International Tourism and Hospitality Management

Stage 1

You will gain a thorough understanding and awareness of contemporary tourism and hospitality issues and learn how to plan and develop strategies within both domestic and international contexts. Your transferable skills of communication, teamwork and decision-making will be established.

Stage 2

You will continue to develop your specialist skills, in-depth knowledge and practical experience. You will present a written research proposal for submission, which will normally form the basis for the Master's dissertation or project. A four week period of professional industry experience is undertaken at the end of the taught modules.

Stage 3

You are given the opportunity to conduct a piece of substantive, independent, research in area of your own choosing within international tourism and hospitality. You can work with live-clients on industry focused projects or present a formal dissertation of 15,000 words.

Student stories

Hear from our students and graduates about their experiences studying this course:

On Campus Study

You will engage with the course through online and on campus learning materials, lectures, tutorials, industry-led workshops and live client projects. These comprise of a mix of group study, site visits, discussion, simulation and presentations of findings by teams and individuals.

Access to our virtual learning environment, CampusMoodle, is also provided giving you access from home to learning materials (including videos, e-books and journals).

Part Time On Campus Study

You will combines aspects of online learning and on-campus delivery. You will benefit from the support of CampusMoodle but also face-to-face interaction with tutors and classmates.

Activity Summary

Please note the below activity summary represents full-time on campus mode only, part-time mode will differ.

• Lectures - 15-40 students per group, 6 hours per week
• Tutorial - 15-20 students per group, 3 hours per week
• Project Supervision - 1 student per group, 0.5 hour per week
• Field Work - 1 hour per course
• External Visits - various hours per course

How long is an International Tourism and Hospitality Management course?

The International Tourism and Hospitality Management MSc can be successfully completed within 12 - 33 months.

Independent Study

The course requires you to become independent 'open learners' and take responsibility for when, where and how your learning occurs. You will spend approximately 10-20 hours per week working on your own, undertaking prescribed reading, preparing for group activities and researching and writing course reports.

Assessment

Please note the below assessment period represents full-time on campus mode only, part-time mode students will study the same number of assessments but over a three year period.

• 5 reports
• 1 dissertation
• 1 portfolio
• 1 project output

Feedback

We aim to provide you with feedback within 20 working days of hand-in for all written exams, coursework and practical exams.

Staff Delivering on This Course

Our teaching staff have very strong links to industry, with the core teaching staff being members of a number of influential industry bodies including Aberdeen City & Shire Hotel Associations, VisitAberdeenshire Tourism Forum and The Burn Education Retreat (Goodenough College). One staff member is a Scottish Representative of the Tourism Management Institute.

They are actively engaged in research which underpins the course development and delivery.

Other staff members include guest lecturers and senior industry professionals which provides you with the opportunity to learn first-hand from professionals about the practical challenges which you may face in your working lives. Many of our staff feature in the annual Support and Teaching staff with Appreciation and Recognition (STAR) awards voted by the students and organised by RGU:Union.

Academic Support

The Inclusion Centre advises and supports students who disclose a sensory or mobility impairment, chronic medical condition, mental health issue, dyslexia and other specific learning differences. Applicants are encouraged to arrange a pre-entry visit to discuss any concerns and to view the facilities.

Online Learning & Support

All undergraduate and postgraduate students, whether you are learning on campus or by online learning, benefit from using our collaborative virtual learning environment, CampusMoodle. You will be provided with 24/7 online access to your learning material and resources, along with the ability to interact with your class members and tutors for discussion and support.

Study Skills Support

The Study Support Team provides training and support to all students in:

• Academic writing
• Study skills (note taking, exam techniques, time management, presentation)
• Maths and statistics
• English language
• Information technology support

Library Support

The Library offers support for your course, including the books, eBooks, and journals you will need. We also offer online reading lists for many modules, workshops and drop-ins on searching skills and referencing, and much more.

Placements

You will have the opportunity to undertake a four-week period of professional industry experience in a tourism or hospitality role, which will enable you to put into practice the knowledge and skills developed throughout the course.

You will have access to our Placement Office, who will support you remotely in sourcing and validating a suitable position.

Past placements have within Tourism and Hospitality have been undertaken at The Mariner Hotel, AECC, Gleneagles, Tui Travel, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, and Menzies Aviation.

Job Prospects

Worldwide expenditure on hospitality and tourism is set to increase over the next 10 years with "1 in 10 workers on the planet employed as a result of Travel & Tourism" by 2021 (World Travel and Tourism Council). Growth such as this creates many opportunities for those equipped with the relevant skills and knowledge. On completion of this course you will be able to embark on a professional career in the international tourism and hospitality industry.

Is studying International Tourism and Hospitality Management a good career choice?

Previous graduates from this course have gone on to careers in areas such as:

• Contract Catering (national and international)
• Facilities Management (national and international)
• Tourism Management in National Tourist Boards, Regional Tourist Boards, Visitor Attractions
• Tourism Consultancy
• Hotel and Hospitality Consultancy
• National and International Hotel Organisations
• Tourism research

What is needed for an MSc in International Tourism and Hospitality Management?

• Applicants normally hold a 2:2 undergraduate honours degree or its equivalent in any subject area.
• Applicants with a lower degree classification and / or relevant work experience will be considered on a case by case basis.

English Language Requirements

Applicants whose first language is not English should have an IELTS of 6.5 overall, with no component lower than 5.5, or an equivalent.

We accept a variety of in-country and secure English language tests, find out more:

Please note, some courses may require a higher standard of English than stated in this page. Contact admissions@rgu.ac.uk for further information.

International Students 

International students who do not meet our direct entry requirements for this course can gain additional entry points through our International College at Robert Gordon University.