Program Overview

Tourism and Hospitality MSc

Overview

An MSc is an internationally respected qualification. In one year, you'll develop the skills and knowledge to advance rapidly in tourism and hospitality management.

This master's course takes a social science approach to tourism and hospitality and combines it with practical skills for the workplace. You’ll complete theoretical modules ‘Tourism Concepts and Issues’ and ‘Critical Theories and Methods for Tourism, Hospitality and Events’, and in the final phase of the course, you’ll complete a major project personal to your interests and career aspirations.

Why us?

• Guest speakers from industry and renowned academics
• Field trip opportunities

Course structure

You’ll be taught by passionate academics who produce world-leading research. A typical week for you will include lectures, seminars, study visits, and group work. These are supported by a range of guest speakers from diverse academic and industry backgrounds.

Compared to an undergraduate course, you'll find that this master's degree requires a higher level of independent working.

Your progress will be assessed by essays, presentations, portfolios of evidence, and a dissertation.

Part-time students can expect around three hours of contact time a week.

Course modules

Hospitality Management Studies (30 credits)

Gain a solid introduction to hospitality as a global industry, covering key issues such as the complex structure of the industry in terms of ownership and employment practices. Address the industry’s impacts in terms of triple bottom line indicators (economic, socio-cultural, and environmental). Explore operational functions of hospitality such as food and beverage.

Tourism Concepts and Issues (30 credits)

Discover more about the complex and exciting world of tourism. Explore tourism as a social and cultural practice, tourist subjectivities, and the spatial dimension of tourism. Consider perspectives from different disciplines while sitting firmly within the social sciences.

Research Methods for the Services Sector (30 credits)

Expand your knowledge of the key theories, methodologies and philosophies adopted in tourism, hospitality, aviation and events research. Develop your practical skills using quantitative data analysis software in workshops. Gain the critical foundations required to undertake your own independent research project.

Current Practices in the Visitor Economy (30 credits)

Gain inside knowledge of the current trends in the tourism, hospitality, aviation, and events industries. Develop your understanding of current practices in the industry with the opportunity to undertake a residential field trip in the UK. Critically reflect on the relationship between theory and practice in relation to the visitor economy.

Tourism and Hospitality Major Project (60 credits)

Focus on an area of tourism or hospitality management of your choice and design and implement a research proposal. Set aims and objectives, select and implement research methods, conduct a literature review, collect empirical data, and analyse appropriately. Receive expert supervision and training in research methods, research design, and the interpretation of data and its relation to contextual material.

Entry requirements

Our typical offer is:

• Qualification: a bachelor's degree (3 years)
• Minimum grade: 2:2 classification

If you already hold a postgraduate qualification, please see our Applying for additional postgraduate degrees Help and Advice article.

If you don't meet our standard entry requirements, you can take one of the foundation pathways at our partners ONCAMPUS Sunderland. Find out more information and whether your course is eligible on our ONCAMPUS page.

If your qualification is not listed above, please contact the Student Administration team at for further advice.

We require you to hold at least a 2:2 honours degree or equivalent.

Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL)

If you feel you already know some of the topics covered in this course, either due to previous learning or from experience of work, then you may not need to study all of the course. Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL) is the name given to the process of gaining credit towards a qualification because of something you've learned in the past. If you're eligible for APL, you won't have to learn the same topic again, so you can be exempt from a module, set of modules, or year of a course. If you think you may be eligible for APL, please contact the course leader.

Fees and finance

• 2025/26 fees:
  • £8,500 if you're from the UK
  • £17,000 if you're an international student
  • £500 per 10 credits for part-time study

Please note that part-time courses are not available to international students who require a student visa to study in the UK.

If you're unsure whether you qualify as a UK, EU, or international student, find out more in our Help and Advice article.

Take a look at the scholarships and bursaries that may be available to you.

This information was correct at the time of publication.

Career ready

An MSc is a challenging qualification which requires significant dedication. Employers recognise its worth, and the value that an MSc-qualified graduate can bring to their organisation. This master's course equips you with the skills and understanding to progress rapidly in tourism and hospitality management, and potential employment opportunities include hotel and resort management, attractions and museums, destination marketing agencies, tourism companies, restaurant and bar management, and catering management.