Bath Spa University

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Tourism Management (Foundation Degree)

The Foundation Degree in Tourism Management enables students to gain a vocational qualification that reflects contemporary themes within the tourism industry and develop a wide range of work-based skills.

For more information about this course please visit the School of Science, Society and Management website.

This two-year course is suited to students who wish to learn more about the management of the industry or for those in employment who wish to gain a higher education qualification. Through your study you will gain knowledge of tourism organisations, regulations, motivations and innovations. You will learn how to communicate clearly, search for and use data to aid decisions, work alone and in teams, and design a business plan.

The tourism and leisure sector has a shortage of people with management skills. Fewer than one in ten tourism managers hold a relevant qualification such as a Tourism Management Foundation Degree. This qualification is designed to help you progress within the industry. There is an ever increasing range of job opportunities and career prospects for well qualified and motivated people.

Based at the coastal resort of Weston-super-Mare you will be in a prime position to study the challenges and opportunities of Tourism Management at first hand and have an opportunity to work with local employers on live industry projects.

Weston-super-Mare is easily accessible by rail, close to the M5 motorway and has international connections via Bristol International Airport.

Course Structure and Content

The course is designed with employability in mind and enables you to develop new skills and learn about new developments within Tourism Management. You will develop your IT, communication, time management, team work, research, data handling and problem solving skills.

Year 1

Develop your knowledge of the tourism industry and key tourism destinations. Understand the current issues affecting tourism businesses across the globe and the management of tourism in the current economic climate. You will be devising a research project in the work-place and also investigating the way on which different visitor attractions are managed.

• Understanding Tourism Geographies (double module);
• Work-based Research (double module);
• Investigating Attractions Management;
• The Business of Tourism.

Year 2

Investigate Human Resource Management in the tourism industry through work-based research. You will be able to devise a business plan for a tourism activity at Weston-super-Mare and assess its likelihood for success. Learn about the impacts of tourism on the environment and the affects of climate change. Work-based Learning allows you to develop and enhance your employability and also consider a wide range of career opportunities.

• Investigating People and Leadership Within the Workplace (double module);
• Marketing and Business Planning (double module);
• Sustainable Tourism; Work-based Learning.

On successful completion of the course you may apply to 'top up' your Foundation Degree, for example to the BA (Hons) Business and Management degree at Bath Spa University. This third year of study may be undertaken on a full-time or part-time basis.

Teaching Methods and Resources

You will be taught in small groups, seminars, lectures and through industry-based projects. Work placements are an essential feature of the course and include employers such as Bristol International Airport and The Roman Baths. You will learn while in work and some of your assignments will be linked to your placement. We will provide the necessary skills training to combine work-based experience with the academic demands of your course.

You will be based at Weston College making use of the extensive facilities and visitor attractions in this popular seaside resort. You will be taught by an experienced and friendly staff that will support you throughout your studies. As a Bath Spa University student you will have access to the University library and on-line resources as well as dedicated facilities at Weston College.

Assessment Methods

A range of assessment is used to reflect the variety of content offered. Most modules assess the skills involved in researching and presenting oral-visual material as well as written work. Teamwork is assessed in some modules alongside individual work. Most involve coursework; some also have an exam.

Future Careers

Most Tourism Management Foundation Degree students apply to 'top-up' their Foundation Degree to honours degree level. Other students have remained in employment in such jobs as airport staff and in tourist information centres, hotels and visitor attractions.

Tourism Management students are entitled to become members of the Tourism Society, the leading professional organisation representing tourism managers in the UK. It enables students to play a more active role in the tourism industry and network with tourism professionals and other tourism students at various national events.

Student Profiles

After finishing my BTEC National Diploma in Travel and Tourism I was unsure about what to do next. I never thought I would go to university, although after the encouragement of my tutor I applied to do a Foundation Degree in Tourism Management at Bath Spa University. The course is taught at Weston College which meant I could stay at home and save money. Studying the Foundation Degree at Weston College was great because I was able to undertake work experience at North Somerset Council within their destination management department. This provided me with an insight into the management of beach tourism at Weston-super-Mare. The staff and students at Weston were friendly and we were able to go on fantastic field trips to places such as London and Tunisia.

Penny Fox, FdSc Tourism Management.

I found the Tourism Foundation Degree course at Weston College really fulfilling. I hadn't previously studied anything to do with tourism during my A-Levels but this wasn't a problem as the course covered a wide range of tourism aspects as well as an introduction to business knowledge. I really liked that the course was part academic and part work experience as I felt it gave me a good rounded knowledge of the tourism industry as well as gaining some experience in working at a local tourism attraction. I enjoyed the course thoroughly and found the staff knowledgeable, approachable and helpful. I feel it gave me a good insight into the tourism industry, preparing me well for the final top up year at Bath Spa University. I would recommend it to anyone.

Paganne Evans, FdSc Tourism Management.

Typical Offers

180-200 UCAS Tariff points (eg BC; CD+AS c).

Alternative qualifications welcome.