MSc International Events and Conference Management
with optional work experience routeAttendance
Full-time, Part-time
Full-time
September start typically 12 months or 18 to 24 months with optional work experience
January start typically 15 months but you can complete it in 12 months
Part-time typically three years
Starts January 2013
At a glance
About this course
The global events and conference industry has grown significantly in recent years. Well qualified managers are needed to meet challenges of this market.
This course combines a theoretical background with developing your practical skills. It attracts people from all over the world, encouraging a real international experience.
The events sector is a people industry and the jobs are varied. Each event is a demanding and challenging project that requires an in-depth understanding of different management disciplines.
You choose between a full-time MSc or an MSc with work experience. This offers a UK or overseas work placement of typically 12 months. It improves your practical management skills and employability by getting real experience in the events industry. Download our work placement guide (PDF, 52KB) for more information.
You study business analysis marketing human resource management event project management conference management venue management.
You learn how events and conferences are planned, organised, delivered and evaluated, looking at all stakeholders involved in the process.
An optional module allows you to tailor the course towards your professional needs or interests. Options include international cultural events sustainable tourism and hospitality in the 21st century charity fundraising practice.
This course combines the two areas of events, the leisure and the business and corporate side. It enables you to choose a career in both areas.
New trends and emerging topics are analysed throughout the course, including health and safety, sustainability and corporate social responsibility policies and using new technologies.
The course is delivered through lectures and small group seminars. Group work involves simulating real-life work environments where events are managed by teams. You also use the University virtual learning environment.
We support our teaching and learning with well-established links with businesses and venues in the UK and internationally. These include event companies major hotels charities international organisations major Sheffield venues.
We use our strong links with industry to support your development through
visits to venues and facilities
attendance at exhibitions and conferences
discussions and talks by visiting industry professionals
using real life projects
We use our links with local organisations to give you the opportunity to work as a volunteer at local events. Our students are currently involved in events such as BUCS 2012 (British Universities Sport Championship) and the Sheffield Doc/Fest
Our staff have years of industry experience in various fields including cultural, sport and music events, venue management, international conferences and hospitality. They are involved in research and consultancy projects at local, national and international level.
Associated careers
The events and conference industry is an increasingly competitive marketplace. This makes a postgraduate qualification a valuable asset for employees as it demonstrates their ability and specialised skills and knowledge.
Opportunities for industry-qualified professionals are extensive in private, voluntary or government organisations. These range from large multinationals to small family businesses and public authorities.
There are excellent career opportunities in organisations including trade and exhibition centres conference centres hotels events companies government agencies.
You can also continue with further study by completing a PhD or Doctorate in Business Administration.
Professional recognition
As a founder member of the Association of Event Management Educators (AEME), we were involved in establishing academic benchmarks in events education.
Course content
Core modules
Sector industry analysis
You develop analytical skills to gain an awareness of management issues facing the leisure industry. This module analyses the environment in which organisations in the tourism, hospitality and events industries operate. You consider the internal and external business environments facing organisations and demonstrate an awareness of the functional constraints, relationships, management processes and analyse the competitive environment.
Marketing
We introduce you to a range of advanced marketing concepts, building on a basic understanding of marketing. You develop an understanding of consumer behaviour and advanced market segmentation techniques to gain an awareness of the links between advanced marketing concepts and the building of relationships with customers and consumers to achieve long term success.
Events venues and facilities
This module will develop your skills and knowledge to strategically manage a range of resources and financial costs. You analyse the management of purpose, people, process, performance and place while investigating the techniques to achieve economy, efficiency and effectiveness. Topics covered may include crowd management, venue promotion and public relations, space management and programming.
Managing people
You gain awareness and understanding of the issues surrounding the management of people. You explore the context of employment, including labour markets, motivation to work and employee diversity as well as specific human resource management and reward. You will be encouraged to take a strategic focus to your work and explore current trends and issues and their impact on your own sector.
Events project management
Theories and tools available to project managers will be studied and then applied to the development of an event simulation. You gain knowledge and understanding of planning an event from conception to execution and post event evaluation. You test that you have learnt by developing plans for a real event. You manage a full range of resources to successfully achieve a project in a limited period of time. Topics covered may include location analysis, impact analysis, logistics and operational planning.
Research and consultancy project
This module provides you with an opportunity to design, implement and evaluate a practical project within your sector. You develop skills in problem solving and project management as well as applying theory to a real world task, community or organisational issue. You also gain experience in formulating professional reports.
Contemporary conference management
The meetings industry is an integral part of commercial and government activity. You take a critical look at the planning and organisation of these events by professional conference organisers. The expectations of buyers and the function of suppliers and intermediaries will be analysed in the light of the current business environment. How more innovative and effective events can be delivered will be evaluated and there is strong emphasis on the international dimensions of this sector.
This module draws on the functional management knowledge and skills so that you develop an holistic understanding of the management of meetings and conferences.
Research methods
Crucial in providing underpinning knowledge and understanding for success within your dissertation, within this module you will develop analytical and technical research capabilities that are related to undertaking research. By engaging with methodological and philosophical issues you will develop your own research projects based on a critical examination and evaluation of published research.
Dissertation
The dissertation provides an invaluable opportunity for you to undertake a major research based project on a topic relevant to your work or your interests. You review different research methods and techniques which gives you the opportunity to demonstrate the skills and knowledge you have gained, and develop your research skills.
Options
You also choose one module from
September start modules
internationalisation of hospitality sustainable tourism and hospitality in the 21st century international cultural events management decision making in food and beverage operations tourism consultancy study visit charity fundraising practice revenue management visitor attraction management
January start modules
internationalisation of hospitality sustainable tourism and hospitality in the 21st century international cultural events management decision making in food and beverage operations charity fundraising practice visitor attraction management
Internationalisation of hospitality
You gain an understanding of the changing global environment in which hospitality enterprises operate and the process of international strategic decision making. After completing the module you are able to identify, evaluate and choose strategic options for your organisation's global development. You develop the skills to enable you to consider business from a global perspective developing an awareness of the differences between cultural, economic, political and markets.
Sustainable tourism and hospitality in the 21st century
Concern about climate change has encouraged greater awareness of more sustainable forms of development. Sustainable tourism applies sustainable development principles to the tourism industry. You learn to understand sustainable tourism and how it operates in practice in business and destinations. You explore the market for this form of tourism and how obstacles to implementation can be overcome. Case studies can include greening hotels, reducing the carbon footprint of air travel and making large events more sustainable.
International cultural events
The events and conference industry operates within the setting of international cultural industries which include sport, arts and entertainment, the media and communications and heritage. Case studies of international events such as the Olympic Games, the Indian International Film Academy Awards, Glastonbury Festival and the World Snooker Championships are considered in the context of events studies. You consider finance and resources in the themes covered and examine current practice and ideologies with investigation of policy and management developments in this complex sector.
Management decision making in food and beverage operations
The internationalisation of established cuisines together with the globalisation of food cultures provides a challenging and competitive business environment for the contemporary hospitality manager. You develop the technical and managerial skills to analyse menus and detect trends. You experience gastronomic foods and wines from around the world and develop an understanding of current gastronomic and food related issues.
Tourism consultancy study visit
This module provides you with an opportunity to apply theory to practice through carrying out real-life consultancy research for tourism organisations based in Scotland. It involves a mid-semester residential study visit to Edinburgh, Scotland, where you experience how tourism operates in practice, visit various visitor attractions, and meet up with your tourism business clients. This module develops your employability skills through working as a tourism consultant and through developing your research, fieldwork and communication skills.
Tourism and globalisation
This module explores the meaning of globalisation and how the tourism industry contributes to globalisation and at the same time how it is affected by it. You discuss the politics of globalisation and the key theories related to tourism in this globalisation process/state. You learn about consumer and industry responses to the globalisation process. You also gain first hand globalisation experience by taking part in a one-week intensive teaching week focusing on the impacts of global tourism on less economically developed countries or regions.
Visitor attraction management
On this practical module you develop your employability skills through learning about the commercial considerations and managerial skills involved in the successful management of visitor attractions. You examine the visitor experience, and the role of technology and visitor management. You also explore the key issues involved in planning, developing and managing visitor attractions. The module provides you with an opportunity to put theory into practice through study visits to regionally based visitor attractions.
Assessment
Assessment includes essays management projects problem solving exercises group work and dissertation
Entry requirements
Normally an honours degree or recognised equivalent qualification
We welcome enquiries from those who have substantial management experience but do not have the normal entry requirements. We may invite you for an interview to discuss your particular background, experience and qualifications.
Through accreditation of prior learning you may be able to claim entry with credit or exemptions based on your existing qualifications, knowledge and experience.
If you do not meet the above criteria you can apply for the Graduate Diploma in Business and English. After passing this diploma we automatically offer you a place on one of our business-related masters degrees.
Work Experience Route
If English is not your first language you will need an IELTS 6.5 score with a minimum of 5.5 in all skills or equivalent.
Non Work Experience Route
If English is not your first language you will need an IELTS 6.0 score with a minimum of 5.5 in all skills or equivalent.
If your English language skill is currently below the required level we recommend you consider a Sheffield Hallam University Pre-sessional English course which will enable you to achieve an equivalent English score.
Fees
Home and EU students
2013/14 academic year
Full-time typically £5,355 (or £6,885 with a work experience placement)
Part-time typically £1,785 a year for years one, two and three
International students
2013/14 academic year
Full-time typically £12,060 without work experience placement, or £13,500 with work experience placement
2014/15 academic year
Full-time typically £12,150 without work experience placement, or £13,650 with work experience placement
How to apply
Complete the application form available at www.shu.ac.uk/study/form
Contact details
For more information contact Sheffield Business School, Sheffield Hallam University, Stoddart Building, City Campus, Sheffield S1 1WB. Phone +44 (0)114 225 2820, fax +44 (0)114 225 5268, e-mail sbs@shu.ac.uk