Tourism and hospitality PhD

Since the 1990s, the University of Brighton has taken a pioneering role in the academic study of tourism, and welcomes students undertaking PhD research across all aspects of tourism and hospitality.

The university is an affiliate member of the UN World Tourism Organisation. Our academics are well-known internationally for their critical perspective on the sector, their industry experience and their emphasis on critical thinking, public-facing, interventionist social science. Expert supervision will allow you to join researchers who undertake intellectually rigorous research that contributes towards the theoretical, methodological and applied development of travel and tourism.

Supervisory expertise spans a range of disciplinary approaches to the PhD study of tourism, hospitality and events. These include human geography, development studies, sociology, anthropology, marketing and business, cultural studies and political science. Much of our work has real-world application and staff are well-connected to a variety of international development agencies (i.e. UNWTO, World Bank, UN), public, private and third sectors’ organisations.

Our current and recent PhD students are exploring a range of topics in relation to the role of politics in tourism, the relations between tourism and poverty alleviation, critical perspectives on travel philanthropy, the influence of the perception of risk on consumer decision-making in ocean cruising, post-conflict destination branding and national identity construction, the role of sport tourism in image destination formation in the Middle East, tourism development and community involvement in Saudi Arabia.

Many of our graduates have progressed into jobs in academia, becoming lecturers or post-doctoral researchers, while others work in commercial consultancy, international development or international travel, tourism, hospitality and events operations.