Undergraduate course
Planned new course
BSc (Hons)
International Hospitality and Tourism Management with Foundation Year
Prepare for a career in global hospitality and tourism. Explore hotel and visitor experience management, sustainable destinations, digital innovation and business skills, with practical learning to boost your confidence and career prospects.
Our typical offer
32 UCAS points
Get hands-on with the industry
Build your experience through live consultancy-style projects, employer engagement and real-world challenges. You’ll develop the practical skills and confidence employers are looking for.
Prepare for the future of tourism
Go beyond traditional hospitality and tourism. Explore digital innovation, sustainability, crisis management and emerging trends, while developing the business, leadership and problem-solving skills to stand out in a global industry.
Skill-building foundation year
The foundation year will help you build essential academic and industry skills, preparing you for Year 1 and giving you the flexibility to progress into tourism or a range of business degrees at Plymouth Business School.
About
Hospitality and tourism are distinct but closely connected global industries that bring people, places and experiences together, with the wider travel and tourism economy supporting 366 million jobs worldwide in 2025, creating opportunities for graduates across international organisations, established brands, destinations, independent businesses and entrepreneurial ventures.
Our degree prepares you to build your future in this dynamic environment. You’ll develop the knowledge, confidence and management capabilities to understand organisations, respond to change and recognise opportunities in an increasingly complex international landscape.
We will prepare you for diverse professional and managerial careers across hospitality and tourism, equipping you to work across different organisations and environments around the world. You’ll graduate ready to navigate change, embrace new opportunities and build a career that can evolve alongside these dynamic global industries.
What is a foundation year?
A foundation year provides an additional entry-level year for you to gain further knowledge of a subject before starting a full degree course.
On completing the foundation year successfully, you progress automatically onto the full degree course, which is usually three years. You don’t need to apply for a place on the full degree course.
Further information on
University of Plymouth courses with foundation years .
A full list of potential progressions routes is listed under course details.
Why choose a degree with a foundation year?
- To build your confidence to study at university level.
- To gain the knowledge and skills needed to complete a full degree.
- Your qualifications don't meet entry requirements for a three-year degree.
- You want to study a new subject that your previous qualifications or experience haven’t prepared you for.
- You may have thought university wasn’t an available option for you.
- You want to join a university course that is needed for the career you’d like.
This course is for you if...
you're eager to kick-start a vibrant and dynamic career in tourism and hospitality
you value learning from real-world scenarios that reflect the kinds of decisions made by managers, destination leaders and hospitality professionals
you're looking for hands-on experience through tailored modules and fieldwork opportunities
you aspire to work confidently in tourism and hospitality roles at local, regional and international levels
Details
Foundation year
A supportive environment assists you in the transition to successful study in higher education. You begin to develop your knowledge and understanding of international hospitality and tourism management, and progress to year 1 on successful completion of this year.
Year 1
Develop a broad understanding of international hospitality and tourism through industry examples and real-world contexts. You’ll explore how organisations operate, understand customers and consider the wider business environment, while building essential academic, analytical and professional skills.
Year 2
Apply your knowledge to contemporary hospitality and tourism contexts. You’ll work with evidence and industry insight, consider different perspectives and develop credible responses to real-world situations, strengthening your analytical, creative and professional capabilities.
Optional placement year
Apply your new-found skills on a work placement year in the UK or overseas, learning about the industry from those working in it every day. Our Placements Office supports you in finding your placement.
Final year
Engage with complex and evolving issues across hospitality and tourism at a strategic and professional level. You’ll strengthen your ability to lead, innovate, exercise independent judgement and make evidence-informed decisions, developing the confidence and capabilities to contribute across the global visitor economy.
Progression routes
This foundation year is an integral part of the extended degree and you will benefit from experienced university lecturers.
Whilst successful completion of the foundation year (Year 0) will not lead to a separate award or qualification in its own right, you will be able to confidently progress onto Year 1 of:
Or one of the following programmes within Plymouth Business School:
Experience
Real experience every step of the way
We embed real employer engagement and CV-enhancing experiences throughout the course to ensure you're fully prepared for graduate success. Our optional placement year provides a valuable opportunity to gain hands-on experience, applying your academic knowledge in real-world environments. You'll develop a broad range of transferable skills and build a strong foundation for your future career.
By graduation, you'll be equipped to enter the job market with purpose and stand out from other candidates, giving you a real advantage in securing your first role.
Placements
You have the option to include a placement year after your second year in the programme, giving you the chance to work in a business or organisation for an extended period of time. Examples of placements previously undertaken by students include, Princess Cruises, The Westin Abu Dhabi Golf Resort and Spa, Rosewood Hotels Hong Kong and Country Club of Darien, USA.
Study abroad
Opportunities to study a semester or year abroad during your second year at one of our partner institutions include, but aren't limited to: USA, Finland, Germany, Spain, Iceland, Slovenia, France and Australia.
Course highlights
Live consultancy projects
Guest speakers
Placement opportunities
Studying at Plymouth didn’t really change my career aspirations or plans, it helped me to prepare for them. I learnt how to work independently, how to work in groups, and how to find information for myself. Speaking in front of people, doing essays, the placement year – it really helps set you up for the future.
Yamir, BSc (Hons) International Tourism Management
Yamir graduated before setting up his own surf company, and is now CEO of Planet Surf Camps based in the Canary Islands.
A new home to cultivate business leaders
Our Fitzroy Building has been transformed, becoming the new home of the Plymouth Business School, providing students with specialist facilities and social learning spaces.
Among these spaces for business, management, accounting, finance and marketing students, you'll find the
Bloomberg Interactive Learning Suite for tracking stock markets and
The Cube – support for our student and graduate entrepreneurs, as well as a Maritime Suite and a Language Lab.
Meet your expert teaching staff
We’re Team Plymouth. As one of our team, we’re here to help you succeed.
Our expert lecturers and your own personal tutor will be with you every step of the way.
Our expert lecturers and your own personal tutor will be with you every step of the way.
Dr Zoe Roberts
Lecturer in Tourism/Events Management
Programme Lead
Mrs Mandy Aggett
Lecturer in Tourism, Hospitality and Events Management
Dr Xiazhao Chen
Lecturer in Marketing
Develop your leadership skills on the water
Making the most of our waterside location, we develop your essential leadership skills in a unique and unforgettable way – out on the water at Mount Batten Watersports Centre.
While classroom learning provides a solid foundation, practical experiences play a crucial role in shaping effective leaders.
During your first semester you are challenged to develop and reflect on your current capacity to lead and motivate one another through a series of challenges including rock climbing and abseiling, bell boating and orienteering.
Life in Plymouth
Plymouth's maritime history and coastal location have an undeniable influence on life in the city. The walk from our main campus to the seafront is only about one mile, providing loads of opportunity to relax and unwind during your studies. You don’t need to leave the city to get to the coast!
The overall vibe of the city is perfect. You are by the sea so it is still laid back, but you have all the conveniences of living in a city.
Jenna
Current student
Current student
Discover our range of student accommodation options and find out how you can get a guaranteed place in halls
Our large student population, active Students' Union, and abundance of student-led clubs and societies blend to create a busy and vibrant student scene
Careers
I really enjoyed the course content! It covered so many topics from the relationship between tourism and crime, sustainable tourism, and film and literary tourism. It gave me a great knowledge of the industry and set me up really well for my placement year in travel. I gained a huge amount of industry insight, learnt new languages, improved my cross-cultural competence, developed research skills and refined my time management and teamwork skills.
Georgia
BSc (Hons) International Tourism Management graduate
BSc (Hons) International Tourism Management graduate
Plymouth offers many opportunities for students to gain experience, including field trips and operation visits, assistance on finding a placement job, as well as career investment. It makes our university life splendid and gives you every opportunity for a good career whilst having fun!
Lai Ting
BSc (Hons) International Tourism Management graduate
BSc (Hons) International Tourism Management graduate
Careers with this subject
Hospitality and tourism are distinct but closely connected global industries, bringing people, places, and experiences together across the world. Their scale and economic significance are substantial: the wider travel and tourism economy, to which hospitality makes an important contribution, accounted for US$11.6 trillion of global GDP and supported 366 million jobs worldwide in 2025 – around one in nine jobs globally. Encompassing everything from international organisations and established brands to destinations, independent businesses and entrepreneurial ventures, these industries create diverse opportunities for ambitious graduates.
The degree will prepare you for diverse professional and managerial careers across hospitality and tourism, equipping you to work across different organisations and environments around the world. You’ll graduate ready to navigate change, embrace new opportunities and build a career that can evolve alongside these dynamic global industries.
Our graduate managers are highly regarded by tour operators, destination management organisations and authorities, cruise companies, airlines, hotel chains and other organisations worldwide. Our graduates have gained employment with companies including, but not limited to: Virgin Atlantic, Ferrari World (Abu Dhabi), TUI, Hotel No5 Malaysia, and Flybe (pilot).
*Data is from the Graduate Outcomes Surveys from the latest available data covering the three years of 2020-21, 2021-22 and 2022-23. Graduates were surveyed 15 months after graduating. Data displayed is for UK-domiciled, first degree, full-time graduates who are working, studying or looking for work.
Inspiring student and graduate entrepreneurs
From an idea to a fully-fledged business, the Cube offers advice, funding and support at every stage of your entrepreneurial journey. The Cube can develop your creative skills and business acumen to maximise your future career.
“On my placement I ran my own business and got support from the Cube. They helped my business model and refine my skills.”
Samuel Jaffe
Fees and funding
Tuition fees
Tuition fees for new full-time UK students starting in
Full-time study
£10,050 per year
£10,050 per year
Module fees for repeated or part-time study
To be confirmed per credits
To be confirmed per credits
Tuition fee price changes
The Government has announced that tuition fees from Academic Year 28/29 onwards will be subject to automatic annual inflationary increases, which we believe will be at a similar rate to the recent annual increases to fees, and may continue to be inflation based. The University may increase annual tuition fees in line with the Student Contract and the maximum tuition fee caps set by the Government from time to time.
We understand that clarity around tuition fees is important when planning your studies and we advise you to monitor this page regularly to stay informed of any updates to your tuition fees.
More information about
fees and costs of studying .
Tuition fees for full-time international students starting in
Full-time study
£18,700 per year
£18,700 per year
Optional placement year completed in the UK
£2,010
Optional placement year completed outside the UK
£1,507
Tuition fee price changes
Our fees are reviewed on an annual basis. Fees and the conditions that apply to them are the most up to date but are still subject to change in exceptional circumstances. More information about
fees and costs of studying .
UK Government announcement on tuition fees
The UK Government has announced that a levy on tuition fee income in the region of 6% of an international student’s tuition fees may be introduced. If implemented, the University reserves the right to increase your tuition fees accordingly. The Government has made it clear that it has not officially decided on its stance and it is possible that the eventual levy amount or arrangements may differ from the initial proposal. Therefore, the University reserves the right to adjust tuition fees in accordance with the Government’s final position on this levy.
We understand that clarity around tuition fees is important when planning your studies. Therefore, please note that the tuition fee shown on this page may change as a result of the introduction of a levy. We advise you to monitor this page regularly to stay informed of any updates to your tuition fees.
Fund your studies
As an undergraduate at Plymouth, there may be funding options available to you, including tuition fee loans, living cost loans, scholarships, bursaries and support funds.
Supporting students with the cost of living
The cost of living in the UK has risen faster than household income, meaning that most people will have less to spend on essential goods and services. This is an ongoing situation that is likely to affect everyone in some way.
The University provides advice and guidance and has a range of services, facilities and offers to help students with rising everyday costs.
Apply
Entry requirements
Our typical offer
32 UCAS points
32 UCAS points
You may be eligible for a contextual offer
A levels
32 UCAS tariff points.
BTEC National Extended Diploma
PPP
If you hold a BTEC qualification it is vital that you provide our Admissions team with details of the exact modules you have studied as part of the BTEC. Without this information we may be unable to process your application quickly and you could experience significant delays in the progress of your application to study with us. Please explicitly state the full list of modules within your qualification at the time of application.
Access to HE Diploma
Pass an Access to Higher Education Diploma. Plus GCSE English and Maths at grade 4/C or above (or equivalent).
T level
Pass in any subject.
International Baccalaureate
24 points overall. If overseas and not studying English within IB: IELTS 6.0 overall with 5.5 in all elements.
Other qualifications
Other combinations and non-A level qualifications also considered.
Extended entry requirements
To be accepted onto a degree course with us, you must have a suitable English language qualification.
Ready to apply?
All applications for undergraduate courses are made through UCAS.com. Please refer to the course facts below when completing your application for this course.
UCAS course code
N804
N804
Institution code
P60
P60
Duration
4 years
(+ optional placement)
Course type
Full-time
Study location
Plymouth
Plymouth
Entry requirements
We welcome applicants with international qualifications and we accept a range of qualifications from across the globe.
Our typical offer
32 UCAS points
32 UCAS points
English language requirements
To be accepted onto a degree course with us, you must have a suitable English language qualification.
Ready to apply?
As an international student, you can apply for this course through UCAS or an agent in your country.
Need support with your application?
- Personal statement guidance
- student visa support
- travel and arrival information
- and more.
UCAS course code
N804
N804
Institution code
P60
P60
Duration
4 years
(+ optional placement)
Course type
Full-time
Study location
Plymouth
Plymouth
Visit us at an undergraduate on-campus open day
Open days are the best way to get a feel for studying an undergraduate degree at the University of Plymouth.
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