• Year 1

• Build a solid understanding of the tourism industry, learning the principles of sustainable tourism management. You also explore different forms of tourism and identify how these are used in destination development and promotion, gaining knowledge of tourism supply and demand.

  Core modules

  • Tourism Industry and Practice (THE4002)

    Through consideration of the tourism system, you will examine patterns of tourism supply and demand in both a domestic and international context, exploring tourism destinations through an examination of public, private and voluntary sectors operating at the destinations. You will be introduced to the principles of sustainable management for tourism organisations.

  • Tourism Impacts and Society (THE4004)

    This module will develop your understanding of the roles tourism plays within and for societies, giving you an introductory overview of the impacts of tourism activity, associated tourist behaviour and sympathetic approaches to management. You will study theoretical concepts drawn from sociology, anthropology, leisure and tourism studies, providing you with a more critical awareness of the relationships between tourism and society, supported by international case study examples and opportunities for critical debate.

• Year 2

• Discover what it takes to develop, manage and promote tourism businesses or destination. Increase your understanding of destination management on a regional, national and international level, gaining insight of tourism strategy development. If you choose, you can undertake a semester or year abroad at one of our partner institutions.

  Core modules

  • Careers and Professional Development (PBS500CPD)

    This module is aimed at enhancing students employability skills and knowledge especially those who will be undertaking an industrial placement in the third year of their degree. It is designed to build on skills learned in Stage 1 and helps students in their search for a placement, and in their preparation for the placement itself.

  • Destination Planning and Management (THE5003)

    This module focuses on visitor attractions, impacts of ICTs and global issues in relation to destination management, examining the essential features of tourism planning in both a UK and international context and reviewing the activities of different types of public sector and hybrid organisations. You will consider key aspects of Hispanic and Francophone societies via media such as film, text, documentaries, news reports etc, to develop a deeper understanding and appreciation of other cultures in the context of destination planning. Industry practitioners will provide insights into destination planning in different cultural contexts.

  • The Tourism Experience (THE5008)

    In this module, you will examine the tourism experience and how it can be created and developed to provide competitive advantage for destinations and tourism providers. You will examine current technology trends and how these influence and change tourism products, operations, processes and tourist behaviour within society.

  Optional modules

  • Academic Skills for International Direct Entry Second Year Students (DEAS200)

    The short, not for credit module will teach academic skills (including, but not limited to, time management, groupwork, information literacy and some basic critical thinking) to second year IDES. It is based in the middle of the first term.

  • Tourism Development and Ethical Consumption (THE5004)

    This module focuses on the dynamics of tourism development and on ethical consumption within the tourism and hospitality industry, introducing you to processes of development, to issues underlying local involvement and to the range of ethical concerns in developing countries. Drawing on approaches to ethical consumption, you will reflect upon your own and others’ understanding and practice, exploring ethical responses to business situations and undertaking in-depth reflection and critique of ‘real life’ scenarios.

  • Managing Cruise Passenger Services (THE5005)

    This module introduces you to the management of passenger services on-board cruise liners, focussing on the provision of quality service, as a component of the cruise product.

  • Strategic Cruise Operations (THE5006)

    In this module you will consider the strategic nature of managing cruise lines, including risk avoidance, adherence to maritime legislations and continuity planning. Industry and scenario based case studies will help you to apply theoretical knowledge to of business continuity planning to realistic scenarios.

• Optional placement year

• Apply your new-found skills on a work placement year in the UK or overseas, learning about the industry from those working in it every day. Our Placements Office supports you in finding your placement.

  Core modules

  • Placement Year (PBS600PLC)

    The placement year consists of an extended period of appropriate professional experience in a business or organisation. It allows the student to gain relevant experience to consolidate their studies and prepare for final stage study and employment after graduation. Students on BA International Business may also or alternatively undertake a study placement at an approved partner institution.

• Final year

• Develop your passion for tourism by researching a topic that excites you for your final thesis. Through the study of conceptual tourism, modules deepen your knowledge of challenges which arise in the modern tourism industry.

  Core modules

  • Leadership Practice (HRL6009)

    In this module, you will explore the role of leadership within organisations, including both the practical and theoretical aspects of leadership, and how such concepts can change over time. You will reflect on your own ability to act as a leader and your role in teamwork-based scenarios.

  • Honours Project (PBS6000)

    The module gives you the opportunity to investigate in-depth a specialist academic or practice-based topic for which you have a passion for knowing more within your field of study.

  • Continued Careers and Professional Development (PBS600CPD)

    The Continued Career and Professional Development module is a development scheme designed to enhance students’ employability and builds on the stage 2 module. The stage 3 module focuses on providing students with information on graduate options and equips them with the knowledge and skills necessary for articulating and recording achievement and applying for graduate positions. The module also includes a number of workshops and events designed to develop students’ skills and knowledge, with the purpose of filling gaps in their CV’s and enhancing their employability.

  • Business Strategy and Consultancy (THE6002)

    In this module, you will focus on exploring and understanding a range of theoretical approaches to developing strategies for businesses in the tourism, hospitality and events (THE) sectors and applying these principles to a live consultancy project. You can gain experience of working with a business in THE industries on a consultancy basis, either in a research or strategic development setting – you will engage with a client business to mutually identify a suitable project and develop findings and guidelines to inform a new strategic direction.

  Optional modules

  • Academic Skills for International Direct Entry Final Year Students (DEAS300)

    This module focuses on the study skills required for the study of business in UK HE for international direct entry final year students, it provides generic skills for students who are new to UK HE, such as information literacy, criticality, different types of assessment, assignment briefs, preparation and planning, and marking rubrics.

  • Experiential Practice (HRL6010)

    This module provides you with the opportunity both to reflect upon practical experience as well as develop your capabilities and profile so you are on course for life after graduation.

  • Creative Industries (THE6003)

    You will review the scope, nature and development of the cultural industries, drawing on international examples. In doing so, you will examine a range of issues affecting the planning, development and operation of cultural heritage, such as the concern with authenticity, the tensions between conservation and business viability, politics and propaganda, funding, interpretation and dissonance and the blurring between fact and fiction.

  • Managing Cruise Passenger Services (THE6005)

    This module introduces you to the management of passenger services on-board cruise liners, focussing on the provision of quality service, as a component of the cruise product.

  • Strategic Cruise Operations (THE6006)

    In this module you will consider the strategic nature of managing cruise lines, including risk avoidance, adherence to maritime legislations and continuity planning. Industry and scenario based case studies will help you to apply theoretical knowledge to of business continuity planning to realistic scenarios.

  • Tourism Crisis and Disaster (THE6009)

    This module will equip you with a sound understanding of the principles and practice of economic, environmental and political crisis and disaster management in the tourism industry.

Every undergraduate taught course has a detailed programme specification document describing the course aims, the course structure, the teaching and learning methods, the learning outcomes and the rules of assessment.

The following programme specification represents the latest course structure and may be subject to change: