Southern Cross University

What you'll study

This degree blends foundational business subjects with hotel- and hospitality-specific units. Early study typically covers accounting, marketing, human resource management, business law and organisational behaviour to build transferable business capability. Hotel management subjects commonly include front office operations, food and beverage management, rooms division management, hospitality finance, revenue and yield management, hospitality marketing and customer experience.

Practical and experiential learning is a strong feature: you will study service operations, leadership for hospitality teams, event and conference management, and often participate in simulated hospitality environments or industry projects. A capstone or integrative unit brings together strategy, operations and service excellence for hotels. Many students also undertake a work-integrated learning placement or internship to gain on-the-job experience in a hotel or resort context.

Entry requirements

Applicants are normally expected to have completed secondary schooling or an equivalent qualification. Southern Cross University considers a range of entry pathways including Australian Year 12, recognised interstate or international senior secondary qualifications, vocational education and training, and mature-age entry. Selection may be based on an overall score, completion of prerequisite units where required, and the strength of any supplementary documentation.

International applicants must meet the university's English language requirements; commonly accepted evidence includes IELTS, TOEFL or equivalent qualifications. Applicants with relevant industry experience, or who have completed diploma-level hospitality or business qualifications, may be eligible for credit or advanced standing.

Career prospects

Graduates are prepared for a wide range of roles in the hospitality and accommodation sector. Typical positions include hotel or resort supervisor, front office manager, food and beverage manager, duty manager, revenue manager, sales and marketing coordinator, conference and events coordinator, and operations or guest experience roles. Career progression commonly leads to senior management roles such as hotel general manager, operations manager or regional manager.

Skills developed in the program—service operations, financial literacy, people management, revenue optimisation and customer experience design—also transfer to tourism businesses, cruise lines, casinos, serviced apartment providers and hospitality consulting.

Why study at Southern Cross University

Southern Cross University offers a practical, industry-connected approach to hotel management education with opportunities for hands-on learning and work placements. Small class sizes support personalised feedback and collaboration, and regional and coastal campuses provide proximity to tourism and hospitality employers for placements and industry projects.

The university emphasises employability, integrating real-world case studies and industry partnerships into teaching. Students benefit from staff with hospitality industry experience, access to hospitality learning spaces and support services for career development and internship placement.