Program Overview

PhD Tourism, Hospitality and Events

The PhD Tourism, Hospitality and Events is a postgraduate research course offered by the University of Essex.

Overview

The course is based in the Edge Hotel School, which is the first hotel school in the UK to have a fully operational luxury hotel on its campus. The school's research is interdisciplinary, encompassing tourism, hospitality, and events, with staff expertise clustered around three key areas.

• Tourism is defined as a social, cultural, and economic phenomenon that entails the movement of people to countries or places outside their usual environment for personal or business/professional purposes.
• The economic characterization of tourism includes spending by visitors on accommodation, food and beverage services, transportation, touring, travel agencies, recreation, entertainment, sports, events, and shopping.
• Areas of study may embrace a broad range of sectors and disciplines, including economics, marketing, human resources, management, sociology, psychology, and geography.

Research Areas

Topics may include, but are not limited to:

• Building a more environmentally, economically, and socially sustainable tourism, hospitality, and events sector
• Social and cultural issues in tourism, hospitality, and events, including equality, diversity, and inclusion
• Technology in tourism, hospitality, and events, including artificial intelligence, data, and the use of smart technology to improve and innovate visitor experiences

Expert Staff

At the Edge Hotel School, students benefit from world-class supervision and research training conducted by senior academic staff. Dr. Linda Lee is the Director of Postgraduate Research at the Edge Hotel School, overseeing the provision of graduate research programs and ensuring an environment where doctoral students can flourish as researchers.

Structure

A research degree doesn't have a taught structure, giving students the chance to investigate their chosen topic in real depth and reach a profound understanding.

Assessment

Students begin their studies by meeting with their supervisors and undertaking an intensive induction program. They attend advanced research methods training and undertake compulsory modules tailored to their individual research needs.

Dissertation

Creating a 60-80,000 word thesis is a significant task. To help students finalize their PhD and produce high-quality doctoral research, the university has several support mechanisms, including progress boards every six months and peer group debates.

Fees and Funding

• Home/UK fee: ｣5,006 per year
• International fee: ｣19,650 per year
• Fees will increase for each academic year of study.
• There may be scholarships, bursaries, or discounts available to help with the cost of the course.

Entry Requirements

• UK entry requirements: Applicants are expected to have achieved a minimum 2:1 at undergraduate level (or international equivalent) and have completed a postgraduate degree in Tourism, Hospitality, or Events or a related subject.
• International & EU entry requirements: The university accepts a wide range of qualifications from applicants studying in the EU and other countries.
• English language requirements: If English is not the first language, applicants require IELTS 6.5 overall with a minimum component score of 5.5.

What's Next

The university holds Open Days for all applicants throughout the year, providing an opportunity to find out more about studying at Essex, tour the campus and accommodation, and talk to staff and students. Applicants can apply for the postgraduate course online and are encouraged to make a preliminary enquiry directly to a potential supervisor or the Graduate Administrator within their chosen Department or School.