Travel and tourism
Travel and Hospitality
Travel and tourism is more than just a leisure activity; it's a dynamic industry that fuels global connectivity and economic growth. As the world becomes increasingly interconnected, the demand for skilled professionals in this field continues to rise. From travel agents and tour operators to hospitality managers and event planners, the opportunities for exciting and fulfilling careers are endless.
Based at the London Geller College of Hospitality and Tourism, you’ll develop the specialist knowledge and practical skills that employers in the travel and tourism industries are looking for.
As well as boasting connections with over 400 businesses, UWL has industry-standard facilities and highly experienced teaching staff, to help you achieve your professional aspirations.
Our content is developed with support from a wide network of sector professionals to include changes in the industry and we are proud to involve experts in our guest lectures and workshops to directly connect you to the industry.
Travel and tourism undergraduate courses
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BSc (Hons) International Tourism Management (West London Campus)
West London Campus
Travel and tourism postgraduate courses
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MA International Tourism and Aviation Management (West London Campus)
West London Campus
Course videos
Our BSc (Hons) International Tourism Management course stands out for the specialist mix of subjects available to study, taught by our highly experienced team.
Throughout the course, you will have opportunities to apply theory, including work on industry briefs, fieldwork and trips, and industry guest speakers.
Travel and tourism FAQs
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Why study travel and tourism at the University of West London?
Now celebrating our 70th year, the London Geller College of Hospitality and Tourism is home to significant academic expertise and professional experience, along with our unique facilities which include the Heathrow Archive and Exhibition, and FlightPad, our on-campus flight simulator.
Our industry connections have enabled students to undertake placements with leading employers in the UK and overseas, while our London location puts you within a short train ride of iconic hotels, world-leading events, international airports and countless hospitality and leisure destinations.
On many of our travel and tourism courses, you will have opportunities to complete work placements, ensuring you graduate with a highly desirable skillset.
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What can I do after my course?
After your course, your career options in the travel and tourism industry will depend on the programme you complete – the best way to find out more is to click the course link above and browse to ‘Study and career progression'.
However, graduates of our College have gone on to work in various fields of tourism and travel for prestigious companies including British Airways, Hilton, and Legoland, with many working as chief executives and senior managers as well as advisors and consultants.
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What do I need to study travel and tourism at the University of West London?
Explore the wide range of travel and tourism courses above that interest you to see their entry requirements.
If you do not have quite the right grades or subjects for the undergraduate degree you would like to apply for, you might be interested in one of our foundation-year courses. These four-year degree courses include a foundation year to prepare you for undergraduate-level work.
Facilities
FlightPad
The University of West London has recently opened a Boeing 737-800 flight simulator at our West London campus. Check out our video to see it in action!
Get up close to historic Heathrow artefacts and discover how this iconic airport became the UK’s hub for aviation.
This new exhibition was made possible thanks to money raised by National Lottery players via the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) and generous donations from Heathrow Airport and the University of West London.
The Heathrow Archive
Events and opportunities
World Travel Market
Our International Tourism Management students attended World Travel Market in London’s ExCell Centre.
As well as the opportunity to network with industry professionals, they attended round table discussions and speeches about challenges facing the global tourism industry, sustainability and graduate job opportunities.
Course Leader, Dr Peter Smith explained, “The World Travel Market is an annual event held in London and is an invaluable opportunity for our students to meet representatives from all over the world showcasing their destinations. Students can meet and chat with industry professionals in a relaxed yet informative environment.”
Madrid Field Trip
Our International Tourism Management students recently completed a 4-day field trip to Madrid, as part of the Level 5 (Year 2) Tourism Fieldwork module.
Students researched cultural and heritage tourism in the Spanish capital, visiting sites including old town, the Plaza Mayor, Palacio Real, Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum, and Catedral de la Almudena.
Course leader, Dr Peter Smith said, “Madrid is a fantastic city for students to observe and research current tourism management challenges such as visitor management, tourist and local interaction and diversification of the tourism offer, in a European context.
Dr Cristina Maxim author of World Tourism Cities A Systematic Approach to Urban Tourism, accompanied the group and worked with students on their observations and research projects.
Jobs for travel and tourism graduates
Our travel and tourism courses will prepare you for a range of travel jobs such as:
- travel brand manager
- hotel manager
- corporate communications consultant
- advertising account director
- PR consultant
- marketing manager
- event manager
- project manager
- operations manager.
On graduation, you could go on to work in a variety of sectors anywhere in the world, including:
- airside/portside
- tour operations
- attractions management
- business travel
- hotel and resort management
- retail travel
- cruise shipping
- the transport industry
- public sector tourism agencies.
Graduate employers
Recent graduates have found employment in travel industry jobs at organisations including:
- British Airways
- Virgin Atlantic
- Heathrow Airport
- London City Airport
- Hilton hotels
- Heathrow Express
- Stagecoach
- Jury's Inn
- Legoland.