Our MSc International Tourism Management programme is one of the longest-established university tourism programmes in the world, combining our world-class research expertise with a strong focus on enterprise and innovation.
We have channelled our wealth of industry-relevant teaching and research experience into the ideal platform for a career in the global tourism industry.
The structure of our Euromasters programme includes the opportunity to undertake a placement in industry between the two years of study.
This experience gives students (particularly those with little prior work experience) a significant advantage in terms of employability upon graduation.
This programme is studied full-time over two academic years and part-time over four academic years. It consists of twelve taught modules and a dissertation.
Example module listing
The following modules are indicative, reflecting the information available at the time of publication. Please note that not all modules described are compulsory and may be subject to teaching availability and/or student demand.
The programme takes a broad view of tourism and provides an opportunity to explore issues and problems relevant to a wide range of situations and aspects likely to be faced by tourism managers and other relevant professionals.
It gives an opportunity to develop academic skills and knowledge. At the same time it maintains a practical focus on the rapidly developing tourism industry. Its intensive but generalist approach aims to prepare students for a wide range of possible careers in travel and tourism.
It is designed to provide an appropriate base for employment opportunities in official tourism organisations, in transport, hotels, tour operating and travel agency companies, in government and other organisations where knowledge of tourism is important.
The programme draws on the stimulus of the School’s recent research activities, and takes an integrated approach to the relationships between the various components of the programme.
The programme also provides students with opportunities to work directly with industry partners through not only guest lectures, but also on a real tourism project through the Applied Dissertation initiative and during fieldtrips.
The programme encourages students to develop skills in relation to practical research and decision making in a tourism business environment.
Knowledge and understanding
Upon completing the course, students will be able to demonstrate:
Intellectual / cognitive skills
Students will have the ability to:
Professional practical skills
Students will be able to:
Key / transferable skills
Students will learn:
We often give our students the opportunity to acquire international experience during their degrees by taking advantage of our exchange agreements with overseas universities.
In addition to the hugely enjoyable and satisfying experience, time spent abroad adds a distinctive element to your CV.
The global aviation industry has experienced significant growth in the number of air passengers, reaching 3.6 billion in 2016 (IATA, 2017). Alongside this growth, the industry continues to operate within a rapidly changing environment and faces challenges in sustaining competitiveness and offering effective, safe and efficient passenger experiences.
Accordingly, this has created a demand for managers who possess high-level knowledge and skills to succeed in this exciting industry. This course focuses on passenger aviation operations and management, whilst enabling you to specialise in a range of business/management subject areas. This flexibility means that you may tailor the course to your particular career aspiration within a range of aviation organisations, including airlines, airports, airport authorities, civil aviation departments and aviation consultancies.
This course has been developed with industry professionals and is a recognised Institute of Travel & Tourism Centre of Excellence. The course focuses on enhancing your management potential by developing your critical thinking, leadership, problem-solving, creativity, communication, research and analytical skills to make an immediate impact on an aviation organisation.
During your studies, you will have a number of opportunities to engage with industry experts through our live industry consultancy projects, our visiting speaker programme, our creative dialogue sessions (where you will network and debate contemporary themes), our industry mentor scheme, our industry events, and through our links with professional bodies. The course also offers you an opportunity to undertake an optional placement that you have secured through the support of our employability-focused centre, [email protected]
An exciting feature of this course is the ‘international live industry project’, where you will travel to an overseas destination and apply your skills and knowledge to a real industry consultancy context. Previous students have completed projects in the Gambia, the Azores (in Portugal), the Canaries, Cyprus, Madeira and Dubai.
This programme is designed to deliver a substantial theoretical and practical understanding of the role and contribution of the tourism industry in the context of international development. You will gain the skills required to manage sustainable tourism businesses, alongside the specialisms of strategic destination management and marketing. You will explore tourism’s relationship with the socio-economic and political contexts within international development, tourism disasters affecting tourist destinations, and the role of tourism in the development of countries that have experienced conflict. An emphasis upon the micro-economic contribution of enterprise projects to support development and sustainability also features within the curriculum; delivered through the Ashoka Changemaker philosophy.
Upon completion of the programme, you may wish to progress your studies through a doctoral qualification.
The programme encourages you to analyse and evaluate the relationship between sustainable development principles and the management of destinations to achieve long-term viability of resources; and the role of event tourism in destination development as a catalyst for physical, economic and socio-cultural regeneration. In addition, the programme provides insight into the political economies surrounding development and the contribution that tourism makes to a destination’s risk mitigation, social renewal and recovery after disasters and post conflict scenarios.
Drawing on a variety of case studies and projects, the programme explores the global scope of tourism, the policies and strategies associated with successful management, the role the industry plays in international development, and the stakeholders involved in its development. The programme will also prepare students for the practical, project based, and customer focused characteristics of the tourism industry.
From the beginning of the programme, you will be introduced to some of the main themes in destination and tourism management, to enable you to analyse the strategic and dynamic nature of international tourist destinations and issues facing managers of such destinations. Modules in semester one will highlight the need to ensure long-term viability of destination resources through themes such as sustainable development and political economies of international development.
You will examine the vulnerability of destinations and the strategies and approaches needed by managers to develop and recover, particularly post-conflict. The strategic use of events in both the public and private sectors will be examined, particularly their use as a catalyst for physical, economic and socio-cultural regeneration. There is a strong emphasis on developing personal adaptability in cross cultural (work) environments as Master graduates can be expected to, and will have the expectation to – lead and manage other people internationally. You will also begin to prepare for the completion of a dissertation through a series of taught research methods sessions, during which a research proposal is produced.
The research proposal produced in Semester two will guide the development of a clearly defined and evidenced study purpose, a critical review of the extant literature, and a robust methodology. Data is then collected, analysed, interpreted and applied to the study purpose, and a 15-20,000 word research report (dissertation) is produced, with the support of a dissertation supervisor.
For further information on course content and modules please refer to the award map: http://oldweb.northampton.ac.uk/caf/pgmsaward/international-tourism-development-ma
-Political Economies of International Development
-International Sustainable Tourism
-Strategic Destination Management
-Risk, Crisis and Post-conflict Management in Tourism
-Strategic Events Management
-Managing Across Cultures
-Dissertation and Research Methods
In previous years students have participated in an optional study trip to an international destination. The cost of this optional trip would not normally exceed £500 for flights and accommodation. Students normally allow an additional £100 for their expenses.
The programme team also aims to provide a regional or national study trip annually to a tourism attraction or exhibition. In some cases students are required to contribute to the cost of entry; this would normally not exceed £50.00.
Typically you will have nine hours (approximately) of contact time with your tutor in the first semester and eleven hours (approximately) in the second. Overall you will spend 108 hours per module in self-directed study (reading and research).
A variety of individual and group based assessments are used including reports, presentations, posters, e-portfolios, projects, client briefs, multiple choice tests and examinations.
Ashoka U is the global association of the world’s leading universities supporting social entrepreneurs; those working together to create solutions for the world’s most urgent social problems. The programme emphasises this philosophy, through Ashoka Changemaker projects.
The programme will interest students wishing to pursue a specialist career in destination management, sustainable tourism management or international development, with an emphasis on employment within development organisations, NGOs, aid organisations, post conflict and disaster charities, as well as public and private sector tourism organisations.
There is a vibrant research community within our Faculty of Management, with experts in the areas of tourism, leisure, economics, consumer behaviour, entrepreneurship, sport and many others working on innovative and exciting research projects. By undertaking a Master of Philosophy (MPhil) with us you can tap into this expertise as you investigate and evaluate a topic that you are passionate about.
You can be awarded a Master of Philosophy (MPhil) after critically investigating and evaluating an approved topic and demonstrating an understanding of research methods appropriate to your chosen field. You'll be expected to present and defend a thesis and/or practical element, by viva voce (oral examination), to the satisfaction of the examiners. You can register to study for an MPhil on a full-time or part-time basis.
The main focus of an MPhil is to carry out a unique research project, within any research area that is covered by one of our eight research themes - these involve cross-faculty collaboration and present an excellent opportunity to work on an impactful research project.
Tourism and hospitality are expanding global industries resulting in an increased demand for skilled managers to lead and develop international organisations.
The MSc International Tourism and Hospitality Management will equip you with the tools necessary to analyse the major influences affecting the international hospitality business environment, as well as a deep-rooted understanding of the issues currently shaping the management of international hospitality corporations.
The real-world assessments within this course will give you hands-on experience of planning and managing your own live projects, professional work within industry and live client consultancy. The course has been designed through close consultation with industry partners, to ensure you gain the latest practical and professional skills necessary to succeed within this sector.
Guest lectures and industry visits will enable you to develop a strong grasp of business culture, network and immerse yourself in these industries. The international nature of tourism and hospitality will be a key focus of your studies; this is reflected through our well-established global links.
You have the opportunity to undertake a 36-48 week internship as part of your study.
This course offers graduates from any discipline the chance to gain access to management level careers in the dynamic tourism and hospitality industries.
-The opportunity to plan and implement your own ‘live project’
-Work with a local tourism or hospitality industry employer to develop your professional event skills
-An external array of field trips and activity/visits and guest lectures from industry tourism and hospitality practitioners’ as part of the curriculum design
-Throughout your studies, you will engage in a range of individual and group work and consultancy projects working with an array of tourism and hospitality industry partners and clients.
-A ‘professional industry package’ with a year’s membership of an international trade association and magazine to develop your industry outlook.
-Volunteering is a great way for you to gain experience and make contacts. We have a vast range of volunteering opportunities to help you develop your CV and enhance your professional outlook and support is available to find them.
This course has been designed with industry practitioners to offer a practical and managerial approach to equipping you with professional skills, providing you with many opportunities to gain professional experience.
The combination of taught units, a range of live experiential activity and client-based consultancy projects and opportunities to network with industry through external visits and guest lectures will enable you to develop a strong grasp of business culture and provide you with numerous opportunities to immerse yourself in your chosen sector and gain valuable experience.
Your studies will have an international focus to reflect the global nature of these industries. We have many well-established international collaborative partnerships, which will enrich your student experience. Our international research activities and projects will enrich your student experience and will create new opportunities for research through your engagement with employers.
