Course Overview - PGDip/MSc International Festivals Management

The festival sector has grown significantly and is increasingly recognised for its strategic importance in economic, social and cultural development. In the last five years there has been an increased focus in public policy to develop festival activity to support tourism and community cohesion across Europe.

The diversity of festivals, from commercial to subsidised and from community to international, requires festival managers to understand the different functions each serves and their place within the sector. You will consider the range of festivals and the authenticity of their roles as historic and cultural displays and economic drivers.

Course Content

The festivals industry is challenging, vibrant, fast paced and innovative and it needs festival managers to undertake all the usual functions of an event manager but also requires a high level of skills, knowledge and understanding to navigate the complex and at times contradictory local, national and international agendas and sustain year-round awareness.

Students studying this postgraduate programme will be able to effectively operate within the sector. Well-qualified postgraduate students are seen as a significant and contributory factor in the future success of the industry.

Course Modules: Issues in the Event Industry; Impacts & Risks in Events Management; Managing International Festivals; Experiential Marketing, Communications & Behaviour; Strategic Financial Management; Volunteer Management; Option Module; Research Methods; Dissertation

Option Modules: International Strategic Human Resource management; Strategic Management; Creative Thinking for the Event Professional; Events Policy, Politics & Evaluation; Operations & Quality Management; International Professional Event Solutions; Fundraising & Sponsorship; Business & Association Management; Language