21+)

  • Standard admission with possible interview
  • Relevant experience considered

Don't have A-levels? No problem.

We accept equivalent European qualifications: Diploma de Bacalaureat (Romania), Matura (Poland), Abitur (Germany), Baccalaureat (France), and more. Career changers and mature students with relevant UK work experience are also welcome.

Job Prospects

Graduates progress into diverse roles across the events, arts and creative sectors as resilient, innovative and industry-ready professionals. The combination of event management expertise, experience design thinking, and real-world project experience makes you highly competitive in today's creative industries. Possible career paths include: Event Manager, Festival Producer, Conference Coordinator, Wedding Planner, Corporate Events Manager, Exhibition Manager, Event Marketing Manager, Creative Producer, Venue Manager, Events Entrepreneur, Live Experience Designer, and Cultural Events Coordinator.

Tuition Fees & Funding

Tuition Fees

Foundation Year: £5,760. Years 1 to 3: £9,535 per year

Total available per year

up to £23,297

Tuition £9,535 + Maintenance up to £13,762. You pay nothing upfront.

Don't worry about fees. Your advisor will check your eligibility and help you apply for full funding, including any additional grants you may qualify for.

Estimate your funding →

Career Prospects

Graduates go on to work in high-demand roles across the UK:

Event Manager £28-48k
Festival Coordinator £25-40k
Conference Organiser £26-42k
Wedding Planner £24-40k
Corporate Events Manager £30-50k
Venue Manager £28-45k
PR & Communications Officer £26-42k
Arts/Culture Programme Manager £28-45k

Salary ranges are indicative based on UK market data. Actual salaries depend on location, experience, and employer.

How You'll Learn

Learning is firmly rooted in real-world practice, with students working collaboratively on live projects. Emphasis on leadership, communication, budgeting, risk management, sustainability, and ethical practice in the events industry.

Assessment Methods

Written reports and reflective journals, event proposals and project plans, presentations and professional pitches, portfolio and practical submissions. No traditional exams.

Schedule

Full-time: weekdays and evenings. Multiple intake dates available throughout the year.

Admissions Interview

Most courses include a short, friendly admissions interview. Before your interview, your UniStart advisor will send you a personalised preparation pack - including a written guide and a video walkthrough - created by our admissions experts specifically for your course.

Students who use our preparation pack have up to a 94% success rate.

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Frequently Asked

Is funding really 100% covered?
Yes, eligible students can receive full funding covering tuition fees and living costs through Student Finance England.
How long does the application take?
Most applications can be completed in 15-30 minutes using our streamlined process and expert guidance.
Can I study part-time?
Many courses offer flexible study options including part-time, evening, and weekend classes to fit your schedule.
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