Program Overview

Foundation Diploma in Tourism and Hospitality

Overview

The Foundation Diploma in Tourism & Hospitality aims to provide young students with an understanding of the tourism and hospitality industry and all the key functions within this ever-increasing business sector. Thanks to ESE’s academic excellence and unique philosophy, the study programmes provide an effective academic progression route to the development of a young student’s personal and professional dream in tourism and hospitality.

Key Features of the Foundation Programme

• Study in English in an international context – ESE’s student body represents over 70 different nationalities
• Foundation Diploma accredited by CTH and internationally recognised
• Full-time compulsory classroom attendance for the duration of 1 year
• Compact class size which enable faculty to provide the individual attention needed to help students discover their special skills and succeed in their chosen pathway
• Possibility to attend additional workshops, guest lectures, company visits or Italian class
• Exposure to valuable industry contacts and potential employers
• Additional internship placements available with Il Bottaccio in collaboration with ESE’s Internship Department

Course Programme

This qualification is designed for young (high school graduated) students who wish to learn more about the tourism and hospitality sector. The Foundation Diploma in Tourism and Hospitality aims at providing an essential introduction to the principles of business with specific reference to the hospitality industry.

In order to obtain the Foundation Diploma in Tourism & Hospitality, students must successfully complete the following 5 mandatory modules, providing 130 credits at level 3:

1. Essentials of Human Resources and Business Computing in Tourism and Hospitality (30 credits)
   • This module aims to introduce students to the essentials of human resources in tourism and hospitality. Students will understand the organisation of staff in tourism and hospitality, the principles of leadership, motivation and equal opportunities and the use of IT in tourism and hospitality.
2. Essentials of Marketing and Customer Relationships in Tourism and Hospitality (30 credits)
   • This module aims to introduce students to marketing, sales and customer relationships in the tourism and hospitality industry. Students will understand how a hospitality or tourism business is affected by external factors in which it operates. They will understand the key concepts of marketing and sales techniques. Students will gain an understanding of the importance of customer care. Students will develop skills to enable them to deliver effective customer service and to identify areas for improvements.
3. Tourism and Hospitality Industry (30 credits)
   • This module aims to introduce students to the tourism and hospitality industry. Students will understand the types and characteristics of different hotel and food service providers. Students will also understand the roles and functions of different delivery channels operating within the industry and will be able to gain an insight into how the industry has developed and is likely to develop in future.
4. Essentials of Tourism and Hospitality Operations (30 credits)
   • This module aims to introduce students to a range of functions within the tourism and hospitality industry ie front office, housekeeping, food and beverage operations, destination analysis and tour guiding operations.
5. Essential Study Skills (10 credits)
   • This unit aims to formalise and recognise the additional help and guidance we already provide students throughout the Foundation Diploma programme on how to plan, structure and conduct a research project, how to write assignments, how to make presentation of academic information etc.

Moreover, students can attend additional workshops, guest lectures and company visits that ESE organises throughout the academic year, and possibly take Italian language class to prepare for possible job opportunities in Italy.

Assessment of students’ work will be carried out by a range of methods including assignments, essay examination and work assessments.

Language of Instruction: English Start dates: September, January Locations: ESE Florence and ESE Rome

ESE's Internship Programme (Optional)

We believe that anyone can realize their dreams and have the ability to do what they really love. From the very first year of study, ESE students therefore have the concrete opportunity to proactively move towards their professional goals and target their objectives. While developing a range of marketable skills and competencies, internships will furthermore allow students to:

• Apply course knowledge in practical situations within the work environment
• Bridge the gap between undergraduate study and the labour market
• Develop inner qualities and gain a practical understanding of the concept of individual responsibility, according to which external events are projections of one’s own inner state
• Test individual career plans by obtaining experience in a chosen field, and thus helping one to better understand what it is that they really love to do
• Develop a professional network and assess internship providers for future employment opportunities.

Working in collaboration with more than fifteen hundred leading international companies, including some of FORTUNE’S 100 Best Companies to Work For, the European School of Economics offers one of the most competitive university internship programmes available today. Many students are offered jobs even before graduation. The Internship Department plays a crucial role in assisting students to identify their objectives and learn how to exert their full potential. It provides personalized and challenging internship placements worldwide at all ESE campuses.

ESE’S INTERNSHIP PORTFOLIO IN HOSPITALITY & TOURISM

• AC HOTELS
• ARMANI HOTEL
• ASA TOURS LTD (EVENTS)
• ASTORIA BOSCOLO HOTELS
• BAGLIONI HOTEL
• BEST WESTERN
• BOOKING
• BOTTACCIO RELAIS CHATEAUX
• BRITISH TOURS
• BROWN’S HOTEL
• BULGARI HOTELS
• CAPRI PALACE HOTEL
• CARDINI GROUP
• CARLTON
• CHATEAUX HOTELS
• CROWNE PLAZA
• CROWNE PLAZA ST PETERS DI ROMA
• EUROPE INCOMING
• EUROPE ODYSSEY TOURS
• EXE INTERNATIONAL PALACE
• FIRMDALE
• FOUR SEASON
• FOUR SEASONS HOTEL LTD
• GOLDEN TOWER
• GRAN MELIA VILLA AGRIPPINA
• GRAND HOTEL PLAZA
• HILTON
• HILTON MADRID
• HOLIDAY INN
• HOLIDAY INN NAPLES
• HOTEL BAGLIONI REGINA
• HOTEL DE RUSSIE
• HOTEL LES TRAIS RAIS – BASEL
• HOTEL MELIA
• HOTEL SAINT GEORGE DI ROMA
• HOTEL SINA BERNINI BRISTOL
• HOTEL UNICO
• IL BORRO TOSCANA
• INTEROPA (TRAVEL AND TOURISM AND EVENTS)
• LAGUNA PALACE HOTEL
• LE MERIDIEN
• LONDON HILTON – PARK LANE
• LONDON MARRIOTT, GROSVENOR SQUARE
• LUNGARNO COLLECTION HOTEL
• MAGNA PARS SUITES
• MANDARIN ORIENTAL
• MARRIOTT HOTELS
• MB PRIVATE CLIENTS (CORPORATE TRAVEL)
• MERIDIEN HOTEL – PICCADILLY
• MSC CRUISETECH
• NH COLLECTION PALAZZO CINQUECENTO
• NH COLLECTION VITTORIO VENETO
• NH HOTELS
• PALAZZO PARIGI
• PLANET HOTELS AND RESORTS
• PLANETARIA HOTELS
• RELAIS AND CHATEAUX GROUP
• RELAIS AND CHATEAUX HERITAGE HOTEL
• ROOMMATE HOTELS
• SAN FILIPPO REAL S.R.L.
• SELINA
• ST REGIS
• STARHOTELS
• STARWOOD HOTELS AND RESORTS
• THE DORCHESTER
• THE KENSINGTON CLOSE HOTEL
• THE LANDMARK HOTEL
• THE LANESBOROUGH HOTEL
• THE LANGHAM HOTEL
• THE MANDEVILLE HOTEL
• THE ORIENTAL CLUB
• THE RITZ – PICCADILLY
• THE RUBENS HOTEL
• THE SAVOY HOTEL
• THE TRAVELLERS CLUB
• THE WESTBURY
• THE WESTIN DRAGONARA RESORT
• VALTUR S.P.A.
• VIK HOTEL
• VILLA CORA
• VILLA PADIERNA PALACE
• VILLA SAN FILIPPO GLT
• VINCCI SELECCION ESTRELLA DEL MAR
• VIU’ HOTEL
• VP HOTELS
• W HOTELS
• WESTIN EXCELSIOR

Entry Requirements and Application

ESE encourages young students with a wide variety of backgrounds and qualifications, who meet the following entry requirements, to apply for one of the Foundation Diploma programmes:

• Having completed full time secondary education up to age 16
• Having achieved a recognised qualification at level 2 in some subjects (for ex. UK GCSE level or overseas equivalent)
• Students without English as a first language must present an IELTS certificate min. 5.0
• Completed Online Application Form including personal and academic documents, a convincing personal statement (motivation), CV and recommendation letter.

Programme Fees

Florence and Rome Campuses Foundation Programmes in Hospitality & Tourism

Registration: £ 2.500,00 Tuition: € 12.000,00

Scholarships

The scholarship is awarded by the ESE as a partial deduction from the annual tuition fee. Each student profile is considered individually. This scholarship is based on both the academic merit and need of the student applicant. It is therefore important that scholarship applications provide the a complete profile of the student’s personal, professional and/or academic merits.

To apply for the ESE Scholarship students must complete the scholarship application form and send it together with the master’s application form and documents, including a financial statement, to the ESE admissions office where they wish to study.

To maintain their scholarship award students must demonstrate continued academic excellence throughout their studies at ESE. For more information about the scholarship, please contact the ESE centre of interest.

Accreditation

The Foundation Diplomas in Tourism & Hospitality is accredited by CTH, the Confederation of Tourism and Hospitality (UK), an Ofqual recognised Awarding Organisation established in 1982 specialising in gold standard qualifications for the hospitality, culinary, travel and tourism sectors. The qualification is internationally recognised.

Qualification

The CTH Level 3 Foundation Diploma in Tourism & Hospitality is a vocationally-related qualification on the UK’s Regulated Qualification Framework and adhere to the Ofqual requirements for assigning a level to a regulated qualification.

The qualification assures recognition of learning and stature within the international hospitality industry and is accepted by employers worldwide.

The Foundation Diploma also provides for progression to other qualifications at level 4: with the Foundation Diploma, students will have direct access into ESE’s Bachelor (BA/BSc) degree programmes, as well as other university programmes.