MSc Tourism Marketing Management

• The Tourism & Hospitality Industries: This unit will provide you with a comprehensive overview of the operations of the tourism and hospitality industries. It includes many guest speakers from industry.
• Business Strategy & Finance: This looks at the foundations of strategic analysis and choices that tie into an organisation’s business decisions. This includes private, public and third sector. You'll study the corporate finance sources of organisations, reporting and interpreting financial data. This will help you understand the dynamics of the tourism, hospitality and leisure sectors.
• Tourism Marketing Innovation: This unit will provide you with the academic knowledge and professional skills to study marketing innovations in the tourism and hospitality context. The emphasis is on a strategic approach and a global perspective is adopted.
• eTourism & Digital Marketing: This unit explores how information technology and digital competence determines the competitiveness of tourism and hospitality organisations and destinations. This unit examines the latest developments in technological revolutions and applies them to the tourism and hospitality industries. 
• Destinations: Contexts for Tourism & Hospitality: Placing the tourism destination at the heart of discussion, this unit explores the physical, conceptual and administrative spaces in which tourism and hospitality activities occur, and as such provide the context for an exploration of the complex and interrelated activities of tourist activities. The unit will be international in nature, drawing on examples and practices from developed and developing nations.
• Dissertation: The 15,000-word dissertation is the conclusion of your learning experience, where you’ll carry out a detailed research project into any aspect of tourism marketing of your choice. 

Option units (choose one):

• Air Transport & Tourism: The aim of the unit is to develop your awareness of the role of aviation management in the successful planning and development of international tourism. It will evaluate the potential barriers to continued growth and explore the conflicts and challenges of meeting both economic and environmental targets, highlighting the contribution of aviation to greenhouse gas emissions (GHG).
• Conference Tourism: Here, you'll reflect on the conference sector's growth, and examine its present state by identifying the size, value, trends and growth of major conference destinations throughout the world. You'll also suggest how destinations and venues can develop a better conference product.
• Crisis & Disaster Management: You'll develop a systematic understanding of the unique needs and critical resources that exist within key sectors and activities of Tourism, Hospitality and Events. You'll complete a number of strategic and tactical planning exercises aimed at addressing the need to integrate tourism and events within risk reduction, response and recovery strategies.
• Design for Tourism & Hospitality: This unit addresses the role and significance of design in and for the tourism and hospitality industries at the level of individual businesses and organisations or sites and events. It considers the design of tangible and intangible objects or ‘things’ such as buildings (exteriors and interiors), maps and guides, souvenirs, live events, corporate identities, business processes, and servicescapes
• Entrepreneurship: The process of creating a new entrepreneurial venture, and funding sources for new and upcoming entrepreneurs. There's a focus on identifying and evaluating entrepreneurial opportunities. Entrepreneurial development may cover a single entity, a further investment by a portfolio entrepreneur, a management buy-out, a spin out or a venture in an existing organisation.
• Food Design & Marketing: This unit focuses on food in terms of its aesthetics, the processes and tools used, and the spaces where food is prepared, distributed and consumed, and how these are promoted and communicated to the consumers.
• Global Food & Drink: The unit will provide an in-depth analysis of the role of food and drink in the international hospitality, tourism, retail and events business environment. An understanding of the nature of our relationship with food socially, economically, politically, environmentally and in terms of technology is a valuable addition to other strategic and operational areas of expertise.
• Tourism Management & the Natural Environment: This unit focuses on the complex relationships between the tourism industry and the natural environment, and the ways in which tourism can be managed to ensure that it contributes to biodiversity and conservation.

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.

You have the option to undertake a 30-week placement at the end of the course, providing an opportunity to apply your acquired knowledge and skills in the workplace. You are required to find your own placement; however, our Careers & Employability Service and your faculty placements office are on hand to support you.

The placement is intended to foster personal and professional development, and to help you to make a connection between academic learning and the working world.

Studying abroad is an incredible opportunity to experience a new country and culture while continuing your degree. If you choose the study abroad option, you will complete a semester (around 3 months) overseas at one of our partner institutions. 

If you start your course in September, you will complete semester one and two at BU then finish for the summer break. You will start the study abroad option in September of your second year, at the same time as completing your dissertation and complete the course in January of the second year. 

If you start your course in January, you will complete semester one, break for summer and then complete semester two at BU. You will start the study abroad option in January of your second year, at the same time as completing your dissertation and complete the course in July of the second year. 

You can choose to study abroad or take the optional work placement but not both. 

Find out more about studying abroad. 

Programme specifications provide definitive records of the University'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.

Students are capable of taking on a very wide range of work; from operational to managerial in a variety of environments (hotels, tour operators, event companies, recruitment sector, finance and marketing departments).

The placement should be a paid job but voluntary work can be just as enjoyable.

We provide a lot of support for you to help you find work, including a block of seminars, covering topics such as writing a CV and a cover letter, completing an application form, performing well in interviews, and we also provide language support to assist you with the written elements of your applications.

However, it is ultimately your responsibility to find work. The university does not guarantee that you will find a place. Some students may choose to opt for a taught unit instead of placement. 

During your time on placement you will be supported by a unit tutor and a placement development advisor who will visit you on placement and keep in touch by phone and email.

If you choose to do a placement as part of your course:

• If you have previously studied in the UK, we will consider any study limit that may apply. We will issue your CAS according to the length of time you are entitled to under UKVI regulations (if you do not have enough time left for a work placement year, we will issue your CAS to cover your course dates only).
• If you decide after you have enrolled on your course that you do not want to do a placement, this will be reported to the UKVI when you have successfully completed your course.

If you choose not to do a placement as part of your course:

• We will note this on your CAS and your visa will only be granted long enough to cover your taught course, excluding placement.
• If you change your mind while you are here and decide you want to do a placement, you will need to leave the UK to make a new Tier 4 visa application for the additional year of study. You would need to pay for your return travel back to your home country, as well as the cost of a new Tier 4 student visa application.

You should have a strong interest and passion for extending your skills and knowledge relating to tourism management and marketing, especially during the final stage of the course when you must research one topic of interest and write a dissertation on this subject.

Though you must be able to work alone, you must also have the social skills required to interact with others, as the course requires you to do group work. You should also have cultural flexibility as you will meet other students from a diverse range of cultures.

This course selects candidates by looking at their applications. There are no interviews or additional selection activities and therefore we suggest that you make your application stand out from the crowd. For more information, take a look at our how to apply pages.

Please see our website for the application deadlines. You should apply as early as possible to be considered for your course of choice. If you require a student visa, apply for the visa as soon as you have an unconditional offer and receive your CAS. There may be delays in visa processing in your country and you need to be in Bournemouth ready to study for the start of term.

December and January is one of our busiest application periods and therefore it may take us a little longer to process incoming applications. For courses with a January start date, we recommend submitting your application as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

Click the green ‘Apply now’ button to submit your application free of charge online through myHub, our application portal. You will create your own myHub account so that you can track the progress of your application. Don’t forget to save your application as you go; you can return to it at as many times as you want before you submit it. For more information visit our How to apply section.

The normal requirements for embarking upon a postgraduate taught degree are:

• A Bachelors Honours degree with 2:2 in any subject or equivalent.

If you lack the formal academic qualifications needed to enter a postgraduate or post-experience degree, there are several alternative routes to follow - some based on experience. Contact the Future Students Enquiry Team for more information.

You can find details of the international qualifications we accept, and what level of study they apply to, on our entry requirements for non-UK students' page.

Please see below some examples of the qualifications for entry:

• India: Bachelor’s degree (4 years) from a recognised HE institution with a minimum overall result of 55% 
• Nigeria:  Bachelor's degree from a recognised institution with a minimum classification of 2:2 
• China:  Chinese Bachelor's (Honours) degree from a recognised higher education institution with 65% or above 
• Turkey: Bachelor’s degree (Lisans Diplomasi - four years) with a minimum overall GPA of 2.3/4.0 
• Vietnam:  Bachelor's degree/Bang tot nghiep dai hoc with an average score of 6.5/10, or 2.25/4, or a Master’s degree/Thac si. 

All applications will be subject to a minimum grade and your degree may need to be in a relevant subject area.

English language requirements

If English is not your first language, you will need to provide evidence that you understand English to a satisfactory level. English language requirements for this course are normally:

• IELTS (Academic) 6.0 with minimum 5.5 in each component, or equivalent.

View further information about our English language requirements.

Bournemouth University International College offers a number of pre-sessional English and preparatory programmes to prepare international students for postgraduate study at BU. Admission to the degree is guaranteed on successful completion of your course to the required level. 

Some of our Tourism Marketing Management graduates are now undertaking roles in:

• Senior management
• Marketing
• Destination management
• International airlines
• Tour operation companies.

As you progress through the course you will gain a better idea of the areas in which you want to specialise in your career. The skills you learn should stand you in good stead for your continuing professional development too – giving you more control over your future career direction.

• Tourism
• Marketing
• Hospitality.

If you want to continue your studies after achieving your Master’s, you can look into our range of doctoral programmes.

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 any mandatory field-based teaching activity. 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.
• Access to Brightspace, our virtual learning environment, which offers a responsive and personalised learning experience with powerful learning analytics capabilities, intregrated social media and advanced video features.
• 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.
• IT labs (some open 24/7), wireless network, AV equipment to borrow.
• Disability and additional learning support.
• 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.
• Textbooks, general stationery and other supplies. Our award-winning library is stocked with a large range of text books and online resources, free of charge. The Students’ Union shop stocks a wide range of stationery supplies.
• Accommodation and living costs. Please visit our website for more information. 
• Travel costs, for optional field trips, outdoor wear and footwear for mandatory and optional field trips (if applicable).
• Travel costs to and from the University campus. An annual bus pass is included in your rent if you are living in halls of residence/Unilet accommodation or may be purchases separately.
• Travel costs to and from your placement (both in the UK and overseas) if this is part of your course of study. Placement year funding can be found on our website. 
•  Clothing or equipment costs required for your placement if this is part of your course of study.
• SportsBU 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 the course of your studies (with or without attendance) you may be required to pay additional fees equivalent to one ninth of the tuition fee per 20 credit unit.

International (not Rep. of Ireland) students need to pay a non-refundable deposit to secure their place on a postgraduate course. For September 2024 and January 2025 entry, a £5,000 deposit is required. You will need to pay your deposit by the date stated in your offer letter. The remainder of your fee will be payable on registration/enrolment. There are two exceptions to the non-refundable rule on the deposit:

• You fail to meet the academic or English requirements of your offer
• You are refused a visa to enter the UK, provided the reason for the refusal is not a fraudulent application.

We offer a range of scholarships and bursaries to eligible students who are beginning their studies at BU. Please visit www.bournemouth.ac.uk/funding for details on living costs, budgeting and paying your tuition fees.

Sean is a Senior Lecturer with a passionate interest in the interaction between tourism, culture, food, the countryside and the food supply chain. Originally he trained as an Agricultural Scientist gaining a BSc (Hons) in Agriculture from Reading, a DipAgSci from Massey University in New Zealand, a CertEd from Wolverhampton and a PGDip in Research Degree Supervision from Bournemouth. More recently, Sean has been working in the social sciences and have just completed a PhD based on a thesis examining perceptions of the authenticity of food. 

This academic work has been backed up with considerable practical experience in agriculture, marketing, the food supply chain and the rural economy in general, gained on the family farm and within associated family businesses and the food industry, local and international. Sean is currently a Senior Academic in the Business School, Department of Tourism and Hospitality, and his role involves teaching, consultancy, research, publication and broadcasting. His principal research interests include the food supply chain, consumer behaviour, rural business, society and development. 

Sean was awarded a Rotary Foundation Scholarship, a Winston Churchill Fellowship, and is also a Nuffield Scholar. Sean is a regular commentator on rural and environmental matters on the radio and television and is active in the community. He has also recently finished three years as a member of Countryfile Magazine Editorial Review Board. 

Professor Dimitrios Buhalis is a Strategic Management and Marketing expert with specialisation in Technology and Tourism. He is currently Established Chair in Tourism and Deputy Director of the International Centre for Tourism and Hospitality Research (ICTHR) at the School of Services Management at Bournemouth University and Professorial Observer at the Bournemouth University Senate. In April 2010 he was promoted to Professor 2 (or what is called a Distinguished Professor in other Universities), a level reserved for a small percentage of elite academicians.

Professor Buhalis is leading eTourism research and is working with the Bournemouth team for introducing technology in all aspects of tourism research and teaching. In 2009 he led Bournemouth University successfully through the UNWTO.TedQual Certification Process and is the BU representative to the United Nations World Tourism Organisation. In August 2009, Dimitrios was elected, as a Fellow of the International Academy for the Study of Tourism, in recognition of his contribution to tourism research. He was also elected as President of the International Federation of Information Technology for Travel and Tourism (IFITT) for the period 2010-2014. Dimitrios always enjoys going to the lab and works closely with many tourism and hospitality organisations and destinations around the world. 

Adele is a Professor of Tourism Employment at Bournemouth University. She was educated at Leicester University in Human Geography, receiving her PhD in Tourism Human Resources Management from the University of Surrey in 1995. 

Adele’s research interests are the labour, employment, and human resource aspects of tourism and hospitality. She is also interested in the technological affordances for the tourism experience, in particular the practices of ICT use in leisure and business tourism, and how digital developments shape future travel experiences. 

She has worked extensively with international postgraduate students in the UK and Hong Kong as part of MSc and PhD programmes. In 2015 she was awarded the Silver ‘Your Brilliant” Award from Bournemouth University Student Union in the category of “Most Brilliant support for International Students’. 

Jeff Sadd is a lecturer in finance across many programmes within the Bournemouth University Business School. His professional career background was in the International Capital Markets, specialising in Derivative Risk Management, working both in London and New York, where he was a Director of Derivative Trading and Management for a major U.K. bank. 

Daisy Fan holds a PhD in tourism management from Hong Kong Polytechnic University. She has research interests in tourism-host relations, and in sustainable tourism development. 

Dr Svetla Stoyanova-Bozhkova is a Strategic Management and Marketing expert with specialisation in the Tourism, Travel and Hospitality Industries. She is a Senior Fellow of the HEA, Chartered Manager, CMI mentor and external examiner. Svetla holds a doctoral degree from Bournemouth University and a master’s degree from the University of Birmingham, Centre for Urban and Regional Studies.

Svetla is teaching Strategic Management, Research Methods, Marketing and Business Communications. Her teaching experience in the UK and abroad is complemented by a 20-year experience at senior management positions in the industry and academia. Svetla has a wide range of academic and research interests including economic development, sustainability, destination management, customer experience management and cross-cultural issues.

Tim joined Bournemouth University in June 2015 as Senior Lecturer in Tourism Management. 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 several 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.