MSc International Tourism, Hospitality and Event Management with Advanced Project

Why choose Herts?

Industry accreditations: The University of Hertfordshire is a member of the Tourism Management Institute (TMI), the Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA), and the Association for Event Management Education (AEME).
Employment prospects: Graduates work as hotel customer relations managers, travel agents, and airline staff for organisations including Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, Expedia Group, and TUI.
Advanced research option: You have an opportunity to develop enhanced critical and research skills which could be a great asset to you in either a work environment or in academia.

An honours degree of at least 2:2 classification or better from a UK University; or
The equivalent of the above from a recognised University overseas; or
A degree-equivalent professional qualification approved by the Programme Leader; or
A Pre-Masters Course recognised by the University.
A postgraduate qualification from a UK university or its equivalent from a recognised overseas university.
Equivalent qualifications to be assessed by the Programme Leader and Admissions Tutor.

Other English language tests are accepted. Please contact the International Office for details.

In addition, all students for whom English is not their first language must produce evidence of their English Language proficiency. The standard required is an IELTS score of 6.5 (with no less than 5.5 in each band), or an equivalent score on a test recognised by the University of Hertfordshire.

This requirement will be waived if the student has completed an undergraduate degree at a university in the United Kingdom, or another.

All students from non-majority English-speaking countries require proof of English language proficiency. The following qualifications and grades will be considered:

GCSE English language grade A-C

IELTS 6.5 (with no less than 5.5 in any band)

English Language entry requirements


Institution code	H36
School of study	Hertfordshire Business School
Course length	Full Time, 2 Years
Location	University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield

Employability

Careers

We are preparing graduates for successful careers in the hospitality, recreation, or tourism industries or in an associated government agency with an international, national, or local focus. Graduates from the programme are employed by international hotel chains (Four Seasons Hotel, Marriott Hotels, Sheraton Hotels, The Ritz Carlton, Starwood Hotel Group) in China, India Macau, Thailand, and Great Britain, as well as working for independent hotels and Event Management companies in Great Britain. Other careers pursued by our Graduates include Recruitment Agents, Lecturers, and entrepreneurs (travel companies, import and export trading companies).

What job can I get?

Graduates will be prepared to follow a career in events planning, hospitality, and tourism management as well as marketing, often working for event management organisations, large travel companies, hospitality businesses and airlines. Graduates will be equipped for this type of job thanks to the analytical skills and required industry and managerial knowledge that they will have acquired through their studies with us. These will support in decision-making, essential when working as managers of the tourism, hospitality, and event industries.

Work placement

Our full-time MSc International Tourism, Hospitality and Event Management with Extended Professional Practice program allows you to take on a 30-week work placement.

Professional Accreditations

The University is a member of the Tourism Management Institute (TMI), the Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) and the Association for Event Management Education (AEME).

About the course

MSc International Tourism, Hospitality and Event Management has been designed to provide you with the enhanced skills and knowledge which are necessary to support key decision-making within the international tourism, hospitality, and event industries. The programme is underpinned by a strong theoretical base across several contexts relevant to tourism, hospitality, and event management in contemporary international environments. A distinctive feature of this program is that it offers you opportunities to interact with current industry practitioners and therefore enables a hands-on approach.

The Advanced Project route provides students with additional learning in the areas of tourism, hospitality, and events management, with practice-based opportunities. Students will be required to complete two 30-credit Level 7 modules in ‘Service Strategy for Tourism, Hospitality and Events’ and ‘Experience Design in Tourism/Hospitality/Events’.

Why choose this course?

Our Postgraduate studies are sector-leading amongst over 100 Higher Education Institutions in the UK as evidenced by our extraordinary achievement:

1st out of 85 universities for business and management in the Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey (PTES, Advance HE, 2023)
1st for Skills Development, 2nd for Support, Resources, Community and Assessment (Advance HE, 2023)
The course offers comprehensive knowledge of the Tourism, Hospitality and Event industries. 
It is delivered by a very successful and internationally renowned team of experts, both in terms of their managerial experience and academic knowledge.  
It offers a balance of practical input and academic knowledge to support graduates' future careers within these industries. 
It provides opportunities to interact with current industry practitioners.
Excellent academic and personal support and guidance from our very experienced Careers Service.

What will I study?

We offer a varied programme of teaching that includes facilitated seminars, practical workshops, projects for companies, web-based learning, case study analysis and traditional lectures. We also provide sessions by visiting staff, practitioners, and consultants to give a varied perspective on the topics covered. You will be assessed through various coursework including presentations, reports, and projects. You will also be required to complete a Management Research Report and will be supported by a Management Research Report supervisor.

Level 7

Module	Credits	Compulsory/optional
Research Methods for Tourism, Hospitality and Event Management	15 Credits	Compulsory
This module explores the key processes involved in the development of tourism, hospitality and event management research. Students will critically analyse the research design developed by authors in the field and reflect upon the benefits and drawbacks of various primary and secondary research philosophies and methods. Additionally, the students will learn to apply this knowledge creatively, to develop original research plans. Indicative content includes what is research and the purpose of a research proposal, critical thinking, information search, primary and secondary research, how to develop aim and objectives, the structure and purpose of a literature review and conceptual framework, developing a methodology and methods section, data collection considerations, using measures of research robustness (i.e. generalisability, reliability and validity), and ethics considerations.
Crisis, Risk and Recovery for Tourism, Hospitality and Events	15 Credits	Compulsory
The literature surrounding crisis and risk management is diverse and varies from theoretical to more practical knowledge. Some of the key areas of study on this module will be specific to the sector (Tourism, Hospitality or Events Industries) or will be more generalizable across sectors. The indicative module content will be taken from the following areas of study: major incident management, disaster management, risk identification, mitigation, and management, concepts and theories of tourism crisis and disaster management, concepts and theories of international disaster management: Disaster and risk will be examined across key components of the tourism system such as airlines, cruise ships, hotels, and through natural and human made disasters.
Management Research Report	60 Credits	Compulsory
The Management Research Report is an independent piece of work incorporating research, study and evaluation. It is the culmination of a successful Masters programme. It is underpinned by a taught module on research methods, by support material available online through the Centre for Academic Skills Enhancement (CASE), by introductory workshops, and by other taught modules on the programme. Each student is allocated a research report supervisor. The Management Research Report may focus on any aspect of international business justified as relevant for research, and to the student's programme of study. It will adopt a similar structure to that of a dissertation, but with a more applied orientation relevant to business practice.
Service Strategy for Tourism, Hospitality and Events	30 Credits	Compulsory
This module explores the theoretical and practical underpinnings of what constitutes good service in the Tourism, Hospitality and Event Industries. It challenges perceptions and expectations of the notion of service across diverse cultures and introduces key concepts and theorists in service quality and design. Indicative content includes: concept and characteristics of service; service vs quality; objective vs subjective service; expectations and satisfaction; cultural differences and diversity in service perceptions; SERVQUAL; gaps in customer service; compassion, empathy and moments of delight / experience design; designing customer service and measuring customer service.
Experience Design in Tourism, Hospitality & Events	30 Credits	Compulsory
This module considers how tourism, hospitality and event experiences can be designed and managed for consumers, by drawing on different concepts, models, and theories of experience design. Students will explore the role of, or influence from, innovation, technology, sustainability, as well as other aspects, within the context of designing tourism, hospitality, and event service experiences. Challenges, opportunities, and organisational impacts arising from experience design will also be addressed. Indicative content includes: definition and relevance of experience design in THEM, the experience economy, creating experience escapes, the tourist gaze; service encounters and co-creation.
Marketing for Tourism, Hospitality and Events	15 Credits	Compulsory
The module will provide a critical understanding of the strategic applications of marketing and how this can be used to transform the business models of tourism, hospitality and event management firms. Indicative content includes market segmentation, targeting and positioning, The Marketing Mix, Integrated Marketing Communications, Customer Relationship Management, consumer behaviour and their link to digital marketing.
International Strategic Leadership in Tourism, Hospitality and Events	15 Credits	Compulsory
This module considers the theories, models, and practices for strategic leadership implementation, including the leadership of businesses and personnel in the tourism, hospitality, and event management industry. Indicative content on the business side will include focus on different partnerships and business models, such as mergers and acquisitions, entrepreneurship, and small-medium sized enterprises. Indicative content on the personnel side will discuss different leadership style and its influence on other business aspects, such as promoting opportunities and developing organisational culture. Discussions around sustainable management practices and respecting diversity within the workplace will also be considered, using a variety of international case studies to support students' learning.
Digital Transformation and Innovation in Tourism, Hospitality and Events	15 Credits	Compulsory
The module will provide a balanced blend of theories covering the topics of business transformation & innovation and THEM digital technologies. Furthermore, it will explore the transformational and innovation potential of THEM digital technologies paying particularly close attention to their strategic value and potential challenges . Indicative content includes the following, within the context of tourism, hospitality and events: ICT supported-distribution; social media induced democratisation of information; the challenges and opportunities of artificial intelligence; service design through virtual reality and augmented reality; value creation through ICT and technology adoption and evaluation theories and practices.
Financial Decision Making for Tourism, Hospitality and Event Management	15 Credits	Compulsory
This module is designed to enable you to become more confident in the use and limitations of financial information. You will evaluate financial information that help inform decision-making within the tourism and events management industry. The module also explores the financial risks (both domestically and internationally) of certain decisions. Indicative content includes: sources of finance, core numeracy skills, management accounting information & Budgeting, KPI's and basic ratio analysis linked to creating value for shareholders, Corporate Governance, risk, ethics and presenting financial information.
Contemporary Themes & Professional Development in THEM	30 Credits	Compulsory
This module provides students with the opportunity to explore the nature and structure of the tourism, hospitality and event (THE) industries whilst developing postgraduate research and employability skills. It is designed to provide students with an insight and understanding into the tourism, hospitality and/or event products within destinations. By considering how THE industries operate, students will analyse current trends within a variety of contexts, including geographical, economic, socio-cultural and global outlook.

Key staff

Dr Sofia Reino
Programme Leader
Find out more about Dr Sofia Reino

Further course information

Course fact sheets
MSc International Tourism, Hospitality and Event Mgmt - Extended (Revised 2024)	Download

Programme specifications
MSc International Tourism, Hospitality and Event Mgmt - Extended (Revised 2024)	Download

Additional information
Sandwich placement or study abroad year	n/a
Applications open to international and EU students	Yes

Student experience

At the University of Hertfordshire, we want to make sure your time studying with us is as stress-free and rewarding as possible. We offer a range of support services including; student wellbeing, academic support, accommodation and childcare to ensure that you make the most of your time at Herts and can focus on studying and having fun.

Find out about how we support our students

You can also read our student blogs to find out about life at Herts.

Funding and fees
Other financial support

Find out more about other financial support available to UK and EU students

Fees 2024
UK Students
Full time
- £14805 for 2024/2025 and 2025/2026 inclusive
EU Students
Full time
- £17950 for 2024/2025 and 2025/2026 inclusive
International Students
Full time
- £17950 for 2024/2025 and 2025/2026 inclusive
*Tuition fees are charged annually. The fees quoted above are for the specified year(s) only. Fees may be higher in future years, for both new and continuing students. Please see the University's Fees and Finance Policy (and in particular the section headed "When tuition fees change"), for further information about when and by how much the University may increase its fees for future years.

View detailed information about tuition fees

Living costs / accommodation

The University of Hertfordshire offers a great choice of student accommodation, on campus or nearby in the local area, to suit every student budget.

View detailed information about our accommodation

Read more about additional fees in the course fact sheet
How to apply

International/EU applicants without pre-settled status in the UK

Apply through our international/EU application portal

Home and EU applicants with pre-settled/settled status in the UK

2024
Start Date End Date Year Location Link
23/09/2024 31/05/2025 1 UH Hatfield Campus Apply online (Full Time)
2025
Start Date End Date Year Location Link
23/09/2025 31/05/2026 1 UH Hatfield Campus Apply online (Full Time)

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MSc International Tourism, Hospitality and Event Management with Advanced Project

Why choose Herts?

Careers

What job can I get?

Work placement

Professional Accreditations

About the course

Why choose this course?

What will I study?

Key staff

Further course information

Student experience

Other financial support

Fees 2024

UK Students

Full time

EU Students

Full time

International Students

Full time

Living costs / accommodation

International/EU applicants without pre-settled status in the UK

Home and EU applicants with pre-settled/settled status in the UK

2024

2025