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International Hospitality, Events and Tourism Management

MSc

Find out more about our courses by joining a live master’s webinar

Start dates: January 2025 / September 2025 / January 2026 / September 2026

Full time: 1 year or 2 years in sandwich mode which includes one year's full-time paid supervised work experience (a work placement).

Part time: Part-time: MSc: 24 months for UK students (teaching normally structured to provide one day or two half days each week in the semester)

Location: Headington

Department(s): Oxford Brookes Business School

Overview
Course details
Careers
Entry requirements
How to apply
Tuition fees

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Overview

Imagine a career where 2 days are never the same. Where you’ll meet new people, travel to new places and maybe even learn new languages. On our International Hospitality, Events and Tourism Management MSc, you’ll do exactly that. 

If you want to work in hospitality, events or tourism, but aren't sure which area, this course is for you. It doesn’t matter if you don't have experience – we’ll teach you everything you need to know to stand out.

Helping you secure the job you want is really important to us. You’ll get hands-on experience through live projects and field trips, and help finding a one year paid placement. Past placement organisations include Marriott and the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA).

Thanks to our unique Bacchus Mentoring programme, you’ll receive support from a senior professional working in the hospitality, tourism or events industry who can help you navigate your career path. We’ll also introduce you to other professionals, employers, and alumni. All of this will help you grow your network and build connections. 

Attend an open day or webinar Ask a question Order a prospectus

Why Oxford Brookes University?

  • Industry placement

    We’ll help you find a paid placement so you can apply your skills and boost your employability within multinational hotels, Michelin star restaurants and exclusive clubs.

  • Unrivalled support

    The Bacchus Mentoring and Leadership programme focuses on boosting your employability.

  • City of opportunity

    Oxford is a global city, and we use all its distinctive aspects to provide you with unique learning opportunities.

  • Explore your options

    Study all 3 areas to discover which career path is the perfect match for you.

  • Freedom to shape study

    We provide an unbeatable range of modules so you can explore the areas that fascinate you.

Course details

Course structure

We prepare you for a variety of roles in the hospitality, tourism, and events industries.

You’ll look at the global visitor economy, examining how these 3 areas depend on each other to survive. Following this, we’ll look at the role of digital marketing and consumer experience. You’ll think about how to use different platforms and get to know the impact of review sites.

What makes this course stand out is the range of optional modules. You might decide to plan and deliver a sustainable event. Maybe you’ll design a new visitor attraction for a dark tourism destination. Or perhaps you’ll learn more about revenue management.

For your final project, you’ll either complete a dissertation or carry out a client project. This will put your research skills to the test and give you the opportunity to apply your expertise to a challenge facing the industry. 

Students in a Classroom

Learning and teaching

We use a range of teaching methods including: 

  • multicultural group work
  • case studies 
  • workshops 
  • seminars 
  • lectures 
  • events 
  • one-to-one tutorials.

Your learning experience will be innovative, student-centred and interactive. 

Alumni and senior industry professionals contribute to the programme through guest lectures. You will also have the opportunity to be mentored by an industry leader. 

 

Assessment

You will be assessed on individual coursework and your dissertation. As well as an examination for the responsible financial management module.

Field Trips

The International Business in Practice Study Trip module allows you to experience ideas and practices of global business. During the trip you will have direct interaction with management executives and practices. You will: attend presentations from local management executives and experts go on site visits to major corporations and agencies. This study trip is voluntary and you will need to fund all costs associated with the trip. It is not linked to university assessments in any way.

We also run a study trip to Chengdu, China. If you choose the study trip (which runs in July), we will give you all the details by March so that you can make your decisions ahead of the trip in July.

If you successfully complete this non-credit bearing module, it will be recorded on your transcript as P58335 International Business in Practice: Study Trip.

Throughout the course you can choose to go on field trips to events such as:

  • the world travel market
  • destinations and attractions
  • hotels
  • museums
  • the corporate office of a leading international hotel company.

Field trips may carry an additional cost. Please see the Additional costs section of this page for details.

Start this course in January or September

You can start this course in January if a September start doesn't suit you or is not currently offered for this course.

If you start in January you will study a range of modules between January and May. During the summer months of June, July and August you will study further modules and begin work on your dissertation. Between September and December you will complete your final modules and focus on your dissertation.

Find out more about January entry

Study modules

Be industry ready when you graduate

By undertaking an optional work placement you can gain valuable and relevant industry experience and develop transferable skills such as communication, teamwork, networking and problem solving. A work placement can help you decide on your long-term career objectives and may lead to a job offer after graduation (would require visa sponsorship for international students).

The WAVES (Work and Voluntary Experience Service) or Careers Office will provide you with support and advice to get ahead in your career, and help you with your CV and applications. The team has access to a wide range of small, medium and large employers that offer postgraduate student work placements.

If you wish to pursue a placement at a particular company, our WAVES team can support you in making an approach to the company. Our Careers Office can also provide you with advice on how to use professional social media channels to pitch yourself to prospective employers.
 

Taught modules

Compulsory modules

  • Global Visitor Economy

    You will be introduced to the visitor economy and look specifically at the sectors of tourism, hospitality and events. You will develop knowledge and understanding of how these sectors work together in contemporary societies.

  • Digital Marketing and Consumer Experience

    You will explore the nature of digital marketing in the global visitor economy and how it is transforming  tourism, hospitality and events. You will develop a digital marketing plan using an omni channel approach for different cultures.

  • Responsible Financial Management

    You will be introduced to key concepts in financial, human resource, marketing, events and tourism management by developing a deep understanding of operations management in these contexts. You will also work in a group, using a computer-based hotel business simulation exercise, to carry out research and agree recommendations to develop hospitality operations.

  • Research Methods in Hospitality, Events and Tourism Management

    This module is geared towards the preparation for, and successful completion of, high quality, rigorous and systematic hospitality, events and tourism management research. It underpins the range of capstone modules offered by the Business School and is of general relevance to the successful completion of coursework.

  • Mentoring and Leadership Development

    You will develop an in-depth understanding of leadership theory and practice. Your understanding of leadership theory will develop by engaging with contemporary debates on leadership in the hospitality, events and tourism industries, with a particular focus on ethical leadership. You will develop your professional competences and understanding of leadership practice through participation in the school’s Bacchus Mentoring Programme. This programme gives you support from a mentor from the international hospitality, events or tourism industry.

Optional modules

Dark Tourism

This module aims to introduce students to the context and practice of dark tourism within the hospitality, tourism, and events industries. Students are introduced to the conceptual and practical development of dark tourism; its scale and scope, which includes a wide range of international case studies of dark visitor attractions, dark accommodations, and dark festivals and events; as well as the underpinning issues and challenges relating to the management of dark tourism experiences, including ethical concerns, authenticity, and experience design.

Global Events and Society

The module focuses on three themes: the social and cultural contexts in which events take place; the various stakeholders who affect and are affected by events; and the social, cultural, environmental, economic and political impacts of events for states, regions, organisations, groups and individuals.

Planning and Delivering the Sustainable Event

The module is based on ISO 20121 Sustainable Events Management; this is a global industry standards framework, and focuses on key principles and concepts of international events management to the delivery of a real world event.

Revenue Management

This module introduces you to key concepts within Revenue Management such as capacity management, dynamic pricing and creative product development. To fully understand how to apply revenue management within hospitality and tourism businesses, you need to be aware of elements which influence customer purchase decisions and to evaluate the complex relationship between price, cost, volume and profit. Other electives may also be available.

Core optional modules

Optional modules

You can focus your core programme on either the event or hospitality operations and choose one from:

Global Event Operations

This module aims to provide students with a broad overview of the core competencies required to lead the complex organisational structures involved in global events management and to develop ethical values such as responsible management, sustainability and inclusivity so that students can contribute to development of sustainable event legacies.

Hospitality Operations Management

You will be introduced to key concepts in financial, human resource, marketing, events and tourism management by developing a deep understanding of operations management in these contexts. You will also work in a group, using a computer-based hotel business simulation exercise, to carry out research and agree recommendations to develop hospitality operations.

Work Placement (sandwich mode)

Optional modules

Enterprise Work Placement

You'll expand your enterprise skills in the context of the workplace. The focus will be on building your intrapreneurial mindsets during your placement, helping you to develop the curiosity, creativity, vision and resilience to be successful in a variety of organisations. You'll draw on the OBBS Golden Thread and Brookes attributes embedded within your degree, for you to be a change agent on your placement, so you drive innovation in one or more of the following areas: ethical business behaviour, inclusivity, responsible management, sustainability, digitalisation and internationalisation. Drawing on on your research skills you'll propose evidence based innovative solutions to your placement organisations’ challenges.

Final project - choose one of:

Compulsory modules

  • Research Project

    This module allows you to demonstrate a wide range of skills such as research, critical thinking, project planning, problem-solving and writing/oral skills. You could choose to complete an extended piece of independent research typically described as a "dissertation". Alternatively you may chose a "client project" which is a piece of research undertaken on behalf of an organisation to solve a real-life problem.

Please note: As our courses are reviewed regularly as part of our quality assurance framework, the modules you can choose from may vary from those shown here. The structure of the course may also mean some modules are not available to you.

Research

96% of the research conducted by The Oxford School of Hospitality Management is internationally recognised. Our aim is to conduct research that advances academics' understanding of hospitality management.

Students at an Event

Careers

Tourism is one of the world’s largest industries, so you’ll never be short of opportunities when you graduate. Your degree could take you anywhere in the world. 

Our graduates secure a range of rewarding roles including:

  • operations manager
  • visitor experience manager
  • hotel manager
  • events manager
  • food and beverage manager.

Want to expand your expertise? Completing a PhD with us is a great option if you’re eager to join the academic community or teach the next generation of industry professionals. 

Student profiles

Katie Sampson

"Oxford Brookes offered the course I wanted to study as a postgraduate student."

Read more about Katie

Sumair Rajvansh

"Through the Bacchus Mentoring Programme, I was assigned an industry professional as my mentor. It was phenomenal to get exposure to the hospitality industry. "

Read more about Sumair

Wantanee Chansawad

"Pre-sessional English helped me with my listening and speech skills. The teachers especially helped with that - they were patient and helped me prepare for my next step."

Read more about Wantanee
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Our Staff

Katie Sampson

Oxford Brookes offered the course I wanted to study as a postgraduate student.

Read more about Katie

Dr Jackie Clarke

Read more about Jackie

Dr Jano Jimenez-Barreto

Read more about Jano

Sumair Rajvansh

Through the Bacchus Mentoring Programme, I was assigned an industry professional as my mentor. It was phenomenal to get exposure to the hospitality industry.

Read more about Sumair

Wantanee Chansawad

Pre-sessional English helped me with my listening and speech skills. The teachers especially helped with that - they were patient and helped me prepare for my next step.

Read more about Wantanee

Dr Rachel Wang

Rachel is a member of the Global Conference on Hospitality, Tourism, Events and Leisure Management and teaches numerous modules while supervising Postgraduate student dissertations.

Read more about Rachel
Left
Right

Dr Jackie Clarke

Read more about Jackie

Dr Jano Jimenez-Barreto

Read more about Jano

Dr Rachel Wang

Rachel is a member of the Global Conference on Hospitality, Tourism, Events and Leisure Management and teaches numerous modules while supervising Postgraduate student dissertations.

Read more about Rachel

Related courses

Related course
International Hotel and Tourism Management
Related course
Global Events Management
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Entry requirements

International qualifications and equivalences

How to apply

Application process


Apply now

Tuition fees

Please see the fees note
Home (UK) full time
£11,150
Home (UK) part time
£5,575
Home (UK) sandwich (placement)
£2,100
International full time
£17,150
International sandwich (placement)
£2,100
Home (UK) full time
£11,600
Home (UK) part time
£5,800
Home (UK) sandwich (placement)
£2,200
International full time
£17,750
International sandwich (placement)
£2,200

Questions about fees?

Contact Student Finance on:

financefees@brookes.ac.uk

Tuition fees

2024 / 25
Home (UK) full time
£11,150
Home (UK) part time
£5,575
Home (UK) sandwich (placement)
£2,100
International full time
£17,150
International sandwich (placement)
£2,100
2025 / 26
Home (UK) full time
£11,600
Home (UK) part time
£5,800
Home (UK) sandwich (placement)
£2,200
International full time
£17,750
International sandwich (placement)
£2,200

Questions about fees?

Contact Student Finance on:

+44 (0)1865 534400

financefees@brookes.ac.uk

The full-time fees quoted are for the taught Year 1. Fees will be charged for the placement year in Year 2 and are available on request from finance-fees@brookes.ac.uk. For approximate fee levels of the placement year see the placement fee above.

The following factors will be taken into account by the University when it is setting the annual fees: inflationary measures such as the retail price indices, projected increases in University costs, changes in the level of funding received from Government sources, admissions statistics and access considerations including the availability of student support. 

How and when to pay

Tuition fee instalments for the semester are due by the Monday of week 1 of each semester. Students are not liable for full fees for that semester if they leave before week 4. If the leaving date is after week 4, full fees for the semester are payable.

  • For information on payment methods please see our Make a Payment page.
  • For information about refunds please visit our Refund policy page

Financial support and scholarships

For more information, please go to our Fees and Funding page

For general sources of financial support, see our Fees and funding pages.

Additional costs

Please be aware that some courses will involve some additional costs that are not covered by your fees. Specific additional costs for this course are detailed below.

We offer an International Business in Practice Study Trip module. This study trip is voluntary and all costs associated with the trip will need to be funded by you.

The International Study Trip modules allow you to experience ideas and practices of global business. During the trip you will have direct interaction with management executives and practices. You will attend presentations from local management executives and experts and go on site visits to major corporations and agencies. These study trips are voluntary and you will need to fund most of the costs associated with the trip. We have run study trips to Boston, Chengdu, Kuala Lumpur and Budapest.

As an example of costs, the fees in 2020 varied between £350 - £1500 and included: accommodation for seven nights, insurance, company visits and group transportation for all activities. This fee did not include international airfare, visa application fee (if relevant), dinners and activities during your free time.

Programme changes:
On rare occasions we may need to make changes to our course programmes after they have been published on the website. For more information, please visit our changes to programmes page.