2025/26 entry
BA (Hons) International Tourism Management
Why study International Tourism Management at Liverpool John Moores University?
- LJMU ranked 3rd university in the UK for hospitality, leisure, recreation and tourism degrees (The Times UK University Rankings 2025)
- Degree informed by wide ranging links with public, private and voluntary organisations
- A practical and applied curriculum with industry guest speakers and field trips
- Exciting year long work placement opportunities - Read student Campbell's blog about his salaried placement year in the USA
- Year-long and semester-long study abroad opportunities in international partner universities
- This programme is also available as a Top Up Level 6 entry degree
- 93% of students surveyed said academic support on our tourism, transport and travel courses was good or very good (NSS 2024)
- Shortlisted for the Times Higher Education Awards 2024 Business School of the Year
About your course
Recognised by the Tourism Management Institute (TMI) the BA (Hons) International Tourism Management programme at Liverpool John Moores University offers excellent career prospects and exciting opportunities
Tourism is a global phenomenon, estimated to be worth around 5.5 trillion to the world economy, and almost 127 billion to the economy of the United Kingdom. Locally, tourism is worth 4.1 billion per annum to the Liverpool City Region, employing over 50,000 people. Liverpool is a hugely popular tourism destination with its unique mixture of heritage and modernity and ambitious growth plans are in place, including the re-emergence of Liverpool as a cruise ship terminal. The fast-growing tourism industry offers a range of career opportunities in various tourism-related sectors such as creative arts, heritage, tourism planning, hospitality, leisure, marketing and events.
By studying tourism at LJMU you will be engaged in a student-centred, internationally focused course that is underpinned by current research. Our tourism team consists of staff who are both experienced teachers and established researchers, combining their diverse cultural backgrounds with considerable international experience. The programme covers a diverse range of tourism-related subjects such as culture, heritage, society, management, leadership, marketing, responsible tourism and sustainability, providing you with practical skills as well as intellectual knowledge to enable you to work in this dynamic and ever expanding industry.
Practical experience is an integral part of your studies and field trips are a regular part of your programme. Recent trips outside Liverpool include York, Amsterdam and Nice. In addition, visiting guest lecturers and industry professionals regularly provide an 'insider's view' of the sector on campus.
You will have the opportunity to complete an optional year-long sandwich placement (after your second year) which will help you gain practical professional experience either in the UK or overseas. We are currently working with several organisations that offer students the opportunity to spend their placement year in the hospitality industry overseas, including the USA.
International Tourism Management Top-Up
This one year, full time, top-up degree is ideal for students who are completing/already hold a relevant HND, relevant Foundation degree, or Diploma and want to top-up their qualification and boost employment prospects by gaining an honours degree. The Top Up programme joins the Level 6 (3rd year) students on the International Tourism Management degree.
In addition to the University's standard entry requirements, you should have one of the following: a Foundation Degree with 60% or above in a relevant subject or a relevant HND with overall Merit (240 credits).
Professional accreditation/links
This course is recognised by the Tourism Management Institute (TMI). TMI is the professional body for destination management practitioners, with members drawn from all levels of the private and public sectors: national, regional, sub regional and local. TMI seeks to support professional development within the sector, for potential entrants as well as existing practitioners.
Assessment and recognition by TMI means that students can be confident the course will provide them with knowledge, understanding, skills and experience which will fully prepare them for a career in tourism destination management.
Fees and funding
There are many ways to fund study for home and international students
Fees
The fees quoted above cover registration, tuition, supervision, assessment and examinations as well as:
- library membership with access to printed, multimedia and digital resources
- access to programme-appropriate software
- library and student IT support
- free on-campus wifi via eduroam
Additional costs
Although not all of the following are compulsory/relevant, you should keep in mind the costs of:
- accommodation and living expenditure
- books (should you wish to have your own copies)
- printing, photocopying and stationery
- PC/laptop (should you prefer to purchase your own for independent study and online learning activities)
- mobile phone/tablet (to access online services)
- field trips (travel and activity costs)
- placements (travel expenses and living costs)
- student visas (international students only)
- study abroad opportunities (travel costs, accommodation, visas and immunisations)
- academic conferences (travel costs)
- professional-body membership
- graduation (gown hire etc)
Funding
There are many ways to fund study for home and international students. From loans to International Scholarships and subject-specific funding, you'll find all of the information you need on our specialist funding pages.
Employability
Tourism is big business and you can expect to enjoy varied career opportunities both in the UK and overseas after graduating with a BA (Hons) degree in International Tourism Management.
Liverpool Business School has historically had an excellent employment record with graduates securing graduate-level positions with leading employers in public and private sectors. These include Everton Football Club, Kellogg company, Santander and Deloitte.
Graduates of this course are well placed to work within specific aspects of tourism such as tourism marketing or management in a wide range of tourism or leisure organisations both in Liverpool and further afield. The fast-growing tourism sector offers a range of career opportunities in sectors such as creative arts, heritage, tourism planning, hospitality, leisure, marketing and events.
Student Futures - Careers, Employability and Enterprise Service
A wide range of opportunities and support is available to you, within and beyond your course, to ensure our students experience a transformation in their career trajectory. Every undergraduate curriculum includes Future Focus during Level 4, an e-learning resource and workshop designed to help you to develop your talents, passion and purpose.
Every student has access to Careers Zone 24/7, LJMU's suite of online Apps, resources and jobs board via the LJMU Student Futures website. There are opportunities for flexible, paid and part-time work through Unitemps, LJMU's in-house recruitment service, and we also offer fully funded Discovery Internships.
One-to-one careers and employability advice is available via our campus-based Careers Zones and we offer a year-round programme of events, including themed careers and employability workshops, employer events and recruitment fairs. Our Start-Up Hub can help you to grow your enterprise skills and to research, plan and start your own business or become a freelancer.
A suite of learning experiences, services and opportunities is available to final year students to help ensure you leave with a great onward plan. You can access LJMU's Careers, Employability and Start-up Services after you graduate and return for one-to-one support for life.
Go abroad
LJMU aims to make international opportunities available to every student. You may be able to study abroad as part of your degree at one of our 100+ partner universities across the world. You could also complete a work placement or apply for one of our prestigious worldwide internship programmes. If you wanted to go abroad for a shorter amount of time, you could attend one of our 1-4 week long summer schools.
Our Go Citizen Scheme can help with costs towards volunteering, individual projects or unpaid placements anywhere in the world. With all of these opportunities at your feet, why wouldn’t you take up the chance to go abroad?
Find out more about the opportunities we have available via our Instagram @ljmuglobalopps or email us at: goabroad@ljmu.ac.uk.
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What you will study on this degree
Please see guidance below on core and option modules for further information on what you will study.
Further guidance on modules
Modules are designated core or optional in accordance with professional body requirements, as applicable, and LJMU’s Academic Framework Regulations. Whilst you are required to study core modules, optional modules provide you with an element of choice. Their availability may vary and will be subject to meeting minimum student numbers.
Where changes to modules are necessary these will be communicated as appropriate.
Level 4
Core modules
Introduction to International Tourism
20 credits
To introduce students to the main tourism system models, industry sectors and technologies.
Academic Skills and Digital Literacy
20 credits
To enable students to develop the skills necessary to be effective learners at university and to apply academic and digital skills in the context of their academic studies. To introduce students to aspects of career management.
Tourism and Place
20 credits
To enable students to understand and critically analyse the relationship between tourism and place.
Managing Experience in the Visitor Economy
20 credits
The aim is to provide students with the background knowledge of customer experience management in the visitor economy.
Destination Liverpool
20 credits
To explore what makes a successful international tourism destination using Liverpool and its region as a living-laboratory.
Marketing for Tourism and Events
20 credits
The aim of the module is to provide students with the knowledge and understanding of marketing theories and concepts in the context of tourism and events management sectors.
Level 5
Core modules
Employability Skills
20 credits
To provide students with the skills and knowledge to succeed in the graduate employment market.
Tourism, Culture and Society
20 credits
To provide social and cultural contexts within which tourism takes place, and for students to develop the appropriate theoretical basis and practical skills to critically assess the socio-cultural environment of tourism and tourist practices. Topics include imagery, material culture, multisensory experiences, movie tourism, legacy, museum and ethnography.
Investigating Tourism
10 credits
To enable students to understand, critically analyse and apply a variety of research methodologies and methods.
Practical Digital Marketing Skills
20 credits
Demonstrate a practical understanding of the key areas of digital marketing, including current digital marketing tools and website development.
Responsible Tourism and Sustainability
20 credits
To develop students' understanding of responsibility and sustainability in tourism, particularly focusing on tourism planning processes regarding tourist destinations and organisations.
Engage Liverpool
20 credits
To provide students with practical skills and knowledge to interpret best destination management practices and apply them to the specific case of Liverpool.
Optional Modules
Visitor Attraction Management
10 credits
This module equips students with essential knowledge and skills for comprehending and overseeing visitor attractions. It covers the role and significance of visitor attractions in the realm of tourism, visitor interpretation, project design and financing, operation management of visitor attractions, and explores different categories like natural attractions, special interest attractions, and theme parks.
Modern Language for Business
10 credits
Develop a very basic competence in reading, writing, listening and speaking a modern foreign language as well as develop an understanding of basic foreign language grammar.
Sandwich Year - Sport, Events and Tourism
120 credits
The aim is to provide students with an extended period of work experience at an approved partner that will complement their programme of study at LJMU. This will give students the opportunity to develop professional skills relevant to their programme of study as well as the attitude and behaviours necessary for employment in a diverse and changing environment.
Study Year Abroad - Sport, Events and Tourism
120 credits
The aim is to provide students with an additional year of study at an approved overseas partner that will complement their programme at LJMU.
Study Semester Abroad - Sport, Events and Tourism
60 credits
The aim is to provide students with a semester of study at an approved overseas partner that will replace one semester of their LJMU programme at level 5.
Level 6
Core modules
Dissertation
40 credits
Investigate and critically analyse a topic that relates to this programme.
Tourism and Heritage
20 credits
To provide students with a critical understanding and knowledge of the relationship between tourism and heritage.
Strategic Management
20 credits
To recognise and evaluate the wider importance strategic decision making upon the competitive advantage of business.
International Tourism Development
20 credits
This module aims to investigate the issues associated with international tourism development. It has a particular focus on tourism in developing countries and seeks to explore how tourism can be a force for good in these countries, but also uses a critical examination of the problems that tourism can cause.
Optional Modules
Entrepreneurship and Innovation
20 credits
To develop an understanding of the concepts of entrepreneurship, innovation and business start-up.
Business Consultancy
20 credits
Develop an understanding of business problems and issues and provide students with the opportunity to apply key academic theories and models in the development of a solution that meets the client's needs. In addition, students will reflect on their personal development and consider next steps post-graduation.
Teaching and work-related learning
Excellent facilities and learning resources
We adopt an active blended learning approach, meaning you will experience a combination of face-to-face and online learning during your time at LJMU. This enables you to experience a rich and diverse learning experience and engage fully with your studies. Our approach ensures that you can easily access support from your personal tutor, either by meeting them on-campus or via a video call to suit your needs.
Learning is via a varied combination of activities including lectures, online activities, seminars, workshops and small-group tutorials.
Work-related Learning
Practical experience is an extremely important element of your studies. The sandwich placement year option will provide you with invaluable experience of working in the tourism sector, and will be a chance to put what you have learnt in the first two years of your degree into practice.
Thanks to links with local organisations in the private, public and voluntary sectors we can offer you a range of placements in tourism and related sectors.
Support and guidance
Dedicated personal tutor, plus study skills support
Academic and personal support is available during your course, and for this reason you will be allocated a personal tutor with whom you can discuss course-related issues, work on a personal development plan and set your own targets. You will have scheduled one-to-one meetings with your tutor, but they can be approached at any time should you need additional support.
Assessment
Assessment varies depending on the modules you choose, but will usually include a combination of exams and coursework.
We use a wide range of assessment methods. These vary according to the module, but they could include: project work and presentations (group or individual), portfolios, essays, blogs and practical reports.
Feedback is given for each assessment and also during learning activities. This may be face to face, in written form or electronically, and is always timely so that you are quickly able to identify your strengths as well as areas where you may need to put in more work.
Course tutors
Our staff are committed to the highest standards of teaching and learning
Facilities
What you can expect from your School
The School is based in the Redmonds Building, in the heart of the bustling Mount Pleasant Campus and Liverpool 's growing Knowledge Quarter. The building is home to high quality lecture theatres and seminar rooms, social spaces, a café and a roof terrace with far reaching views of the cityscape and welsh hills. It is only a short walk from LJMU 's Aldham Robarts Library, which contains all the resources you will require for your studies, and is open seven days a week.
Entry requirements
Please choose your qualifications below to view requirements
Grades/points required from qualifications: BBC-ABB (112-128)
Qualification requirements
GCSEs and equivalents
A levels
BTECs
Extended Diploma: DMM-DDM
Access awards
International Baccalaureate
Acceptable on its own and combined with other qualifications.
OCR Cambridge Technical
Extended Diploma: DMM-DDM
Irish awards
Acceptable on its own and combined with other qualifications.
T levels
International requirements
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IELTS
6.0 overall with no component below 5.5, taken within two years of the course start date.https://www.ljmu.ac.uk/study/courses/international-entry-requirements
Please Note: All international qualifications are subject to a qualification equivalency check.
Application and selection
Securing your place at LJMU
UCAS is the official application route for our full-time undergraduate courses. Further information on the UCAS application process can be found here https://www.ljmu.ac.uk/study/undergraduate-students/how-to-apply.
We are looking for applicants who are considering a successful future career within the tourism and/or leisure industry. Potential students should be able to demonstrate experience, enthusiasm, commitment and motivation related to tourism and/or leisure.
In addition, applicants must be able to manage and organise their own time in order to complete coursework, attend lectures punctually and complete appropriate work placements.
Students will be expected to work both independently and in groups for various pieces of work, and evidence of occasions when applicants have worked in groups (academically or otherwise) would be useful when considering your application form.
The university reserves the right to withdraw or make alterations to a course and facilities if necessary; this may be because such changes are deemed to be beneficial to students, are minor in nature and unlikely to impact negatively upon students or become necessary due to circumstances beyond the control of the university. Where this does happen, the university operates a policy of consultation, advice and support to all enrolled students affected by the proposed change to their course or module.
Further information on the terms and conditions of any offer made, our admissions policy and the complaints and appeals process.