Event Management Foundation Programme
International Study Route
Build your foundation in event management through six months of practical learning and event industry exposure in London.
Ideal For
International school leavers, career-starters and gap-year students seeking an immersive event management programme in London.
Programme Includes
Ofqual-regulated Level 4 and 5 Diplomas in Events Management
-
Two recognised qualifications completed across six months
-
Ofqual regulates qualifications in England, providing recognised standards and confidence in the qualifications awarded.
Duration
Full-time | Six Months | Two Terms | Three Days per Week
Learning Style
Highly Practical | In-Person | Industry Connected
Start Date
28 September 2026
Your Six-Months in Events
-
Plan and deliver a live event
-
Attend events, venue tours and industry showcases
-
Choose two specialist Event School Electives
-
Receive personal academic and career mentoring
-
Gain international experience in London, then take your knowledge, confidence and connections home to begin your events career.
Course Fees: £9,250
Payment Options
EU & UK Applicants: £500 deposit followed by 9 monthly payments.
Other International Applicants: £500 deposit then remaining fees due 2 September 2026
Scholarships Available
Limited Digital Student Ambassador Scholarships are available for eligible applicants.
International Study
Prompt Application Review
Applications are normally reviewed within three working days. Start your application
Study event management in London this September
Everything you need to know before you apply
The programme is structured to fit within the six-month study period available to eligible international students studying in the UK on an ETA or Standard Visitor visa.
A Different Way to Build Your Events Career
Build a strong foundation
Designed for international school leavers, young career starters and gap-year students this six-month programme combines structured event management study with practical learning and exposure to London’s events industry.
You'll progress through internationally recognised Level 4 and Level 5 Diplomas in Events Management while developing the knowledge, confidence and professional understanding to support your next step into employment or further study.
Experience London's event industry
Studying in London gives you opportunities to attend live events, venue showcases, site visits and industry events, helping you see how event professionals, venues and suppliers operate in one of the world’s leading event destinations.
You can take these insights, experiences and connections home with you as you begin developing your own career in events.
Learning is highly practical, with applied projects, live event planning and delivery, and industry-focused skills development.
93% of our students work in events - in the UK and internationally
The programme is designed with employability at its core, helping students build the practical capability, professional confidence and industry understanding to progress into event roles in their home country or internationally.
April 2026 student survey.
High-contact, face-to-face learning in London | 3 days a week
The programme offers among the most substantial contact hours for a specialist events management course in London, with face-to-face teaching typically delivered three days per week across two terms.
This gives students the structure, consistency and professional learning environment particularly valuable for international students undertaking an intensive period of study in London.
Tailored through specialist electives
Alongside the core ATHE diplomas, students choose two specialist Event School electives that allow them to tailor the course to their interests and career goals.
Elective options allow students to explore areas such as luxury events, weddings and social events, event design and venue styling, venue coordination, festivals and live music, sports events, corporate events and brand experiences, helping them shape a pathway aligned with the areas of the industry they are most drawn to.
Over twenty years of event industry education
With more than two decades of experience delivering event education, we design programmes that reflect how the industry operates today. Our teaching evolves alongside industry practice to remain relevant, current and respected.
Designed by event and education specialists
This programme is shaped by specialists with experience across the events industry, private education and public education.
Our programme directors bring expertise in curriculum design, academic quality, learning and teaching, and student support. This strengthens the programme’s educational rigour and ensures students benefit from industry-focused learning delivered through a clear, structured and professionally designed pathway.
Lecturers with real event industry experience
You're taught by experienced event professionals with active industry careers and networks. Learning is informed by current practice and professional insight, not theory alone.
Personalised support and small-group learning
Students study in small cohorts and receive personalised academic, pastoral and career support.
This approach encourages engagement, confidence, personal and professional development and supports participant satisfaction and programme completion.
The Student Experience
Study in a professional London event environment where venue visits, live events, industry insight and regular contact with event professionals become part of your learning experience.
ATHE Level 4 & 5 Diploma Pathway in Events Management
Awards for Training and Higher Education (ATHE) is an awarding organisation regulated by Ofqual (Ofqual is the official UK government department that regulates qualifications, exams and assessments in England). ATHE develops regulated qualifications designed to meet the needs of learners, higher education and employers. This programme incorporates the ATHE Level 4 and Level 5 Diplomas in Events Management, delivered as a six-month structured pathway. These qualifications are nationally recognised within the UK qualifications framework.
-
Awarding Organisation: ATHE Ltd
-
Click on the links below to see the pathway qualifications on the RQF
-
ATHE Level 4 Diploma in Events Management, Qual No: 603/3381/9, Credits: 60
-
ATHE Level 5 Diploma in Events Management, Qual No: 603/3387/X, Credits: 60
-
Why Ofqual Regulation is Important
Clear qualification level
Ofqual-regulated qualifications sit on the Regulated Qualifications Framework, so students, parents and employers can clearly understand the academic level of the award.
Level 4 is a broadly comparable academic level to the first year of undergraduate study in the UK, while Level 5 is broadly comparable to the second year. This programme therefore gives students a clear progression through two recognised levels of higher education study in event management.
Recognised national standards
Regulated qualifications must meet set standards for structure, assessment and quality assurance, giving reassurance that the awards have recognised educational value.
Progression and credibility
A regulated qualification can support future study and career progression, while giving students confidence that the qualification level and awarding organisation are clearly recognised both in the UK and abroad.
The Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation, known as Ofqual, is England’s statutory regulator for qualifications and assessments.
ATHE Accreditation Matters
High-quality education providers
ATHE works with high-quality education providers to deliver recognised qualifications supported by rigorous centre approval, quality assurance checks and ongoing guidance for approved centres. This helps ensure qualifications are delivered with appropriate academic standards, assessment practice and learner support.
Career-focused qualification design
ATHE qualifications connect academic learning with practical, industry-relevant skills, supporting students to develop knowledge they can apply in professional event settings.
Keeps future options open
Because ATHE qualifications carry recognised credits, they may support progression into further study or related professional pathways. This gives students a recognised academic foundation they can build on as their education and career develop.
Awards for Training and Higher Education (ATHE) are a global awarding organisation regulated by Ofqual and recognised internationally.
Location and Learning Environment
Professional learning in the heart of London’s event district
Teaching takes place in a vibrant professional setting on London’s Royal Docks, just minutes from ExCeL London, one of the UK’s leading international conference, exhibition and event centres.
ExCeL London hosts hundreds of events each year, from World Travel Market and MCM Comic Con to Grand Designs Live, Formula E and a wide range of trade, consumer and corporate events. The district is also continuing to evolve with the arrival of Immerse LDN, adding further creative and cultural energy to the area.
This location gives students regular access to live events, professional venues and industry activity on site. London’s wider event scene becomes an extended learning environment through venue visits, live events, industry showcases and professional networking.
WHERE OUR STUDENTS AND GRADUATES HAVE BEEN WORKING
Event People | FIFA | The Dorchester | Historic Royal Palaces | Fox Sports | Rolls Royce | Heineken | Visa Global | Zeppelin Entertainment | Good Hotel London | BBC | MCG Lords | RSVP Club | The Diana Award | Excel London | Beyond Sport | Novotel London Excel | Home House Private Members Club | Massive-Event Services |
Course Structure and Content
Term One - ATHE Level 4 Diploma in Events Management
Introduction to the Events Sector
Events Project Design
Sales and Marketing
Professional and Academic Skills
Plus Programme Enrichment
An introduction to the events industry, exploring the scope, structure and importance across different settings. Examine a range of event types and the roles played by the public, private and voluntary sectors, while considering the economic, social, cultural and environmental impacts events can create.
Develop the skills needed to design, plan and deliver successful events using core project management principles. Learn to develop creative event concepts, manage resources, coordinate logistics and respond to challenges, with an emphasis on practical application through real-world scenarios and projects.
Introducing the core principles of marketing and sales, exploring how marketing functions operate. Learn how to analyse markets and audiences, apply the marketing mix, and understand the sales process, including personal selling and negotiation.
Focuses on developing the academic and workplace skills needed for successful study and professional performance. Explore the skills employers value, assess your own strengths and areas for development, and build greater self-awareness to support your progress both during the programme and in the workplace.
-
Event School Elective 1
-
Live Event Attendance, Reflection and Evaluation
-
Showcases, Site Tours, Excursions, Industry Events and Networking
-
1-2-1 Personal Academic Tutoring
-
1-2-1 Personal Career Mentoring
Term Two - ATHE Level 5 Diploma in Events Management
Events Planning and Operations
Event Consumer Experience
Risk Management and the Regulatory Environment for Events
Leading Work Teams
Plus Programme Enrichment
A comprehensive insight into event operations, through the full event lifecycle from concept to delivery. Apply your learning to develop a professional event proposal, while gaining practical insight into the planning and facilities required to stage successful events. Explore post-event evaluation and legacy and how event success is measured.
Explore how audiences experience events and how organisers can influence behaviour and satisfaction before, during and after an event. Analyse real event experiences and learn how event design, customer journeys, sensory engagement and feedback contribute to creating memorable, high-quality events.
The principles of risk management and why they are essential to successful event delivery. Explore the legal and regulatory environment, including health, safety and organiser responsibilities. Learn to identify, assess and reduce risk, ensuring events are planned and delivered safely, responsibly and in line with industry regulations.
Develop your understanding of team working and leadership within an events context. Explore how effective teams operate, assess your own contribution and leadership style building the skills needed to motivate and guide others. Develop the confidence to lead teams and contribute positively in professional event environments.
-
Event School Elective 2
-
Live Event Planning and Delivery
-
Showcases, Site Tours, Excursions, Industry Events and Networking
-
1-2-1 Personal Academic Tutoring
-
1-2-1 Personal Career Mentoring
More Than the Qualification
Event School Electives
Choose two Event School electives to explore specialist areas of the events industry and shape the programme around your career interests.
Options include luxury events, weddings and social events, event design and venue styling, venue coordination, festivals and live music, sports events, corporate events and brand experiences.
These electives are additional to the regulated qualifications and give you greater flexibility to develop knowledge relevant to the sectors that interest you most.
Practical Event Experience
Build experience alongside your classroom learning through event attendance and live event planning and delivery.
Across the two terms, you will observe professional events and apply your learning to the planning and delivery of a real live event managed by The Event School London.
These opportunities help you develop practical skills, industry awareness, professional confidence and relevant experience you can discuss with future employers.
Who is This Programme For?
International career-starters building an international foundation in events
This programme is particularly well suited to:
-
International school leavers aged 18 and over
-
Gap-year students seeking a purposeful period of study in London
-
Young career starters exploring event management as a professional direction
-
Students who want to combine recognised qualifications with practical learning and exposure to London’s events industry
-
Learners who value small classes, personalised support and direct lecturer interaction
-
Students looking to build confidence, professional awareness and transferable event management skills
-
Applicants planning to take their London experience home and progress into employment or further study
Entry Requirements
Minimum age 18 and one of the following:
-
5 GCSEs
-
2 A Levels
-
Baccalaureate or Senior High School Certificate
-
Pass in any regulated Level 3 qualification (e.g BTEC)
-
Other equivalent international qualifications
Applicants must have a suitable standard of written and spoken English to participate in classes and complete assessments.
Applications are welcomed before final results or certificates are available. Where appropriate, offers may be made using predicted grades or qualifications already achieved.
International Applicants
The programme is structured to fit within the six-month study period available to eligible international students studying in the UK on an ETA or Standard Visitor visa.
The Event School London is not a 'Student visa' sponsor. International applicants are responsible for ensuring they hold the appropriate immigration permission for their studies. Check what visa you need to study fin the UK or up to six months here
Career Prospects
The Event Management Foundation Programme prepares students for entry-level and early-career roles across the events industry, while also providing a strong foundation for further study and professional development.
Students develop practical skills, industry understanding and professional confidence that can be applied across a wide range of event sectors in their home country or internationally.
Entry Level Roles
Graduates may progress into roles such as:
-
Event Coordinator
-
Event Executive
-
Events Project Assistant
-
Venue and Events Coordinator
-
Meeting and Events Coordinator
-
Corporate Events Executive
-
Event Marketing Executive
-
Event Sales Executive
-
Specialist Events Coordinator, e.g. sports, weddings, festivals
Career Progression
With professional experience and continued development, graduates may progress into roles such as:
-
Event Manager
-
Wedding Planner
-
Festival Manager
-
Sports Event Manager
-
Venue Manager
-
Conference Manager
-
Exhibition Manager
-
Event Business Founder/Entrepreneur
Ready to build your foundation in professional event management through six months of focused study in London?
Gain valuable international experience in London, then take your knowledge, confidence and connections home as you progress towards your events career.
Applications are reviewed as they are received, allowing us to guide eligible applicants through the next steps promptly.