MSc International Tourism Management

Attendance

Full-time

Full-time
September start – typically 12 months
January start – typically 15 months but it can be completed in 12 months

At a glance

About this course

This course enables you to develop or to progress a career within the tourism industry. It develops your professional and management expertise in tourism, whether you work in the international tourism industry or are from a non-tourism background.

As tourism expands there is a growing demand for well qualified and skilled employees. Interesting, diverse and challenging employment opportunities exist as tourism organisations increasingly operate at a global level. These include • national tourist organisations • destination management and marketing organisations • local, regional and national government agencies • international tour operators and visitor attractions.

You gain the skills and knowledge to become a skilled and competent manager who can respond with creative solutions to the challenges faced by the industry.

You study the broad nature of tourism through examining contemporary themes and global issues. You explore the competing needs of tourists, the tourism industry and destinations and local communities.

You study a variety of modules including • tourism policy and planning • tourism and globalisation • tourist destination management and marketing. One of the key modules, the tourism consultancy study visit, includes a study visit to Edinburgh. You also study an option module which includes sustainable tourism and hospitality in the 21st century or visitor attraction management

You have the opportunity to work on real life projects, enhancing your research knowledge and experience and contributing to your employability. We also use real life case studies and leading guest speakers from the international tourism industry to enrich your learning experience.

Our staff are internationally acclaimed and have considerable expertise, including years of industry experience working in different sectors of the international tourism industry. We are involved in cutting edge research and consultancy projects at local, national and international level.

Graduates may also wish to pursue PhD research opportunities at Sheffield Hallam. Research carried out by our current PhD students includes
• community tourism projects and external funding: a comparison of tour operators and development organisations in Ecuador
• policy needs and responses to agritourism and rural development in Thailand
• extending the value chain analysis of tourism: the influence of gender on poverty reduction in East Africa

Associated careers

Due to the industry-focused and vocational nature of this course there are excellent career opportunities within a diverse range of sectors of the international tourism industry. As tourism expands within the global arena, there is a growing demand for well qualified and highly skilled employees. Interesting and challenging employment opportunities exist as tourism organisations increasingly operate at a global level.

Graduates from this course are suitably qualified for employment in national tourist organisations, destination management and marketing organisations, local, regional and national government agencies, international tour operations and visitor attractions.

Professional recognition

This course is recognised by the Tourism Management Institute, a section of the Tourism Society.

Course content

Semester one

Sector industry analysis
You develop analytical skills to gain an awareness of management issues facing the leisure industry. You consider the internal and external business environments facing organisations and demonstrate an awareness of the functional constraints, relationships, management processes and analyse the competitive environment.

Tourism policy and planning
You examine the partnership approaches widely used in the industry which draw together private, public and voluntary sector parties. Drawing on case studies from around the world you also learn how tourism impacts on equity and environmental issues.

Marketing
We introduce you to a range of advanced marketing concepts, building on a basic understanding of marketing. You develop an understanding of consumer behaviour and advanced market segmentation techniques to gain an awareness of the links between advanced marketing concepts and the building of relationships with customers and consumers to achieve long term success.

Managing people
You gain awareness and understanding of the issues surrounding the management of people. You explore the context of employment, including labour markets, motivation to work and employee diversity as well as specific human resource management and reward.

Research methods
Crucial in providing underpinning knowledge and understanding for success within your dissertation, this module develops analytical and technical research capabilities that are related to undertaking research. By engaging with methodological and philosophical issues, you develop your own research projects based on a critical examination and evaluation of published research.

Semester two

Tourist destination management and marketing
Recognising the growing importance of destination management for organisations at national and regional levels, you compare theory with practice, highlighting the challenges facing those charged with the management and marketing of tourist destinations in an increasingly competitive international marketplace.

Tourism and globalisation
This module explores the meaning of globalisation and how the tourism industry contributes to globalisation and at the same time how it is affected by it. You discuss the politics of globalisation and the key theories related to tourism in this globalisation process/state.

You learn about consumer and industry responses to the globalisation process. You also gain first hand globalisation experience by taking part in a one-week intensive teaching week focusing on the impacts of global tourism on less economically developed countries or regions.

Research and consultancy project
This module provides you with an opportunity to design, implement and evaluate a practical project within your sector. You develop skills in problem solving and project management as well as applying theory to a real world task, community or organisational issue. You also gain experience in formulating professional reports.

Tourism consultancy study visit
This module provides you with an opportunity to apply theory to practice through carrying out real-life consultancy research for tourism organisations based in Scotland.  It involves a mid-semester residential  study visit to Edinburgh, Scotland, where you experience how tourism operates in practice, visit various visitor attractions, and meet up with your tourism business clients.  This module develops your employability skills through working as a tourism consultant and through developing your research, fieldwork and communication skills.

Options
You also choose one module from

Internationalisation of hospitality
You gain an understanding of the changing global environment in which hospitality enterprises operate and the process of international strategic decision making. After completing the module you are able to identify, evaluate and choose strategic options for your organisation's global development. You develop the skills to enable you to consider business from a global perspective developing an awareness of the differences between cultural, economic, political and markets.

Sustainable tourism and hospitality in the 21st century
Concern about climate change has encouraged greater awareness of more sustainable forms of development. Sustainable tourism applies sustainable development principles to the tourism industry. You learn to understand sustainable tourism and how it operates in practice in business and destinations.

You explore the market for this form of tourism and how obstacles to implementation can be overcome. Case studies can include greening hotels, reducing the carbon footprint of air travel and making large events more sustainable.

International cultural events
The events and conference industry operates within the setting of international cultural industries which include sport, arts and entertainment, the media and communications and heritage. Case studies of international events such as the Olympic Games, the Indian International Film Academy Awards, Glastonbury Festival and the World Snooker Championships are considered in the context of events studies.

You consider finance and resources in the themes covered and examine current practice and ideologies with investigation of policy and management developments in this complex sector.

Management decision making in food and beverage operations
The internationalisation of established cuisines together with the globalisation of food cultures provides a challenging and competitive business environment for the contemporary hospitality manager. You develop the technical and managerial skills to analyse menus and detect trends. You experience gastronomic foods and wines from around the world and develop an understanding of current gastronomic and food related issues.

Visitor attraction management
On this practical module you develop your employability skills through learning about the commercial considerations and managerial skills involved in the successful management of visitor attractions.  You examine the visitor experience, and the role of technology and visitor management.  You also explore the key issues involved in planning, developing and managing visitor attractions.  The module provides you with an opportunity to put theory into practice through study visits to regionally based visitor attractions.

Semester three

Dissertation
The dissertation provides an invaluable opportunity for you to undertake a major research based project on a topic relevant to your work or your interests. You review different research methods and techniques which enables you to demonstrate the skills and knowledge you have gained, and develop your research skills.

Assessment

• essays • management projects • problem solving exercises • group work • dissertation

Previous student dissertation topics have included an investigation into
• the potential development of film tourism
• whether climate change is a threat or opportunity for St. Kitts and Nevis

Entry requirements

Normally an honours degree or recognised equivalent qualification

We welcome enquiries from those who have substantial management experience but who do not have the normal entry requirements. We may invite you for an interview to discuss your particular background, experience and qualifications.

Through accreditation of prior learning (APL), you may be able to claim entry with credit or exemptions based on your existing qualifications, knowledge and experience.

If you do not meet the above criteria you can apply for the Graduate Diploma in Business and English. After passing this diploma we automatically offer you a place on one of our business-related masters degrees.

If English is not your first language you will need an IELTS 6.0 score with a minimum of 5.5 in all skills or equivalent. If your English language skill is currently below IELTS 6.0 or equivalent we recommend you consider a Sheffield Hallam University Pre-sessional English course which will enable you to achieve an equivalent English score.

Fees

Home and EU students

2013/14 academic year

Typically £5,705 for the course

International students

2013/14 academic year

Typically £12,410 for the course

2014/15 academic year

Typically £12,500 for the course

How to apply

Complete the application form available at www.shu.ac.uk/study/form

Contact details

For more information contact Sheffield Business School, Sheffield Hallam University, Stoddart Building, City Campus, Sheffield S1 1WB. Phone +44 (0)114 225 2820, fax +44 (0)114 225 5268, e-mail sbs@shu.ac.uk