Curious about studying Business Management with Events Management - BA (Hons)at Abertay University? We've gathered all the key details—entry requirements, modules, fees, and more. Hear from real students by checking out reviews, or take the next step by booking an open day to explore it for yourself.
Bachelor of Arts (with Honours) - BA (Hons)
Abertay University
Full Time
Sep 2026
4 Year
Plan, market, budget for and run business events of all kinds on this Business Management with Events degree. With your specialism in events management, you’ll become a highly employable event organiser in a fast-growing business sector.
Join the events industry - worth £42.3 billion to the UK economy - and work with corporate events planners and agencies who are forecasting a big increase in employment opportunities. You’ll learn how to organise, market, budget for and execute business events. With your specialism in events management (which also applies to tourism), you will become highly employable across many different types of organisations. This also includes digital events across a variety of platforms.
Outstanding business links and valuable work placementsWe put employability at the forefront. By going beyond the classroom and working on projects such as This includes the Innovation for Global Growth event, a unique opportunity for you to test your employability skills with real organisations. You'll gain a greater understanding of the realities of work, and enhance your CV at the same time. Alongside this, there are work placements and you can apply to study abroad. By the time you graduate you'll have all the knowledge and transferrable skills needed to thrive in today's work environment. So whether your ambition is to start your own business, or work for someone else, your skills and expertise will be relevant all over the world.
Scotland’s Top Modern University for Student SatisfactionAbertay is widely regarded as THE place to come for student satisfaction and high quality teaching. But don't take our word for it: *
Scotland's Top Modern University for Student Satisfaction(The Complete University Guide 2027 and Times Good University Guide 2026). *
UK Top 10 for Student Experience(The Times Good University Guide 2025 and The Daily Mail University Guide 2024). *
Top Scottish Modern University(Guardian University Guide 2026).
This module builds on your existing knowledge of human resource management and deepens your understanding of HRM theory and practice. You will explore how HRM principles are applied in contemporary organisations, examining both strategic and operational perspectives, and develop the skills to critically evaluate HRM approaches in real'world contexts. Indicative content - Introduction to HRM : Theoretical perspectives to HRM; practical approaches to HRM. - Context and HRM: National, international, occupational, organisational and individual contexts of HRM in theory and in practice. - Strategic HRM: I ntroduction to strategic human resource management; ‘best fit’ and ‘best practice’ approaches. - HRM, work and wellbeing: Fair work; dignity at work; mental health and stress at work; the benefits and challenges of flexibility. - HRM, equality and diversity: Inequalities in the labour market and in the workplace; managing diverse workforce. - Managing conflict in the workplace : Conflict in the employment relationship; misbehaviour, discipline and grievance procedures; bullying and harassment; disputes. - Contemporary HRM trends and future challenges: Continuity and change in work and employment; gig economy; (ir)responsible HRM.
This module introduces the core principles of business analytics, focusing on descriptive and predictive approaches. Designed for students with or without prior higher'level study in statistics, it builds on introductory concepts to develop practical skills in analysing and interpreting data. You will learn how to summarise and visualise information, identify patterns and trends, and apply predictive techniques to support effective decision'making in business contexts. Indicative content - Control and Quality of Decisions: Explore whether decision'making is rational or emotional, what makes for a good decision, and whether it is an art or a science. Study the role of data and information, the characteristics of good information, and the applications of big data and analytics, including their use in the finance function to create organisational value. - Basic Business Data Analysis Using Excel: Apply digital technologies in the finance function to demonstrate trends and patterns, prepare trend equations using graphical methods or regression analysis, and evaluate the limitations of forecasting models. - Business Decision'Making in Practice: Examine the opportunities and challenges of emerging technologies in business, review the key features of data protection and privacy regulations when handling data, and engage with business simulations to apply decision'making in realistic contexts.
The module aims to develop your awareness of the business challenges associated with sustainable business creation and development, and to provide you with the knowledge and skills required to make a convincing case for investment in a sustainable business idea. Indicative content - People: Beautifying Business − Opportunity or gimmick: Managing the triple bottom line; Business boundaries, doing more with less; strategies for sustainable business development; Business and the planet; Sustainable entrepreneurship and new business models, Corporate social responsibility - Profit: Ethical investing and responsible investment: Responsible investment and the cost to society and the individual. - Planet: Environment, enterprise and innovation: Wealth from Waste… Students will be encouraged to consider opportunities for innovation which identify revenue streams arising from re−use of waste materials - Energy Enterprise: Ideas and innovation which maximise current energy sources or innovate in the realm of renewable energy production/storage/delivery; Planet Premium and Ecosystem Services… acknowledging and valuing benefits and services delivered by the natural environment. Payment for ecosystem services, willingness to pay.
Please note: If you are a Direct Entrant (new student) to this year of study and have not previously taken module ABE101, then you MUST take ABE201 as your Term 2 microcredential module. If you have previously taken ABE101, then you are NOT permitted to take ABE201 in Term 2. Starting university brings new opportunities and challenges, and every student’s journey is different. This microcredential helps you settle into life at Abertay and build the habits that lead to success. You’ll hear from current students sharing their own tips, and reflect on the areas you most want to develop. You’ll get to know Abertay’s systems, explore what makes a successful student and practise core skills such as time management, referencing, academic writing style and using support services. By the end, you’ll have the tools and strategies you need to thrive at university. Indicative content - Navigating Abertay Systems: Get to know the key systems you’ll use at Abertay—such as MyLearningSpace, MS Teams, OASIS and MyAbertay—and learn how to use them effectively. - Expectations of University and You: Explore what’s expected of you as a student and what you can expect from the university. Topics include the code of conduct, independent and blended learning, how courses are structured, health and safety, and the Abertay attributes. - Abertay Discovery Tool: Complete the Discovery Tool to identify your strengths and areas for development across five themes: studying at university, academic skills, digital skills, careers and employability, and wellbeing. - Fundamentals of University: Learn how modules work, how assessments are set, and how to use assignment briefs and feedback to improve your work. - Understanding, Searching and Evaluating Information: Develop strategies for finding and assessing reliable information, building your confidence in research and study skills. - Successful Student Behaviours: Practise the habits that help you succeed: managing time, avoiding procrastination, effective note-taking, preparing for classes, developing a growth mindset, and making use of student support services. - Referencing: Understand academic integrity and why referencing matters. Learn how to avoid plagiarism, create in-text citations and reference lists, and use digital tools to manage your sources. - Sounding Academic: Discover what lecturers mean by “academic style” and how to use the right language in your writing. Learn the rules of academic writing, how to paraphrase effectively, and how expectations differ between school/college and university. You’ll also explore how assessments, marking and feedback work.
The tools and techniques associated with managing projects. You will carry out an investigation into a project failure and recommend alternative actions which could have been taken. Indicative content - Project management and project teams: Interpreting project specifications and objectives, and the requirements of project stakeholders; Key project challenges for individuals and groups: reviewing the key priorities of time and project management; Understanding the role of a project leader; Understanding team work and how effective teams function; Creating and contributing to effective project teams; Managing teams through project delivery; maintaining goal focus, and managing problems. - Project analysis and planning: Analysing project requirements and sub-tasks; Estimating timelines; deadlines and milestones and activity durations; Constructing a project schedule; Resourcing projects; Allocating and smoothing resources; Using Gantt charts to allocate and monitor resource allocation; Project management tools; Using project management software. - Managing projects: Dealing with project risk; Evaluating the probability and potential impact of risk; contingency planning for risk management; project tracking and revision to completion; Evaluating project delivery and management: Analysing the effectiveness of project management processes and the impact of project delivery and non-delivery. - Project management methodologies: Understanding the use of project management methodologies such as Prince2 and SCRUM; their benefits and challenges; adjusting your methodology to the size of the project.
This module explores the concept and practice of digital transformation, understood as the fundamental rewiring of how organisations operate to create value through technology at scale. You will examine how digitalisation drives value creation both through the development of new digital products and the transformation of existing business processes. Emphasis is placed on the change process involved in becoming digital, alongside the organisational, strategic and cultural outcomes that digitalisation must deliver. By the end of the module, you will have a critical understanding of how digital transformation reshapes business models, operations and value creation in contemporary organisations. Indicative content - Meaning and Scope of Digital Transformation: Introduction and overview of current trends and issues, and the goals of digital transformation. - Digital Platforms and Technologies: Explore how digital platforms create value, and examine the role of AI, Big Data and Business Intelligence in shaping organisational impact. - Approaches to Digital Transformation at an Organisation: Learn how to get started by setting goals, identifying competencies and resources, and creating an implementation framework for transformative value. - Digital Innovation: Analyse successful and unsuccessful examples of digital innovation, their impact on organisational transformation, and approaches taken by both large and small organisations, including strategies for imitation and protection. - Deriving Value from Social Media: Investigate how digital platforms can optimise customer relationship management and strengthen engagement. - Digital Transformation and AI: Understand the value AI can deliver for organisations, with examples of its utilisation in digital transformation. - Dealing with Disruptive Innovations: Examine disruptive innovation, barriers to imitation, and strategies for successful adaptation. - Benefits and Risks of Digital Transformation: Identify and maximise the benefits of digital transformation for organisations and stakeholders, while recognising and mitigating associated risks.
In this module, you will gain an overview of successful event management, exploring the key phases from concept through to closeout. You will examine the current state of the events industry, the impact of technology, and the importance of stakeholder participation. You will also develop practical skills in digital presentation, event entrepreneurship, coordination of suppliers and staff, budget control, legislation and risk management. Working collaboratively, you will create communication plans for stakeholders, critically analyse recent events, and deliver a digitally presented end product. Indicative content: - Event Management as an Industry: Examine the current economic position of the events sector, recent developments, and the impact of technology on industry practices. Explore different types of events and the 5 ‘C’s of event management. - Digital Presentation: Develop skills in creating and facilitating online meetings (e.g. Microsoft Teams) and using digital tools such as Moovly, Prezi and video to present information effectively. - Concept: Understand event entrepreneurship by addressing the who, what, where, when and why of an event. Learn to define themes and branding, identify and reach target audiences, and consider how audience needs influence venue choice and expectations. - Coordination: Plan and schedule event activities, source and manage suppliers, recruit and train staff, and engage with stakeholder groups to ensure smooth operations. - Control: Ensure compliance with legislation and regulatory frameworks, including contracts, health and safety, and employment law. Manage budgets effectively, account for costs, obtain quotes, and explore sponsorship and revenue opportunities. - Culmination: Oversee final preparations for event opening, manage crowd movement and control, and implement contingency plans. - Closeout: Review event outcomes, reflect on successes and challenges, and identify lessons learned for future practice.
Apply the principles of marketing and communications to events marketing. Explore the fundamentals of managing the marketing of events and the use of events within effective marketing and communications campaigns. Indicative content: - Principles of Events Marketing Planning and Delivery: The factors influencing decision-making in events marketing. The nature of creating and executing events marketing plans. - The Role of Events in Marketing Communications: The relationship between events, marketing and communications. How does events marketing support effective marketing and communications strategies. The use of marketing and communications tactics in supporting events marketing. - Digital Media and Events Marketing: The use of digital media in planning, executing and evaluating the success events marketing plans. - Events Marketing and the demands of a sustainable agenda: Events are major contributors to the global economy supporting other sectors such as tourism, hospitality and entertainment. This module discusses balancing the demands of the sustainable future with the contribution of events to the economy.
There's a growing societal pressure to ensure that all business is conducted on an environmentally and socially sustainable footing. This module will discuss how this, combined with financial sustainability, affects the events industry. Indicative Content - Triple Bottom Line: Discussion of the theory and practice of Elkington's work on 'People, Planet, Profit' and how this has changed over the last 3 decades; The Triple Bottom Line and the media; Triple Bottom Line and Events Industry development. - Leadership: Responsible leadership; Internal and external regulations in sustainable events management; roles responsibilities and policy formulation and communication - Process: Sustainable events management frameworks/models; Sustainable supply chains in events production; Sustainable events ISO 20120; Managing stakeholder expectations and community engagement; environmental impact assessments for greening events; Demographics of players and the portrayal of different groups in eSports games.
You'll work in small groups to plan, arrange and manage a live event. Although delivery of the learning for this module takes place in Term 1 it is expected that the event will be scheduled during Term 2 and therefore assessment will be delayed until that point. Indicative Content - Concept development: Develop the concept for the event and determine the project schedule. - Identifying resources: Identify physical, digital, human and budgetary resources for the project and when they will be made available and needed. Determine how you'll raise funds for the event from sponsors and generate the necessary promotional materials. - Stakeholders: Identify the stakeholders in the event and any partners in the delivery. Analyse their requirements and create a communications plan. Use communication and negotiation skills in a professional manner. Consider how you'll promote your event to your customer group, create an appropriate plan and implement. - Health and Safety: Determine the health and safety requirements for the event. Create a H&S risk plan and mitigation strategy to reduce risk. - Digital streaming: Identify and practice the skills necessary to record and stream either the whole event or a proportion of the event. Negotiate with IS professionals within any stakeholder groups to ensure success of the streaming and the placement of recording. - Pre and On-day organisation: Develop a clear plan for administering the event on the day eg is booking required and how will this be done. On-day requirements such as signage, badges, participant lists, ticketing should be prepared.
In this module, you’ll explore the challenges modern businesses face in balancing profit with purpose. You’ll examine how companies are expected to deliver financial performance while also acting responsibly toward stakeholders and the environment. The module will help you understand how sustainability and ethics are reshaping business strategy and decision making. Indicative Content - Conceptualising corporate responsibility: The development of 'corporate social responsibility'; people, equality and justice; diversity and inclusion in the workplace; theorising 'ethical' corporate conduct - Dimensions of corporate responsibility: Corporate criminality; ethical consumerism; ESG investment; environmental sustainability - Key debates in corporate responsibility: Corporate social responsibility: reality or rhetoric? The possibilities and limits of environmental sustainability
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