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International Hotel and Tourism Management

MSc

Key facts
Overview
How to apply
Tuition fees
Learning and assessment
Research
After you graduate
Our Staff

Key facts

Start dates

January 2023 / September 2023

Location

Headington

Course length

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: 24 months for UK and EU students (teaching normally provided on one day or two half days each week during semesters.)

Department

Oxford School of Hospitality Management

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Overview

This programme focuses on the interconnections between hotel and tourism management and places emphasis on knowledge and skills needed to develop a career in a dynamic business environment.

An important cornerstone of this programme is career development through a range of activities, which are designated as both essential and co-curricular/extra-curricular, giving students the opportunity to further develop their career interests in their own time.

The programme also emphasises student choice by providing several study options throughout the programme, including a choice in focus on either the financial management or more broad-based operations management within hotels, a range of free electives, various co-curricular and extra-curricular activities and a choice of either a traditional dissertation or client project for their capstone.

group in a museum

How to apply

Entry requirements

Specific entry requirements

A minimum of a second class honours degree (2:2) in any academic discipline, or equivalent overseas degree from a recognised institution.

This course attracts students from a wide range of backgrounds and nationalities. 

Applicants who possess a diploma rather than a good degree may be eligible for entry provided they have compensatory work experience and can demonstrate career development

Please also see the University's general entry requirements.

English language requirements

If English is not your first language you will need to satisfy the university's English language requirements:

  • IELTS minimum level 6.0, (with a minimum of 6.0 in reading and writing, and 5.5 in listening and speaking).
  • If you have completed your undergraduate degree in the UK (at least one full year of study) you will automatically meet our English language requirements

Please also see the University's standard English language requirements.

International qualifications and equivalences

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English requirements for visas

If you need a student visa to enter the UK you will need to meet the UK Visas and Immigration minimum language requirements as well as the University's requirements. Find out more about English language requirements.

Pathways courses for international and EU students

We offer a range of courses to help you meet the entry requirements for your postgraduate course and also familiarise you with university life in the UK.

Take a Pre-Master's course to develop your subject knowledge, study skills and academic language level in preparation for your master's course.

If you need to improve your English language, we offer pre-sessional English language courses to help you meet the English language requirements of your chosen master’s course.

Terms and Conditions of Enrolment

When you accept our offer, you agree to the Terms and Conditions of Enrolment. You should therefore read those conditions before accepting the offer.

Application process

Apply now

Tuition fees

Please see the fees note
Home (UK) full time
£10,200
Home (UK) part time
£5,100
Home (UK) sandwich (placement)
£2,000
International full time
£16,200
International sandwich (placement)
£2,000
Home (UK) full time
£10,600
Home (UK) part time
£5,300
Home (UK) sandwich (placement)
£2,000
International full time
£16,800
International sandwich (placement)
£2,000

Questions about fees?

Contact Student Finance on:

financefees@brookes.ac.uk

Tuition fees

2022 / 23
Home (UK) full time
£10,200
Home (UK) part time
£5,100
Home (UK) sandwich (placement)
£2,000
International full time
£16,200
International sandwich (placement)
£2,000
2023 / 24
Home (UK) full time
£10,600
Home (UK) part time
£5,300
Home (UK) sandwich (placement)
£2,000
International full time
£16,800
International sandwich (placement)
£2,000

Questions about fees?

Contact Student Finance on:

+44 (0)1865 483088

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.

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.

Learning and assessment

Teaching and assessment on the MSc Hotel and Tourism Management is guided by student study plans for each module which may include but is not limited to:

  • In-class, face-to-face teaching such as lectures, seminars and guest lectures.
  • Supplementary online activities such as recorded lectures, group tutorials and one-to-one student support
  • Experiential activities such as immersive field visits, computer simulations, digital application training


We are guided by the IDEAS framework, which is a curriculum model and design tool that supports teaching, learning and assessment at Oxford Brookes University to deliver inclusive, digitally enabled curricula. The five elements of IDEAS represent current sector-wide best practice in inclusive learning design and Education for Sustainable Development. These are: Inclusive Learning, Digital Inclusion, Employability Learning, Assessment for Learning and Sustainability Mindset

Students discussing subject

Start this course in January

You have the option to start this course 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

Taught modules

Compulsory modules

International Hotel Employees

You will explore academic real life business practice as it relates to managing people (employees) within hotels, which includes key understanding how managing people is linked to business strategies, and how to manage people of varying cultural diversity, as well as the aspects of equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI).

Digital Marketing and Consumer Experience

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

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.

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 increase 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, which will match you with 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.

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.

Professional development (compulsory for those on sandwich mode)

This supervised work experience module is part of the two-year sandwich mode for international students, who joined their MSc Programme in September or January. The module offers MSc students paid supervised work experience in one of a range of hospitality, tourism and event organizations in the UK for up to 52 weeks (40 weeks minimum).

Strategic Financial Management

You will focus on the use of financial information for managerial decision making in the international hotel, events and tourism industries. You will study the key financial issues impacting on managerial decision-making in planning for profit and managing assets. You will explore the financial implications of current developments affecting the management of hotels, events and tourism businesses.

Tourism Digital Distribution Strategies

The main aim of this module is to enable you to critically evaluate current and emerging developments in electronic distribution systems. You will explore the impact of global distribution systems and social media from both a consumer and an organisational perspective.

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.

Tourism Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Tourism innovation and entrepreneurship are fundamental to the development of tourism products and services that contribute to sustainable local, regional and national development strategies. You will consider the process of innovation, including the role of key tourism stakeholders such as government, the private sector, NGOs and local communities.

Revenue Management

This module introduces you to key concepts within Revenue Management such as capacity management, dynamic pricing and forecasting. To fully understand how to apply revenue management within hospitality and tourism businesses, you need to be aware of the relationship between price and value and how this influences customer purchase decisions. Other electives may also be available.

Core optional modules

Optional modules

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

Responsible Financial Management

You will be introduced to key concepts, theories and techniques in responsible  financial management. You will be given a concise introduction and explanation of financial accounting, management accounting and core elements of responsible financial management.

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.

Placement

Optional modules

Sandwich mode / Placement

If you decide to take the sandwich mode your year of full-time taught study will be followed by one year of full-time, supervised work experience. The time on supervised work experience is paid and spent with a suitable international hospitality and tourism employer. You carry out an assessed project for the company as part of your academic studies on the placement.

Final project - choose one of:

Compulsory modules

Dissertation

The dissertation is an opportunity for you to investigate a topic in depth from multiple perspectives, working independently and supervised by a specialist tutor. You choose the hospitality, events or tourism management topic which you wish to study. This can be the same topic as in your Contemporary Issues module or a different subject area.

By writing the dissertation you will develop your ability to critically review literature, identify the gaps in current knowledge and practise relevant research skills to facilitate data collection, analysis, interpretation and presentation.

Client Project

You have the opportunity to link theory to practice by analysing a real organisational issue. Having identified a project (with the approval of both the client company and the Module Leader) you investigate a particular issue, one that can be supported through the relevant literature and by conducting primary research with the client. This module is not an internship but can be taken in conjunction with an internship you have identified and are participating in. The 'issue' in question may be a current management problem for the client organisation or related to future strategic choices. The Client Project provides you with a significant learning and personal development experience.

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.

Download course structure chart

Learning and teaching

Below is a brief overview of how the IDEAS framework is applied in programme’s teaching and learning:

  • Inclusive Learning - We create an environment that supports the learning needs of a diverse range of learners, which includes but is not limited to international students, non-native speakers of English, LGBTQI+ students and students with disabilities.
  • Digital Inclusion - We offer support and training in digital technologies used within our learning environments.
  • Employability Learning - A practice-focused pedagogy, which includes action-based, risk embracing, authentic, relevant, experiential teaching and learning.
  • Assessment for Learning - Assessment strategies provide a variety of assessment types, including group and individual work.
  • Sustainability Mindset - Students are familiarised with standards and relevant codes of practice about subject areas such as the UN Sustainability Goals and the UNWTO’s sustainable tourism development guidelines

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.

Each year, there are opportunities to go on other field trips as part of your study programme at no extra cost such as visits to:

  • attractions
  • hotels
  • museums
  • the corporate office of a leading international hotel company.

Field trips are optional and you will need to cover the cost. Some field trips are subsidised.

Assessment

Assessment methods used on this course

Assessment is based predominantly on individual coursework and the dissertation.

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 and tourism management.

Researcher using a laptop in a quiet space

After you graduate

Career prospects

After graduation from this course you will have excellent career prospects in hospitality and tourism – especially in the international hotel industry. Our graduates go on to work for the leading hotel brands in a wide range of roles either in the UK or internationally with companies including:

  • Accor
  • Compass
  • Carnival
  • Four Seasons
  • Hilton
  • Hyatt
  • IHG
  • Shangri-La
  • Mandarin Oriental
  • Marriott
  • Radisson
  • Sodexho
  • Sol Melia
  • Starwood
  • TUI.

 Depending upon their prior experience, graduates have obtained supervisory/junior management positions and operational roles.

The optional one-year work placement is a great opportunity for those who would like to gain work experience in the hospitality industry after the course.

By doing a work placement you will receive:

  • paid, full-time work experience
  • practical experience with a top employer in the hospitality, events and tourism industry
  • a dedicated service to guide your placement search
  • tailored placement skills development workshops
  • continual support from the school
  • improved graduate employability
  • the chance of a firm offer of employment.

Some students choose an academic career by studying for a PhD with us, or in other universities. Our programme provides students with excellent preparation for doctoral studies and careers in teaching in universities.

Our Staff

Professor Levent Altinay

Levent is the Research Lead of Oxford School of Hospitality Management and Director of the Centre for International Tourism and Events Management Research. Levent’s research interests are in entrepreneurship, strategic alliance and international business.

Read more about Levent

Dr Rebecca Hawkins

Rebecca is a researcher and consultant in Hospitality, focusing on developing strategies for sustainable tourism and has been involved in the practical implementation of sustainability projects.

Read more about Rebecca
Left
Right

Professor Levent Altinay

Levent is the Research Lead of Oxford School of Hospitality Management and Director of the Centre for International Tourism and Events Management Research. Levent’s research interests are in entrepreneurship, strategic alliance and international business.

Read more about Levent

Dr Rebecca Hawkins

Rebecca is a researcher and consultant in Hospitality, focusing on developing strategies for sustainable tourism and has been involved in the practical implementation of sustainability projects.

Read more about Rebecca

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.