BA (Hons) International Hospitality & Tourism Management (Top-up)

This course is specifically designed for students with appropriate existing qualifications (such as an HND or Foundation degree) in Hospitality, Tourism or allied subjects to continue their studies to degree level.

UCAS Code:
N226
Institution:
B50
Delivery:
Full time according to Funding Council definitions

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Why study BA (Hons) International Hospitality & Tourism Management (Top-up) at BU?

We are in the top 20 universities in the world for hospitality and leisure management (QS University Rankings 2022)
Gain a better understanding of hospitality and tourism management, as well as developing your ability to evaluate, analyse and to apply your knowledge in innovative ways
Taught by highly respected hospitality specialists who are actively involved in research that informs the future of the industry, as well as notable experts during our regular guest lectures
The core of the course focuses on strategic management subjects taught in the context of hospitality and tourism and on research methods
Pick specialist modules to bring your education in line with your own passions, interests and, ultimately, career aspirations
Being a popular seaside resort with many tourism and hospitality businesses and opportunities, Bournemouth is a perfect location to study tourism.

Find out more about the content of this course.

Course accreditations

The accrediting bodies on our BA (Hons) International Hospitality & Tourism Management (Top-up) course are renowned industry-wide for promoting excellence and the highest standards, all of which is reflected in the BU Business School experience:

Recognition as an Institute of Travel & Tourism (ITT) Centre of Excellence signifies BU as an industry-leading university. It also allows you to take advantage of networking opportunities, hear from high-level industry speakers and raise your professional profile
Being recognised as the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO.TedQual) course means that you will be encouraged to participate in the highest-level tourism policy events and knowledge exchanges as well as obtain placements in the most prestigious tourism organisations in the world.

Discover more about the BU Business School and explore our campus

Image description — Talbot Campus is where you'll find facilities such as The Sir Michael Cobham Library, the Student Centre (where our Students' Union offices are based), the £22 million Fusion Building and the brand new Poole Gateway Building

Next start date:

September 2023, September 2024

Location:

Bournemouth University, Talbot Campus

Duration:

1 year

Accreditations:

Institute of Travel and Tourism (ITT), United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO.TedQual)

Required subjects:

Hospitality, Tourism, Travel & Tourism, Business & Management

Entry requirements:

For September 2023 entry: Foundation Degree with 60% or above in a required subject. HND with Merit or above in a required subject, we also accept a Level 5 Higher Apprenticeship in a relevant subject area – find out more.

International entry requirements:

For September 2023 entry: If English is not your first language you’ll need IELTS 6.0 (Academic) with a minimum of 5.5 in each component of writing, speaking, listening and reading or above. For more information check out our full international entry requirements.

Course details

On this course you will be taught by a range of staff with relevant expertise and knowledge appropriate to the content of the unit. This will include senior academic staff, qualified professional practitioners, demonstrators, technicians and research students. You will also benefit from regular guest lectures from industry.

Contact hours and assessment

Details of the assessment methods and contact hours for each unit of the course can be found in the programme specification.

Download the programme specification (pdf 152kb)

Course content

Core units:

Dissertation: A piece of independent work that involves collecting, interpreting and analysing data. You’ll share your key findings through a sustained and balanced argument. The dissertation will develop your analytical and problem solving skills. You’ll develop a critical attitude to research methods, and the ethical issues associated with researching.
Strategy & Leadership in Hospitality: You will develop your ability to review and analyse inter/ national hospitality businesses and organisations and the rationale and logic behind the strategic and tactical decisions that they take.
Tourism Issues & Futures: We will examine a range of critical and contemporary issues that you may not have encountered previously, with the aim of broadening your horizons and understanding of tourism. You will be challenged to think critically about issues that you may have previously taken for granted, and be encouraged to reflect critically on your own experiences and practices as a tourist.

As well as studying the above core units, you’ll choose two option units from the following:

Digital Marketing: This unit will equip you with technical skills and the conceptual understanding of how to engage effectively in digital marketing, which has evolved to the extent that it has become the dominant form of marketing in the majority of organisation.
Small Business Management: You will learn an understanding of the role of small businesses in the economy, to appreciate how small businesses are different through their problems, advantages, aims, objectives. You will also build knowledge in enterprise awareness and how to foster an entrepreneurial mindset with the practical capability to assess business opportunity.
Financial Management: This builds on your earlier studies in finance and accounting. You’ll develop an appreciation for how organisations make financial decisions within the context of corporate strategy, and an understanding of the role(s) of financial management in organisations.
Food, Culture & Travel: You will explore the complex relationships between food, culture and travel within an international context, and from commercial and social perspectives, reflecting on aspects of critical food studies and debating a wide range of relevant topics.
International Human Resource Management in Hospitality & Tourism: This unit addresses current human resource management opportunities and challenges such as talent management, mobility and staff retention, which shape the international hospitality and tourism industries and organisations. It provides a forum in which you can critically analyse and reflect on relevant issues and their impact on business and your own management career.
Tourism & Hospitality Design: This unit addresses the role and significance of design in and for the Tourism and Hospitality Industries. You will develop the skills necessary to appraise design in relevant real-world contexts, with an emphasis on creative thinking and practice.
Visitor Attractions Management: This unit will explore the factors and issues that influence the development and management of visitor attractions in the UK and other countries. It aims to develop your awareness, understanding and appreciation of the principles and practices relating to the development and management of visitor attractions.

You’ll be assessed through coursework assignments and end of year examinations.

Programme specification

Programme specifications provide definitive records of the University's taught degrees in line with Quality Assurance Agency requirements. Every taught course leading to a BU Award has a programme specification which describes its aims, structure, content and learning outcomes, plus the teaching, learning and assessment methods used.

Whilst every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the programme specification, the information is liable to change to take advantage of exciting new approaches to teaching and learning as well as developments in industry. If you have been unable to locate the programme specification for the course you are interested in, it will be available as soon as the latest version is ready. Alternatively please contact us for assistance.

Rankings

2nd

BU is second in the UK for hospitality and tourism management according to the Shanghai Rankings of Academic Subjects 2022

Top 20

We are in the top 20 universities in the world for hospitality and leisure management – QS University Rankings 2022

Entry requirements

For September 2023 entry:	This course requires a Foundation Degree with 60% or above in a required subject or HND with Merit or above in a required subject. We also accept a Level 5 Higher Apprenticeship in a relevant subject area.
Required subjects:	Hospitality, Tourism, Travel & Tourism, Business & Management

International entry requirements

You can find details of the international qualifications we accept, and what level of study they apply to, on our entry requirements for non-UK students' page.	English language requirements If English is not your first language, you will need to provide evidence that you can understand English to a satisfactory level. English language requirements for this course are normally: For September 2023 entry: IELTS (Academic) 6.0 with minimum 5.5 in each component, or equivalent. View further information about our English language requirements. If you do not meet the English language requirement for your degree then why not join our Pre-Sessional English course? Successful completion of our Pre-Sessional English course will meet your English language requirement.

You can find details of the international qualifications we accept, and what level of study they apply to, on our entry requirements for non-UK students' page.

English language requirements

If English is not your first language, you will need to provide evidence that you can understand English to a satisfactory level. English language requirements for this course are normally:

For September 2023 entry: IELTS (Academic) 6.0 with minimum 5.5 in each component, or equivalent.

View further information about our English language requirements.

If you do not meet the English language requirement for your degree then why not join our Pre-Sessional English course? Successful completion of our Pre-Sessional English course will meet your English language requirement.

Other useful information

Apprenticeships: We recognise the transferable knowledge and skills gained through apprenticeships and welcome applications from students with a Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship recognised by the Institute for Apprenticeships. Each application will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Deferred entry: We are happy to consider eligible applicants for deferred entry. If you have already submitted your application, please submit your deferral request through our website.

Direct entry: We welcome applications from students who have previously studied at degree level at other institutions and wish to transfer onto a BU course. Our Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) procedure enables credit awarded from one institution to contribute to a BU award, subject to an application process. Please visit our RPL webpage for more information.

Mature applicants: We recognise that mature applicants may have a wealth of experience rather than formal qualifications, so we’ll consider your application on these merits if included in your application. You’ll need to apply to BU in the usual way through UCAS and you may be invited to an interview to discuss your suitability for the course based on the experience you tell us about in your application.

Your application

For this course we are looking for applicants who:

Are innovative and open to new experiences
Possess the ability to think logically and organise their work
Have enthusiasm for their chosen industry
Have an enquiring mind and are prepared to ask questions
Are strong team players who are willing to work and learn alongside others.

How to apply

Selection methods

How we assess your application

We look at individual applications and make a tailored offer based on your potential to succeed on the course considering a range of factors, including your academic achievements, work and other experience, reference and personal statement, and in some cases, your performance at an interview or a portfolio review. Typically, we make an offer at the bottom of the tariff range.

AccessBU gives you the chance to tell us more about you and your life experiences if you haven’t had the same educational opportunities as other applicants. If you are eligible for AccessBU, your offer could be up to 16 UCAS Tariff Points below the published tariff.

Our offer-making process

Our offer-making will typically be based on your most recent qualifications, including any required subjects where applicable. We'll consider all qualifications when assessing your application, although these may not be part of our offer.

If you do not meet the criteria of your original offer, we may still offer you a place. We will review your whole application and consider all academic qualifications (including those not in the offer) to see if you have the academic potential to succeed on the course. If we feel the answer is yes, we will confirm your place.

Careers

How we spend our free time is becoming increasingly important, which means the hospitality and tourism management industry is always looking for innovative and skilled graduates. This course will prepare you for work in this exciting sector, giving you an insight into various aspects of the hospitality and tourism industry.

You can find our graduates working for some of the world’s best-known tourism organisations, including Walt Disney World, Hilton Worldwide, Travco and VisitScotland to name just a few.

Potential job roles

Further study

Once you have completed an undergraduate Honours degree, you can further develop your education by studying for a postgraduate degree. Please visit our postgraduate section for further details about our range of Master's degrees.

Research degrees

If you are a BU graduate you are eligible for a 20% ‘loyalty’ discount on the published fees for further programmes with us!

Depending on your qualifications and experiences, you can choose to undertake a MRes or PhD level research degree. Bournemouth University has a strong Touirsm & Hospitality research foundation within our Department of M arketing, Strategy & Innovation through a number of research centres, which explores theory, education and professional practice.

Visit our postgraduate research courses for further details about research degree options with the Bournemouth University Business School and the funding options available.

Costs and fees

All fees are quoted in pounds sterling and are per year. Your tuition fees will be the same for each year of your course. You can find full information about funding your studies and paying your fees in our undergraduate fees and funding section.

Fees quoted are for tuition only unless stated otherwise, and we’re committed to ensuring there are no hidden extra costs while you’re at university – that’s why we’re clear about what you can expect us to cover, and what your cost of living will be. You’ll also find you could benefit from a range of discounts as a student.

Find out more about budgeting and living expenses

No hidden extras

What’s included in your tuition fee?

Your tuition fee covers expenses associated with your course including tuition materials, access to facilities, mandatory field trips and the following:

Materials for laboratory and field-based teaching activity
A range of student services – advisors, help desks, counsellors, placement support and careers service
Access to Brightspace, our virtual learning environment, which offers a responsive and personalised learning experience with powerful learning analytics capabilities, integrated social media and advanced video features.
The Library – access to a wide range of electronic resources (databases, e-journals and e-books), print and multimedia collections, subject librarians and study spaces
IT labs (some open 24/7), wireless network, AV equipment to borrow
Peer Assisted Learning (PAL) scheme
Disability and additional learning support
The BU Language Centre to help you develop/improve foreign or English language skills
24 hours a day, 365 days a year security team.

Costs of living and other expenses you need to consider

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
Accommodation and living costs. Our accommodation price guide can be found on our website
Travel costs, outdoor wear and footwear for optional field trips
Travel costs to and from the University campus. An annual bus pass is included in your rent if you are living in halls of residence/Unilet accommodation
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
SportBU membership.

Repeat units

Financial help available from BU

Our staff

On this course you will be taught by staff with relevant expertise and knowledge appropriate to the content of the unit. This could include senior academic staff, qualified professional practitioners and research students, many of whom are actively engaged in research and/or professional practice which is integrated into the teaching of this course. Please note that teaching staff can change.

Dr Duncan Light - Principal Academic & Programme Leader

Dr Tim Gale - Principal Academic

Tim joined Bournemouth University in June 2015 as Senior Lecturer in Tourism Management, having moved from the University of the West of England (UWE Bristol) where he was the academic lead for the University’s tourism and events degree programmes.

He completed a PhD at the University of Wales Institute, Cardiff (UWIC), successfully defending his thesis on the decline and restructuring of British seaside resorts in 2002. His research interests have since expanded to include new tourism spaces, places and experiences (such as urban beaches, virtual worlds and immersive events and performances), and tourism education/ pedagogy. These interests are underpinned by ideas associated with the ‘new mobilities paradigm’ and critical realism as a philosophy of/ for the social sciences.

He has written a number of refereed journal articles, book chapters and other works, from positioning papers and literature reviews to multi-method empirical studies incorporating questionnaire surveys and interviews, document analyses and visual methods, and has co-edited three books to date. Tim’s involvement with the design, data capture and analysis for surveys of visitors to Bristol Urban Beach and the 2010 Isle of Man TT (Tourist Trophy) Races illustrates the potential in much of his work for industry engagement and impact. Tim teaches/ has taught a range of units at undergraduate and postgraduate levels on tourism geographies, event management, marketing and research methods. He has supervised two PhD students to completion, and examined several others.

View Dr Tim Gale's staff profile

Philippa Hudson – Senior Lecturer

Simon Thomas - Senior Lecturer

Simon's first career was as a hotel manager having worked his way up from a junior management role, gaining experience of both branded and individual owner lead hotels. He came to Bournemouth University as an operations manager and quickly became interested in teaching and student development and after five years became a lecturer, whilst studying for an MBA in Hospitality Administration at Oxford Brookes University. Now a senior lecturer Simon teaches Talent Management and Hospitality Resources and Revenue Management to second years, Strategy & Leadership and Consultancy Projects as well as supporting Dissertations to final year students. Additional duties include being level tutor for the placement year and the final year for tourism and hospitality programmes. Simon is passionate about employability and industry engagement and spends a lot of time networking with industry partners and associations both within tourism and hospitality.

View Simon Thomas' staff profile

Jeff Sadd- Lecturer

Course changes

Changes for 2022 entry

Date	Changes to this course
20/04/2022	Where the change was made: Programme Specification Change: The contact hours for the Digital Marketing option unit have been updated in the programme specification.

Changes in 2021

Date	Changes to this course
24/02/2021	Where the change was made: Course details Change: Option unit Transportation for Tourism removed

Changes in 2020

Date	Changes to this course
14/01/2020	Where the change was made: Course content Change: Small Business Management replaced previous module Entrepreneurship and Small and Medium Enterprise Management

Changes in 2019

Date	Changes to this course
20/02/2019	Where the change was made: Entry requirements Change: Foundation degree requirement Previous text: This course requires a Foundation Degree with 55% or above in a required subject. HND with Merit or above in a required subject.

Changes in 2017

Date	Changes to this course
06/09/2017	Where the change was made: Full entry requirements Change: GCSE entry requirements have changed to: This course requires GCSE English and Mathematics grade C (or grade 4 in the reformed GCSE grading) or equivalent qualifications. Previous text: This course requires a minimum of 5 GCSEs grades A* - C (or grade 4 or above in the newly reformed GCSE grading) including Maths and English or equivalent qualifications.
10/08/2017	Where the change was made: Course details Sept 2018 onwards Change: Changes to all core and option units for students starting in September 2018 onwards Previous text: Course details 2017

Date

Changes to this course

06/09/2017

Where the change was made: Full entry requirements
Change: GCSE entry requirements have changed to: This course requires GCSE English and Mathematics grade C (or grade 4 in the reformed GCSE grading) or equivalent qualifications.
Previous text: This course requires a minimum of 5 GCSEs grades A* - C (or grade 4 or above in the newly reformed GCSE grading) including Maths and English or equivalent qualifications.

10/08/2017

Where the change was made: Course details Sept 2018 onwards
Change: Changes to all core and option units for students starting in September 2018 onwards
Previous text: Course details 2017

Statistics shown throughout this page are taken from Unistats and BU institutional data unless otherwise stated.