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International Tourism Management

MSc

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

Key facts

Start dates

September 2020

Location

Headington

Course length

Full time: 12 months or 24 months in sandwich mode which includes one year's full-time paid supervised work experience.

Part time: 24 months

Department

Oxford School of Hospitality Management

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Overview

On our International Tourism Management MSc you will study the political, social, economic challenges facing the tourism industry. You will explore:

  • how innovation and entrepreneurship might provide solutions to these challenges
  • the impact this has on consumer behaviour.

Our teaching staff are recognised experts in their fields - academic who are actively researching in this area. And you will engage with industry experts through our range of events and visiting speakers. 

By working with our industry partners, you will gain ‘real world’ experience working on a Tourism Consultancy Project.

On completing the taught element of the course you have the option to take a one year, paid work placement. We will support you in finding a placement. And you will be supervised throughout by a member of our academic team.

You may also be interested in having a look at our other related courses:

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How to apply

Entry requirements

Specific entry requirements

Normally a minimum of a second-class honours degree or equivalent in any subject. 

Entry will be subject to two satisfactory references (one of these must be an academic reference). Although useful, prior work experience in the hospitality and tourism industry is not a requirement for this course.

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/EU full time
£8,490
Home/EU part time
£5,200
International full time
£14,880
International sandwich (placement)
£4,420
Home/EU full time
£8,500
Home/EU part time
£4,250
International full time
£15,400
International sandwich (placement)
£4,600

Questions about fees?

Contact Student Finance on:

financefees@brookes.ac.uk

Tuition fees

2019/20
Home/EU full time
£8,490
Home/EU part time
£5,200
International full time
£14,880
International sandwich (placement)
£4,420
2020/21
Home/EU full time
£8,500
Home/EU part time
£4,250
International full time
£15,400
International sandwich (placement)
£4,600

Questions about fees?

Contact Student Finance on:
+44 (0)1865 483088
financefees@brookes.ac.uk

Fees quoted are for the first year only. If you are studying a course that lasts longer than one year your fees will increase each year.

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

Financial support and scholarships

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, if any, 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 destination varies from year to year, so it is not possible to give a precise cost. As an example, the fee for the Boston USA field trip in July 2019 was £1580 and included: accommodation for 7 nights in the Boston area insurance company visits (e.g. Facebook, Dunkin Brands, Trip Advisor, Microsoft, Bank of America) group transportation for all activities and some of the meals. This fee did not include international airfare, visa application fee (if relevant), dinners and activities during your free time.

Learning and assessment

You will study compulsory modules which enable you to develop a deeper understanding of the complexity of international tourism.

As a member of the Bacchus Society you will have the opportunity to meet successful alumni and industry experts.  And attend exciting events such as the Bacchus Alumni Awards. You will also be mentored by a senior industry professional. They will help you to develop your career prospects and professional network.

Our students and staff come from all over the world. This gives you a multicultural learning and social environment in one of the world's great student cities, Oxford. 

Student studying with headphones and a laptop

Study modules

Taught modules

Compulsory modules

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.

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.

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 or client project.

Final project - choose one of:

Compulsory modules

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.

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 that shown here. The structure of the course may also mean some modules are not available to you.

Learning and teaching

You will be taught through the following methods: 

  • workshops 
  • seminars 
  • lectures 
  • case study analysis 
  • one-to-one tutorials.

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

Your course tutors bring commercial expertise into the classroom, informing you of contemporary developments taking place in tourism and hospitality.

A voluntary International Business in Practice Study Trip module is included on the course.

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 field trips 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

You will be assessed on individual coursework and your dissertation or client project.

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.

Researcher with laptop and notes

After you graduate

Career prospects

This course equips you for a career in the international tourism sector. This may involve working with international tourism businesses in the private sector, such as travel agencies and tour operators, or working in the public sector with local, or national tourism organisations, destination management organisations, or government agencies. You might also consider starting your own business, or social enterprise. 

Some students choose an academic career by studying for a PhD with us, or in other universities. Our study 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

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

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

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

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.