MSc International Hospitality & Tourism Management

at Bournemouth University

Core units
 

• Hospitality Operations Management: Operations management is considerably less tangible in Services Management than in manufacturing. This unit addresses the issues that distinguish hospitality and tourism operations from those in other fields. By focusing on the inter-relationships between systems, services and technical factors, product quality, capacity and productivity, The unit offers a multidisciplinary framework to explore the wider inter-relationships between operations, marketing and accounting.

• Innovations in Hospitality: The unit will address the current issues and innovations, which transform and shape the international hospitality and tourism context and its organisations, with focus on how these may be effectively managed.

• The Tourism & Hospitality Industries: This unit will provide you with a comprehensive appreciation of the tourism and hospitality business ecosystem. Based on Leipier’s tourism system, the module analyses the value chain of the industry and examines the role of each stakeholder in the tourism and hospitality value system and identifies linkages, interrelations and collaboration requirements.  The unit will be delivered through a series of industry guest lectures.

• Destinations: Contexts for Tourism & Hospitality: Placing the tourism destination at the heart of discussion, this unit explores the physical, conceptual and administrative spaces in which tourism and hospitality activities occur, and as such provide the context for an exploration of the complex and interrelated activities of tourist activities. The unit will be international in nature, drawing on examples and practices from developed and developing nations.

• Business Strategy & Finance: The foundations of strategic analysis and choices that tie into an organisation’s business decisions. This includes private, public and third sector. You'll study the corporate finance sources of organisations, reporting and interpreting financial data. This will help you understand the dynamics of the tourism, hospitality and leisure sectors.

• Dissertation: An opportunity to study a subject in-depth, showing your understanding of it. The dissertation is the conclusion of your learning experience, where you'll carry out a research project. You'll use appropriate research methodology to collect and analyse data and present your findings. Your dissertation will be 15,000 words, and you'll be taught about research methods.

The placement is intended to foster personal and professional development and to help you to make a connection between academic learning and the working world. You should consider how a range of management theories can be used, and if management in industry could be improved.

The transferable skills developed will improve your performance in your future career, both as employee and manager. 

You will complete semester one and two of your programme as well as completing your final disseration at BU, before you undertake the 30 weeks of work experience.

The normal requirements for embarking upon a postgraduate taught degree are:.
 

• A Bachelors Honours degree with 2:2 in any subject, or equivalent.

If you lack the formal academic qualifications needed to enter a postgraduate or post-experience degree, there are several alternative routes to follow - some based on experience. 

​Additional costs

We are committed to offering you value for money and ensuring there are no hidden costs while you are studying with us, therefore we have listed below any additional costs you may incur that are not covered by your tuition fee:
 

• Laptops, tablets and mobile devices and any software used on personal devices. Access to a personal computer is strongly recommended for your study. If you are experiencing financial difficulty.
• Textbooks, general stationery and other supplies. Our award-winning library is stocked with a large range of textbooks and online resources, free of charge. The Students’ Union shops stock a wide range of stationery supplies on both campuses.
• Accommodation and living costs. 
• Travel costs to and from the University campus. An annual bus pass can be purchased alongside your rent if you are living in halls of residence/Unilet accommodation or may be purchased separately.
• Travel costs to and from your placement (both in the UK and overseas) if this is part of your course of study. 
• Travel costs for optional field trips, outdoor wear and footwear for mandatory and optional field trips (if applicable).
• Clothing or equipment costs required for your placement if this is part of your course of study.
• SportBU membership.

While all aspects of the programme, including required field trips, are included in the fee, additional, optional or extra curricula activities may be available for which a student contribution is required.

As an International Hospitality & Tourism Management graduate, you will be prepared to undertake roles in areas such as:
 

• Operational management
• Marketing
• Human resources
• Hotel management
• Tourism mangement

As you progress through the course, selecting an option unit and setting up your placement – should you choose to complete one – will help you establish the exact career path you want to follow, and the sector in which you want to put your studies to use.