International Hospitality and Tourism Management

At the forefront of industry

The hospitality and tourism industries are amongst the fastest-growing employment areas worldwide. Due to this growth, employers require individuals with the necessary skills and education to lead the next generation of hospitality and tourism businesses.

These industries are facing new global challenges, compelling companies to adapt. Tomorrow’s hospitality and tourism leaders will not only need to learn to act according to the norms of their profession – but also develop the competencies to think critically, measure satisfaction and performance, and apply a set of tools to achieve standards. You’ll gain the skills needed to support tourism and hospitality businesses' transition to a global sustainable economy. You will explore how to do this through service innovation, processes of continuous improvement of service quality which are increasingly directed by technological innovation, and the adoption of sustainable and responsible business practices.

A degree for a sustainable future 

Sustainability is at the heart of our degree, you’ll develop a deeper understanding of the sustainable development goals, and the role tourism and hospitality play in influencing visitors and guests behaviours. You’ll explore how this can be utilised for social, cultural, and economic benefits for local communities, and how we can reduce negative environmental impacts at local, national, and international levels.

You’ll explore how sustainable digital technologies are used to build resilient infrastructures and global supply chains, foster innovation, and support the developments of destinations both locally and internationally. 

Ways to study the degree

You can choose to apply to study the degree on our full time route over one year, or choose to study the degree with a six month integrated industry placement to develop your employability skills and gain valuable industry connections and experience.

You’ll study a range of exciting modules covering key topics such as:

• Responsible and Regenerative Tourism Destinations 
• Sustainable Hospitality and Food Solutions 
• The Case for Sustainable and Ethical Business Management 
• Independent Study: Research Methods 
• Hospitality and Tourism Experience Design and Innovation 
• Sustainable and Ethical Business Operations and Marketing 
• Independent Study: Dissertation 

Please note that our modules are subject to change - we review the content of our courses regularly, making changes where necessary to improve your experience and graduate prospects.

You’ll learn in a collaborative environment where you can create and test new ideas in partnership with our academic team and industry. Our curriculum is centred around authentic assessments and investigations, co-designed in collaboration with industry, to provide you with real-world experiences and industry insights to create well rounded graduates ready to launch their career.

Our diverse and enriching learning environment ensures students can share learning experiences, assessments, projects, case studies and research with colleagues studying within Derby Business School and across collaborative partner institutions. 
This degree has an interdisciplinary research focus, drawing on the expertise, knowledge, skills, and research from the College of Business, Law, and Social Sciences to offer a well-rounded understanding of responsible tourism and hospitality. 

• A UK 2.2 (or above) bachelor’s degree or equivalent qualification from a recognised British or overseas institution listed on ENIC-TI. All subjects are considered, but possession of degrees or relevant experience in related subjects will be advantageous
• Applicants with other qualifications e.g. not BA (Hons) and/or relevant work experience will be accepted on a case-by-case basis. An interview will be part of the process to assess your capacity for critical awareness, self-reflection, communication skills and the motivation required to successfully complete the programme. This interview will be with the academic team
• International applicants will need to be able to show they have a good standard of English typically IELTS minimum overall: 6.5 or equivalent

If you are taking the placement route for this course you will also need to consider the following items: 

• Students will be required to find their own placements and will need to arrange and attend an interview in the second semester with a prospective industry organisation
• To comply with UKVI requirements, international students wishing to undertake their optional placement in the UK will have to state their intentions of which route they want to study at the point of application so that they can work with the registry and admission teams to obtain the correct visa documentation and CAS in advance of entry
• International students will need to comply with the CAS requirements and return to campus to complete their studies to qualify for future visa routes into the UK

2024/25 (August 2024 - July 2025)

Please note fees normally increase in line with inflation and the University's strategic approach to fees, which is reviewed on an annual basis. The total fee you pay may therefore increase after one year of study.

* UK full-time fees paid within one academic year are rounded down to the nearest £50 if applicable

Additional costs and optional extras

2025/26 (August 2025 - July 2026)

Please note fees normally increase in line with inflation and the University's strategic approach to fees, which is reviewed on an annual basis. The total fee you pay may therefore increase after one year of study.

* UK full-time fees paid within one academic year are rounded down to the nearest £50 if applicable

Additional costs and optional extras

About postgraduate awards

Please note at postgraduate level, you’ll need to gain the following number of credits in total to obtain the respective awards. If you have any questions please contact us.

This means you will gain 180 credits in total to complete the full MA or MSc. If you are studying part time you will normally complete your studies over two or three years, depending on the course structure.

Funding your studies

Find out more about fees, postgraduate loans and support you may be entitled to.

Find out about funding your studiesFind out about funding your studies

Alumni discount for Derby graduates

We offer a discount on postgraduate course fees for all Derby alumni.

Find out about the Alumni discountFind out about the Alumni discount

The applied nature of this degree means that you’ll be able to demonstrate a range of valuable transferrable skills such as research and analysis, time management and ethical awareness in professional settings, meaning you will be well placed for a range of graduate roles in fields such as:

• Tourism organisations 
• Airlines 
• 4-star and 5-star hotels 
• NGOs, tour operators 
• Travel agencies 
• Government organisations 

Contact us

If you need any more information from us, eg on courses, accommodation, applying, car parking, fees or funding, please contact us and we will do everything we can to help you.

Additional information about your studies

Download programme specification

Teaching hours

Like most universities, we operate extended teaching hours at the University of Derby, so contact time with your lecturers and tutors could be anytime between 9am and 9pm. Your timetable will usually be available on the website 24 hours after enrolment on to your course.