Undergraduate Course
Available in clearing

 - Call 01332 592024 or complete our online form

Course details

Study options

Full-time: 3 years (4 years with placement year)

UK fee

£9,250 per year (2024/25)

International fee

£14,900 per year (2024/25)

UCAS points

104-120 (September 2024 entry)120 (September 2025 entry)

UCAS code

N801

Start dates

September, January

If you do not achieve the typical entry points required, you may want to consider studying this course with foundation year.

View with foundation year optionView with foundation year option

The highlights

Top15for satisfaction with teaching - Hospitality, Event Management and Tourism The Guardian University Guide 2024
Top25for student satisfaction - Tourism Transport Travel and Heritage Studies Complete University Guide 2025

Designed for 2023 and beyond

This BA (Hons) International Tourism Management degree is designed to give you the management and operational skills needed to succeed in the tourism industry of the 2020s and beyond. We have a track record of running successful tourism management degrees, and now we've updated our curriculum to be even more relevant to the industry today.

In particular, we've included more content about business management, entrepreneurship and sustainability, so you graduate as a modern, adaptable and creative thinker who is not afraid to challenge the status quo and lead on change.

We've also redesigned the modules so that instead of studying specific modules in Finance, Marketing, HR and the other business disciplines, we teach these subjects throughout the course at points where they are most relevant. For instance, you will build your financial knowledge as you learn to create business plans, and you will develop HR and leadership skills as you learn how to change and transform an organisation.

Tourism and the visitor economy

This programme is part of our Centre for Contemporary Hospitality and Tourism, which is an accredited International Centre of Excellence (ICE). Because of this, it shares key generic modules with our International Hospitality Management and Event Management degrees, so you can appreciate how these three specialisms work together to make up the 'visitor economy' (the services and experiences that attract visitors to a destination).

You will still focus on tourism - through activities, assessments and specialist modules - but you'll also develop broader business management knowledge and get the chance to take optional modules in event management and hospitality subjects. It means you'll have a wider skillset when you graduate and a greater choice of career paths and postgraduate courses.

Key areas of learning

On this degree, you'll cover the full range of modern-day tourism management and business management skills. You'll learn to problem-solve and adapt to changing external environments, create successful experiences while considering sustainability, and plan, manage and evaluate projects. 

We'll cover interesting or emerging topics such as sustainable tourism, e-tourism and the role of technology, and niche tourism such as food, nature-based or adventure tourism. We'll teach you how to research, analyse and present data, as well as how to launch a new business, manage finances and lead teams. You'll graduate with a diverse skillset, a 'can-do' attitude and the knowledge and confidence to go out and make your mark in the tourism industry. 

Professional training and insights from ABTA

During your degree you can get access to additional professional training from ABTA, the UK’s largest travel association, which represents travel agents and tour operators. Because we're an ABTA partner, our students can complete online training courses developed by the Association and receive CPD (Continuing Professional Development) certificates to show to future or current employers. It's an easy way to build up additional professional knowledge and demonstrate to employers that you are proactive and keen to learn.  

As an ABTA partner, we also get access to exclusive travel industry updates, research and publications, around topics like travel trends and travel law. This ensures we're always up to date with the latest developments in the industry.

Susanne Martin - student

Being an ABTA student representative is a fantastic opportunity to gain valuable industry insights that I can use in my future career. It enables me to develop essential communication skills by liaising between ABTA and the University of Derby.

Susanne Martin
BA (Hons) International Tourism Management student

Practical projects

Throughout the course you'll be asked to complete a wide range of tasks and activities that a tourism professional might do, so you build up practical experience and can apply what you're learning.

For example, you might be asked to design and deliver a tourism experience for a specific customer group, think up creative ideas for promoting a destination, develop a project to solve a tourism related problem, and develop and pitch business proposals. You will also get the chance to act as a management consultant for a business, giving them advice on sustainable tourism planning, and come up with ideas for an online tool or new technology innovation in tourism.

Work placements and internships - at home and abroad

We'll encourage and support you to take work placements and internships, at home or abroad. In your second year you must complete at least 30 hours of work experience and then between years two and three, you can take an optional placement year or a summer internship. This is a valuable opportunity to gain experience and develop your practical skills 'on the job'. 

Our tutors will help you to find a placement or internship, using their connections in the tourism industry. For example, they have international links with Disney Resorts, USA Summer Camps, TUI Thomson, Merlin Entertainment and many niche tour operators. They also have links with organisations closer to home, such as  Visit Peak District, the National Trust and Chatsworth House.

Studying abroad and overseas trips

In the second year, you will get the opportunity to study abroad. You'll be able to choose from a range of countries, such as the Netherlands, Germany, Thailand, Bali and South Africa. It's a great way to experience a different culture, gain a new perspective on your subject, and have an adventure!

There are also plenty of opportunities to take part in study trips overseas and in the UK, with Hospitality and Events students. See which locations we've recently visited and what we got up to.

What you will study

Please note that our modules are subject to change - we review the content of our courses regularly, making changes where necessary to improve your experience and graduate prospects.

Kedleston Road, Derby Campus entrance

Undergraduate Open Days

The best way to find out if studying at Derby is right for you is to experience an Open Day. Get a feel for the city and campus, tour our first-class facilities and see where you could be living.

Book your Undergraduate Open DayBook your Undergraduate Open Day

How you will learn

You will build up your knowledge and skills through learning activities like:

How you will be assessed

We use a range of assessment methods - predominantly coursework, but there may be some online exams too. Your coursework tasks will be based around the key duties of tourism professionals, and will include researching the market, thinking of creative ways to promote destinations and attractions, writing business proposals and reports, delivering pitches and presentations, drafting project plans, and evaluating the success of tourism initiatives and activities.

Personal academic tutoring

Your personal academic tutor will work with you to help you get the most out of your time at university. Having someone to talk to about your academic progress, your university experience and your professional aspirations is hugely valuable. We want you to feel challenged in your studies, stretched but confident to achieve your academic and professional goals.

Find out more about personal academic tutoring

Who will teach you

Duncan Marson wearing a tie and navy waistcoat.

Duncan Marson
Programme leader

Duncan is a Lecturer in Tourism and Applied Management.

View full staff profileView full staff profile

Entry requirements

2024 entry

These are the typical qualification requirements for the 2024-25 academic year which includes September 2024 and January 2025 entry.

Contextual offers may apply to students who meet certain criteria.

RequirementWhat we're looking for
UCAS points104-120
A LevelBBB-BBC
T LevelMerit
BTECDMM
GCSEGCSE Maths and English Grade 4/Grade C (or above) or equivalent qualification
Access to HEPass Access to HE Diploma with 60 credits: 45 at Level 3 with a minimum of Distinction: 15, Merit: 24, Pass: 6

English language requirements

IELTS: 6.0 (with at least 5.5 in each skills area)

2025 entry

These are the typical qualification requirements for the 2025-26 academic year which includes September 2025 and January 2026 entry.

Contextual offers may apply to students who meet certain criteria.

RequirementWhat we're looking for
UCAS points120
A LevelBBB
T LevelMerit
BTECDDM
GCSEGCSE Maths and English Grade 4/Grade C (or above) or equivalent qualification
Access to HEPass Access to HE Diploma with 60 credits: 45 at Level 3 with a minimum of Distinction: 15, Merit: 24, Pass: 6

English language requirements

IELTS: 6.0 (with at least 5.5 in each skills area)

Fees and funding

2024/25

 Full-timePart-time
UK

£9,250 per year

N/A

International

£14,900 per year

N/A

Further information about our fees and support you may be entitled to.

Additional costs and optional extras

How to apply

Please look at our application deadlines before you apply.


UK students

If you are in Year 13 and applying for a full-time undergraduate course (including our joint honours courses), we recommend that you apply through UCAS.

Apply through UCAS

If you are applying to study part-time, or already have your qualifications, or wish to join at Year 2 or 3, you should apply directly to the University.

Apply directly to the University

Careers

You'll graduate from this degree as a confident and creative international tourism specialist with strong business acumen. If you want to launch your own business or work for a start-up, you'll have the enterprising attitude and attributes that are needed, including resilience, self-awareness and independent thinking.

Or if you prefer to work for an employer, you'll be well-suited to a range of roles in the tourism, event or hospitality sectors, as well as allied industries such as marketing, PR or HR. You could initially apply for roles such as Tourism Officer, Travel Consultant, Business Development Manager and Marketing Executive, but several years down the line, we think you'll be leading, inspiring and shaping the future of the visitor economy.

Getting you career ready

Your degree is only part of your story.

We're here to help prepare you for life after university.

Career Support Image

96%
of UK graduates are in employment or further study.

Top 5
for employability.
Uni Compare Annual Student Review Rankings 2025.

87%
of UK graduates say their current activity is meaningful.

Contact us

If you need any more information from us, eg on courses, accommodation, applying, car parking, fees or funding, please contact us and we will do everything we can to help you.

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† Additional information about your studies

January start is available for students starting at year 1 or year 3 only.

Teaching hours

Like most universities, we operate extended teaching hours at the University of Derby, so contact time with your lecturers and tutors could be anytime between 9am and 9pm. Your timetable will usually be available on the website 24 hours after enrolment on to your course.

Course updates

The information provided on this page is correct at the time of publication but course content, costs and other individual course details do change from time to time and are updated as often as possible, so please do check these pages again when making your final decision to apply for a course. Any updated course details will also be confirmed to you at application, enrolment and in your offer letter.

If you are thinking about transferring onto this course (into the second year for example), you should contact the programme leader for the relevant course information as modules may vary from those shown on this page.

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