Overview
Make your career eventful.
Summary
Ever wonder what goes into creating large scale events such as the Olympics or Glastonbury? Or how businesses run cutting edge digital conferences and hotels put on unique experiences for guests? Do you want to be part of a team that delivers unforgettable experiences from concept to delivery? The MSc International Event Management will give you the skills and confidence to successfully manage events anywhere in the world. From hotel functions to mass sporting events or business trade shows you can help make these happen.
Ulster University is ranked 1st in the UK for Hospitality, Event Management and Tourism (The Guardian University Guide 2025). Accredited by the Institute of Hospitality, this qualification is recognised worldwide for international employment.
With international event management, you will have the opportunity to position yourself in a wide range of sectors from business and non-profits to sport, arts, music, cultural events, festivals and hospitality this degree will open the door to a wide range of diverse roles.
As the event sector evolves and the local industry transforms, innovative, creative and professional people are needed to drive it forward - this could be you. Working in partnership with industry experts we have created an extremely relevant and practical course meaning you will graduate industry ready with the skills employers are looking for. Our modules encourage collaboration and forward thinking with the opportunity to share ideas and experiences with a diverse network of international students.
With all assessment coursework based, you will cover topics such as event management, strategic marketing, managing and leading people, business sustainability and innovation as well as exploring external factors to be aware of within the sector.
We’d love to hear from you!
We know that choosing to study at university is a big decision, and you may not always be able to find the information you need online.
Please contact Ulster University with any queries or questions you might have about:
- Course specific information
- Fees and Finance
- Admissions
For any queries regarding getting help with your application, please select Admissions in the drop down below.
For queries related to course content, including modules and placements, please select Course specific information.
We look forward to hearing from you.
About this course
About
Course modules include:
Year One
Semester 1
Event Management
This module introduces students to the events industry. The nature and scope of events are investigated together with the event planning process. It will provide students with a sound basis on which to plan, manage and evaluate an event.
Strategic Marketing
The module examines and applies the principles, concepts and theories of strategic marketing management including managing the marketing mix, strategy formulation, strategic decision making and evaluation of marketing performance. Moreover, the module provides students with an understanding and knowledge of a range of analytical models and tools which can be applied to marketing planning, implementation and control.
Managing & Leading People
The significance of leadership in achieving results is well established in research with findings highlighting that leadership behaviour is often responsible for the difference between success and failure in organisations. Management is essentially concerned with getting things done through people by exercising sound leadership. This module examines the key concepts of management and leadership with specific reference to the role of the Line Manager and the need for effective Leadership. Furthermore, it examines the critical role of the HR Function and Line Management when managing people within the international service industries.
Semester 2
Critical Event Studies
This module presents students with an opportunity to critically examine the impact of events and discuss the external factors that event organisers must contend with. It encourages students to look beyond the operational aspects of event management and appreciate the wider environment in which event organisers must plan their event. Through this critical lens students will develop a more balanced understanding of 'event planning' and recognise what is good and bad practice. This in turn will allow them to make better informed decisions as event managers.
Business Sustainability & Innovation
The module examines a range of theoretical and practical issues surrounding business sustainability and innovation. The use of case studies to apply business models develops an understanding of key business concepts including entrepreneurship, innovation, creativity, value creation and value capture. The development of business model use by student teams will immerse students in key methods of innovation and value propositions, which are relevant for contemporary managers as well as aspiring entrepreneurs.
Research Methods
This module will develop, enhance and assess the student's ability to design appropriate research, propose suitable methodologies and evaluate research philosophy, researcher positionality and research ethics. The module is designed to equip students with the technical skills to collect and analyse quantitative and qualitative data, using ICT packages. The module serves as a precursor to the MSc research dissertation.
Year Two
Semester 1
Advanced Practice
Semester 2
Dissertation
The module element will enable students to undertake a Dissertation at postgraduate level, building on knowledge and skills gained through the course, including in particular the Research Methods module.
Attendance
The course starts with a 3-day induction period to introduce you to your new network of students and staff.
All modules are taught in 3 day blocks (usually Wed-Fri 9-5) so you can fit your learning around your lifestyle. Classes are taught both online and at the Belfast campus.
One module is delivered approximately every 4 weeks during each semester (4 semesters in total) with three half day Learning Sets (tutorial learning support) per module to allow you to meet with your tutors and student groups to develop your assessed work.
The calendar of scheduled teaching will be made available to you prior to you starting the course.
You can choose to exit with a PgCert after successful completion of 3 taught modules or alternatively exit with a PgDip after successful completion of 6 taught modules.
You will progress onto this advanced practice pathway on completing the six taught modules prior to the Dissertation.
The MSc IEM (with Advanced Practice pathway) is available in full-time mode only. You will complete the course in 21 months across 5 semesters: this equates to 2 semesters to complete the six taught modules; a summer semester break; 1 semester to complete the Advanced Practice Pathway (either the Internship & Professional Development or Applied Consultancy Project) and 1 semester to complete the Dissertation.
Start dates
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September 2025
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January 2026
Teaching, Learning and Assessment
Teaching & Learning:
A range of teaching methods will be employed, including traditional lectures, case studies, business simulation gaming and one-to-one tutor session videos. We also arrange a number of field trips to hospitality and tourism venues and live events where possible. Guest speakers are invited from industry.
Assessment:
Assessment includes written essays, short synopsis, personal reflections and peer reviews, case studies, objective tests, business reports, computer modelling, individual and group presentations.
Attendance and Independent Study
The content for each course is summarised on the relevant course page, along with an overview of the modules that make up the course.
Each course is approved by the University and meets the expectations of:
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Attendance and Independent Study
As part of your course induction, you will be provided with details of the organisation and management of the course, including attendance and assessment requirements - usually in the form of a timetable. For full-time courses, the precise timetable for each semester is not confirmed until close to the start date and may be subject to some change in the early weeks as all courses settle into their planned patterns. For part-time courses which require attendance on particular days and times, an expectation of the days and periods of attendance will be included in the letter of offer. A course handbook is also made available.
Courses comprise modules for which the notional effort involved is indicated by its credit rating. Each credit point represents 10 hours of student effort. Undergraduate courses typically contain 10, 20, or 40 credit modules (more usually 20) and postgraduate courses typically 15 or 30 credit modules.
The normal study load expectation for an undergraduate full-time course of study in the standard academic year is 120 credit points. This amounts to around 36-42 hours of expected teaching and learning per week, inclusive of attendance requirements for lectures, seminars, tutorials, practical work, fieldwork or other scheduled classes, private study, and assessment. Teaching and learning activities will be in-person and/or online depending on the nature of the course. Part-time study load is the same as full-time pro-rata, with each credit point representing 10 hours of student effort.
Postgraduate Master’s courses typically comprise 180 credits, taken in three semesters when studied full-time. A Postgraduate Certificate (PGCert) comprises 60 credits and can usually be completed on a part-time basis in one year. A 120-credit Postgraduate Diploma (PGDip) can usually be completed on a part-time basis in two years.
Class contact times vary by course and type of module. Typically, for a module predominantly delivered through lectures you can expect at least 3 contact hours per week (lectures/seminars/tutorials). Laboratory classes often require a greater intensity of attendance in blocks. Some modules may combine lecture and laboratory. The precise model will depend on the course you apply for and may be subject to change from year to year for quality or enhancement reasons. Prospective students will be consulted about any significant changes.
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Assessment
Assessment methods vary and are defined explicitly in each module. Assessment can be a combination of examination and coursework but may also be only one of these methods. Assessment is designed to assess your achievement of the module’s stated learning outcomes. You can expect to receive timely feedback on all coursework assessments. This feedback may be issued individually and/or issued to the group and you will be encouraged to act on this feedback for your own development.
Coursework can take many forms, for example: essay, report, seminar paper, test, presentation, dissertation, design, artefacts, portfolio, journal, group work. The precise form and combination of assessment will depend on the course you apply for and the module. Details will be made available in advance through induction, the course handbook, the module specification, the assessment timetable and the assessment brief. The details are subject to change from year to year for quality or enhancement reasons. You will be consulted about any significant changes.
Normally, a module will have 4 learning outcomes, and no more than 2 items of assessment. An item of assessment can comprise more than one task. The notional workload and the equivalence across types of assessment is standardised. The module pass mark for undergraduate courses is 40%. The module pass mark for postgraduate courses is 50%.
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Calculation of the Final Award
The class of Honours awarded in Bachelor’s degrees is usually determined by calculation of an aggregate mark based on performance across the modules at Levels 5 and 6, (which correspond to the second and third year of full-time attendance).
Level 6 modules contribute 70% of the aggregate mark and Level 5 contributes 30% to the calculation of the class of the award. Classification of integrated Master’s degrees with Honours include a Level 7 component. The calculation in this case is: 50% Level 7, 30% Level 6, 20% Level 5. At least half the Level 5 modules must be studied at the University for Level 5 to be included in the calculation of the class.
All other qualifications have an overall grade determined by results in modules from the final level of study.
In Masters degrees of more than 200 credit points the final 120 points usually determine the overall grading.
Figures from the academic year 2022-2023.
Academic profile
You will be taught by academics who are highly qualified and experts in their fields.
All of the teaching colleagues in the department have achieved Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy and seven of these team members have Senior Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy.
The University employs over 1,000 suitably qualified and experienced academic staff - 60% have PhDs in their subject field and many have professional body recognition.
Courses are taught by staff who are Professors (19%), Readers, Senior Lecturers (22%) or Lecturers (57%).
We require most academic staff to be qualified to teach in higher education: 82% hold either Postgraduate Certificates in Higher Education Practice or higher. Most academic and learning support staff (85%) are recognised as fellows of the Higher Education Academy (HEA) by Advance HE - the university sector professional body for teaching and learning. Many academic and technical staff hold other professional body designations related to their subject or scholarly practice.
The profiles of many academic staff can be found on the University’s departmental websites and give a detailed insight into the range of staffing and expertise. The precise staffing for a course will depend on the department(s) involved and the availability and management of staff. This is subject to change annually and is confirmed in the timetable issued at the start of the course.
Occasionally, teaching may be supplemented by suitably qualified part-time staff (usually qualified researchers) and specialist guest lecturers. In these cases, all staff are inducted, mostly through our staff development programme ‘First Steps to Teaching’. In some cases, usually for provision in one of our out-centres, Recognised University Teachers are involved, supported by the University in suitable professional development for teaching.
Figures from the academic year 2022-2023.
Standard entry conditions
We recognise a range of qualifications for admission to our courses. In addition to the specific entry conditions for this course you must also meet the University’s General Entrance Requirements.
Entry Requirements
Applicants must normally have gained:
A second class honours degree or better from a recognised university of the UK, Republic of Ireland, from the Council for National Academic Awards, the National Council for Educational Awards, the Higher Education and Training Awards Council, or from an institution of another country which has been recognised as being of an equivalent standard; or
An equivalent standard (normally 50%) in a Graduate Diploma, Graduate Certificate, Postgraduate Certificate or Postgraduate Diploma or an approved professional qualification or other qualification; and
Provide evidence of competence in written and spoken English to GCSE grade C or equivalent. Non-English speakers must demonstrate that English ability is appropriate for studying at this level and provide evidence of English competence to IELTs 6.0.
Applicants do not have to hold their primary degree in a cognate area, but prior knowledge of studying tourism and/or hospitality at an undergraduate level or relevant work experience may be beneficial.
In exceptional circumstances, where an individual has substantial and significant experiential learning, a portfolio of written evidence demonstrating the meeting of graduate qualities (including subject-specific outcomes, as determined by the Course Committee) may be considered as an alternative entrance route. Evidence used to demonstrate graduate qualities may not be used for exemption against modules within the programme.
An interview may form part of the selection process.
English Language Requirements
English language requirements for international applicants
The minimum requirement for this course is Academic IELTS 6.0 with no band score less than 5.5. Trinity ISE: Pass at level III also meets this requirement for Tier 4 visa purposes.
Ulster University recognises a number of other English language tests and comparable IELTS equivalent scores.
Exemptions and transferability
Do you have another qualification awarded by Ulster University or by another university or other educational institution, or have evidence of accreditation of prior learning?
These may be considered for exemption from part of the programme, provided that you register as a student at Ulster University for modules amounting to at least the final third of the credit value of the award at the highest level.
What exemptions can I get?
The Programme Director can advise candidates as to the eligibility of their accredited course.
How do I apply for exemptions?
When accepted on the Programme you are asked to complete an exemptions form, which is reviewed by the Director and exemptions are then agreed during the Induction process.
Exemption is not permitted from the dissertation or business project.
Careers & opportunities
Career options
This internationally recognised course will provide you with the diverse knowledge and skills needed to operate across the industry within a vibrant and diverse range of sectors from business and non-profits to sport, arts, music and hospitality.
You could find yourself working within event management companies, in-house for an organisation or freelance organising large or small events ranging from personal events like weddings and parties, through to business to consumer (B2C) events like festivals and business to business (B2B) events like conferences and exhibitions.
Whether you are currently working in the industry and want to progress your career to management level or are a recent graduate who wants to enter the sector for the first time the knowledge and skills learned will equip you for working in a diverse range of job roles.
The Advanced Practice will give you the opportunity to work with industry teams developing your practical skills and getting you one step ahead when it comes to employment. Graduating both with a degree and demonstrable practical experience this advanced study will develop your global citizenship, analytical, presentation, entrepreneurial and evaluation skills – what employers are looking for in both the business and leisure event sector.
Work placement / study abroad
By choosing the Advanced Practice option, you will complete either an internship or an applied consulting project, working with an industry sector partner. This will enable you to apply your knowledge and skills in a real life organisational setting providing you with invaluable work experience. It will enhance your employability and career prospects by building your confidence in a business environment, providing you with tangible experience and allowing you to network and showcase your skills to potential employers.
Professional Recognition
Accreditations reflect the excellence of our teaching, research, and knowledge exchange and ensure our programmes realise the highest expectations. By studying at Ulster University you’ll gain insight and be at the forefront of current industry practices, while our many accredited degree programmes open doors to the world’s top professional organisations, making you more attractive to future employers and giving you a competitive edge in the job market.
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.
Apply
Start dates
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September 2025
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January 2026
Fees and funding
Tuition Fee Loans Available
Students domiciled in Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland and UK students can apply to Student Finance NI for a Tuition Fee loan of up to £6,500 (subject to eligibility).
Important notice - Tuition fees for this course may vary
Visit Tuition Fees pages for more details on the price of this course.
Scholarships, awards and prizes
The highest performing student in the module 'Event Management' will receive the Belfast City Council Award - a voucher to spend from a local retailer.
An opportunity is available for the highest performing student in the module, 'Managing and Leading People' to receive the Titanic Hotel Award 'Talent for Success'.
View Available Scholarships
See if you can access financial or other forms of support, including mentorship to excel in your studies.
Additional mandatory costs
It is important to remember that costs associated with accommodation, travel (including car parking charges) and normal living will need to be covered in addition to tuition fees.
Where a course has additional mandatory expenses (in addition to tuition fees) we make every effort to highlight them above. We aim to provide students with the learning materials needed to support their studies. Our libraries are a valuable resource with an extensive collection of books and journals, as well as first-class facilities and IT equipment. Computer suites and free Wi-Fi are also available on each of the campuses.
There are additional fees for graduation ceremonies, examination resits and library fines.
Students choosing a period of paid work placement or study abroad as a part of their course should be aware that there may be additional travel and living costs, as well as tuition fees.
See the tuition fees on our student guide for most up to date costs.
Disclaimer
- We prepare our prospectus and online information about our courses with care and every effort is made to ensure that the information is accurate. The printed version of the prospectus is, however, published at least a year before the courses begin. Information included in the prospectus may, therefore, change. This includes, but is not limited to changes to the terms, content, delivery, location, method of assessments or lengths of the courses described. Not all circumstances are foreseeable, but changes will normally be made for one of the following reasons:
- to meet external, professional, or accredited body requirements;
- to provide for exceptional circumstances due to reasons beyond our reasonable control;
- to improve or enhance your experience, or to adopt changes recommended in student feedback, with the aim of improving the student experience and or student outcomes; and/or
- to ensure appropriate academic standards are met, for example in response to external examiners feedback.
- If there are insufficient enrolments to make a course viable, it may be necessary for the University to withdraw a course. If you have received an offer for a course that we subsequently have to close, we will contact you as soon as possible to discuss alternative courses. If you do not wish to study any alternative courses at the University, you may withdraw your application by informing us by email to admissions@ulster.ac.uk.
- Please note that the University’s website is the most up-to-date source of information regarding courses, campuses and facilities and we strongly recommend that you always visit the website before making any commitments.
- We will include a durable PDF when we send you an offer letter which will highlight any changes made to our prospectus or online information about our courses. You should read this carefully and ensure you fully understand what you are agreeing to before accepting a place on one of our courses.
- The University will always try to deliver the course as described in the durable PDF you receive with your offer letter.
- At any point after an offer has been made, students will be notified of any course changes in writing (usually by email) as soon as reasonably practicable and we will take all reasonable steps to minimise their impact where possible. The University will, where possible and reasonably practicable, seek the express consent of the student in regard to any changes concerning material or pre-contract information.
- The University website will be updated to reflect the changed course information as soon as reasonably practicable.
- If, after due consideration, you decide that you no longer want to study your course or to study at the University, because of the changes, you may withdraw your application or terminate your contract with the University. In order to do so, you should notify us in writing by emailing admissions@ulster.ac.uk (and update UCAS if applicable). We will, on request, recommend alternative courses that you could study with us, or suggest a suitable course at an alternative higher education provider.
- Providing the University has complied with the requirements of all applicable consumer protection laws, the University does not accept responsibility for the consequences of any modification, relocation or cancellation of any course, or part of a course, offered by the University. The University will give due and proper consideration to the effects thereof on individual students and taken the steps necessary to minimise the impact of such effects on those affected.
- The University is not liable for disruption to its provision of educational or other services caused by circumstances beyond its reasonable control providing it takes all reasonable steps to minimise the resultant disruption to such services.
Testimonials
‘Committing to the MSc. International Event Management programme was a decision I considered carefully as I had been working professionally for several years. However, I can confidently say that the professional and personal benefits of returning to post-graduate study have been advantageous. The International Event Management programme provided a platform to demonstrate my current highest academic potential through the challenge of post-graduate study. Throughout this experience, I was afforded the opportunity to forge events industry contacts who continue to support my progress in the Event Management field. Within a few months of graduating with Distinction, I was successful in my application as Programme Officer at Culture Night Belfast – one of the largest events in the NI event calendar. For those inspired by the potential of furthering a career in events and tourism industry, I cannot recommend this programme highly enough’.
Claire Leonard, MSc International Event Management, Programme Officer with Culture Night Belfast and Cathedral Quarter Trust Projects
‘Studying the Event Management programme was one of the best decisions I have ever made. Having enjoyed my undergraduate degree in Events Management, I was delighted to return to the University of Ulster to undertake a Masters in International Event Management. The course inspired me from the beginning as it provided me with an interesting mix of subjects to help me learn and grow as an individual academically and professionally. All these acquired skills help me daily in my role as Event Manager for the Belfast City Marathon and Belfast City Half Marathon’.
Claire O’Reilly, Belfast City Marathon
"I would highly recommend the Master’s course, particularly to anyone already practising within the field of event management. Development of the events industry continues apace, and this course is so tapped in that it has become hard to imagine how I practiced effectively without the insights gained through the Master’s. At every stage, I have found the course useful in my work an Event Management Consultant, and reciprocally, my field experience has enhanced my studies. Every module and lecture is relevant in some way to practical application while simultaneously providing academic context, and this makes it interesting. It has made me think differently, and work more efficiently. The lecturers are approachable, the lectures are stimulating and the three-day teaching block format is especially helpful for balancing full-time work and study. Best of all though, is the sense of confidence and personal achievement it imbues.”
Judith Rowan, Event NI
Sustainability at Ulster
Ulster continues to develop and support sustainability initiatives with our staff, students, and external partners across various aspects of teaching, research, professional services operations, and governance.
At Ulster every person, course, research project, and professional service area on every campus either does or can contribute in some way towards the global sustainability and climate change agenda.
We are guided by both our University Strategy People, Place and Partnerships: Delivering Sustainable Futures for All and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Our work in this area is already being recognised globally. Most recently by the 2024 Times Higher Education Impact rating where we were recognised as Joint 5th Globally for Outreach Activities and Joint Top 20 Globally for Sustainable Development Goal 17: Partnership for the Goals.
Visit our Sustainability at Ulster destination to learn more about how the University strategy and the activities of Ulster University support each of the Sustainable Development Goals.
Ulster University Business School - Sustainability in Focus
Ulster University Business School (UUBS) aims to be a thought-leader for sustainable business futures.
Our mission is to embolden staff, students and all our stakeholders to become sustainable business futures leaders. We aim to support and showcase sustainability research and education across Ulster University Business School.
We do so by embedding the sustainable futures agenda into five remits: sustainability performance, research and knowledge exchange, learning and teaching, student experience and communications and engagement. We are a member of PRME – the Principles for Responsible Management Education concordat.
Contact: uubssustainability@ulster.ac.uk
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Learning and Teaching
We support and develop ‘Education for Sustainable Development’ within the Faculty’s Learning & teaching portfolio. We do so by providing bespoke staff training on ESD and curating an ESD Resources Hub.
All UUBS undergraduate and post-graduate course are mapped against the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), and students are actively involved in learning for sustainable development.
We seek to enhance the student experience by encouraging our students to become actively involved in sustainability initiatives, such as Carbon Literacy Training, the Big Spring Clean and collaborating with the Northern Ireland Resource Network.
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Research and Knowledge Exchange
We develop, support and disseminate sustainability-themed research within the Faculty and beyond. Our annual sustainability research networking event creates new research strands within the Faculty’s research portfolio.
We actively support out PhD community to embed sustainability in their research and provide training on methods and critical thinking on sustainability.
We partner with other institutions, such as Queen’s University Belfast and Atlantic Technological University to broaden our sustainability research and create interdisciplinary research links.
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Communications and Engagement
UUBS has a dedicated Sustainability Committee, tasked with developing dedicated internal and external communications and engagement activities promoting the sustainability work of the Faculty.
We host an annual Sustainability Business Breakfast, attend and speak at notable sustainability events, such as the SustainExchange Summit, the Belfast Re[Act] Festival and the NI Science Festival.
Our sustainability work is monitored on our bespoke UUBS SDG Dashboard on our dedicated UUBS sustainability webpages. Our sustainability performance team oversees the Faculty’s Academy Restaurant’s Green Academy programme and associated eco-certifications Green Key and Green Tourism Gold Award.
