International Hospitality, Tourism and Events Management

The hospitality, tourism and events sector has experienced significant growth in recent decades, emerging as a significant contributor to both the Scottish and global economy, accounting for one in ten jobs worldwide and supporting a substantial number of enterprises. The events sector has undergone remarkable expansion over the last 20 years, encompassing everything from pop-up food fairs to high-profile corporate events, trade shows and our own world-famous festivals. While hospitality, tourism and events can be viewed as separate industries in some ways, they are also deeply interlinked in others. Throughout your course, you will deepen your understanding of this through experiential learning, enabling you to put theory into practice. This involves the creative planning, delivery, and execution of live events; participating in a group walking tour; leading live business consultancy; and other activities. Moreover, your 20-week paid industry internship will equip you with real-life experience that is sure to boost your employability.

Our location in Edinburgh is sure to enrich your learning experience: Known as 'the festival city' and one of the world’s top tourist destinations, you have an abundance of hospitality and events venues right at your doorstep, which provide numerous opportunities for internships, field trips to distilleries and a wide range of other attractions, as well as part-time work and graduate career opportunities. You will also benefit from guest lectures from some of Scotland’s major tourism, hospitality, and events players.

On this course you will:

• gain a thorough theoretical understanding of the political, economic and social factors at work in the industry and what they will mean for you as a manager of the future;

• learn hands-on how to manage money, resources and talent in the fast-moving hospitality, tourism and events environment;

• plan and deliver live events;

• go on a 20-week paid internship that will boost your employability; and

• acquire the skills to work in exciting and vibrant sectors of increasing importance and relevance to a modern and socially just society.

Course Modules

Year One

You will:
Explore the key concepts that are the foundation of hospitality, tourism and events. Additionally, you will undertake a range of introductory modules around business management, for example, marketing and finance. The combination of theoretical concepts and the inclusion of practical and vocational skills prepares students for real-life situations;
Visit sites and venues that will enhance your experience and understanding, and guest lectures by leading industry figures will bring your learning to life; and
Engage with practical and vocational skills including food service and preparation and group leadership to prepare for the planning and delivery of a live event: culminating in a live event with our partner Edinburgh New Town Cookery School.

Modules

Introduction to Hospitality, Tourism and Events
Introduction to Management and Leadership
Marketing and Consumer Behaviour
Global Impacts and Trends in Hospitality, Tourism and Events
Introduction to Finance and Accounting
Producing a Live Food Event

Year Two

You will:
Prepare for a challenging and rewarding paid 20-week internship of your choice, in the UK or overseas, during which time you will be supported by the University;
Develop skills to think critically about hospitality, tourism and events and the consumer experience; and
Focus on management skills, by studying, for example, human resource management.

Modules

Managing Consumer Experiences in Hospitality, Tourism and Events
Digital Marketing and Ecommerce Management
Operations Management
Internship for Hospitality, Tourism and Events
Human Resource Management

Year Three

You will:
Deepen your understanding of a range of management techniques to assist in your chosen profession;
Study specialist modules about the hospitality, tourism and events sector and their contributions to the economy and society in the pursuit of social justice, for example, the subject of sustainability and climate change, and will choose an elective on a subject in this year to support your learning; and
Create and project manage a live event of your choice, with the guidance of your lecturer;
Have the opportunity (subject to availability) to study for one semester at a university overseas. For more information, visit Exchanges and Study Abroad.

Modules

Hospitality, Tourism and Events for Economic and Social Change
People Planet Purpose
Special Interest Hospitality, Tourism and Events or Business Management Electives
Project Managing a Live Event
Research Methods
New Enterprise Startup

Year Four

You will:
Complete a dissertation in an area of your choice and engage with current topics in hospitality, tourism and events;
Critically evaluate a range of contemporary issues such as crisis management within a hospitality, tourism and events context. There will also be an emphasis on the strategic issues and challenges within business management; and
Keep on developing practical skills by engaging in a live consultancy project with a hospitality, tourism or events business.

Modules

Creative Solutions for Live Industry Problems in HTE
Contemporary Issues in HTE
Strategy
Leading and Managing Change
Dissertation

NB The modules listed here are correct at time of posting (Feb 2024) but may differ slightly to those offered in 2025. Please check our website for any updates.

You will be taught in lectures, seminars and practical workshops. Outside these timetabled sessions you will be expected to continue learning through self-study. You will be assessed by a variety of methods during each semester.