Tourism Management BSc (Hons) Undergraduate - September 2023/24* Entry

Tourism is often one of the largest contributors to a country’s economy. Here in the UK, the tourism industry is worth billions and is one of the largest employers with millions of people working in the sector.

After decades of unprecedented expansion, the tourism industry underwent an abrupt change when international borders were closed for almost two years in response to a global pandemic. During this time the tourism industry saw a shift from international travel to staycations and the sector needed to adapt quickly.

There has never been a more exciting time to study tourism, with the world re-opening its doors and new consumer demand for travel once more the sector is facing new challenges. Can tourism become more sustainable? How will business adapt with new forms of domestic travel? What impact does tourism have on communities? There is real opportunity in the industry to rethink the development of tourism by adopting new technologies, focusing on sustainable tourism, and meeting the needs of host communities.

On our Tourism Management programme, you will study destinations as a tourism product and how to make destinations attractive. Looking at value chains and systems within industry you’ll gain the knowledge and skills needed to work as managers within the tourism industry.

The tourism sector is looking for innovative and environmentally friendly changes which meets the needs of its new consumer. Focusing on the development of sustainable tourism, products and services this course is designed to get you thinking about the future of the industry. You’ll learn techniques for sustained performance within organisations operating in the tourism industry such as local tourism boards and associations, destination management organisations, tourism attractions, private companies providing products and services to tourists. Discuss principles of rural tourism, cultural heritage conservation and management. Learn how to minimise the negative socio-cultural impacts of tourism and investigate tourism practices that respect the socio-cultural authenticity of host communities.

Whilst studying you’ll gain strong theoretical knowledge in tourism management, marketing, and economics. On the course you will evaluate tourism policies from local, national, and international industry perspectives and conduct comparative analyses between different countries and regions. Looking at best practice case studies and visiting tourism businesses you’ll learn how to critically evaluate technological options for the creation of sustainable and memorable tourism experiences.

Why Choose Bangor University for this course? 

• Our staff are active researchers in their subject areas with an international reputation.
• Bangor Business School is focused on helping you build your employability by giving you opportunities to engage with businesses, undertake work placements and internships.
• Bangor is located in the heart of North Wales, a tourism hotspot with popular places to visit such as Llanberis, Beaumaris, Llandudno and Caernarfon all on our doorstep.

Additional Course Options

This degree provides a theoretical base across a range of management functions (marketing, finance, human resource management) combined with practical application in the field of tourism. On this Tourism Management course you'll look at:

• Sustainability - As well as a specific module dedicated to sustainable tourism, other tourism-related modules will provide a sustainable perspective. The triple bottom line approach will be adopted in the discussion of tourism sustainability. You will learn to critically assess the need for an optimal balance between environmental, socio-cultural, and economic needs.
• Technology and Digitalisation - We will look at new technologies and how they are impacting the tourism industry and the tools and techniques needed to support sustainability and create memorable experiences. 
• Impact of Tourism - The course will explore the positive and negative impacts that tourism entails. You will explore the basic principle of how tourism can create wellbeing for the hosting communities, applying analyses and using relevant case studies.
• Trends and Developments in Tourism - The programme will include the study of the recent trends and developments risen during the COVID-19 pandemic with the aim to prepare students for the development of new forms of tourism and the management of resilient tourism destinations.

How will you learn? 

Your learning will be through a mix of lectures, interactive workshops, online support material, and insights from practitioners across a broad spectrum of different aspects of tourism. On this course we will look at enterprises of all sizes and structures, their operating times (seasonal and non-seasonal) and a range of business models from Wales and beyond. There will be opportunities for work experience and involvement in projects relevant to the tourism sector. As part of the preparation for the work place you will also undertake some tasks as a group, building your communication and team work skills. 

Your learning will be assessed by a variety of methods including coursework, presentations, examinations, project reports.

What will you study on this course?

In Year 1, students will take 80 credits from the following topics, Tourism Structure and Infrastructure, Discover Economics, Marketing in Practice and Principles of Management and Organisation. Students will also take 40 credits from optional modules available in topics such Business Analytics, Digital Marketing Essentials, Foundations of Marketing, Introduction to Contemporary Management Issues in Ethics, Sustainability, HRM, and Tourism, Introduction to Employee Life-cycle, Personal Finance and Banking, Principles of Financial Accounting, Principles of Management Accounting and Technology in Marketing. Students can also choose optional modules from other Business School level 4 modules or from elsewhere in the University, subject to timetabling constraints.

In Year 2, students will take 80 credits from the following topics, Services and Experiential Marketing, Sustainable Management of Tourism Attractions, Technology and Digitalisation in Tourism and Tourism in Practice. Students will also take 40 credits from optional modules available in topics such as Business Information Systems, Corporate Finance, Leadership and HRM, Management Accounting, Management Planning and Coordination, Marketing and Social Media Communications, Marketing Communications, Marketing Research and CRM, Operations Strategy across the Enterprise and Principles of Leadership and Employee Engagement. Students can also choose optional modules from other Business School level 5 modules or from elsewhere in the University, subject to timetabling constraints and pre-requisites.

In Year 3, students will take 80 credits from the following topics Enterprise, Creativity and Innovation, Managing Sustainable and Resilient Tourism Destinations and Tourism Applied Project. Students will also take 40 credits from optional modules available in topics such as Corporate Governance, International Business and Global Competency, International Strategic Marketing, Strategic Management and Tourism Summer Placement. Students can choose optional modules from other Business School level 6 modules or from elsewhere in the University, subject to timetabling constraints and pre-requisites Please note course content is for guidance purposes only and may be subject to change.

General University Costs

Home (UK) students

• The cost of a full-time undergraduate course is £9,000 per year (2021/22 entry and 2022/23 entry).
• The fee for all placement, international, and sandwich years is £1,350 (2021/22 and 2022/23).
• More information on fees and finance for Home (UK) students.

International (including EU) students

• International Student Tuition Fees
• International Student Living Costs and Scholarships

Additional Costs
There are also some common additional costs that are likely to arise for students on all courses, for example:

• If you choose to study abroad or take the International Experience Year as part of your course.
• If you attend your Graduation Ceremony, there will be a cost for gown hire (£25-£75) and cost for additional guest tickets (c.£12 each).

Course-specific additional costs
Depending on the course you are studying, there may be additional course-specific costs that you will be required to meet. These fall into three categories:

1. Mandatory Costs: these are related to a particular core or compulsory module that you’ll be required to complete to achieve your qualification e.g. compulsory field trips, uniforms for students on placement, DBS Check.
2. Necessarily Incurred Costs: these may not be experienced by all students, and will vary depending on the course e.g. professional body membership, travel to placements, specialist software, personal safety equipment.
3. Optional Costs: these depend on your choice of modules or activity and they are shown to give you an indication of the optional costs that may arise to make sure your choice is as informed as possible. These can include graduation events for your course, optional field trips, Welcome Week trips.

General University Requirements

To study for a degree, you’ll be asked for a minimum of UCAS Tariff points. For a fuller explanation of the UCAS Tariff Points, please see www.ucas.com.

We accept students with a wide range of qualifications and backgrounds and consider each application individually.

All students need to have good basic skills and the University also values IT and communication skills.

As part of the University’s policy, we consider applications from prospective disabled students on the same grounds as all other students.

We also consider applications from mature students who can demonstrate the motivation and commitment to study a university programme. Each year we enrol a significant number of mature students. For more information about studying as a mature student, see our Studying at Bangor section of the website.   

EU and International Students' Entry Requirements

For detailed guidance on the entry requirements for EU and International Students, including the minimum English Language entry requirement, please visit the Entry Requirements by Country pages. International applicants can also visit the International Education Centre section of our website for further details.

Bangor University offers International Incorporated Bachelor Degrees for International students whose High School qualification is not equivalent to the UK school leaving qualification. The first year (or Year 0) is studied at Bangor University International College, an embedded College on our University campus and delivered by Oxford International Education Group.

Studying Tourism Management can lead you to several career paths within the tourism industry. The course is designed to give you the skills and knowledge needed to become managers and employees. You’ll gain skills in leadership, problem solving, communications, and IT, all valuable skills within today’s workforce.

Being one of the biggest employers globally the tourism industry can offer you a range of career paths, from customer service, event management, to working for travel operators. This degree will equip you with the skills to think strategically and creatively when solving problems and managing, giving you transferable skills aligned to several jobs within the tourism industry today.

Opportunities at Bangor

The University’s Skills and Employability Service provides a wide range of resources to help you achieve your graduate ambitions. 

The Bangor Employability Award (BEA) 

The BEA is a comprehensive online course that you can work through at your own pace, taking you through all the steps you need to take to explore, prepare and apply for your dream career.

Internships

Bangor University runs a paid internship scheme within the university’s academic and service departments. 

Student Volunteering

Volunteering widens your experience and improves your employability. Find out more about volunteering on the Students’ Union’s website. 

A 'with Foundation Year' option is available for this course. Apply for Business Management (with Foundation Year).