International Hospitality and Tourism Management BA (Hons)

Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh

Want to be a leader in a fascinating and fast-growing global industry? On this course you will learn the business management skills that the best employers in international hospitality and tourism are looking for, enjoy close support and supervision from our staff and gain practical experience on a 20-week internship in the UK or abroad.The hospitality and tourism sector is worth £11 billion to the Scottish economy alone, supporting 14,000 tourism enterprises. As a graduate of our international hospitality and tourism management degree you will be at the forefront of these exciting industries. You will gain a thorough theoretical understanding of the political, economic and social factors at work in the industry – and what they will mean for you as a manager of the future. You will learn hands-on how to manage money, resources and talent in a fast-moving hospitality and tourism environment. Food continues to be a cornerstone of the hospitality industry. You will be working with a range of food professionals, creating menus, learning about food and, importantly, how you put profit on a plate. As a manager of the future you also need to appreciate the wider strategic picture, and the course develops understanding of the political, economic and social forces driving the hospitality and tourism industry forward.In Year One you will study a broad range of modules that will enable you to not only learn a wide range of tourism theories and concepts, but also practical and vocational skills including food service and preparation and group leadership. You will connect with hospitality and tourism environments by visiting sites to enhance your experience.In Year Two you will focus on management skills, both in theory and the real world. We’ll help you prepare for a challenging and rewarding 20-week internship in the UK or overseas.In Year Three you’ll deepen your understanding of a range of management techniques and how they will help you run a successful business; from building a start-up company to designing a hospitality or tourism space. In addition, you will engage with the significant contemporary issues of sustainability and social justice within hospitality and tourism. The IHTM degree covers it all.What are the biggest challenges that hospitality and tourism managers face today? How do you successfully lead people in a highly competitive sector? In Year Four, you will learn to understand wider strategic issues and will develop your ideas into a dissertation in an area that you are passionate about. You’ll have the flexibility and support you need to tailor your final year at QMU to progress to the next stages of your career, be that hospitality, tourism or academia.At QMU we have a strong commitment to both social justice and the environment. The academic team believe passionately that business can make good profits, maintain a focus on the people they serve and play a positive role in the future of our environment. This ethos is woven throughout the course and the team believe that this approach leaves our graduates in a very strong position to manage businesses in the future.