Plymouth Business School

BSc (Hons) International Tourism Management with Foundation Year

UCAS tariff 32+
UCAS course code N842
Institution code P60
Duration 4 years (+ optional placement)
Course type Full-time
Location Plymouth

Do you want to make a difference in the world’s fastest-growing industry by acquiring new skills and knowledge that can be put into practice through the wide range of live projects we offer? Our BSc (Hons) International Tourism Management degree is ranked 6th in the Complete University Guide (2023), allowing you to gain relevant experience from a top-ranking institution. This course will enable you to become employable and effective tourism and business managers who can operate worldwide.

Distinguish yourself with the opportunity to study cruise as a specialism, taught by our world leading experts. Benefit from our close working relationships with cruise operators including Princess Cruises. Undertake placements and secure graduate jobs within the cruise industry. Our students have had successful placements in an array of companies, namely Princess Cruises, Royal Caribbean International, MSc Cruises and Cunard Cruise.

International Tourism Management with Foundation Year
Secure your place this September

Clearing is another opportunity for you to secure your place at the University of Plymouth this September.

Contact our Clearing call centre: 0333 241 6929

If you’re worried about your results or you’d like to chat about your options, our friendly team is there to answer your questions.

Learn more about Clearing

Careers with this subject
Our cosmopolitan 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 limited to: Virgin Atlantic, Ferrari World (Abu Dhabi), TUI, Hotel No5 Malaysia, and Flybe (pilot).

Real experience every step of the way

As well as expert-led teaching, all undergraduate modules within Plymouth Business School have integrated CV building activity, for example, through micro-credentialing, problem-based learning, or embedded direct employer activity.
We have ensured every module contains a real world problem-based exercise. We have reached out to employers directly to involve real business in our assessments. You will experience real world employee engagement every month. 
We know this is key to student academic and graduate success.

Careers service

The University of Plymouth has a dedicated careers service supporting you from the moment you start your degree, to three years after graduation.
Careers advice is embedded into your academic programme through workshops, events, placements, networks - working with the academic staff teaching on your course. We also offer materials, networks and resources online through our 24/7 portal, and a wide-range of activities, opportunities and support centrally in the Careers Service space within the Student Hub.
We are here to help you to explore, connect and succeed.
Key features
  • Our foundation year is specifically designed to introduce and develop essential skills for success in higher education, including critical thinking and research skills, and the knowledge and understanding of key facets of international tourism management.
  • Study on a course that is ranked 6th in the Complete University Guide (2023) and consistently ranked as one of the best places to study tourism according to The Sunday Times and the Guardian University guides.
  • Undertake a critical approach to study the global tourism industry and develop strengths in travel safety and security, crisis and disaster management, and travel technologies.
  • During the delivery of bespoke tourism modules, we work in close collaboration with the tourism industry to develop, design and deliver our courses. We keep regular contact with tourism industry practitioners from different sectors of the industry to refresh our courses with the latest industry developments and case studies; we develop our courses to address industry demand; we have guest speakers from the tourism industry to share their experiences in the course delivery and conferences.
  • We provide opportunities to engage in fieldwork on a local and international scale in order for our students’ opportunities to develop their understanding, expand their networks and have strategic involvement in business development.
  •  We hold numerous industry accreditations including Tourism Management Institute, we are recognised as a Centre of Excellence by the Institute of Travel and Tourism, and we are also an ABTA University Partner. These accreditations afford our students opportunities to learn from and network with industry professionals who provide practical insights into future graduate employment and experiences.
  • Working with industry, we offer a range of experiential and problem-based assessments and live consultancy projects to prepare students for graduate employment.
Course 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 tourism management, and progress to year 1 on successful completion of this year.

    Core modules

    • The World of Economics and Finance (ECN3100)

      This module will introduce you to a range of contemporary ideas within economics and finance. The module will use a range of contemporary real-world issues to demonstrate the relevance of foundation level economic and financial concepts for decision making.

    • Global Business (STO3001)

      The module will introduce the components, functions and context of a business. You will explore the impact of different models on business purpose, values, stakeholders and reporting. Aspects such as globalisation, sustainability, ethics and entrepreneurship will also be examined.

    • Introduction to Business Research (STO3002)

      The module will enable you to develop business research at an introductory level and to develop a range of academic and professional capabilities. You will investigate research topics that will develop your understanding the importance of effective cross-disciplinary understanding and collaboration.

    • Business Research Project (STO3003)

      This module allows you to integrate subject specific knowledge and skills to investigate a specific topic relevant to your programme of study through a small-scale research project.

  • Year 1

  • Build a solid understanding of the tourism industry, learning the principles of sustainable tourism management. You also explore different forms of tourism and identify how these are used in destination development and promotion, gaining knowledge of tourism supply and demand.
  • Year 2

  • Discover what it takes to develop, manage and promote tourism businesses or destination. Increase your understanding of destination management on a regional, national and international level, gaining insight of tourism strategy development. If you choose, you can undertake a semester or year abroad at one of our partner institutions.
  • 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

  • Develop your passion for tourism by researching a topic that excites you for your final thesis. Through the study of conceptual tourism, modules deepen your knowledge of challenges which arise in the modern tourism industry.

Every undergraduate taught course has a detailed programme specification document describing the course aims, the course structure, the teaching and learning methods, the learning outcomes and the rules of assessment.

The following programme specification represents the latest course structure and may be subject to change:

BSc International Tourism Management with Foundation Year Prog Spec Sep22 FINAL 7066

The modules shown for this course are those currently being studied by our students, or are proposed new modules. Please note that programme structures and individual modules are subject to amendment from time to time as part of the University’s curriculum enrichment programme and in line with changes in the University’s policies and requirements.
Entry requirements

UCAS tariff

32+

BTEC:18 Unit BTEC National Diploma/QCF Extended Diploma: Pass PPP-MMP in any subject.
BTEC National Diploma modules
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.
International Baccalaureate:24-25 overall to include 4 at any subject at Higher Level. English and Maths accepted within: Higher Level = 4, Standard Level = 5.
IELTS:If overseas and not studying English within IB – Must have IELTS: 6.0 overall with 5.5 in all elements.
New Irish Highers:From 2017 32-80 points.
Access courses: Pass Access Course (any subject) plus GCSE English and Maths grade C / 4 or above or equivalent.
T level:Pass in any subject.
City and Guilds Level 3:We will accept with a minimum of Merit overall alongside a good GCSE profile, including English and Maths grade C / 4.
We welcome applicants with international qualifications. To view other accepted qualifications please refer to our tariff glossary.
Fees, costs and funding
Student 2023-2024 2024-2025
Home £9,250 £9,250
International £16,300 £17,100
Part time (Home) £770 £770
Full time fees shown are per annum. Part time fees shown are per 10 credits. Please note that fees are reviewed on an annual basis. Fees and the conditions that apply to them shown in the prospectus are correct at the time of going to print. Fees shown on the web are the most up to date but are still subject to change in exceptional circumstances. More information about fees and funding.

Additional costs

This course is delivered by the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Business and more details of any additional costs associated with the faculty's courses are listed on the following page: Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Business additional costs.

Tuition fees for optional placement years

The fee for all undergraduate students completing any part of their placement year in the UK in 2023/2024 is £1,850.
The fee for all undergraduate students completing their whole placement year outside the UK in 2023/2024 is £1,385.
Learn more about placement year tuition fees

How to apply
All applications for undergraduate courses are made through UCAS (Universities and Colleges Admissions Service). 
UCAS will ask for the information contained in the box at the top of this course page including the UCAS course code and the institution code. 
To apply for this course and for more information about submitting an application including application deadline dates, please visit the UCAS website.
Support is also available to overseas students applying to the University from our International Office via our how to apply webpage or email admissions@plymouth.ac.uk.

Placements 

You can choose to take an optional placement year after your second year on a three-year programme. The placement year consists of an extended period of professional experience in a business or organisation. Examples of placements our students have previously undertook include, Princess Cruises, The Westin Abu Dhabi Golf Resort and Spa, Rosewood Hotels Hong Kong and Country Club of Darien, USA.  

Study abroad

Opportunity to study a semester or year abroad during your second year at one of our partner institutions, including, but not limited to: USA, Finland, Germany, Spain, Iceland, Slovenia, France and Australia. 
Tourism and Hospitality Field Work

Riding the waves of success

Yamir Prieto graduated in BSc (Hons) International Tourism management before setting up his own surf company. Yamir is now CEO of Planet Surf Camps, based in the Canary Islands. 
International student Yamir reflects on the power of securing a placement with support from the academics and the career orientated aspects embedded into the course. 
“The placement really helped me, because I could observe working for a company. It was great, because instead of having someone to tell me what I had to do during my placement, I was there by myself.”
Yamir Prieto surfing, BSc (Hons) International Tourism Management

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