MSc International Hospitality Management

Program Overview

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The details Course: International Hospitality Management Start date: January 2024 Study mode: Full-time Maximum duration: 1 year Location: Colchester Campus Based in: Edge Hotel School This page is for the January start course. Information on the October start version of the course can be found here . In one of the world’s most global industries, employers are looking for creativity, confidence and passion from the next generation of hospitality leaders. It takes more than knowledge to succeed – it takes experience, strategy and understanding. Edge Hotel School is the first hotel school of its kind in the UK, with learning and student experience bolstered by the use of its own fully-commercial 4* country house hotel, Wivenhoe House . The growth of the worldwide hospitality industry has been dominated by American and, to a lesser extent, Western European multinational brands. However, the last decade has seen a significant increase in the emergence and growth of successful hospitality organisations from a range of emerging nations and cultures from across the world. This programme is designed to reflect the increasing cultural and geographical diversity of the hospitality industry. As a global industry, the hospitality sector is driven by human connection and personalisation, relying on the experiences its workforce can deliver and the memories its customers create. To be a leader in the hospitality or events sector you’ll need the creativity to think outside of the norm and the confidence to manage everything thrown at you in an industry where no two days are the same. With the MSc International Hospitality Management, these two strands are intertwined. Led by the Edge Hotel School and delivered in collaboration with Essex Business School , this programme combines a deeper understanding of the hospitality sector with the skills and knowledge of successful management.

Professional accreditation

Accredited by the Institute of Hospitality that academic, vocational and professional standards achieved are appropriate and programme content and delivery meet international Institute of Hospitality benchmark standards. Why we're great.

• Learn from a dedicated team of experts with decades of experience in hospitality, events and management.
• The first hotel school of its kind in the UK to utilise a fully commercial 4* hotel as part of the learning and development experience.
• Create a wide-ranging network of professional contacts to create exciting opportunities and bolster your career prospects.

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Our expert staff

Our staff includes lecturers with both professional as well as academic backgrounds to ensure you are taught by people with industry-relevant experience themselves. Among our academic staff are published authors including a former hotel General Manager, a Food and Beverage Manager for award-winning cruise lines, an organiser of the BRIT Awards and London Fashion Week and a Dr. (PhD) with international research experience. Essex Business School is also home to world-renowned academics and practitioners, producing work with global impact. By using current research in our teaching, you can explore the management issues affecting organisations around the world right now and graduate with a degree that equips you well for the world of work in the global hospitality industry.

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Specialist facilities

• Wivenhoe House is a 40-bedroom country house hotel on the university campus with a brasserie restaurant and a busy conference and events function. Your learning during the Masters will be contextualised by the operation of the hotel, including analysis of genuine finances and hotel operations.
• The Edge Hotel School has connections with a range of organisations across the hospitality and events industries – throughout your studies you can expect guest lectures, masterclasses and an annual careers fair to help further your career prospects. Supporters of the Edge Hotel School include Apex Hotels , The Arora Group , BaxterStorey , Claridges , Dorchester Collection , Edge Foundation , EDITION Hotels , Exclusive Hotels and Venues , Georgian House Hotel , Hand Picked Hotels , The Landmark London , Levy UK and Ireland , Master Innholders , Moet Hennessey , Milsoms Hotels and Restaurants , Oakman Inns , Royal Lancaster London , the Savoy Educational Trust , Sbe , St Julians Scholars - among many others.
• As an Edge Hotel School student you will be issued with a uniform to wear for your shifts in Wivenhoe House and when representing the School externally. You will just need to provide your own white shirts and black shoes.

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Your future

The skills and knowledge you will gain throughout your MSc International Hospitality Management will be transferable to a wide range of working environments within the global hospitality and business industries. There will be opportunities throughout the Masters to meet industry leaders and managers, allowing you to build a comprehensive network of hospitality and business professionals. "Our Masters course connects you with our extensive network of industry professionals, equipping you with the skills, contacts and knowledge to succeed in the global hospitality industry" - Andrew Boer, Principal of the Edge Hotel School.

Program Outline

Course structure

We understand that deciding where and what to study is a very important decision for you. We’ll make all reasonable efforts to provide you with the courses, services and facilities as described on our website. However, if we need to make material changes, for example due to significant disruption, or in response to COVID-19, we’ll let our applicants and students know as soon as possible.

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Components

Components are the blocks of study that make up your course. A component may have a set module which you must study, or a number of modules from which you can choose. Each component has a status and carries a certain number of credits towards your qualification.

Status	What this means
Core	You must take the set module for this component and you must pass. No failure can be permitted.
Core with Options	You can choose which module to study from the available options for this component but you must pass. No failure can be permitted.
Compulsory	You must take the set module for this component. There may be limited opportunities to continue on the course/be eligible for the qualification if you fail.
Compulsory with Options	You can choose which module to study from the available options for this component. There may be limited opportunities to continue on the course/be eligible for the qualification if you fail.
Optional	You can choose which module to study from the available options for this component. There may be limited opportunities to continue on the course/be eligible for the qualification if you fail.

The modules that are available for you to choose for each component will depend on several factors, including which modules you have chosen for other components, which modules you have completed in previous years of your course, and which term the module is taught in.

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Modules

Modules are the individual units of study for your course. Each module has its own set of learning outcomes and assessment criteria and also carries a certain number of credits. In most cases you will study one module per component, but in some cases you may need to study more than one module. For example, a 30-credit component may comprise of either one 30-credit module, or two 15-credit modules, depending on the options available. Modules may be taught at different times of the year and by a different department or school to the one your course is primarily based in. You can find this information from the module code . For example, the module code HR100-4-FY means:

HR	100	4	FY
The department or school the module will be taught by. In this example, the module would be taught by the Department of History.	The module number.	The UK academic level of the module. A standard undergraduate course will comprise of level 4, 5 and 6 modules - increasing as you progress through the course. A standard postgraduate taught course will comprise of level 7 modules. A postgraduate research degree is a level 8 qualification.	The term the module will be taught in. AU : Autumn term SP : Spring term SU : Summer term FY : Full year AP : Autumn and Spring terms PS: Spring and Summer terms AS: Autumn and Summer terms

Year 1 Final Year This module aims to provide you with an advanced understanding of marketing and its application within the international hospitality industry. It focuses on the marketing of services and the nature of the distinctive and frequently individual engagement hospitality organisations have with customers. The module will also provide you with an understanding of the changing relationship and technological developments both with buyers and suppliers, as well as a realistic insight into aspects of marketing operations through their experience within the Wivenhoe House Hotel. View International Marketing and Customer Experience for the Hospitality Industry on our Module Directory The module will critically examine a number of contemporary issues that relate to the international hospitality industry and will utilise theory and insights from a range of academic perspectives including macro and micro economics, business studies, sociology and psychology. View Contemporary Issues in the International Hospitality Industry on our Module Directory The module will develop your understanding of the operational managerial techniques and processes in the sourcing, purchasing, production and service of food and beverage within the international hospitality industry, aided along through your experience in, within and of the Wivenhoe House Hotel. It will also develop students understanding of the accommodation sector and the operational management techniques in the running of commercial accommodation venues. View Food, Beverage and Accommodation Management for the International Hospitality Industry on our Module Directory This module introduces you to the methodology and methods of research in the field of Hospitality Management. You will be acquainted with the nature of philosophical assumptions that underpin the choice of research design. The module explores a variety of approaches to research and uses case studies applied to the international hospitality industry to illustrate the suitability of these methods. The culmination of this module is for you to deliver a justified and pragmatic research proposal which could form the basis of their dissertation research module in the following term. View Research Methods on our Module Directory For your 8,000 word dissertation, you will manage a piece of individual research in the context of the commercial hospitality industry. You will be expected to demonstrate expertise with a range of business data, research resources and methodologies, as well as personal communication skills. View Dissertation on our Module Directory For your 8,000 word dissertation, you will manage a piece of individual research in the context of the commercial hospitality industry. You will be expected to demonstrate expertise with a range of business data, research resources and methodologies, as well as personal communication skills. View Dissertation on our Module Directory It is essential for any manager to be able to analyse the performance of companies and take financial decisions. This module will start by examining how publicly available information can aid in analysing the performance of companies, and critically evaluating the limitations of financial performance measures. This part of the module will cover the contents of the annual report, preparation of main financial statements and evaluating the financial performance of companies based on publicly available information. The second part of the module will critically examine a range of issues that relate to financial and managerial decision-making, including cost behaviour, capital investment decisions, cost volume profit analysis and budgeting. View Accounting and Finance for Managers on our Module Directory The module combines lectures with work in small groups and individual study to provide you with an understanding of both the methods of managing a multi-cultural workforce and a critical understanding of contemporary management approaches to organisational behaviour for the international hospitality industry View Human Resources and Organisational Behaviour for the International Hospitality Industry on our Module Directory This module is designed to encourage students to reflect on a variety of issues relating to management and business strategy. It will introduce students to the basics of management such as dealing with teams, culture and organisational management structures. It will then introduce students to managing strategically, covering topics that involve the analysis of the external and internal environments of the business as well as avenues for implementation. Consequently, the module offers an insight into a range of current business issues, management dilemmas, ethical considerations, and general governance issues relating to the strategic direction of organisations. Overall, the module provides an introduction to management and strategy and a critical examination of its application in practice. View Management and Strategy on our Module Directory

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Placement

Elements of this programme's learning will be spent based in the fully-commercial hotel environment of Wivenhoe House hotel. Whilst this course does not feature a specific placement module or signficant length of time in an external organisation, you will gain practical hospitality management experience through exposure to this environment.

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Teaching

You will learn via a combination of lectures, seminars, group and individual tasks and directed independent study. Your teaching will also be informed by operations of our 4* fully commercial hotel, so will involve some time spent in the hotel learning from industry practitioners. Our colleagues from hospitality and events organisations will also contribute to your teaching through guest lectures and practical workshops.

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Dissertation

This programme will include a Dissertation as part of your assessment, featuring up to 15 hours of individual tutorials with your dissertation supervisor.