Make Your Next Academic Year Count Twice
- The Event School London
- 11 minutes ago
- 5 min read
A practical degree alternative for school leavers deciding what to do after A levels
September has a way of making every decision feel final.
Friends may be preparing for university, starting jobs or heading in entirely different directions.
Meanwhile, you may still be working out what you want, what will suit you and which choice will lead somewhere worthwhile.
The good news is that your next move does not have to fit neatly into the usual choice between studying and working.
There is another option: choose a year that gives you both qualifications and practical career experience.
That is the thinking behind the Degree Alternative Programme in Event Management at The Event School London.
It is a focused, one-year route for school leavers and career starters who want to continue their education while beginning to build a professional future.
Why choose between education and experience?
When considering what to do after A levels, young people are often presented with two familiar routes.
Continue studying for several years or leave education and find a job.
Both can be right for the right person, but they are not the complete picture.
Some students want structured learning without committing to a traditional university experience.
Others are keen to start developing a career but do not want to miss the confidence, knowledge and qualifications that further study can provide.
A practical degree alternative can bring those priorities together.
Instead of waiting until your studies are finished to gain relevant experience, you can begin developing it as part of your programme.
Instead of taking an unrelated job while trying to work out how to enter the events industry, you can spend the year building knowledge, professional connections and evidence of what you can do.
Your academic year effectively counts twice: once for what you learn and once for what you experience.
What does a degree alternative in event management include?
The Degree Alternative Programme in Event Management is an intensive one-year programme taught in London three days a week across three ten-week terms.
Students complete ATHE qualifications at Levels 4, 5 and 6.
The ATHE qualifications included in the programme are regulated by Ofqual.
Alongside academic study, the programme incorporates practical and professional development intended to help students understand how the events industry operates beyond the classroom.
The experience includes:
planning and delivering a live event
a four-week industry internship
visits to London venues and event industry showcases
three specialist electives, with one selected in each term
individual academic tutoring
personal career mentoring
learning from experienced event professionals
This combination is particularly valuable in an industry where employers look for more than knowledge alone.
They also want people who can communicate professionally, contribute to a team, manage details, respond to change and understand what delivering an event actually involves.
You do not need to know exactly where you will end up
One of the pressures of leaving school is the feeling that you should already know your future job title.
In reality, the events industry contains a much wider range of careers than many people initially realise.
You might be drawn to luxury events, weddings, sport, festivals, live music, venue management, exhibitions, brand experiences, event design, digital marketing or creating an events business of your own. You may not yet know which area suits you best.
That is not a disadvantage. It is one reason to choose a programme that lets you explore different parts of the industry while developing a strong foundation in event management.
Specialist electives allow students to begin shaping the programme around their interests.
The live event, venue visits and contact with industry professionals can then help turn an abstract career idea into a much clearer understanding of the work, the environment and the opportunities available.
Why study event management in London?
London is one of the world’s most active event destinations. International exhibitions, conferences, sporting events, cultural celebrations, luxury occasions, brand activations and live entertainment take place across the city throughout the year.
Studying event management in London means learning within that environment rather than observing it from a distance.
The Event School London is based at Novotel London ExCeL in the Royal Docks, close to ExCeL London and surrounded by hotels, venues and major event activity.
Training in classrooms at Novotel London Excel Training in classrooms at Novotel London Excel Training in classrooms at Novotel London Excel
The location gives students a professional setting for their studies and places the events industry within reach from the beginning of the programme.
For a school leaver considering event management courses in London, location is about more than travelling to class. It can influence the venues you encounter, the professionals you meet and the confidence you develop in an industry setting.
What could your next year add up to?
Imagine reaching next September with more than a completed year of study.
You could have ATHE qualifications at Levels 4, 5 and 6, experience contributing to a live event, four weeks of industry experience and a stronger understanding of the sector in which you want to work.
You could also have professional contacts, greater confidence and clearer examples to discuss in applications and interviews.
That does not mean every career decision will be made for you. It means you will be making your next decision from a more informed and experienced position.
For many students, that is what progress should look like. Not having an entire career mapped out, but having genuine evidence that they are moving forward.
Is a degree alternative the same as a university degree?
No. The Degree Alternative Programme is not a university degree and should be considered as a distinct route.
It is a one-year programme incorporating ATHE qualifications at Levels 4, 5 and 6, with a strong emphasis on practical event management and career development. A traditional degree usually involves a longer period of university study and offers a different academic and social experience.
The better choice depends on what you want from your next stage of education. If you are looking for a shorter, career-focused route with regular in-person study, industry engagement and practical experience, the Degree Alternative may suit you. If you want a traditional university experience or a career that specifically requires a university degree, another route may be more appropriate.
Making a different choice is not about lowering your ambitions. It is about choosing the form of education that best supports them.
Still deciding what to do in September 2026?
It is easy to assume that everyone else has already made their plans. Many have not. Some are reconsidering a university place, some are questioning whether an unrelated job is right for them and others have only recently discovered the range of careers available in events.
The September 2026 Degree Alternative Programme in Event Management begins in London on 28 September.
Students who enrol by 8 September will have access to the widest choice of specialist electives. Elective options may be reduced for enrolments received after this date.
You do not need to make a decision simply because September is approaching. But you can choose a year that gives your decision greater value.
Make it count once for the qualifications, once qualifications, once for the experience and many times over for where it could lead next.
Discover the Degree Alternative Programme in Event Management at The Event School London.
