MSc International Hospitality and Tourism Management

with optional work experience route

Attendance

Full-time

Full-time
September start – typically 12 months or 24 months with work experience
January start – typically 15 months but it can be completed in 12 months

At a glance

About this course

This course is for anyone wishing to start or develop a career in the international hospitality and tourism industries.

You choose between a full-time MSc or an MSc with work experience. This offers a UK or overseas work placement of typically 12 months. It improves your practical management skills and employability by getting real experience in the hospitality or tourism industries. Download our work placement guide (PDF, 52KB) for more information.

According to the World Travel and Tourism Council, the worldwide expenditure on hospitality and tourism is set to increase by around 60 per cent over the next 10 years. This creates many opportunities for managers with a thorough understanding of how these global industries work.

The course explores themes and developments such as
• the growth in long haul travel and issues relating to globalisation
• providing high quality customer service through organisational excellence
• increasing market competition and the importance of good leadership and entrepreneurship to maintain a competitive advantage in the hospitality and tourism industries

We show you how to manage destinations rather than a particular product or service. You look at how this differs to traditional marketing techniques and go on to prepare a realistic marketing strategy for a destination of your choice.

You also get the opportunity to work on real consultancy projects. Previous examples include developing responsible tourism policies for the Association of International Tour Operators and carrying out a feasibility study for a large hotel corporation.

Previous dissertation topics include
• researching a major airline company’s loyalty scheme and how it affects customer satisfaction
• looking at trends relating to repeat purchase behaviour in the hospitality industry

Associated careers

You can find international careers in organisations such as • hotel corporations • conference and event organisers • national tourist organisations • international tour operators • transport operators • visitor attractions • resort management • government agencies.

Recent graduates have moved into graduate training programmes with multinational hotels and found careers with international tourism organisations.

Professional recognition

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

Course content

Semester one core modules

Sector industry analysis
You develop analytical skills to gain an awareness of management issues facing the leisure industry. This module analyses the environment in which organisations in the tourism, hospitality and events industries operate. 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.

You develop analytical skills to gain an awareness of management issues facing the leisure industry. This module analyses the environment in which organisations in the tourism, hospitality and events industries operate. 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.

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. You will be encouraged to take a strategic focus to your work and explore current trends and issues and their impact on your own sector.

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

Semester one options

If you choose a hospitality concepts and innovations in semester one, you study tourism destination mangement and marketing in semester two. If you choose tourism and policy planning in semester one, you study hospitality service excellence in semester two.

Hospitality concepts and innovations
You develop your understanding of specific concepts and the range of operational competencies relevant to the diversity of the hospitality industry. You evaluate how new innovations occur in this industry, you analyse and evaluate strategies for achieving operational excellence through human and facilities planning using appropriate methods of resources. You also research the hospitality industry to identify new concepts and innovations using applied subject matter and relevant literature.

Tourism policy and planning
It is important for tourism managers to appreciate the influence of public sector interventions on the business environment and how these interventions are affected by political cultures. You examine the partnership approaches widely used in the industry which draw together private, public and voluntary sector parties. The module also illustrates how tourism leads to various impacts that need to be understood by tourism managers, including impacts on equity and environmental issues.

Semester two core modules

Leadership and entrepreneurship in hospitality and tourism
You explore the role and contribution of leadership and entrepreneurship in the hospitality and tourism industries. You develop your critical understanding of the theories and concepts of entrepreneurs, leadership and leaders. You have the opportunity to identify similarities, differences and relationships in these theories and concepts and apply them to the hospitality and tourism industries. You also undertake feasibility testing activities to develop entrepreneurial competences.

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.

Semester two options

You study either tourism destination management and marketing or hospitality service excellence, depending on which module you studied in semester one.

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.

Hospitality service excellence
You develop an understanding of the concept and value of hospitality service excellence, along with a range of management competencies, all of which are relevant to the achievement of service excellence and business development within hospitality outlets.

You also choose one option module from

September start modules
• internationalisation of hospitality • sustainable tourism and hospitality in the 21st century • international cultural events • management decision making in food and beverage operations • tourism consultancy study visit • tourism and globalisation • visitor attraction management

January start modules
• internationalisation of hospitality • sustainable tourism and hospitality in the 21st century • international cultural events • management decision making in food and beverage operations • visitor attraction management

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. On completion of the module you will be able to identify, evaluate and choose strategic options for your organisation's global development. You will develop 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 have the opportunity to experience gastronomic foods and wines from around the world and develop an understanding of current gastronomic and food related issues.

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.

Tourism and globalisation
You examine tourism's global reach and investigate themes such as why tourism businesses opt for international expansion, how globally operating tour businesses manage the diversity of tourist destinations, competition between specialist and mass market inclusive package tour operations, and the impacts of inclusive holidays on tourist destinations.

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 gives you the opportunity to demonstrate the skills and knowledge you have gained, and develop your research skills.

Assessment

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

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.

Work experience route
If English is not your first language you will need an IELTS 6.5 score with a minimum of 5.5 in all skills or equivalent.

Non work experience route
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 the required level 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 £9,000 without work experience placement, or £10,710 with work experience placement

We offer scholarship opportunities on this course for people who can demonstrate excellence in previous study or work experience. If you achieved a 2.1 or higher degree (or equivalent) or you gained a 2.2 (or equivalent) and have three years industry experience then you are eligible for a £4,500 bursary towards your course fee.

International students

2013/14 academic year

Typically £12,060 without work experience placement, or £13,500 with work experience placement

2014/15 academic year

Typically £12,150 without work experience placement, or £13,650 with work experience placement

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