The following compulsory modules enable you to develop a deep understanding of the complexity of international tourism.
Hospitality, Tourism and Events Synthesis: You will be given an overview of the context, frameworks, concepts, theories and issues in the tourism, events and hospitality industries. You will learn to analyse and evaluate complex tourism, events and hospitality situations.
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.
Tourist Consumer Behaviour and Marketing: You will explore the theoretical frameworks which underpin patterns of consumer demand. Effective and creative marketing is based on sound analysis and is relevant to the complete range of hospitality, events and tourism sectors. You will be taught models and concepts drawn from mainstream marketing, tourism marketing and the social sciences, so that you develop a comprehensive understanding of tourist consumer behaviour and the tourist decision-making process.
Tourism Consultancy Project: This project is an opportunity for you to engage in the practical development and delivery of a tourism consultancy project in the public, private or voluntary sector. Through the project you will gain an understanding of the role tourism plays in delivering social, economic and environmental benefits to destinations and communities. You will also have the opportunity to develop the skills required by those who work in tourism or other sectors e.g. project management, negotiation, facilitation.
Contemporary Issues in International Hospitality, Events and Tourism: You will develop a research focus from a wide range of topics including: branding, climate change, digital marketing, entrepreneurship, environmental issues, events, finance, human resources, marketing, risk management, revenue management, social media, and tourist consumer behaviour - as applied to the international tourism sector. You will research your chosen subject area, critically analyse the literature and theory, and write an article suitable for publication in an academic journal. You will work on your own with the support of a specialist academic tutor.
Research Methods: You will be introduced to approaches, methodologies and resources available to improve your researching capabilities. You will design the methodology for a research project that helps you understand how to collect and analyse the data required for writing your dissertation.
Dissertation: For the dissertation, you will work independently, supervised by a specialist tutor, to study in depth your chosen topic from multiple perspectives. 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.
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 tourism sector, 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 an experienced mentor from the international tourism industry.
As our courses are reviewed regularly as part of our quality assurance framework, module choices available may vary from those listed here.
Teaching and learning
The course involves an innovative learning experience in the Tourism Consultancy Project and lots of opportunities to shape your own learning.
The tutors are internationally renowned for their research and consultancy activities, and their excellent links with the international tourism industry. They bring commercial expertise into the classroom to inform you of contemporary developments taking place in tourism and hospitality. Learning and teaching is very much student-centred, participative and interactive. You will take part in workshops, seminars, lectures, case study analysis and one-to-one tutorials.
Approach to assessment
Assessment is based predominantly on individual coursework and the dissertation.
Specialist facilities
Oxford Brookes Business School has now moved to its new home at our Headington Campus. The university’s Headington Campus have undergone a £30m refurbishment to provide a new home for the Business School, which consists of a lecture theatre, teaching rooms, social learning space and a café. There is a new modern hall for teaching and special events like graduation.
This new home will help us to collaborate even more closely with university colleagues in other departments. It also provides a new Main Hall and a vibrant gateway into the Headington Campus. With these innovative spaces, students and staff can interact and collaborate in first-class facilities.
The Headington Campus is also home to the new John Henry Brookes Building, being the most significant project in the history of Oxford Brookes University. Set at the heart of our Headington campus, it has been designed for the future of higher education and has transformed the experiences of our students and the entire University community. The John Henry Brookes Building brings together the library and essential support services that offer academic, careers and international student advice. Find out more about the John Henry Brookes Building.
The majority of our student halls are close to the Headington Campus.
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.