BSc (Hons) International Tourism Management with Foundation Year

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).

What can you do with a hospitality, tourism and events management degree? 

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. 

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.

Discover our careers service 

• 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.

  Core modules

  • Business Culture and Behaviour (HRL4003)

    This module encompasses the internal aspects, functions and processes of organisations, including their diverse nature, purposes, structures, size/scale, governance, operations and management, together with the individual and corporate behaviours and cultures which exist within and between different organisations.

  • The Business Environment: A Global Perspective (STO4002)

    This module introduces students to essential understanding and competencies in the dynamic and changing nature of business and the consideration of the future of organisations within the global business environment, including the management of risk and business resilience.

  • Tourism Industry and Practice (THE4002)

    Through consideration of the tourism system, you will examine patterns of tourism supply and demand in both a domestic and international context, exploring tourism destinations through an examination of public, private and voluntary sectors operating at the destinations. You will be introduced to the principles of sustainable management for tourism organisations.

  • Tourism Impacts and the Environment (THE4007)

    This module will develop your understanding of the roles tourism plays within and for societies, giving you an introductory overview of the impacts of tourism activity, associated tourist behaviour and sympathetic approaches to management. You will study theoretical concepts drawn from sociology, anthropology, leisure and tourism studies, providing you with a more critical awareness of the relationships between tourism and society, supported by international case study examples and opportunities for critical debate.

• 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.

  Core modules

  • Destination Planning and Management (THE5003)

    This module focuses on visitor attractions, impacts of ICTs and global issues in relation to destination management, examining the essential features of tourism planning in both a UK and international context and reviewing the activities of different types of public sector and hybrid organisations. You will consider key aspects of Hispanic and Francophone societies via media such as film, text, documentaries, news reports etc, to develop a deeper understanding and appreciation of other cultures in the context of destination planning. Industry practitioners will provide insights into destination planning in different cultural contexts.

  • Digitalisation and the Visitor Experience (THE5010)

    In this module, you will examine the visitor experience and how it can be created and developed to provide competitive advantage for destinations and tourism providers with the impacts of digitalisation. You will examine current technology trends and how these influence and change service products, operations, processes and visitor behaviour within society.

  • Creative Industries and Tourism: A Global Perspective (THE5013)

    You will review the scope, nature and development of the creative industries, drawing on international examples. In doing so, you will examine a range of issues affecting the planning, development, marketing and operation of the creative industries, such as the concern with authenticity, the tensions between conservation and business viability, politics and propaganda, funding, interpretation, place identity and the visitor experience and dissonance and the blurring between fact and fiction.

  Optional modules

  • The Challenge Module: Sustainable Business (PBS5001C)

    Through this module you can select from a choice of topics related to the big challenges business and society are facing today. These might be drawn from the UN Sustainable Development Goals or a country’s industrial strategy.

  • The Challenge Module: Sustainable Supply Chains for Global Trade (PBS5002C)

    In this module, you will be challenged to evaluate the sustainability of the globalised business world. You will assess conflicting viewpoints and present balanced arguments for the environmental, social and economic sustainability of the supply chains that support global trade.

  • The Challenge Module: Responsible Entrepreneurship in Action (PBS5003C)

    Through this module you can develop an understanding of the big challenges business and society are facing today, in the context of entrepreneurship. These might be drawn from the UN Sustainable Development Goals or a country’s industrial strategy and will be informed by established business theories. You will develop and reflect on a business idea which has sustainability at its core.

• 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.

  Core modules

  • Placement Year (PBS600PLC)

    The placement year consists of an extended period of appropriate professional experience in a business or organisation. It allows the student to gain relevant experience to consolidate their studies and prepare for final stage study and employment after graduation. Students on BA International Business may also or alternatively undertake a study placement at an approved partner institution.

• Year 5

• 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 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.

A level: 32-80 points from a minimum of 2 A levels.

BTEC:18 Unit BTEC National Diploma/QCF Extended Diploma: Pass PPP-MMP in any subject.

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.

English language requirements 

We welcome applicants with international qualifications. To view other accepted qualifications please refer to our tariff glossary. 

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.