People from industry, respected CEOs, directors and managers have joined the School of Hospitality and Tourism Management to share their unique experiences and views alongside the best academics.
Tourism is one of the largest industry sectors in the world and offers a multitude of exciting career opportunities. Organisations from hotels to transport, tour operators to events companies and attractions to destination marketing agencies are looking for highly educated professionals to join their teams. The Tourism Management programme at the University of Surrey is internationally renowned as one of the best ways to make your mark in this fast-developing industry.
Our Tourism Management degree draws on our 40 years of experience in the study of tourism. It is designed to develop your skills and knowledge at the cutting edge of an exciting and rapidly growing industry in one of the largest sectors of the world economy. Our degree will develop your specialist understanding of tourism, alongside a detailed study of management and business.
The University is a world leader in tourism education and research. We hold unique simultaneous accreditation from the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) and the Association of MBAs (AMBA).
Surrey is ranked as the best institution in the UK for studying tourism in all the major league tables. You will be taught by experienced and knowledgeable staff, many of whom are internationally respected experts in their research fields. The programme reflects how varied and dynamic the tourism sector really is, and covers management and business aspects, as well as topics such as social integration, innovation and sustainability. Academic lectures are combined with guest lectures from industry professionals, and there is the opportunity to gain relevant work experience in a Professional Training placement year. The Tourism Management programme is relevant to industry, which is reflected in our excellent performance in student employment.
The programme begins with compulsory modules and then allows you to specialise as you develop your interests throughout the programme. It combines a mixture of tourism-specific and more generic management subjects, to reflect the fact that we expect you to move into senior management roles within the tourism industry.
In Year 1, all modules are compulsory: they will provide you with the knowledge and skills you need to get started. The programme contains tourism-specific modules, such as Tourism Management and Tourism Impacts, which look at the nature of the tourism industry and some of the effects it causes. Generic management modules, such as Business Environment and Marketing Principles, help you develop your core understanding of the business world.
Compulsory modules:
In Years 2 and 3, you will build on this foundation and develop your knowledge in specific topic areas. You will choose optional modules that match your interests. Tourism Policy and Development examines the development, formulation and role of policies for tourism that meet the needs of stakeholders and establish planning goals and instruments.
In the first semester of Year 2, you can choose to take part in one of our international exchanges. Tourism is an international sector and an exchange semester could be a fantastic way to learn about tourism topics from an international perspective.
Compulsory modules:
Two optional modules
Core management modules such as Business Finance, and Managing Organisations and Human Resources ensure that, when you enter a business, you are able to understand how to manage people and budgets. Optional modules such as Tourism Theory in Practice offer you the chance to see how what you have studied in the classroom actually works in practice. This module takes students on a field trip abroad to see how tourism helps developing nations too.
If you want to put your developing knowledge and abilities into practice and work for some of the world’s most prestigious hospitality and tourism companies, such as Amadeus, Virgin Airlines, TUI, P&O Cruises and Warner Bros, the optional Professional Training placement year provides a valuable opportunity to spend a year in salaried employment.
Compulsory modules:
Four optional modules
If you want to put your developing knowledge and abilities into practice and work for some of the world’s most prestigious hospitality and tourism companies, such as Amadeus, Virgin Airlines, TUI, P&O Cruises and Warner Bros, the optional Professional Training placement year provides a valuable opportunity to spend a year in salaried employment.
Placements can take place in the UK, across Europe or further afield, such as New Zealand or Florida. We have many years’ experience of helping students secure fulfilling placements and we have developed partnerships with a range of excellent companies across numerous sectors, from hospitality and tourism to retail and finance. Last year, for the first time, we had a student working at Buckingham Palace.
The placement year is an integral part of the academic programme and each student has an academic supervisor who maintains regular contact. You will gain valuable experience of working with people in a professional business environment and increase your confidence. In addition, potential employers are attracted to graduates who have undertaken a year’s professional training, because of the relevant experience they have gained.
Each 15-credit module is designed to involve 150 hours of student work. This time will be spent in lectures, laboratories and tutorials, and includes private study on your own or in small study groups. You will also write essays and assignments that draw on your understanding of a particular area.
Our staff members are innovative in delivering engaging learning sessions that bring together theory and practice for your intellectual and professional development.
There is great demand for Tourism Management graduates in all related service sector industries. Graduates of our degree have proven to be highly employable across a range of organisations, not just within tourism.
Some of our graduates choose to go into operational management roles, developing and managing companies and resorts around the world. Others specialise in marketing, human resources, IT and other head-office positions in large tourism corporations. Many find excellent career opportunities in tourism consultancy businesses.
Graduates over the last few years entered roles in companies such as:
Come to one of our Open Days, when you can tour the campus, speak to students and academic staff, see our student accommodation and ask as many questions as you like. In the meantime, order a personal prospectus – tailored to only include the subjects that interest you.
GCSE English Language and Mathematics at grade C or above (or equivalent).
Offers are normally made in terms of grades. Suitable candidates will be invited to an Applicant Day. During the visit to the University the candidate can find out more about the programme and meet staff and students.
Non-native speakers of English will normally be required to have IELTS 6.5 or above, with a minimum of 6.0 in each sub-skill (or equivalent).
We offer intensive English language pre-sessional courses, designed to take you to the level of English ability and skill required for your studies here.
| Award | Course Length | Professional Training | UCAS code | KIS code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BSc (Hons) | 3 years | NN28 | View KIS data set | |
| BSc (Hons) | 4 years | NN28 | View KIS data set |
We offer a range of bursaries, scholarships and other financial support.
See course information for students applying to start in September 2013.
Phone: +44 (0)1483 681 681
