Why study this course?

Our International Events, Leisure and Tourism Management MSc will provide you with strong academic and professional skills that will help you to become a leader within events, leisure, tourism or the wider creative industries sectors.

The programme combines the principles of generic and specific management knowledge. It will provide you with the opportunity to develop relevant skills that will help you become a senior figure in events, leisure, tourism or another related sector. At the same time it will help you to develop broader skills and attributes, which will enable you to succeed in the general management sector.

More about this course

Our postgraduate International Events, Leisure and Tourism Management MSc course will offer you an opportunity to progress your career in the sector by providing you with an in-depth knowledge of the issues relating to management, as well as the core business functions of events, leisure, tourism and the wider creative industries sectors. We’ll also provide you with an international perspective into current industry challenges, including understanding the impact on matters of globalisation of business, ethical and legal implications, the social and environment impact, profitability and much more.

The programme has been designed by London Metropolitan University experts and external specialist advisors, who possess extensive experience in their respective sectors and are aware of the skills which are necessary to succeed in the industry. The degree structure encourages in-depth learning of key functions within events, leisure and tourism, while giving you the opportunity to study the general field of business management with two elective postgraduate modules from the wide portfolio of the Guildhall School of Business and Law. This combination of events, leisure and tourism subjects will give you greater flexibility to decide which particular sector you’d like to go into after graduation. It will also improve your career prospects as many organisations in the wider creative industries sector work across these three industries.

Our course is designed to mimic the real world of events, leisure and tourism so that you’ll graduate with the ability to successfully achieve desired objectives, both alone and as part of a team. The collective involvement of students and teaching staff will enhance your learning experience and professional development. You’ll not only learn through academic theory, but also through practical problem-solving activities where you’ll work on solutions individually or draw on other students’ experience in group tasks.

Assessment

Our assessment methods are designed to help you develop skills that are vital for work in the broader creative industries sector. Your acquired knowledge and skills will be assessed through a variety of methods, which may include individual and group tasks such as case studies, coursework, in-class tests, reports, essays, reflective blogs, presentations, portfolios, a research proposal and a dissertation. All core modules are assessed by two pieces of work, each worth 50% of the module final mark.

Professional accreditation

Our Guildhall School of Business and Law has professional links with the Association of British Professional Conference Organisers (ABPCO), the Association for Events Management Education (AEME), the Tourism Management Institute (TMI), the Association for Tourism and Leisure Education and Research (ATLAS) and The Chartered Management Institute (CMI), offering opportunities to explore further careers possibilities and proactively engage in networking.

Our course is recognised by the Association of British Professional Conference Organisers (ABPCO), which is the UK’s leading professional body for conference and event organisation. ABPCO recognition gives you access to exclusive networking opportunities.

We're also a member of the Association of Event Management Educators (AEME), an organisation that shares best practice in teaching events management and provides industry networking opportunities for students and teachers.

Our professional links underpin our curriculum, ensuring that it's current and regularly informed by the market developments.

Fees and key information

Course type
Postgraduate
Entry requirements View
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Entry requirements

You will be required to have:

  • an honours degree with minimum lower second (2.2) in related academic of business-related subjects or two or more years of professional or industry-relevant experience (proven track record, employers’ letter, professional qualifications etc)
  • a minimum of GCSE grade C/grade 4 or above in English and Maths, or Functional Skills Level 2 (pass)
  • two letters of reference about your suitability to undertake academic studies at master’s level

A full online application will need to be submitted, which includes a detailed supporting statement on why you want to study the course. You should also submit an up-to-date CV and copies of award certificates.

Advanced entry is possible if you hold a Postgraduate Certificate (PG Cert) from a business and management discipline, awarded no more than five years prior to the application date. Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL) for individual modules, (from a business and management discipline), up to 40 credits (with the exception of Research Methodology and Dissertation modules) may also be possible if you’ve achieved those no more than five years prior to the application date. Such applications are also subject to the University’s academic regulations and processes.

Submitting your application will not be a guarantee of admission, and the final admissions decision rests with the course leader.

*If you have a non-related or non-standard academic background will be interviewed face-to-face, or if that is not possible, via video conference technology (interviews via telephone will not be accepted).

Accreditation of Prior Learning

Any university-level qualifications or relevant experience you gain prior to starting university could count towards your course at London Met. Find out more about applying for Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL).

English language requirements

To study a degree at London Met, you must be able to demonstrate proficiency in the English language. If you require a Student visa you may need to provide the results of a Secure English Language Test (SELT) such as Academic IELTS. This course requires you to meet our standard requirements.

If you need (or wish) to improve your English before starting your degree, the University offers a Pre-sessional Academic English course to help you build your confidence and reach the level of English you require.

Modular structure

The modules listed below are for the academic year 2023/24 and represent the course modules at this time. Modules and module details (including, but not limited to, location and time) are subject to change over time.

Year 1 modules include:

This module currently runs:
  • spring semester - Wednesday morning

The module introduces you to financial decision making principles and financial analysis of business performance with examples from Events, Leisure, Tourism, Culture and the broader Creative Industries sector.

The module starts by looking at the role of financial statements in a business and explores how they capture the value of a business. You will develop an overview understanding of fundamental accounting/finance concepts and principles and techniques in relation to financial statements analysis. You will also explore issues of management accounting techniques and examine their use in financial management decision making. You will also discover the key sources of finance for business and understand how to determine the most appropriate financing strategy for a business.

Finally, you will explore links between finance, corporate governance, strategic financial decision making, company value and transactions, using different cases in the context of Events, Leisure, Tourism, Culture and the broader Creative Industries, to illuminate understanding.

Aims of the module:
1. To enable students to develop an overview understanding of financial decision making principles through examples from Events, Leisure, Tourism, Culture and the broader Creative Industries sector.
2. To enable students to critically understand the value and usefulness of financial statements; by focusing on fundamental concepts, principles and techniques in relation to financial statements analysis, through the application of appropriate examples, tools and procedures.
3. To identify issues of financial management and accounting techniques, and how results from such analysis may support the development, measurement and management of decision-making in the context of Events, Leisure, Tourism, Culture and the broader Creative Industries sector.
4. To identify and evaluate links between accounting, financial statement analysis, corporate accounts and financial management strategies, in the context of Events, Leisure, Tourism, Culture and the broader Creative Industries.

This module currently runs:
  • spring semester - Monday afternoon

The module presents an overview of the current key issues of Fundraising and Public Relations (PR) in the context of Events, Leisure, Tourism and the broader Creative Industries. This module aims to develop a broad, informed and critical understanding of some of the key and complex issues surrounding fundraising, in UK and worldwide. It also examines some key contemporary issues, theoretical and practical perspectives in PR at both national and global levels. Both underpinned by current academic and professional research in Fundraising and PR, to aid students to gain insights into contemporary, academic and applied practices.
Aims of the module:
1. To enable students to enhance their understanding of the theory and practice of Fundraising and PR in the relevant industry context.
2. To enable students to critically understand and use theoretical and practical skills and tools related with Fundraising and PR in the relevant industry context.
3. To equip students to critically discuss issues and increase their awareness of the impact and influence of Fundraising and PR related issues in the decision making process of Events, Leisure, Tourism and the broader Creative Industries sector.
4. To stimulate critical awareness in the light of relevant academic theories and current professional practice, and the ability to apply, current theories, practices and tools of Fundraising and PR, in professional settings.

This module currently runs:
  • autumn semester - Monday afternoon

This module critically explores issues of marketing management in the context of Events, Leisure, Tourism and the Creative Industries. It covers some of the essentials of marketing management theory and offers a structured approach to identifying, understanding and solving marketing management problems.
The concepts, principles and frameworks examined in the module apply nationally and internationally to a wide range of organisations and sectors, with a focus in core Events, Leisure, Tourism and the Creative Industries activities.
This core module supports the development of the learner through their engagement with marketing management theory and further develops their prior relevant skills through the application of theory to practice.
It also prepares for and develops an organisational level leadership and/or management role in marketing management. The module draws on a wide-range of academic research and professional experience. It introduces some of the core marketing management concepts and encourages students to develop a critical, analytical approach to solving work-based marketing management issues. Students should be able to develop an awareness of different theoretical perspectives to explore the complexity of marketing management work as rigorously as possible.
The module provides an overview of current academic research, practical industry examples and work-based issues. It encourages students to reflect on current practice and on the role of marketing management in the Events, Leisure, Tourism and the Creative Industries sectors.
Aims of the module:
1. To enable students to enhance their understanding of the theory and practice of marketing management in the relevant industry context.
2. To enable critical understanding and deploy theoretical and practical marketing management tools applied to contemporary challenges in the industry.
3. To equip students to critically discuss issues and make marketing management observations and recommendations applicable to the appropriate sectors, organisations and brands.
4. As well, this module aims to stimulate the student’s critical awareness and application of marketing management theories to their own practice and develop their ability to evaluate current practice in the light of relevant academic theories. It is expected that students will develop an increased awareness of the impact and influence of marketing management related issues and decision making.

This module currently runs:
  • autumn semester - Wednesday morning

The module critically explores current issues of project and quality management in the context of Events, Leisure, Tourism and the Creative Industries. Managers and executives at all levels within the Creative Industries sector typically manage projects and deal with quality management issues. The module covers essential concepts and offers key knowledge, skills and a structured approach to identifying, understanding and solving some of the issues of project and quality management.
The concepts, principles and frameworks covered, apply both in the UK and internationally, to a range of organisations and sectors, focusing on Events, Leisure, Tourism and the Creative Industries.
Aims of the module:
1. To enable students to enhance their understanding of the theory and practice of project and quality management in the Events, Leisure, Tourism and Creative Industries context.
2. To enable students to critically understand and use, theoretical and practical skills and tools, which apply to project and quality management business challenges in contemporary Events, Leisure, Tourism and the Creative Industries.
3. To equip them to critically discuss issues and make appropriate choices, based on project and quality management observations and recommendations that are applicable to their sectors, organisations and brands.
4. To stimulate students’ critical awareness of academic theories and current professional practice, and their ability to apply theories and tools to the practice of project and quality management in their current and future career settings.

This module currently runs:
  • autumn semester - Tuesday afternoon
  • autumn semester - Friday morning
  • spring semester - Tuesday afternoon
  • spring semester - Tuesday afternoon
  • spring semester - Friday morning
  • summer studies - Tuesday afternoon
  • summer studies - Friday morning

This module provides you with the opportunity to work on specific business issues that organisations are facing. Utilising your competences of handling and managing business challenges, starting from problem identification and concluding with solution-related recommendations, thus encouraging research into real world business issues impacting organisations.
Useful and applied business research, like useful reflection, leads to change. To that end, students will be encouraged to take a pragmatic approach to their research, seeking always to create actionable conclusions of value to business managers, owners and entrepreneurs.
The aims of the module are to:
1. Foster a critical awareness and deep interest in a management/business issue or topic associated with their subject specialist area and to combine knowledge and analyses acquired in modules to explore that topic in depth
2. Enable students to produce a full business research report and a management summary on an appropriate topic to a professional and engaging standard that provides the basis for action.
3. Encourage reflection to critically evaluate the success of a business-related project and assess personal competence in the light of current knowledge and skills.
4. Build each student’s knowledge and confidence in their chosen subject to facilitate employability.
The expectation is that students will undertake research in areas of interest to them that is in context to their chosen programme and that develops knowledge and skills that support employment. Examples of possible areas of research include:
• Evaluation of an opportunity to enter a new market e.g. is it feasible for a low cost airline to enter the market in Brazil?
• Evaluation of a specific firm’s strategy and performance e.g. how is Ford responding to the advent of electric vehicles, driverless technology and ride sharing?
• Analysis of the impact of technology change on a company, industry or sector e.g. how will driverless technology and ride sharing impact on car ownership?
• Analysis of trends to create potential strategic scenarios for a firm or industry e.g. what are the future scenarios for law firms in the light of the adoption of AI?
• Analysis of competition in a specific market or industry e.g. global competition in the rapidly growing e-bike industry
• Identifying solutions to a specific business problem e.g. with a small or medium sized business e.g. what needs to be done to grow the business to the next level
• Analysis of disruption in an industry and the implications for a specific incumbent e.g. how should a black cab driver respond to Uber and other ride sharing platforms?
• Analysis of the effect of government intervention in a particular industry e.g. the current trade dispute over subsidies to Boeing and Airbus
• Response from Banks and FIs to the changing customer interaction and business landscape in the post pandemic era

This module currently runs:
  • summer studies - Wednesday evening
  • autumn semester - Friday evening
  • spring semester - Wednesday evening

This module provides students with the opportunity to undertake research projects on specific research questions related to their course.

Students will critically investigate issues cognate to their programme of study. The aim will be to make proposals or recommendations for the future and / or a contribution to extant theory.

Students are expected to utilise appropriate investigative techniques and standards of data collection and analysis as they write their postgraduate research-based dissertation.

The dissertation will be 10,000 words in length.

The dissertation module has the following aims:

1. To facilitate a detailed investigation of one area or topic within the subject field;

2. To develop a thorough analysis and synthesis of theory, policy and practice in relation to the chosen topic;

3. To provide an opportunity for critical reflection on the research topic.

The expectation is that students will undertake research in areas of interest to them that is in context to their chosen course; the research supervisor will be allocated by the subject area within which the course is located.

This module is one of three triple-weighted module alternatives open to students (alongside the dissertation and the consulting report). The module provides you with the opportunity to showcase your professional skills in the execution of business-related tasks and experiential learning in the form of a work placement. When executing business tasks, successful practitioners are able to critically evaluate organisational matters and apply their knowledge to contribute strategies, ideas, recommendations and solutions that add value to their organisation. Furthermore, successful practitioners actively develop and shape their own behaviour, capabilities and identity. By critically reflecting on their experiences in work, they are able to develop their own capabilities and skills, and have the ability to understand how they personally add value to an organisation. It is the development and application of these capabilities in a professional context that is explored in this module.
The 1st week of the yearlong Workplacement programme will introduce students to the module and to the first task, the production of a substantial management report that helps to investigates a specific organisational opportunity or issue. This is a significant independent project, where you determine the subject to be investigated and the methodology to be followed. Your project is an ideal opportunity to seek out and draw upon a wide range of knowledge, and for you to demonstrate how this underpins any final conclusions and recommendations. Your project will help you demonstrate your ability to think and act independently when executing a complex and challenging task.
The remaining period of the module is spent in the work placement with an employer, which you will have secured during your time on programme (or before). This practical experience will allow you to explore and test your own professional competence in a specific working environment. You will maintain a Professional Development portfolio of your experiences and will, ultimately, be able to articulate your understanding of how you personally add value in a professional context. Again, you will be expected to draw on a wide range of knowledge to help evaluate and explain your experiences.
Educational Aims
This module aims to:

• Allow you the opportunity to carry-out an in-depth project where you can integrate the knowledge and professional skills you have gained throughout your programme.
• Ensure you are able to identify and utilise different types of knowledge to influence your thinking or action.
• Help you develop robust business research skills and an ability to formulate new ideas and solutions through the analysis of primary and/or secondary data.
• Allow you to explore your own skills, character and identity within a professional environment and to identify key attributes that will aid long-term success in your chosen career field.
• Facilitate your development of good reflective practice, ensuring models and concepts can be used effectively in the critical evaluation of your performance.
• Ensure you learn how to integrate knowledge, experience and reflective practice to continually develop your professional skills and competence.

Please note:
• Students are responsible for applying for opportunities and to engage with the Module Team/Work Based Learning teams to assist them.
• The suitability of any opportunities will be assessed by the Module Team/Work Based Learning Team and all placements must meet Health and Safety requirements for Higher Education Work Placements.
Those studying on a Student Visa will only be able to complete a work placement if it meets UKVI monitoring requirements including: approval of the placement dates and hours by the Placement Officer prior to starting the placement, submission of weekly timesheets for the hours undertaken, signed by their line manager/supervisor and continued engagement with the Placement Officer as well as the International Student Support and Compliance Team.

This module currently runs:
  • spring semester - Wednesday afternoon

This module will focus on the concept of e-commerce within aviation management and the impact of the digital age will continue to have on the strategic activities of airlines and airports. The start of the e-commerce revolution was back in 1995 with the first innovators including Alaskan Airlines and British Midland developing their first website booking engines. Since this time the global online travel sector has grown to generate more than half a trillion dollars in revenue.

Airline e-commerce in all its forms is projected to grow significantly as we move into the 21st century. The ‘e’ story is about the continuing evolution of internet-based technologies and the proliferation of new internet-based applications. This development is shifting and enhancing the power of consumers and airlines to a more direct relationship and minimising the power of the intermediaries (travel agents). A particular focus on the new types of airlines and airports that are exploiting the e-commerce agenda and how the legacy carriers are having to adapt to these new sales and marketing dynamics.

This module currently runs:
  • autumn semester - Wednesday afternoon

The field of corporate social responsibility has practically transformed our world and reoriented the way corporate entities conduct and perceive their operational activities. Corporate managers and those who represent corporate entities are expected to always behave ethically. Modern societies now expect that solutions to our social and environmental problems cannot only be the prerogative of nation governments, businesses of the 21st century have a lot to contribute when finding solutions to these problems. The demands modern stakeholders put before corporate entities have continued to increase; tomorrow’s managers need to know how to meet these demands. Some scholars have in fact argued that corporate social responsibility has drawn our attention to some of the excesses which globalisation has brought unto the corporate scene in the 21st century. We have seen some unacceptable practices which have accompanied globalisation and consequently made the job of CSR and what it advocates much more difficult. Many things have been made a lot more challenging for everyone because of this. We cannot ignore the adverse impacts of these excesses. There are several unacceptable practices in the form of injustices and human rights abuses, extreme poverty in several nation states both - emerging and even some advanced nations, environmental degradation, some irresponsible and reckless practices by some corporate leaders and terrorism on a very large scale. In recent years, a number of social, economic and environmental problems have continued to cause concern to us all, for example, climate change, waste management and irresponsible use of our depletable resources just to mention a few. Sustainable Development is a buzzword in CSR; both corporate and individual citizens still need to demonstrate that we are serious in executing what sustainable development means to us, what it requires from us all and how the needs of future generations of all inhabitants of this planet would be sustainably met; these are issues tomorrow’s managers would need to know how to embed in corporate strategies. This module aims to lay the foundation on how modern managers should address these and other CSR related issues.

Note: If there are not sufficient student numbers to make a module viable, the School reserves the right to cancel such a module. If the School cancels a module it will use its reasonable endeavours to provide a suitable alternative.

This module currently runs:
  • summer studies - Tuesday morning
  • spring semester - Tuesday morning
  • spring semester - Tuesday afternoon
  • summer studies - Tuesday afternoon

The aim of the module is to prepare students to lead and develop people in a complex international environment, to build high performance teams and to create a productive work environment and culture. Over the course of the module, you will learn from relevant contemporary research, theories, and examples of business practices both past and present.
Management and leadership go together in business organisations, with managers typically expected to lead others as part of their role. The module will examine the roles and responsibilities of manager and leader, and the demands on these roles in international, digitally enabled businesses.

Critical to the value of the module is the encouragement of continuous learning and reflection in order to be effective in a changing world. You will have the opportunity to assess their own capabilities using Strengthscope.

The aim of the module is to ensure that students will:

  • understand the role of business leaders and business managers in creating successful business organisations, cultures and working environments
  • have the necessary knowledge of leading, motivating and developing to enable them to take on a management role successfully
  • be able to evaluate their own capabilities and skills in relation to managing themselves and leading others
  • be equipped to assess the challenges associated with workplace change and make a valuable contribution to the management of change.
This module currently runs:
  • autumn semester - Tuesday afternoon
  • autumn semester - Tuesday morning

Operations and Technology Management is core to two MSc Pathways, MSC International Business Management and MSC International Business Management with Project Management.

A business adds value through its operations, but only in combination with others in the value network or eco-system, critically linked by the use of technology. Matching internal operations capabilities to changing market (and regulatory) requirements, whilst responding to a tidal wave of data from suppliers, customers and digital platforms involves operations in strategy, design, planning and control, supply chain, improvement techniques like lean but also the technology to connect and join up the dots to capture value.

The module aims to equip students with a broad understanding of operations and technology management that will make them stand out from their peers through being able to grasp how value is being created. The potential for AI and robotics to further increase the use of technology in the operational domain is already clear, whether using AI in legal processes or in robots that flip burgers, an understanding of the links between technology and operations is critical for anyone aspiring to be a business manager, owner or entrepreneur. Analysis is the core of the module, for example through process mapping, and problem solving using both case studies and other active learning exercises.

On successful completion of this module:

  • You will understand the basis of the value Operations and Technology Management creates in any organization in any sector
  • You will be able to recognize the key concepts and principles of operations and technology management that need to be implemented to support that value creation approach.
  • You will be able to critically assess various techniques of product, service design and improvement, deploying a contingent approach to what works best and where
  • You will be able to apply appropriate Supply Chain Management techniques in the light of your new knowledge of the scope (and management of) of inter-organisational co-operation
  • You will be able to evaluate the necessary trade-offs that have to be made between operations management performance objectives and achievable performance

Where this course can take you

Our International Events, Leisure and Tourism Management MSc offers opportunities to pursue career routes in events, leisure, tourism and the broader creative industries sector, both in the UK and internationally.

On graduation, you should be equipped for executive, management and leadership related positions in the creative industries sector in UK and internationally. Our course is designed for both those already working in the industry (as a career booster) or those seeking to enter the industry or the wider sectors.

For current and aspiring managers, leaders and executives, the course will offer an opportunity to enhance and improve your academic skills and develop industry-specific knowledge.

Potential career routes, destinations and jobs for graduates include:

  • events management and executives
  • leisure executives and managers
  • tourism executives and managers
  • hotel managers and executives
  • conference executives and managers
  • entrepreneurships routes

Additional costs

Please note, in addition to the tuition fee there may be additional costs for things like equipment, materials, printing, textbooks, trips or professional body fees.

Additionally, there may be other activities that are not formally part of your course and not required to complete your course, but which you may find helpful (for example, optional field trips). The costs of these are additional to your tuition fee and the fees set out above and will be notified when the activity is being arranged.

How to apply

Use the apply button to begin your application.

If you require a Student visa and wish to study a postgraduate course on a part-time basis, please read our how to apply information for international students to ensure you have all the details you need about the application process.



When to apply

You are advised to apply as early as possible as applications will only be considered if there are places available on the course.

To find out when teaching for this degree will begin, as well as welcome week and any induction activities, view our academic term dates.

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