Michalina Guzicka, BA (Hons) Events Management, 2026, student
“I decided on Oxford Brookes just a few days before the deadline, but it turned out to be the right choice for me.”
“I was looking for a course that felt transparent and showed what the experience would actually be like.”
I chose Oxford Brookes at the last minute. After taking a gap year, I knew I wanted to go to university, and what stood out was how open and informative the course felt. The website, student videos and feedback from current students gave me a clear idea of what to expect, which made it easier to commit.
“The second year and my placement were the biggest highlights of my course.”
In my second year, we planned and delivered our own event as part of a group project, which gave me real insight into the industry. My placement year built on that experience. I worked as an Event Support at UTAC Millbrook, where I was involved in mainly automotive events with moderate exposure to exhibitions, gala dinners and corporate events. It showed me what the industry is really like and gave me experience you can’t fully replicate in a classroom, especially seeing areas like automotive events. It also made me realise how much I prefer practical learning and being on site.
“One of the biggest lessons I learned was how important personality and transferable skills are.”
When applying for placements, I realised that experience alone is not everything. I secured my role through transferable skills from previous jobs, but also because I fit well within the team. In events, being able to communicate confidently, build relationships and adapt quickly is just as important as technical knowledge.
“Networking played a big role in helping me take the next step.”
During my placement, I spoke to professionals across the industry to understand their roles and career paths. That helped me think more clearly about what I want to do and led to further opportunities, including freelance project work after my placement.
University has also helped me grow personally. In my first year, adjusting to living independently was a challenge, but over time I developed better organisation, resilience and a more professional approach. I now treat my studies much more like a job, which has helped me stay focused and prepared.
“University has helped me become more confident in my abilities.”
I am currently working in exhibitions and freelance project management, and I am keen to continue building my experience while exploring different areas of the events industry.
Overall, my time at Oxford Brookes has given me a realistic understanding of the industry, as well as the skills and confidence to take the next step in my career.