International Tourism and Hospitality Management (with Advanced Practice) MSc

Program Overview

The MSc in International Tourism and Hospitality Management (with Advanced Practice) at Ulster University equips students with the knowledge and skills to navigate the diverse tourism and hospitality industry. Through a combination of theoretical and practical learning, students develop strategic marketing, leadership, and research abilities, preparing them for careers in hotel management, tourism planning, and other industry sectors. The Advanced Practice option provides valuable work experience, enhancing employability prospects.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

This program is designed for individuals seeking to embark on a career in the diverse and dynamic tourism and hospitality industry. It equips students with the knowledge and skills necessary to navigate this multi-faceted sector and operate across various organizations, including hotels, national tourist boards, airlines, visitor attractions, tour operators, event venues, ferry/cruise companies, and airport operations.

Objectives:

• Provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the key principles of tourism and hospitality, including their structures, impacts, and future relevance.
• Develop students' strategic marketing skills, enabling them to effectively manage the marketing mix and formulate successful marketing strategies.
• Equip students to manage and lead people effectively, with a focus on the role of the Line Manager and the significance of leadership in achieving organizational goals.
• Foster critical thinking and problem-solving abilities by exploring contemporary issues in the tourism and hospitality industry.
• Introduce students to the concepts of business sustainability and innovation, empowering them to contribute to responsible and sustainable business practices.
• Enhance students' research skills through the development and completion of a research dissertation.
• Provide students with the opportunity to gain practical experience through an internship or an applied consulting project, allowing them to apply their knowledge and skills in a real-world setting.

Outline:

Year One:

• Semester 1:
• Tourism & Hospitality Principles
• Understanding key principles, structures, and impacts of tourism and hospitality.
• Assessing the future relevance of both sectors.
• Strategic Marketing
• Examining and applying principles, concepts, and theories of strategic marketing management.
• Managing the marketing mix, formulating strategies, evaluating performance, and applying analytical models.
• Managing & Leading People
• Exploring the significance of leadership in achieving organizational success.
• Examining key concepts of management and leadership, focusing on the role of the Line Manager and effective leadership practices.
• Analyzing the critical role of the HR Function and Line Management in managing people within the international service industries.
• Semester 2:
• Contemporary Issues in Tourism & Hospitality
• Exploring current issues shaping the tourism and hospitality industry.
• Examining the impact of these issues on industry practices and future development.
• Business Sustainability & Innovation
• Understanding the theoretical and practical aspects of business sustainability and innovation.
• Applying case studies to develop an understanding of key business concepts and develop business models.
• Research Methods
• Enhancing research skills through the design of appropriate research projects, methodology proposals, and evaluation of research philosophy, researcher positionality, and research ethics.
• Acquiring technical skills to collect and analyze quantitative and qualitative data.

Year Two:

• Semester 1:
• Advanced Practice
• Completing either an internship or an applied consulting project, working with industry partners.
• Applying knowledge and skills in a real-life organizational setting.
• Gaining valuable work experience, enhancing employability, and developing confidence in a business environment.
• Networking and showcasing skills to potential employers.
• Semester 2:
• Dissertation
• Completing a research dissertation at postgraduate level.
• Building upon knowledge and skills gained throughout the course, including research methods.

Assessment:

• Assessment methods vary depending on the module and may include:
• Written essays
• Short synopses
• Personal reflections and peer reviews
• Case studies
• Objective tests
• Business reports
• Computer modeling
• Individual and group presentations
• Assessment criteria are aligned with module learning outcomes and aim to evaluate students' understanding and application of knowledge and skills.

Teaching:

• A range of teaching methods are employed, including:
• Traditional lectures
• Case studies
• Business simulation games
• One-to-one tutor session videos
• Field trips to hospitality and tourism venues
• Guest speakers from the industry
• Classes are taught both online and at the Belfast campus.
• Modules are typically delivered in 3-day blocks, with half-day learning sets for tutorials and support.
• The calendar of scheduled teaching is provided to students before the start of the course.

Teaching Staff:

• Academics are highly qualified and experts in their fields.
• Teaching colleagues hold a Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy, and some have Senior Fellowship status.
• The University employs over 1,000 qualified and experienced academic staff.

Careers:

• Graduates are equipped with the knowledge and skills to pursue careers in a diverse range of sectors within the tourism and hospitality industry.
• Potential career paths include:
• Hotel management
• Tourism planning and development
• Creating and marketing tourist packages
• Working in operations for hotels and restaurants
• The program prepares students for a variety of job roles, including:
• Hotel manager
• Tourism planner
• Tour operator
• Event manager
• Marketing manager
• The Belfast campus is located in the heart of Belfast city center, with access to a variety of amenities and cultural attractions.
The actual program may have additional details or variations.