About This Course
As the world re-opens its doors after the pandemic, it’s natural to wonder: Is Tourism Management a good degree for future jobs?
The fact is that tourism remains one of the largest industries in the world with a global value of US$ 1 trillion a year, responsible for six to seven per cent of all employment. With changes to technology, destinations and consumer attitudes, there’s never been a more exciting time to study a BSc Tourism Management.
Blending theory, best practice, industry insight, the opportunity for short and longer-term placements and visits to tourism businesses, our Tourism Management degree provides a solid grounding in tourism management, marketing and economics. It nurtures the creativity, adaptability, and flexibility to succeed in travel and tourism today.
Modern tourism management requires individuals who can respond to the changing needs and sensitivities of all stakeholders: consumers, operators, governments and suppliers, as well as the communities affected by promoted attractions and resorts.
With a focus on sustainable tourism and destination marketing, our BSc in Tourism Management not only considers how to make various destinations attractive, but also the issues that can arise – from respecting local cultural sensitivities and minimising environmental impact, to displacement and second home tourism.
Where better to study, explore and assess the economic, environmental, cultural and social impact of tourism today than in a location that attracts millions of visitors each year. Sitting between the mountains and the sea, Å·ÃÀÐÔ°®Æ¬ is a historic, cathedral city, with Snowdonia National Park and Anglesey’s coastline close by.
Å·ÃÀÐÔ°®Æ¬â€™s tourism management legacy dates back over six decades, when one of our original academics first developed the concept of positive economic impact of tourism.
Why Choose Å·ÃÀÐÔ°®Æ¬ for this Tourism Management course?Ìý
- Study your BSc in Tourism Management at a ‘live’ destination case study – a North Wales tourism hotspot with popular places to visit, such as Llanberis, Beaumaris, Llandudno and Caernarfon, on your doorstep.
- Practical in focus, this course has been designed with input from local tourism, including , and
- Our strong links with industry provide opportunities to boost your employability through placements, guest lectures, field trips and projects, working on live briefs solving real-world tourism challenges.
- You’ll be taught by staff with expertise in consumer behaviour in tourism, sustainable and wellbeing tourism, tourism taxation, cultural and geographic branding.
- You can learn a language alongside your degree at no extra cost – we offer free evening classes in French, German, Italian, Spanish and Chinese (Mandarin).
Additional Course Options
This course is available with a Placement YearÌýoption where you will study for 1 additional year. The Placement Year is undertaken at the end of the second year and students are away for the whole of the academic year.
The Placement Year provides you with a fantastic opportunity to broaden your horizons and develop valuable skills and contacts through working with a self-sourced organisation relevant to your degree subject. The minimum period in placement (at one or more locations) is seven calendar months; more usually you would spend 10-12 months with a placement provider.ÌýYou would normally start sometime in the period June to September of your second year and finish between June and September the following year.ÌýPlacements can be UK-based or overseas and you will work with staff to plan and finalise the placement arrangements.Ìý
You will be expected to find and arrange a suitable placement to complement your degree and will be fully supported throughout by a dedicated member of staff at your academic School and the University’s Careers and Employability Services.
You will have the opportunity to fully consider thisÌýoptionÌýwhen you have started your course at Å·ÃÀÐÔ°®Æ¬ and can make an application for a transfer onto thisÌýpathway at the appropriate time. Read more about the work experience opportunities that may be available to you or, if you have any questions, please get in touch. Ìý
This course is available with an International Experience YearÌýoption where you will study or work abroad for 1 additional year.Ìý You will have ‘with International Experience’ added to your degree title on graduating.
Studying abroad is a great opportunity to see a different way of life, learn about new cultures and broaden your horizons.ÌýWith international experience of this kind, you’ll really improve your career prospects. There are a wide variety of destinationsÌýand partner universities to choose from. If you plan to study in a country where English is not spoken natively, there may be language courses available for you at Å·ÃÀÐÔ°®Æ¬ and in your host university to improve your language skills.Ìý
You will have the opportunity to fully consider thisÌýoption at any time during your degree at Å·ÃÀÐÔ°®Æ¬ and make your application. If you have any questions in the meantime, please get in touch.Ìý
Read more about the International Experience Year programme and see the studying or working abroad options on theÌýStudent Exchanges section of our website.
This BSc in Tourism Management is recognised by the
Course Content
While navigating new and ongoing challenges, such as sustainability, security, and infrastructure, the tourism industry must capitalise on opportunities created by big data, personalisation, recognition systems, virtual and augmented reality, and more.
On this BSc Tourism Management, you’ll gain in-depth understanding of the tourism system and how to optimise the value chain, placing particular emphasis on the development of sustainable tourism products and services, from an economic, socio-cultural, and environmental standpoint.
You’ll evaluate tourism policies from local, national, and international industry tourism management perspectives, conducting comparative analyses between different countries and regions, taking full advantage of the lessons learned from our own bilingual location.Ìý
As the industry continues to rethink its future, you’ll cover the latest developments and issues, including digitalisation, package tourism, fragmentation, sustainable and wellbeing tourism, and the ‘double-edged sword’ of tourism: namely, the positive and negative effects on local ‘host’ communities.
Through best practice case studies, guest lectures and on-site visits to a host of tourism businesses, some of whom will assign you ‘live’ project briefs, you’ll learn how to critically assess available tourism options. This includes identifying risk factors, for example, from natural disasters or economic, political and social events, such as war and terrorism.
You’ll also develop a greater appreciation of the role that each member of the supply chain plays in creating a seamless, sustainable, economically viable, enjoyable and memorable experience – from tourism operators and regulators, to transport, accommodation and local hospitality.
What will you study on this course?
In Year 1, students will take 80 credits from the following topics, Tourism Structure and Infrastructure, Discover Economics, Marketing in Practice and Principles of Management and Organisation. Students will also take 40 credits from optional modules available in topics such Business Analytics, Digital Marketing Essentials, Foundations of Marketing, Introduction to Contemporary Management Issues in Ethics, Sustainability, HRM, and Tourism, Introduction to Employee Life-cycle, Personal Finance and Banking, Principles of Financial Accounting, Principles of Management Accounting and Technology in Marketing. Students can also choose optional modules from other Business School level 4 modules or from elsewhere in the University, subject to timetabling constraints.
In Year 2, students will take 80 credits from the following topics, Services and Experiential Marketing, Sustainable Management of Tourism Attractions, Technology and Digitalisation in Tourism and Tourism in Practice. Students will also take 40 credits from optional modules available in topics such as Business Information Systems, Corporate Finance, Leadership and HRM, Management Accounting, Management Planning and Coordination, Marketing and Social Media Communications, Marketing Communications, Marketing Research and CRM, Operations Strategy across the Enterprise and Principles of Leadership and Employee Engagement. Students can also choose optional modules from other Business School level 5 modules or from elsewhere in the University, subject to timetabling constraints and pre-requisites.
In Year 3, students will take 80 credits from the following topics Enterprise, Creativity and Innovation, Managing Sustainable and Resilient Tourism Destinations and Tourism Applied Project. Students will also take 40 credits from optional modules available in topics such as Corporate Governance, International Business and Global Competency, International Strategic Marketing, Strategic Management and Tourism Summer Placement. Students can choose optional modules from other Business School level 6 modules or from elsewhere in the University, subject to timetabling constraints and pre-requisites Please note course content is for guidance purposes only and may be subject to change.
How will you learn?Ìý
Your learning will be through a mix of lectures, interactive workshops, online support material, and insights from practitioners across a broad spectrum of different aspects of tourism. On this course we will look at enterprises of all sizes and structures, their operating times (seasonal and non-seasonal) and a range of business models from Wales and beyond.ÌýThere will be opportunities for work experience and involvement in projects relevant to the tourism sector. As part of the preparation for the work place you will also undertake some tasks as a group, building your communication and team work skills.Ìý
Your learning will be assessed by a variety of methods including coursework, presentations, examinations, project reports.
Facilities
Å·ÃÀÐÔ°®Æ¬ Business School is a leading teaching and research focused business school offering a full range of disciplines from undergraduate to doctoral level. Our staff have strong links and credibility with professional bodies, banks, regulators, and financial institutions, many have worked professionally in the accounting industry.
Many of our courses are accredited by professional bodies including: the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA); Chartered Insurance Institute (CII); Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM); Chartered Management Institute (CMI); and Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (IEMA). This not only provides a solid foundation for future professional qualification, but can also exempt you from certain professional exams and/or enable yo to fast-track your certified status.
We are proud to be a member of the and have held the Athena SWAN Bronze Award since 2019, demonstrating our commitment to equality and inclusion.
Business, Management and Marketing Facilities & SupportÌý
Bridging theory and practice, our business, management and marketing courses are designed to provide an insight into the trends and challenges impacting the world of business. Feeding their latest findings into your learning, our staff are active researchers with particular strengths in leadership and knowledge management; place and destination branding; strategic management, entrepreneurship and innovation; growth and development strategies in business; consumer behaviour; place attachment, social media marketing and marketing in small-and-medium sized enterprises.
We firmly believe in the importance of gaining hands-on, business-related experience, offering plenty of opportunities to work on real-world projects and gain work experience through placements and internships.
Å·ÃÀÐÔ°®Æ¬ Business School adopts the Principles of Responsible Management Education (PRME) and has signed up to the UN Global Compact and UN Sustainable Development Goals. This means you’ll graduate with an appreciation and knowledge of sustainable practices, much sought-after by employers. To build your own network, raise your profile and develop new skills, you’ll also be encouraged to take part in national and international competitions, such as The Pitch and Universities Business Challenge Worldwide.
Part of Å·ÃÀÐÔ°®Æ¬, officially opened in 2018 as Wales’s first dedicated science park. It provides a home to new and cutting-edge companies in the science and technology sectors, including start-ups by our graduates. M-Sparc provides bespoke business support and unrivalled facilities for its tenants to develop and grow new businesses, while our students benefit from opportunities for work placement and future employment.Ìý
Since its launch in 2008, the University’s £15m Management Centre has developed a reputation as Wales’s premier residential training and conference centre. Capitalising on Å·ÃÀÐÔ°®Æ¬ Business School’s expertise, it offers professional training and development programmes and is an approved Chartered Management Institute (CMI) centre. The Edwardian building features flexible meeting and conference rooms, together with a cafeteria and 4* Visit Wales graded guest accommodation. Home to Å·ÃÀÐÔ°®Æ¬ Business Club and Institute of Directors (IoD) North Wales Hub, it’s also a great place to meet and network with working professionals.Ìý
General University Facilities
Library and Archive Services
Our four libraries provide a range of attractive study environments including collaborative work areas, meeting rooms and silent study spaces.
We have an extensive collection of books and journals and many of the journals are available online in full-text format.
We house one of the largest university-based archives not only in Wales, but also the UK. Allied to the Archives is the Special Collections of rare printed books.
Learning Resources
There is a range of learning resources available, supported by experienced staff, to help you in your studies.Ìý
The University’s IT Services provides computing, media and reprographics facilities and services including:
- Over 1,150 computers for students, with some PC rooms open 24 hours a day
- Blackboard, a commercial Virtual Learning Environment, that makes learning materials available on-line.Ìý
Course Costs
General University Costs
Home (UK) students
- The cost of a full-time undergraduate course is £9,000 per year (2021/22 entry and 2022/23 entry).
- The fee for all placement, international, and sandwich years is £1,350 (2021/22 and 2022/23).
- More information on fees and finance for Home (UK) students.
International (including EU) students
Additional Costs
There are also some common additional costs that are likely to arise for students on all courses, for example:
- If you choose to study abroad or take the International Experience Year as part of your course.
- If you attend your Graduation Ceremony, there will be a cost for gown hire (£25-£75) and cost for additional guest tickets (c.£12 each).
Course-specific additional costs
Depending on the course you are studying, there may be additional course-specific costs that you will be required to meet. These fall into three categories:
- Mandatory Costs: these are related to a particular core or compulsory module that you’ll be required to complete to achieve your qualification e.g. compulsory field trips, uniforms for students on placement, DBS Check.
- Necessarily Incurred Costs: these may not be experienced by all students, and will vary depending on the course e.g. professional body membership, travel to placements, specialist software, personal safety equipment.
- Optional Costs: these depend on your choice of modules or activity and they are shown to give you an indication of the optional costs that may arise to make sure your choice is as informed as possible. These can include graduation events for your course, optional field trips, Welcome Week trips.
Entry Requirements
GCSE Maths at grade C/4 required if not demonstrated by the Level 3 qualification.
Offers are tariff based, 96-128 tariff points from a Level 3 qualification* e.g.:
- A Levels:Ìý General Studies and Key Skills not normally accepted
- BTEC National Extended Diploma: MMM - DDM
- Cambridge Technical Extended Diploma: MMM - DDM
- International Baccalaureate Diploma: accepted
- Access: pass required
- Welsh Baccalaureate:ÌýWe will accept this qualification in conjunction with other level 3 qualifications
- T Levels: T Levels in a relevant subject considered on a case-by-case basis
- Extended Project Qualification:ÌýPoints can include a relevant Extended Project (EPQ) but must include a minimum 2 full A-levels, or equivalent.
We are happy to accept combinations of the qualifications listed above, as well as alternative Level 3 qualifications such as City & Guilds, Access and Cambridge Technical Diplomas.Ìý
We also welcome applications from mature learners.
International Candidates: International Candidates: school leaving qualifications that are equivalent to A levels/Level 3 and/or college diplomas are accepted from countries worldwide (subject to minimum English Language requirements). More information can be found on ourÌýInternational pages.
*For a full list of accepted Level 3 qualifications, go toÌý.
GCSE Maths at grade C/4 required if not demonstrated by the Level 3 qualification.
Offers are tariff based, 104 - 136 tariff points from a Level 3 qualification* e.g.:
- A Levels:Ìý General Studies and Key Skills not normally accepted
- BTEC National Extended Diploma: DMM - DDD
- Cambridge Technical Extended Diploma: DMM - DDD
- International Baccalaureate Diploma: accepted
- Access: pass required
- Welsh Baccalaureate:ÌýWe will accept this qualification in conjunction with other level 3 qualifications
- T Levels: T Levels in a relevant subject considered on a case-by-case basis
- Extended Project Qualification:ÌýPoints can include a relevant Extended Project (EPQ) but must include a minimum 2 full A-levels, or equivalent.
We are happy to accept combinations of the qualifications listed above, as well as alternative Level 3 qualifications such as City & Guilds, Access and Cambridge Technical Diplomas.Ìý
We also welcome applications from mature learners.
International Candidates: International Candidates: school leaving qualifications that are equivalent to A levels/Level 3 and/or college diplomas are accepted from countries worldwide (subject to minimum English Language requirements). More information can be found on ourÌýInternational pages.
*For a full list of accepted Level 3 qualifications, go toÌý.
General University Requirements
To study for a degree, you’ll be asked for a minimum of UCAS Tariff points. For a fuller explanation of the UCAS Tariff Points, please see .
We accept students with a wide range of qualifications and backgrounds and consider each application individually.
All students need to have good basic skills and the University also values IT and communication skills.
As part of the University’s policy, we consider applications from prospective disabled students on the same grounds as all other students.
We also consider applications from mature students who can demonstrate the motivation and commitment to study a university programme. Each year we enrol a significant number of mature students. For more information about studying as a mature student, see our Studying at Å·ÃÀÐÔ°®Æ¬ section of the website.
EU and International Students' Entry Requirements
For detailed guidance on the entry requirements for EU and International Students, including the minimum English Language entry requirement, please visit the Entry Requirements by Country pages. International applicants can also visit the International Education Centre section of our website for further details.
Å·ÃÀÐÔ°®Æ¬ offers International Incorporated Bachelor Degrees for International students whose High School qualification is not equivalent to the UK school leaving qualification. The first year (or Year 0) is studied at Å·ÃÀÐÔ°®Æ¬ International College, an embedded College on our University campus and delivered by Oxford International Education Group.
Careers
In 2021, there were 289 million jobs in the travel and tourism sector worldwide. Here in the UK alone, it remains one of the largest employers with millions working in travel companies, transport, accommodation, hospitality, leisure and more.
It’s a career that can take you all over the world, which is a good reason to learn a second language for free during your time here at Å·ÃÀÐÔ°®Æ¬. You can also study or work abroad during your time here.
On successfully completing the BSc in Tourism Management, you’ll have gained the knowledge and skills to take the tourism industry forward and into the future, with a particular focus on the development of sustainable tourism products and services.
You could go on to pursue a wide range of roles from destination and tour management to tourist information and visitor bureaus, passenger transport, consulting or for the operators themselves – cruise companies, airlines, hotel chains, heritage and cultural organisations, music venues, conference centres or theme parks, to name just a few.
Tourism management is a good course for the transferrable skills you develop – interpersonal, intercultural sensitivity, communications, critical thinking and problem-solving, time management and project management – are much sought-after by employers. This allows you to follow more general career paths if you prefer, anything from business and marketing to human resources management.
Typical roles may include:
- Destination manager/marketer
- Manager of tourism associations
- Manager/marketer of tourism attractions
- Tourism planner
- Marketer of hotel chains and consortia
- Marketer of convention centres
- Consultant for a wide range of tourism companies
- Entrepreneur of tourism companies/attractions
- Holiday representative
- Tour guide
- Travel agent
Employability Opportunities when studying Tourism ManagementÌý
At Å·ÃÀÐÔ°®Æ¬ Business School we run a number of extracurricular activities that are designed to help you apply your knowledge and practice your skills. Taking part in such activities are completely optional but highly recommended as they can help to increase your employability by giving you an opportunity to work on your problem-solving, communication and team work skills.Ìý
Organised by the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) in partnership with Mintel, is an international competition designed to recognise and reward the marketing talent of the future. Each year, teams of two or three second or third year business and marketing students take on a real-life marketing challenge set by a leading global brand.Ìý
The is the world’s longest established and leading undergraduate simulation-based competition. Participating in teams of up to five, students adopt the role of board directors in a series of realistic, simulated companies, making critical business decisions to steer the company’s performance. In 2018, Å·ÃÀÐÔ°®Æ¬ students beat over 200 other teams to come second in the final.Ìý
Bringing together students from the business, arts, science, and engineering faculties places students into interdisciplinary teams for 10-weeks and challenges students to answer a ‘live brief’ from industry. Challenging students to create a new product, service or experience that addresses the brief of a real-world client the programme focused on developing student’s employability and enterprise skills. In 2021, Enterprise by Design programme was named the winner of the enterprise catalyst award at the National Enterprise Educator Awards.
Opportunities at Å·ÃÀÐÔ°®Æ¬
The University’s Careers and Employability Service provides a wide range of resources to help you achieve your graduate ambitions.Ìý
The Å·ÃÀÐÔ°®Æ¬ Employability Award (BEA)
The BEA is a comprehensive online course that you can work through at your own pace, taking you through all the steps you need to take to explore, prepare and apply for your dream career.
Internships
Å·ÃÀÐÔ°®Æ¬ runs a paid internship scheme within the university’s academic and service departments.
Student Volunteering
Volunteering widens your experience and improves your employability. Find out more about volunteering on the .
Foundation Year
A 'with Foundation Year' option is available for this course. Apply forÌýBusiness Management (with Foundation Year).
What is a Foundation Year course?
If you don’t have the required qualifications for the degree-level course or are looking to re-enter education after time away from study, then a Foundation Year Programme might be the right choice for you.
The Foundation Year is an excellent introduction to studying this subject at university and will provide you with the knowledge, skills and confidence required to go on to study this course at degree-level.
When you have successfully completed the Foundation Year, you can progress on to the first year of this degree-level course.