Bachelor of Arts (Hons)

Events, Festivals and Venue Management

Are you passionate about Festivals, Live Music and Cultural Events? Do you want to plan everything from festivals to weddings? Is it your dream to work in the Events Management industry?

Whether it be Large Scale Festivals, Grass Roots Venues, Arena Gigs, Club Nights Weddings, Community Fayres, Farmers Markets, Concert halls or Conferencing this programme can prepare you for all, with material being delivered by established industry professionals and academics.

Why study this subject?

The UK events industry has developed and grown to become arguably the world leader, With more than 7’000 outdoor events being held each year, covering a diverse range of activities from Village Fetes, agricultural events, Major Festivals, charity events, arena and stadia concerts, Not to mention Venue based Gigs and Club nights.

“…the UK has established itself as a world leader, with many companies (now) exporting their expertise…” (Eventbrite)

Why study at Buckinghamshire New University?

This course is delivered by established industry professionals with diverse backgrounds within the industry. Your teaching team compromise of an Award Winning Concert Promoter, a Mercury Music Prize Winner, Former Record Company Executives, Touring Musicians, Wedding Planners, Digital & Brand Partnership specialists.

UK Music is the collective voice of the UK’s world-leading music industry. We represent all sectors of our industry – bringing them together to collaborate, campaign, and champion music. The members of UK Music are: AIM, BPI, FAC, The Ivors Academy, MMF, MPA, MPG, MU, PPL, PRS for Music. UK Music also has an informal association with LIVE (Live music Industry Venues & Entertainment).

Buckinghamshier New University's course covers the fundamental principles of event management, setting you up perfectly to enter this industry. At the heart of their course you’ll find a combination of theory with practical work elements.

What facilities can you use?

BNU's library is packed with all the information you need for your assessments and there’s plenty of room to knuckle down for some quiet study.

What will you study?

During your time at BNU you will establish a firm understanding of the music and live event business. You'll learn about the unique nature of working in music event management and look at a number of entrepreneurial approaches to the music business. You will also spend time exploring the social and cultural factors that affect the production and consumption of popular music.

Your programme is heavily focussed on employability, and will not only help support you to gain a broad understanding of how events are planned, marketed, developed and run, both in class and also whilst working on your own projects. But will also involve students staging their own events such as the now established Winterland and “Bucks Live Presents” projects, and will also assist in creating opportunities for working in the professional events environment, at various UK events and Festivals, to help underpin the Theory and build a student’s CV and skills base.

In previous years Buck's students have enjoyed the opportunity to gain work experience and internships at, Download, Aylesbury Waterside Theatre, Reading Festival, Wembley Arena, Creamfields, Penn Festival, BBC Radio 1 Weekenders, British Summertime Hyde Park, Common, Students Union, Wireless, Various Motorsports events, , Steelyard, Mind, Body & Spirit, ILMC and A Greener Festivals Conference.

How will you be taught and assessed?

On this course you will be taught with a mixture of:

• Lectures
• Seminars
• Workshops
• Event planning tasks

Students are also assessed in a number of ways, such as but not limited to organising events, site planning, formal essays, presentations, group work and a dissertation in your final year.

What are your career prospects? 

Throughout your time with Buckinghamshier New University they’ll support you on the route to your chosen career. They will help you to develop crucial skills, encouraging you to become enterprising, employable and good leaders. BNU also help you find employment after graduation. 

Their BA (Hons) Events, Festivals and Venue Management course will help prepare you for a range of career possibilities, such as:

• Event Planner
• Concert and Live Music Events Promoter
• Festival Manager
• Venue Manager
• Wedding Planner
• Events Marketing & PR
• Licensing
• Tour Manager
• Health & Safety.

Graduates can also choose to study for a postgraduate course.