BA (Hons) International Tourism & Business Management (with Foundation Year option)

Core Units:

• Fundamentals of Business & Management: This unit aims to develop your understanding of the business context across industry and sectors globally. You will cover the key issues and challenges facing businesses going forward and the essential role of people in dynamic, resilient and complex organisations. You will explore key functional business areas including marketing, finance, accounting, economics, people management, and organisational behaviour.  
• Academic & Professional Practice: You will build your confidence in both academic and professional skills. This unit will cover the academic skills which will be required at degree level study and you’ll practice them throughout the unit with support from key university services including the library and study skills team. There will also be opportunity for you to reflect on and develop your own professional skills through interactions with employers, careers services and online resources. 
• Fusion Business Project: You will undertake a business project based on a real issue or problem. The Fundamentals of Business & Management unit will support you in understanding key issues and challenges which could form the basis for your project.  Projects will be undertaken in workplaces, community settings or part of research processes related to your chosen field of study. You will be allocated an academic mentor who will support you in developing and undertaking the project. 

Core units:

• The Tourism & Hospitality Industries: This unit will introduce you to the origins, development, and organisation of the Tourism and Hospitality industries, to give you an underpinning for your second and final year of study. You will look at the opportunities and challenges facing organisations in the various sectors and contexts. You will also develop a range of skills with an emphasis on business awareness and independent research.
• The Visitor Economy: This unit will introduce you to the key principles of the visitor economy. It looks at the influence of economic factors on consumer demand and the how external environment influences tourism businesses and consumers. It also examines the economic impacts of the visitor economy on destinations and communities. 
• Sustainable Tourism Destinations: This unit will help you develop a thorough understanding of sustainable tourism in a destination context. You will learn about the meanings of sustainability, the Sustainable Development Goals, and how tourism can contribute to meeting these goals in destinations. You will also look at the range of tourism impacts in destination settings, and how these can be sustainably managed.
• Global Business Environment: An introduction to the fundamentals of the external global business context, enabling you to understand business-related political, economic, social and technological news stories and developments.
• Developing Management Competencies: You'll be exposed to real-life business and management challenges, enabling you to develop interpersonal, organisational, transferable, creative and reflective learning skills, as well as a learning culture founded on mutual support, empathy and respect.
• Fundamentals of Marketing: By identifying interesting marketing problems, you'll understand the range of marketing solutions available, and learn how to develop appropriate marketing strategies by focusing on real-life case studies.

Core units:

• Tourism Operations Management: You will develop understanding of the roles and business models of intermediaries and distribution within tourism. There is a particular focus on tour operations and you’ll learn how a package is put together and the key travel regulations and management issues that need to be considered.

• Managing People in Tourism and Hospitality: This unit helps you to develop awareness and understanding of the complexities associated with managing people in tourism and hospitality contexts, by introducing you to the principles and practices of contemporary human resource management.

• Tourism & Technology: You will look at the role of technology in the tourism system, and explore the rapidly evolving technological landscape within which the Tourism and Hospitality Industries are situated. You will also understand the power and risks inherent in applying new and innovative technologies in tourism contexts.

• Strategic Management: You'll develop the ability to apply appropriate tools and techniques to critically analyse the organisation and its environment, learning about the development of competitive marketing strategy and operations.

• Business Accounting: This unit will enable you to develop a solid foundation in the fundamentals of financial and management accounting, together with a basic understanding of the regulatory framework.  You will develop the knowledge and skills to progress to further study of financial reporting and/or financial analysis.

Option units (choose one):

• Branding & Integrated Communications: We live in a branded world, and brands are one of the most important assets for organisations.  This unit covers strategic issues of integration and planning as well as the tactical considerations needed to execute relevant marketing communications campaigns that meet consumer’s needs.

• Project Management: This unit will enable you to develop a critical awareness of project management, together with an understanding of the role and responsibilities of different stakeholders. You will evaluate a range of techniques that are available for effective project management in the context of organisational change and complexity.

• Supply Chain Management: As an essential aspect of business today you'll explore and evaluate key elements of supply chain management to understand how firms can match the flow of materials, products and services with customer demand. 

Please note that option units require minimum numbers in order to run and may only be available on a semester by semester basis. They may also change from year to year.

A (minimum) 30-week supervised work placement in the UK or overseas which gives you the opportunity to turn theory into practice in a business environment. You’ll gain practical experience that could help you secure a management-level position immediately after graduating.

If you study BA (Hons) International Tourism & Business Management in September 2023, and do not choose to complete the placement year, the final year units you will study are:

Core units (choose one): Dissertation or Consultancy Project

• Dissertation (Tourism and Hospitality): This is a piece of independent research that involves collecting, interpreting and analysing data. You’ll share your key findings through a sustained and balanced argument. The dissertation will develop your analytical and problem-solving. You’ll develop a critical attitude to research methods, and the ethical issues associated with researching.

• Consultancy Project (Tourism and Hospitality): Working to a brief set by one of our industry partners, both as an individual and in teams, you will develop awareness, understanding and appreciation of the principles and practices of business decision making and the ability to consult within the tourism and hospitality sector, as well as vital project management, analytical and interpersonal skills.

Core units:

• Tourism Issues & Futures: We’ll examine a range of critical and contemporary issues that you may not have encountered previously, with the aim of broadening your horizons and understanding of tourism. You will be challenged to think critically about issues that you may have previously taken for granted, and also to reflect on your own experiences and practices as a tourist.

• Organisational Leadership: In this unit you will critically explore leadership styles, theories and followership concepts in a range of organisational contexts.

Option units (choose one):

• Digital Marketing: This unit will equip you with technical skills and the conceptual understanding of how to engage effectively in digital marketing, which has evolved to the extent that it has become the dominant form of marketing in the majority of organisations.
• Event Engagement: You'll explore audience and consumer engagement theories and practices to better understand engagement and participation.

• International Human Resource Management in Tourism, Hospitality & Events: This unit addresses current human resource management opportunities and challenges such as talent management, mobility and staff retention, which shape the international hospitality and tourism industries and organisations. It provides a forum in which you can critically analyse and reflect on relevant issues and their impact on business and your own management career.

• Visitor Attraction Management: This unit will explore the factors and issues that influence the development and management of visitor attractions in the UK and other countries. It aims to develop your awareness, understanding and appreciation of the principles and practices relating to the development and management of visitor attractions.

• Tourism & Hospitality Design: This unit will explore the factors and issues that influence the development and management of visitor attractions in the UK and other countries. It aims to develop your awareness, understanding and appreciation of the principles and practices relating to the development and management of visitor attractions.

• Wildlife & Ecotourism: You will evaluate a diverse range of management approaches and strategies adopted to conserve and protect the natural environment, and appraise the philosophy and practice of wildlife tourism, nature-based tourism and ecotourism, which have emerged and expanded in both developed and developing countries in recent decades.

Option units (choose one):

• Advanced Project Management: Providing an understanding of the role of project management, this unit focuses on the challenges, controversies, opportunities and debates around managing projects, within the organisational, social and environmental contexts in which they are located.
• Global Strategic Marketing: By helping you to develop the ability to think critically about real-world marketing scenarios and use market information to make informed decisions and recommendations, you'll be provided with skills in strategically managing the key elements of global marketing.
• Global Supply Chain Management: Supply chain management is the fastest growing area of business today, and this unit aims to develop a strategic understanding of global supply chain management through planning, sourcing, making, delivering and returning products and services.
• International Management: With a large focus on practical aspects of management, this unit will teach training and development in the contemporary global organisation, looking at global management policies, practices and processes.

Please note that option units require minimum numbers in order to run and may only be available on a semester by semester basis. They may also change from year to year.

If you study BA (Hons) International Tourism & Business Management in September 2023, and choose to complete the placement year, the final year units you will study are:

Core units (choose one): Dissertation or Consultancy Project

• Dissertation (Tourism and Hospitality): This is a piece of independent research that involves collecting, interpreting and analysing data. You’ll share your key findings through a sustained and balanced argument. The dissertation will develop your analytical and problem-solving. You’ll develop a critical attitude to research methods, and the ethical issues associated with researching.

• Consultancy Project (Tourism and Hospitality): Working to a brief set by one of our industry partners, both as an individual and in teams, you will develop awareness, understanding and appreciation of the principles and practices of business decision making and the ability to consult within the tourism and hospitality sector, as well as vital project management, analytical and interpersonal skills.

Core units:

• Tourism Issues & Futures: We’ll examine a range of critical and contemporary issues that you may not have encountered previously, with the aim of broadening your horizons and understanding of tourism. You will be challenged to think critically about issues that you may have previously taken for granted, and also to reflect on your own experiences and practices as a tourist.

• Organisational Leadership: In this unit you will critically explore leadership styles, theories and followership concepts in a range of organisational contexts.

Option units (choose one):

• Digital Marketing: This unit will equip you with technical skills and the conceptual understanding of how to engage effectively in digital marketing, which has evolved to the extent that it has become the dominant form of marketing in the majority of organisations.

• International Human Resource Management in Tourism, Hospitality & Events: This unit addresses current human resource management opportunities and challenges such as talent management, mobility and staff retention, which shape the international hospitality and tourism industries and organisations. It provides a forum in which you can critically analyse and reflect on relevant issues and their impact on business and your own management career.

• Visitor Attraction Management: This unit will explore the factors and issues that influence the development and management of visitor attractions in the UK and other countries. It aims to develop your awareness, understanding and appreciation of the principles and practices relating to the development and management of visitor attractions.

• Tourism & Hospitality Design: This unit will explore the factors and issues that influence the development and management of visitor attractions in the UK and other countries. It aims to develop your awareness, understanding and appreciation of the principles and practices relating to the development and management of visitor attractions.

• Wildlife & Ecotourism: You will evaluate a diverse range of management approaches and strategies adopted to conserve and protect the natural environment, and appraise the philosophy and practice of wildlife tourism, nature-based tourism and ecotourism, which have emerged and expanded in both developed and developing countries in recent decades.

Option units (choose one):

• Advanced Project Management: Providing an understanding of the role of project management, this unit focuses on the challenges, controversies, opportunities and debates around managing projects, within the organisational, social and environmental contexts in which they are located.
• Global Strategic Marketing: By helping you to develop the ability to think critically about real-world marketing scenarios and use market information to make informed decisions and recommendations, you'll be provided with skills in strategically managing the key elements of global marketing.
• Global Supply Chain Management: Supply chain management is the fastest growing area of business today, and this unit aims to develop a strategic understanding of global supply chain management through planning, sourcing, making, delivering and returning products and services.
• International Management: With a large focus on practical aspects of management, this unit will teach training and development in the contemporary global organisation, looking at global management policies, practices and processes.

Please note that option units require minimum numbers in order to run and may only be available on a semester by semester basis. They may also change from year to year.

Programme specifications provide definitive records of BU’s taught degrees in line with Quality Assurance Agency requirements. Every taught course leading to a BU Award has a programme specification which describes its aims, structure, content and learning outcomes, plus the teaching, learning and assessment methods used.

Whilst every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the programme specification, the information is liable to change to take advantage of exciting new approaches to teaching and learning as well as developments in industry.

If you have been unable to locate the programme specification for the course you are interested in, it will be available as soon as the latest version is ready. Alternatively please contact us for assistance.

We are looking for passionate, eager students who are going to make a real difference to the course they are studying. Our students learn from each other, as well as their academic staff, so it is really important to us that you can show us how much you care about the course you are interested in.

Your UCAS personal statement is a great place to do this. Tell us about your personal achievements or any relevant work experience you have done, and show us how they make you the ideal candidate for a place on the course.

Ideal applicants should also be able to demonstrate an interest in hands-on organisation, showing the skills to be innovative, flexible and enthusiastic managers. These skills are needed by an industry that exists to create something special for its customers. Good interpersonal skills are vital, and a wide range of interests is a real advantage.

We select candidates for this course by looking at your application; there are usually no interviews or selection activities needed. For that reason, make sure your application really stands out from the crowd, and leave us in no doubt as to why you should be joining BU. You can find some handy hints about filling in your UCAS form on our how to apply web pages.

We look at individual applications and make a tailored offer based on your potential to succeed on the course considering a range of factors, including your academic achievements, work and other experience, reference and personal statement, and in some cases, your performance at an interview or a portfolio review. Typically, we make an offer at the bottom of the tariff range.

AccessBU gives you the chance to tell us more about you and your life experiences if you haven’t had the same educational opportunities as other applicants. If you are eligible for AccessBU, your offer could be up to 16 UCAS Tariff Points below the published tariff.

Our offer-making will typically be based on your most recent qualifications, including any required subjects where applicable. We'll consider all qualifications when assessing your application, although these may not be part of our offer.

If you do not meet the criteria of your original offer, we may still offer you a place. We will review your whole application and consider all academic qualifications (including those not in the offer) to see if you have the academic potential to succeed on the course. If we feel the answer is yes, we will confirm your place.

AccessBU: AccessBU provides you with the opportunity to tell us about your circumstances that are not always evident in your UCAS application. This widening access initiative also considers relevant criteria such as being in care or if you live in an area with a low participation rate in Higher Education - if you are eligible, your offer could be up to 16 UCAS tariff points below the published tariff.

Apprenticeships: We recognise the transferable knowledge and skills gained through apprenticeships and welcome applications from students with a Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship recognised by the Institute for Apprenticeships. Each application will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Deferred entry: We are happy to consider eligible applicants for deferred entry. If you have already submitted your application, please submit your deferral request through our website.

Direct entry: We welcome applications from students who have previously studied at degree level at other institutions and wish to transfer onto a BU course. Our Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) procedure enables credit awarded from one institution to contribute to a BU award, subject to an application process. Please visit our RPL webpage for more information.

Mature applicants: We recognise that mature applicants may have a wealth of experience rather than formal qualifications, so we’ll consider your application on these merits if included in your application. You’ll need to apply to BU in the usual way through UCAS and you may be invited to an interview to discuss your suitability for the course based on the experience you tell us about in your application.

As well as valuable experience of tourism, you’ll develop an understanding and appreciation of how individual organisations operate and their interrelationship within the wider context of tourism.

The knowledge and skills developed on placement and the opportunities for learning from and networking with professionals are known to enhance your performance, results and employment prospects.

Our Placement Coordinators will help you plan your placement, so you can be sure you’ll gain the right experience. 

If that means a placement in another part of the UK, or in another country, we can offer help and support. To find your ideal work environment takes time, research and preparation, and our students typically start the process a year before their placements start. Our experienced faculty placement staff offer a range of guidance throughout the process, supplemented by information on our online careers centre.

You’re also free to search for a placement independently. We’ll advise you how to do this and how to ensure the experience you gain is best suited to your course needs – ensuring you develop the right skills to enhance your future employability.

Our graduates have gone on to tourism positions such as: 

• General Manager 
• Visitor attraction assistant 
• Digital marketing/social media manager 
• Customer relations manager 
• Events Coordinator 
• International Travel Consultant 
• Air Charter Broker 

If you are more interested in a business career, our graduates have taken roles such as: 

• Account Executive 
• Account Manager 
• Business Analyst 
• Business Development Assistant 
• Operations Manager 

A degree in International Tourism and Business Management will give you a range of career options after you graduate. Our graduates work in a range of positions across the tourism sector.  Employers include Astral Holidays, Costa Cruises, Explore Worldwide, Flight Centre, Hills Balfour, Quay Holidays, Senate Grand Prix, STA Travel, Thomson, TUI Group and the National Trust.  Our Business graduates have gone on to careers in a range of organisations in a range of sectors, and some have set up and now manage their own businesses around the world.  

Once you have completed an undergraduate Honours degree, you can further develop your education by studying for a postgraduate degree. Please visit our postgraduate section for further details about our range of Master’s degrees.

Research degrees 

If you are a BU graduate you are eligible for a 20% ‘loyalty’ discount on the published fees for further programmes with us!  

Depending on your qualifications and experiences, you can choose to undertake a MRes or PhD level research degree. Bournemouth University has a strong tourism & hospitality research foundation within our Department of Marketing, Strategy & Innovation through a number of research centres, which explores theory, education and professional practice. 

Visit our postgraduate research courses for further details about research degree options with the Bournemouth University Business School and the funding options available. 

What’s included in your tuition fee?

Your tuition fee covers expenses associated with your course including tuition materials, access to facilities, mandatory field trips and the following:

• Materials for laboratory and mandatory field-based teaching activity
• Support for finding placements (UK or abroad) and fieldwork, and non-financial support whilst on placement if this is part of your course of study
• A range of student services – advisors, help desks, counsellors, placement support and careers service
• The Library – access to a wide range of electronic resources (databases, e-journals and e-books), print and multimedia collections, subject librarians and study spaces
• Access to Brightspace, our virtual learning environment, which offers a responsive and personalised learning experience with powerful learning analytics capabilities, integrated social media and advanced video features.
• IT labs (some open 24/7), wireless network, AV equipment to borrow
• Peer Assisted Learning (PAL) scheme
• Disability and additional learning support, according to individual circumstances 
• The BU Language Centre to help you develop/improve foreign or English language skills
• 24 hours a day, 365 days a year security team.

Additional costs

We are committed to offering you value for money and ensuring there are no hidden costs while you are studying with us, therefore we have listed below any additional costs you may incur that are not covered by your tuition fee:

• Laptops, tablets and mobile devices and any software used on personal devices. Access to a personal computer is strongly recommended for your study. If you are experiencing financial difficulty, visit our website for information regarding hardship funds
• Accommodation and living costs. Our accommodation price guide can be found on our website
• Travel costs, outdoor wear and footwear for optional field trips (where applicable)
• Textbooks, general stationery and other supplies. Our award-winning library is stocked with a large range of textbooks and online resources, free of charge. The Students’ Union shops stock a wide range of stationery supplies on both campuses
• Travel costs to and from the University campus. An annual bus pass can be purchased alongside your rent if you are living in halls of residence/Unilet accommodation or may be purchased separately
• Travel costs to and from your placement (both in the UK and overseas) if this is part of your course of study
• SportBU membership.

While all aspects of the programme, including required field trips, are included in the fee, additional, optional or extra curricula activities may be available for which a student contribution is required.

If you need to repeat one or more units during your studies (with or without attendance) the pricing will be pro-rata of the full-time fee.

Duncan joined Bournemouth University in September 2014. He is a human geographer by background, and all his teaching and research highlights the relationships between tourism, places and spaces. Much of Duncan’s research focuses on Romania, a country he has visited regularly since 1995. 

Adam Blake is a Professor of Economics in the Department of Tourism and Hospitality, Bournemouth University, and Head of the International Centre for Tourism and Hospitality Research. He is a specialist in computable general equilibrium (CGE) modelling and has used this modelling technique to examine the economic interrelationships between tourism and other sectors of the economies of the UK, USA, Scotland, the Canary Islands, Malta, Cyprus, Mauritius and Brazil. His research has provided both theoretical advances and research based evidence for government organisations.

With articles in journals such as Annals of Tourism Research, Tourism Management and Tourism Economics, Adam is a well known researcher in the field of tourism economics. He is also a former President of the International Association for Tourism Economics. His research articles have addressed issues such as the economic effects of tourism crises (Foot and Mouth disease in the UK in 2001; September 11th in the US) and analysis of public policy measures in response to such crises; the economic impact of tourism taxation; and the economic impact of tourism in developing countries. More recently, this has included modelling and analysis of the economic effects that tourism has on poor households in developing countries, and the suitability of tourism promotion as a means of alleviating poverty.

Dr Jeff Bray is a Consumer Behaviour researcher and educator focused on the societal challenges of sustainable consumption both from an environmental perspective and a personal (health) perspective. He is the co-lead of Bournemouth Universities Consumer Insights Research Theme.

Jeff’s research and scholarship is interdisciplinary and focuses on applications of consumer theory to a variety of contexts. Recent funded research and publications have examined consumer decision making with respect to food choice, and the health impact that might be achieved through influencing these choices. This work has been funded by EU project FoodSMART (grant 643999) and British Council project Veg+ (grant 332207684).

Outside of the university he is active in promoting our societies young people. He serves as Governor of two large local schools. He is keen to supervise Doctoral students in the areas Consumer Behaviour, Food Choice and Ethical Consumption.

Dr Anya Chapman joined Bournemouth University in 2013 and has worked as an academic in UK universities since 2003, specialising in tourism, hospitality, and leisure management. Prior to joining academia, Anya worked as a manager for a number of tourism organisations in the UK, including Blackpool Pleasure Beach, the Trafford Centre, and Namco Operations. Anya gained her PhD from the Management School at the University of Liverpool in 2012, with a thesis entitled ‘The Arcade Fire and Other Misdemeanours: Organisational Subcultures and Employee Misbehaviour in Amusement Arcades’. Her current research interests and publications include work on the regeneration of coastal resorts; tourism development in Malta; tourism employment; and traditional attractions at British seaside resorts such as fairgrounds, piers, and amusement arcades. Anya serves on the Executive Committee of the National Piers Society and has visited all 61 seaside piers in the UK!

Tim joined Bournemouth University in June 2015 as Senior Lecturer in Tourism Management, having moved from the University of the West of England (UWE Bristol) where he was the academic lead for the University’s tourism and events degree programmes. He completed a PhD at the University of Wales Institute, Cardiff (UWIC), successfully defending his thesis on the decline and restructuring of British seaside resorts in 2002.

His research interests have since expanded to include new tourism spaces, places and experiences (such as urban beaches, virtual worlds and immersive events and performances), and tourism education/ pedagogy. These interests are underpinned by ideas associated with the ‘new mobilities paradigm’ and critical realism as a philosophy of/ for the social sciences. He has written a number of refereed journal articles, book chapters and other works, from positioning papers and literature reviews to multi-method empirical studies incorporating questionnaire surveys and interviews, document analyses and visual methods, and has co-edited three books to date. Tim’s involvement with the design, data capture and analysis for surveys of visitors to Bristol Urban Beach and the 2010 Isle of Man TT (Tourist Trophy) Races illustrates the potential in much of his work for industry engagement and impact. Tim teaches/ has taught a range of units at undergraduate and postgraduate levels on tourism geographies, event management, marketing and research methods.

He has supervised two PhD students to completion, and examined several others.

Steve is a senior lecturer in Tourism, and currently delivers units on tourism development and planning, introduction to tourism, visitor attraction management and research methods. He has over ten years consultancy experience which has encompassed development projects, policy reviews and evaluations, market appraisals, environmental impact assessments, and social and economic assessments.

Brian qualified as an accountant through the articled clerk route - then worked for Fyffes Group Ltd as Internal Audit Manager & then McCarthy & Stone PLC, in various roles from Company Accountant to a Director of their operations in France. He opened his own Accountancy & Audit Practice in 1984 which continues trading at present .Brian has been teaching at BU on a variety of units at all undergraduate levels since 1996.

Natalia Lavrushkina is a lecturer in Strategic Management at Bournemouth University. 

Deborah Taylor is the Director of the MBA programme and a Senior Lecturer at Bournemouth University. Deborah joined Bournemouth University in 2010 having worked within the Investment banking and the recruitment industry. Her teaching centres on the areas of Organisational Behaviour and Leadership at both postgraduate and undergraduate levels. Research interests include Psychological Ownership, Leadership, Career and Talent Management.

Dr Philip Ryland is the Associate Dean for Student Experience at the Bournemouth University Business School.