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Introduction
Why choose this course?
Course structure
We prepare you for a variety of roles in the hospitality, tourism, and events industries.
You’ll look at the global visitor economy, examining how these 3 areas depend on each other to survive. Following this, we’ll look at the role of digital marketing and consumer experience. You’ll think about how to use different platforms and get to know the impact of review sites.
What makes this course stand out is the range of optional modules. You might decide to plan and deliver a sustainable event. Maybe you’ll design a new visitor attraction for a dark tourism destination. Or perhaps you’ll learn more about revenue management.
For your final project, you’ll either complete a dissertation or carry out a client project. This will put your research skills to the test and give you the opportunity to apply your expertise to a challenge facing the industry.
Overview
Imagine a career where 2 days are never the same. Where you’ll meet new people, travel to new places and maybe even learn new languages. On our International Hospitality, Events and Tourism Management MSc, you’ll do exactly that.
If you want to work in hospitality, events or tourism, but aren't sure which area, this course is for you. It doesn’t matter if you don't have experience – we’ll teach you everything you need to know to stand out.
Helping you secure the job you want is really important to us. You’ll get hands-on experience through live projects and field trips, and help finding a one year paid placement. Past placement organisations include Marriott and the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA).
Thanks to our unique Bacchus Mentoring programme, you’ll receive support from a senior professional working in the hospitality, tourism or events industry who can help you navigate your career path. We’ll also introduce you to other professionals, employers, and alumni. All of this will help you grow your network and build connections.
Modules
Compulsory modules
Global Visitor Economy
This module introduces students to key concepts in the visitor economy and looks specifically at the sectors of tourism, hospitality and events by developing knowledge, understanding and synthesis of their contemporary milieu.
Digital Marketing and Consumer Experience
This module seeks to explore the nature of digital marketing in the global visitor economy and how this is transforming the nature of tourism, hospitality and events. It also seeks to analyse how a digital marketing plan is developed using an omni channel approach for different cultures.
Hospitality Operations Management
You will be introduced to hospitality operations within an international context. Drawing on relevant management principles, you will develop an understanding of financial, human resource and marketing management knowledge at the unit level, which underpins the successful management of hospitality, events and tourism companies. You will take part in a computer based hotel business simulation assignment.
Strategic Financial Management
You will focus on the use of financial information for managerial decision making in the international hotel, events and tourism industries. You will study the key financial issues impacting on managerial decision-making in planning for profit and managing assets. You will explore the financial implications of current developments affecting the management of hotels, events and tourism businesses.
Research Methods in Hospitality, Events and Tourism Management
This module is geared towards the preparation for, and successful completion of, high quality, rigorous and systematic hospitality, events and tourism management research. It underpins the range of capstone modules offered by the Business School and is of general relevance to the successful completion of coursework.
Mentoring and Leadership Development
You will develop an in-depth understanding of leadership theory and practice. Your understanding of leadership theory will develop by engaging with contemporary debates on leadership in the hospitality, events and tourism industries, with a particular focus on ethical leadership. You will develop your professional competences and understanding of leadership practice through participation in the school’s Bacchus Mentoring Programme. This programme gives you one-to-one support from a mentor from the international hospitality, events or tourism industry.
Optional modules
Dark Tourism
This module aims to introduce students to the context and practice of dark tourism within the hospitality, tourism, and events industries. Students are introduced to the conceptual and practical development of dark tourism; its scale and scope, which includes a wide range of international case studies of dark visitor attractions, dark accommodations, and dark festivals and events; as well as the underpinning issues and challenges relating to the management of dark tourism experiences, including ethical concerns, authenticity, and experience design.
Professional development (compulsory for those on sandwich mode)
This supervised work experience module is part of the two-year sandwich mode for international students, who joined their MSc Programme in September or January. The module offers MSc students paid supervised work experience in one of a range of hospitality, tourism and event organizations in the UK for up to 52 weeks (40 weeks minimum).
Tourism Digital Distribution Strategies
The main aim of this module is to enable you to critically evaluate current and emerging developments in electronic distribution systems. You will explore the impact of global distribution systems and social media from both a consumer and an organisational perspective.
Global Events and Society
The module focuses on three themes: the social and cultural contexts in which events take place; the various stakeholders who affect and are affected by events; and the social, cultural, environmental, economic and political impacts of events for states, regions, organisations, groups and individuals.
Planning and Delivering the Sustainable Event
The module is based on ISO 20121 Sustainable Events Management; this is a global industry standards framework, and focuses on key principles and concepts of international events management to the delivery of a real world event.
Revenue Management
This module introduces you to key concepts within Revenue Management such as capacity management, dynamic pricing and creative product development. To fully understand how to apply revenue management within hospitality and tourism businesses, you need to be aware of elements which influence customer purchase decisions and to evaluate the complex relationship between price, cost, volume and profit. Other electives may also be available.
Tourism Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Tourism innovation and entrepreneurship are fundamental to the development of tourism products and services that contribute to sustainable local, regional and national development strategies. You will consider the process of innovation, including the role of key tourism stakeholders such as government, the private sector, NGOs and local communities.
Optional modules
Sandwich mode / Placement
If you decide to take the sandwich mode your year of full-time taught study will be followed by one year of full-time, supervised work experience. The time on supervised work experience is paid and spent with a suitable international hospitality and tourism employer. You carry out an assessed project for the company as part of your academic studies on the placement. You will be fully supported in finding a placement.
Compulsory modules
Dissertation
This is an opportunity for you to investigate a topic in depth from multiple perspectives, working independently and supervised by a specialist tutor. You choose the hospitality, events or tourism management topic which you wish to study. Writing the dissertation, will develop your ability to critically review literature, identify the gaps in current knowledge and practise relevant research skills to facilitate data collection, analysis, interpretation and presentation.
Client Project
You have the opportunity to link theory to practice by analysing a real organisational issue. Having identified a project (with the approval of both the client company and the Module Leader) you investigate a particular issue, one that can be supported through the relevant literature and by conducting primary research with the client. This module is not an internship but can be taken in conjunction with an internship you have identified and are participating in. The 'issue' in question may be a current management problem for the client organisation or related to future strategic choices. The Client Project provides you with a significant learning and personal development experience.
Research
96% of the research conducted by The Oxford School of Hospitality Management is internationally recognised. Our aim is to conduct research that advances academics' understanding of hospitality management.
Entry Criteria
ENTRY REQUIRED DOCUMENTS
Home Office Share Code
For EU students only.
IF no Qualification
Please provide CV with at least 2 years of work experience, and employee reference letter.
Entry requirements
Specific entry requirements
Normally a minimum of a second-class honours degree or equivalent in any subject. Entry will be subject to two satisfactory references (one of these must be an academic reference). Please note that although useful, prior work experience in the hospitality and tourism industry is not a requirement for this course.
Our standard entry requirement is three A-levels or equivalent qualifications. In some cases, courses have specific required subjects and additional GCSE requirements. In addition to A-levels, we accept a wide range of other qualifications including:
 the Welsh Baccalaureate
 the Access to Higher Education Diploma
 a BTEC National Certificate, Diploma or Extended Diploma at a good standard and in a relevant subject
 the International Baccalaureate Diploma
 the European Baccalaureate Diploma
 Scottish qualifications – five subjects in SCE with two at Higher level or one at Advanced Higher level, or three subjects in Scottish Highers or two at Advanced Higher level
 a recognised foundation course
 T-levels*.
 * T-levels are a relatively new qualification but are already included in the UCAS tariff. We welcome prospective students who are taking this qualification to apply. For some programmes with specific required subjects, particular subject areas or occupational specialisms may be required.
English language requirements
If English is not your first language you will need to satisfy the university's English language requirements:
 minimum 6.0 (with a minimum of 6.0 in reading and writing and 5.5 in listening and speaking)
 if you have completed your undergraduate degree in the UK (at least one full year of study) you will automatically meet our English language requirements
The entry requirement for your course will be expressed as an IELTS level and refers to the IELTS Academic version of this test. We are now also accepting the IELTS Indicator test, you can find out more about the test on the IELTS Indication site. The University however does accept a wide range of additional English language qualifications, which can be found below.
The university’s English language requirements in IELTS levels are as follows:
Course IELTS level
All other undergraduate courses 6.0 overall with 6.0 in reading and writing, 5.5 in listening and speaking
Law, Architecture, Interior Architecture, English Literature (including combined honours), English Literature and Creative Writing 6.5 overall with 6.0 in reading and writing, 5.5 in listening and speaking
Health and Social Care courses 6.5 or 7.0 overall with 6.5 or 7.0 in all components (see individual entries for course details)
Nutrition BSc (Hons) 6.5 overall with a minimum of 6.0 in each component
Built Environment Foundation,
Computing Foundation,
Engineering Foundation 6.0 with 6.0 in reading and writing, 5.5 in listening and speaking
International Foundation Business and Technology,
International Foundation Arts, Humanities and Law 5.5 overall with 5.5 in all skills
International Foundation Diploma 5.0 overall with 5.0 in all skills
If you need a student visa you must take an IELTS for UKVI test.
International Foundation Diploma (Extended pathway) 4.5 overall with 4.5 in all skills
If you need a student visa you must take an IELTS for UKVI test.
Assessment
ASSESSMENT METHODS
1. INTERNAL ENGLISH TEST if you don't have an English accredited certificate
2. Academic Interview
Learning and teaching
We use a range of teaching methods including:
 multicultural group work
 case studies
 workshops
 seminars
 lectures
 events
 one-to-one tutorials.
Your learning experience will be innovative, student-centred and interactive.
Alumni and senior industry professionals contribute to the programme through guest lectures. You will also have the opportunity to be mentored by an industry leader.
Assessment
You will be assessed on individual coursework and your dissertation. As well as an examination for the strategic financial management module.
Start this course in January
You have the option to start this course in January. You will study a range of modules between January and May. During the summer months of June, July and August you will study further modules and begin work on your dissertation. Between September and December you will complete your final modules and focus on your dissertation.
Career Opportunities
Careers
Tourism is one of the world’s largest industries, so you’ll never be short of opportunities when you graduate. Your degree could take you anywhere in the world.
Our graduates secure a range of rewarding roles including:
 operations manager
 visitor experience manager
 hotel manager
 events manager
 food and beverage manager.
Want to expand your expertise? Completing a PhD with us is a great option if you’re eager to join the academic community or teach the next generation of industry professionals.
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