University of Central Lancashire(UCLAN)

What you'll study

This foundation route leads into the three-year BA (Hons) International Tourism Management and combines academic study with vocational skills development. The foundation year covers study skills, business basics and introductory tourism subjects to build confidence and ready you for honours-level modules.

• Foundation year modules typically include academic and English study skills, principles of business and management, introduction to tourism and hospitality, and employability and digital skills.
• Year 1 (level 4) introduces core tourism and management topics such as the global tourism industry, customer service and experience, marketing fundamentals for tourism, and an introduction to sustainable tourism and destination studies.
• Year 2 (level 5) develops specialist knowledge in areas like tourism operations, events and attractions management, tourism policy and planning, research methods and consumer behaviour. Practical projects, group work and case studies feature strongly.
• Final year (level 6) focuses on strategic management, international tourism development, entrepreneurship in tourism, and a substantial independent project or dissertation. Optional modules may include digital tourism, heritage tourism, or consultancy projects with industry partners.
• Throughout the degree you will engage with applied assessments such as business plans, marketing campaigns, workplace simulations, presentations and research projects. There are also opportunities for short placements, field visits and live client briefs.

Entry requirements

The foundation route is designed for applicants who do not meet direct entry requirements for the BA (Hons) or for international students needing additional English language support. Typical expectations include:

• Completion of upper secondary education or equivalent; applicants with vocational qualifications (such as BTEC) or mature learners with relevant experience are welcome.
• GCSEs including English language (grade 4/C or equivalent) are usually required; GCSE Maths is often desirable.
• English language proficiency for international applicants; the foundation year commonly accepts slightly lower scores than direct degree entry (for example an overall IELTS of around 5.5 with no less than 5.0 in any component), while progression to the honours years normally requires meeting the university's degree-level English standards (often around IELTS 6.0 or equivalent).
• Applicants may be invited to an interview or to provide a personal statement demonstrating motivation for studying tourism and any relevant work or volunteering experience.

Career prospects

Graduates of International Tourism Management typically move into careers across the travel, hospitality and events sectors. Roles include tourism and destination management, tour operations, travel consultancy, events management, hospitality and resort management, marketing and digital roles within tourism organisations, and public sector or NGO roles focussed on tourism development and sustainability.

The course also provides a foundation for postgraduate study in tourism, hospitality, business or sustainability-related subjects and equips students with transferable skills for enterprise, consultancy or launching tourism-related start-ups.

Why study at University of Central Lancashire(UCLAN)

UCLan offers industry-focused teaching with opportunities to apply learning through placements, field trips and live projects with local and international tourism partners. The university has dedicated support for students progressing from foundation to honours study and a strong emphasis on employability and skills development.

Students benefit from a broad campus environment with academic staff experienced in tourism research and practice, opportunities to access careers support and enterprise services, and links to regional tourism and hospitality employers for work experience and networking.