Hotel Management FdA
An approved foundation degree that gives you the skills needed to move into a junior hotel management role. Designed for those already working in hotels, it’s even more flexible than other online courses, because you can either study for the full Foundation degree, or study individual modules that are particularly relevant to you, as short courses.
Learn to industry standards
This FdA is accredited by the Institute of Hospitality, the professional body for managers working in this sector. That means they believe it’s good preparation for a hotel management career.
You’re in control
Studying online gives you the flexibility to study at the most convenient time and place for you. Course modules still operate within a fixed semester or term time, but you can choose to study during the day, in the evenings or at the weekend rather than having to attend fixed lectures. As the hotel business has clear peaks and troughs throughout the year, you should find the flexibility a real bonus.
Throughout the course we’ll ask you to test out what you’re learning in your day to day role, and use your own experiences in assignments. This should mean you find the course more useful for your career.
Course Length:
18 months – 2 years of part time study
Start Dates:
September and January
Entry Requirements:
You must be working in the industry, preferably within a hotel environment. You will also usually need the following qualifications, though we do welcome applications from people without formal qualifications who can demonstrate relevant industry experience.
Starting this course in January 2012?
Our entry requirements are usually 100-120 UCAS points from A levels or equivalent qualifications, such as a BTEC National Diploma, Scottish Highers etc. If you've completed an Access/Foundation course, we also accept these qualifications.
Starting this course from September 2012?
Our entry requirements are usually 160 UCAS points from A levels or equivalent qualifications, such as a BTEC National Diploma, Scottish Highers etc. If you've completed an Access/Foundation course, we also accept these qualifications.
The UCAS tariff points are a guide – we'll also consider all the information that you've included in your application. We'll also want to see that you're enthusiastic and motivated to take this course and that you have the potential to benefit from coming to university.
Fees:
| Per Module | Modules | Total | Start | |
| UK | £300 | 16 | £4,800* | Sept/Jan |
| Non UK | £405 | 16 | £6,480* | Sept/Jan |
*Prices correct for 2011/2012. Subject to annual increase.
Career Information:
This foundation degree is good preparation for junior manager roles within hotels.
Many of our previous students went on to gain promotions within their current company, some went into teaching or training, and others have taken on management positions in areas such as: operations, finance, front of house, events, marketing or accommodation.
Upgrade this foundation degree to a full undergraduate degree for extra kudos, with only another 1-2 years of study. We offer the BA (Hons) Hospitality Management Top Up online for exactly this purpose.
Testimonials:
Here is what Klaudia Somogyi thought of this course while she was studying it. She has now finished and moved on to the BA (Hons) Hospitality Management Top Up.
"I have chosen to study online as I am employed full time and this course gives me great flexibility to study in my own time and at my own pace.
"This course enables me to put into practice what I have learned in my workplace and think more creatively and out of the box. This has led to me making valuable suggestions for improvement about certain parts of the business.
"My experience with the University has been great so far. I like the fact that even though I study online I'm always kept updated on University news and opportunities."
Course Leader:
Student Profile:
Here is what Klaudia Somogyi thought of this course while she was studying it. She has now finished and moved on to the BA (Hons) Hospitality Management Top Up.
"I have chosen to study online as I am employed full time and this course gives me great flexibility to study in my own time and at my own pace.
"This course enables me to put into practice what I have learned in my workplace and think more creatively and out of the box. This has led to me making valuable suggestions for improvement about certain parts of the business.
"My experience with the University has been great so far. I like the fact that even though I study online I'm always kept updated on University news and opportunities."
Career Information
This foundation degree is good preparation for junior manager roles within hotels.
Many of our previous students went on to gain promotions within their current company, some went into teaching or training, and others have taken on management positions in areas such as: operations, finance, front of house, events, marketing or accommodation.
Upgrade this foundation degree to a full undergraduate degree for extra kudos, with only another 1-2 years of study. We offer the BA (Hons) Hospitality Management Top Up online for exactly this purpose.
Modules
Stage 1
Core Module
Particularly useful for those students who haven’t studied for a long time, this module allows you to develop the skills you need to succeed in academic study, research and assessment.
You will cover:
- Electronic resources
- Academic writing
- Undertaking a literature review
- Critical reading
- Academic referencing styles
- Presentation styles and skills
- Group work
- Research design and methodology
- Interpreting data
- ICT skills
- Exam techniques.
How will I be assessed?
It’s 60% coursework and 40% exam.
Credits:
Core Module
You will learn about the management principles of hospitality operations, focusing on a wide range of operational and economic characteristics.
Areas covered include:
- Nature of hospitality products and services: product and service areas, intangibility, perishability, inseparability, heterogeneity, marketing and sales, equipment, supplies and commodities.
- Patterns of demand: elasticity of demand, opening hours, seasonality, sociological influences, health eating and drinking patterns, fashion and trends, cultural, regional and ethnic influences.
- Customer profile: spending power, product/service range, expectations and requirements, the meal experience.
- Management issues: planning and resourcing, operational plans, operating procedures and systems, control systems, service standards, quality systems, training.
- Product development: the stages, opportunities and merchandising.
- Approaches to appraisal: fundamentals of appraisal, basis for effective operational appraisal, use of budgets, industry norms, information analysis, developing and analysing quantitative and qualitative data.
- Appraising the operation: appraising the product, operational performance measurement techniques, levels of consideration, qualitative and quantitative evaluation, external comparisons, quality mechanisms, specific performance objectives (SPO), monitoring quality and reduction of failure rates.
How will I be assessed?
It’s 100% coursework.
Credits: 15
Core Module
You will assess and develop a range of professional and personal skills that will help you forge a successful career. You will write a Personal Development Plan to identify your own areas of weakness and how you will address these.
We will cover:
- Employability skills
- Use of progress files or portfolios
- Learning styles and strategies
- Verbal communication
- Effective written communication
- Working with others
- Searching for information
- Using information
- Intrapersonal and interpersonal skills.
How will I be assessed?
It’s 100% coursework.
Credits: 15
Core Module
The customer experience in hotels relies much on the skills and competencies of front line and support staff, so it is important that organisations have effective systems and procedures for managing human resources.
The aim of the module is to develop your skills, knowledge and understanding of Human Resource Management (HRM) theory and its application within service industries. You will cover a range of HRM issues and processes, focusing on the manager’s role in implementing HRM systems and procedures.
How will I be assessed?
It’s 100% coursework. For assignment 1 (40%) you will produce an outline of a recruitment plan for a job of your choice. This should include a job advert, a rationale for your chosen sources of recruitment and an overview of your intended selection methods (1,000 words). For assignment 2 (60%) you will investigate and evaluate performance management and retention strategies used within the service sector (1,500 words).
Credits: 15
Core Module
You’ll gain an introduction to the accommodation sector and the wider hospitality and tourism industry.
You will cover these areas:
- Scale and scope: size of outlet, type of ownership, sectors eg commercial, services, contract, turnover, purchasing power.
- Diversity of products and services: food, drink, accommodation, conference and banqueting, leisure facilities, levels of service, customer base, future trends.
- Organisational structure: operational areas, management functions, professional attitude.
- Operational issues: standard of operating procedures, service requirements/needs, levels of productivity, human resource issues, benchmarking, outsourcing services, e-commerce.
- Management functions and issues: key industry players, international aspects, marketing issues, effective implementation of management systems, environmental issues, relationships with education/training providers, media issues.
- Legislation and regulation: influence and impact of national and European legislation, compliance with legislation, formal and practical training.
- Changing roles and future prospects: different types of role, impact of changes on stakeholders, organisational change, external environment, current and future trends in market and labour force, business development, forecasting techniques, measuring success.
How will I be assessed?
It’s 100% coursework.
Credits: 15
Core Module
You’ll develop a practical understanding of the purchasing, costing and control techniques used to help the manager of a service based industry such as a hotel, make effective short term decisions.
Topics include:
- Elements of cost
- Setting selling prices
- Control of stock and cash
- Stocktaking and consumption
- Trial balance procedures
- Final accounts
- Limited companies
- Sales profitability ratios
- Liquidity ratios
- Efficiency ratios
- Financial ratios
- Budgetary control
- Types of budget
- Variance analysis
- Cost categorisation and contribution application.
How will I be assessed?
It’s 100% coursework.
Credits: 15
Core Module
In this module you will gain a greater understanding of customer needs and expectations. We’ll evaluate current practices and strategies for enhancing the customer service experience within organisations such as hotels.
You will cover the following areas:
- Customer care policies: customer service culture, improving customer perceptions and satisfaction, improving repeat business, factors affecting the quality of service, staffing levels, inter-personal skills, training, and legislation.
- Communication: presenting a professional image, motivation, self-awareness, verbal and non-verbal communication, body language, developing confidence, dealing with varied situations and difficult clients.
- Customers: customer types, meeting customer expectations, customer care, trends, cultural diversity, customer research, sources of information, primary and secondary research data, analysing data, using data to make improvements.
How will I be assessed?
It’s 100% coursework.
Credits: 15
Core Module
Marketing and promotion are recognised as being fundamental to business success in service industries such as hotels. This module will introduce you to contemporary marketing issues like buyer behaviour, social networking, and the global nature of markets in our interconnected world. It focuses especially on the promotional aspects of marketing a service like a hotel.
Areas covered include:
- An overview of contemporary marketing.
- The extended marketing mix.
- The changing nature of global markets.
- Research, market segmentation and targeting.
- Consumer motivation and purchase behaviour.
- The nature of the service product – lifestyle process.
- Expectations and perceptions of a service.
- The promotional process and media landscape – return on investment.
- Consumer motivation and purchase behaviour.
- Important and multiple roles of promotion.
How will I be assessed?
It’s 100% coursework.
Credits: 15
Stage 2
Core Module
You’ll develop a range of management and computing skills that will help you become an effective manager in today’s highly competitive hospitality environment.
These include:
- Developing self: self awareness, self management, leadership style and competencies, communication skills, problem solving skills, thinking critically, continuous professional development.
- Leading a team.
- Managing individuals.
- The organisation: types of organisational structure and culture, centralisation and de-centralisation, understanding change, types of change, planned change theory, managing change, change agent.
- Managing information: management information systems, using databases to perform search queries, using excel to develop spreadsheets and analyse data, using Microsoft Project, managing emails, memory and speed-reading skills.
How will I be assessed?
It’s 100% coursework.
Credits: 30
Core Module
Operations management is concerned with the development of products and services and is at the centre of the hotel business. This module develops your understanding of how the effective and efficient use of resources can contribute to the overall success of an organisation. It will also help you identify operational issues and evaluate alternative methods of problem solving.
We will cover:
- Effective operations management
- Design of products and services
- Resource planning and control
- Managing staff
- Managing quality
- Managing risk.
How will I be assessed?
It’s 100% coursework.
Credits: 15
Core Module
This module will enable you to take the necessary decisions in a hotel or any service sector environment, to ensure effective resource management and sustainability. Effective decisions come from using effective purchasing and control systems and applying this in specific situations.
You will cover:
- Relevant costs and revenues for decisions.
- Cost-volume profit analysis.
- Long term decision techniques.
- Sources of finance.
- Long term capital structure and costs.
- Investment ratios.
- Investment in working capital.
How will I be assessed?
It’s 100% coursework. For assignment 1 (30%) you will complete an analysis of a service sector operational situation, apply appropriate financial decision techniques and produce appropriate recommendations (2,000 words). For assignment 2 (70%) you will develop and recommend a financing decision based upon the analysis of the financial strategy and performance of a service sector business, such as a hotel.
Credits: 15
Core Module
This is an opportunity for you to undertake a small scale action research project, into an area of your choice – the topic should be in response to an issue in your current practice. You will receive guidance from your module tutor to help.
As part of your research, you will learn about:
- Action research: what is action research? action research and professional learning, action research models, action research and reflective practice, defining a topic, establishing a line of enquiry.
- Research methods: first and second person action research practice, qualitative and quantitative research methods, data collection, presenting and analysing data, research ethics.
- Literature review: identifying and reviewing literature, engaging in critical reflection, relating literature to your topic.
- Actions: identifying conclusions, justifying actions, implementing actions, reflecting on actions taken, modifying practice.
How will I be assessed?
It’s 100% coursework: a 5,000 word action research report.
Credits: 30
Core Module
In this module you will consider an organisation’s operational resources, through a range of analytical approaches.
You will study these topics:
- Analysing the business: the economic, market and competitor environment; competitive advantage; business trends and issues; recent developments in hospitality.
- Current strategic policy: business objectives, current market positioning, potential for business improvement, resource capabilities, factoring risk, measuring business performance.
- Implementing strategy: strategy implementation models, divisional analysis, critical success factor, benchmarking, the balanced scorecard, internal marketing techniques, identifying gaps in organisational capabilities, setting milestones and monitoring progress.
- Growth strategies: identifying growth strategies, evaluating the organisation’s readiness for growth, identifying resources for growth.
How will I be assessed?
It’s 100% coursework.
Credits: 30
You must be working in the industry, preferably within a hotel environment. You will also usually need the following qualifications, though we do welcome applications from people without formal qualifications who can demonstrate relevant industry experience.
Starting this course in January 2012?
Our entry requirements are usually 100-120 UCAS points from A levels or equivalent qualifications, such as a BTEC National Diploma, Scottish Highers etc. If you've completed an Access/Foundation course, we also accept these qualifications.
Starting this course from September 2012?
Our entry requirements are usually 160 UCAS points from A levels or equivalent qualifications, such as a BTEC National Diploma, Scottish Highers etc. If you've completed an Access/Foundation course, we also accept these qualifications.
The UCAS tariff points are a guide – we'll also consider all the information that you've included in your application. We'll also want to see that you're enthusiastic and motivated to take this course and that you have the potential to benefit from coming to university.
Apply Now
Applications for Online courses are made through the main University of Derby website.
By clicking on "Apply now" below you will be redirected to the University of Derby website to continue your application process.
Fees
| Per Module | Modules | Total | Start | |
| UK | £300 | 16 | £4,800* | Sept/Jan |
| Non UK | £405 | 16 | £6,480* | Sept/Jan |
*Prices correct for 2011/2012. Subject to annual increase.
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