Tourism and Aviation MSc

Develop the skills and knowledge to advance rapidly in tourism and hospitality management. Undertake international field visits and study abroad opportunities. Start your career in this exciting and growing sector.

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Overview

An MSc is an internationally respected qualification. In one year, you'll develop the skills and knowledge to advance rapidly in tourism and hospitality management.

This master's course takes a social science approach to tourism and aviation and combines it with practical skills for the workplace. In addition to gaining in-depth theoretical knowledge, the specialist focus provided by the Aviation Management Studies module and Tourism and Aviation major project will prepare you for a career in this exciting and growing sector. We organise a number of field trips and company visits to put your learning into a real-world context.

Why us?

Guest speakers from industry and renowned academi

Course structure

You’ll be taught by passionate academics who produce world-leading research, and throughout your degree, you'll have one-to-one support from academic staff. A typical week for you will include lectures, seminars, study visits, and group work. These are supported by a range of guest speakers from diverse academic and industry backgrounds.

Compared to an undergraduate course, you'll find that this master's degree requires a higher level of independent working.

Your progress will be assessed by essays, presentations, portfolios of evidence, and a dissertation.

Course modules

Tourism Concepts and Issues (30 credits)

Discover more about the complex and exciting world of tourism. Explore tourism as a social and cultural practice, tourist subjectivities, and the spatial dimension of tourism. Consider perspectives from different disciplines while sitting firmly within the social sciences.

Current Practices in the Visitor Economy (30 credits)

Gain inside knowledge of the current trends in the tourism, hospitality, aviation, and events industries. Develop your understanding of current practices in the industry with the opportunity to undertake a residential field trip in the UK. Critically reflect on the relationship between theory and practice in relation to the visitor economy.

Research Methods for the Services Sector (30 credits)

Expand your knowledge of the key theories, methodologies and philosophies adopted in tourism, hospitality, aviation and events research. Develop your practical skills using quantitative data analysis software in workshops. Gain the critical foundations required to undertake your own independent research project.

Aviation Management Studies (30 credits)

Gain an understanding of aviation as a global industry, including developing and emerging economies. Cover key issues such as the complex structure of the industry, ownership, employment practices, and operational functions of aviation including airport communications and crisis management. Explore characteristics of aviation production and consumption such as branding and consumer behaviour. Investigate the industry’s impact in terms of triple bottom line indicators (economic, socio-cultural, and environmental).

Tourism and Aviation Major Project (60 credits)

Focus on an area of tourism or aviation management of your choice and design and implement a research proposal. Set aims and objectives, select and implement research methods, conduct a literature review, collect empirical data, and analyse appropriately. Receive expert supervision and training in research methods, research design, and the interpretation of data and its relation to contextual material.

Read more about what this means in our Help and Advice article.

Facilities

You’ll be based at The Reg Vardy Centre, on the Sir Tom Cowie Campus at St Peter’s. The Reg Vardy Centre is a modern building with views of the river, and just a short walk from both the coast and Sunderland town centre.

Entry requirements

Our typical offer is:

Qualification	Minimum grade
a Canadian bachelor's degree	GPA 2.40
a USA bachelor's degree	GPA 2.5

If you already hold a postgraduate qualification, please see our Applying for additional postgraduate degrees Help and Advice article.

If you don't meet our standard entry requirements, you can take one of the foundation pathways at our partners ONCAMPUS Sunderland. Find out more information and whether your course is eligible on our ONCAMPUS page.

If your qualification is not listed above, please contact the Student Administration team at studentadmin@sunderland.ac.uk for further advice.

We require you to hold at least a 2:2 honours degree or equivalent.

If English isn't your first language, please see our English language requirements.

Is your qualification not displaying here? For international qualifications, search our full list of international entry requirements for this course.

Fees and finance

2024/25 fees are:

£7,500 if you're from the UK
£10,500 if you’re an EU student (this fee is inclusive of an EU student scholarship)
£16,500 if you're an international student
£445 per 10 credits for part-time fees study

2025/26 fees are:

£8,500 if you're from the UK/Europe
£17,000 if you're an international student
£500 per 10 credits for part-time fees study

Please note that part-time study is not available to international students who require a student visa to study in the UK.

Take a look at the scholarships and bursaries that may be available to you.

This information was correct at the time of publication.

Career ready

An MSc is a challenging qualification which requires significant dedication. Employers recognise its worth and the value that an MSc-qualified graduate can bring to their organisation. This master's course equips you with the skills and understanding to progress rapidly in tourism and hospitality management, and potential employers include attractions and museums, airports, tourism companies, and major airlines.

Field trip opportunities

Previous field trip opportunities have included North East, national throughout the UK, and international including destinations such as Dublin, Prague, Barcelona, and New York.

Meet the students

I’ve had supportive lecturers who have equipped me with the skills and knowledge needed to progress

Casey Watson

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Contact

Contact the Student Helpline for further information about studying at the University of Sunderland

0191 515 3000
student.helpline@sunderland.ac.uk

View Programme Specifications for the Faculty of Business, Law and Tourism.

Page last updated: 03 December 2024

We aim to provide clear, accurate and timely information to prospective and current students. We continuously review and enhance course content in consultation with our students and the information provided on our website is the latest available. If you have received an offer from us to start a course, we will communicate any important changes to you in writing. We will always seek to ensure that our prospective students are fully aware of the basis on which they are accepting an offer.