MBM (MSc) with specialisation in Tourism & Travel

This exciting MSc, Master of Business Management specialised in Tourism & Travel, challenges students to study at a high academic standard, combining case studies and research. However, the degree programme also has a practical approach in its design - through project weeks, professional enquiry and a module of professional-based learning in which students complete a short work placement often linked directly to their final project.

The programme offers a combination of master of business administration subjects and broader modules in economics and management. Through modules looking at global economics and strategic management, globalisation, society & culture the programme will enable students to further develop their deeper knowledge of business management and administration.

On a global scale, the World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) forecasts an increase in the number of international arrivals in the region of 1.6 billion by the year 2020. As such, the industry needs people who understand the significance, complexity and dynamics of a diverse evolving, developing and growing sector.

Semester 1

(Core Modules)

• Marketing Management
• Globalisation, Society & Culture
• Research Methods Introduction (Final Project)
• The World Economy
• Professional Inquiry

(Specialisation Modules)

• Critical Perspectives in Tourism Management
• New Media, Marketing and Analytics

Semester 2

(Core Modules)

• Research Methods (Final Project)
• Micro Economics - Global Perspectives
• Strategic Management
• Project Module (3 Project Weeks, linked to Final Project)

(Specialisation Modules)

• Destination Management & Planning
• Consultancy - Tourism, Travel & Sustainability

Semester 3 (Work Placement & Graduation)

• Professional-Based Learning 
• Final Project

The master's programme is delivered in a 'block format', with 2 modules being covered every 6 weeks. Core module classes are inter-disciplinary - you study shared modules with master's students from different business management specialisations. Due to the rolling entry (6 times a year) groups are dynamic, extremely international and diverse.

The modules are delivered intensively over consecutive days in the block format, which means that each module has 6 days of teaching split into two blocks of 3 days. Teaching methods include group work, case studies, presentations, and live projects. The course is delivered through a variety of approaches including lectures, presentations, tutorials and case studies, with an emphasis on interactive learning. Each module is taught by two lecturers, often a full-time Wittenborg lecturer and a guest lecturer from a partner university. Modules include regular guest speakers from industry.

According to the World Travel & Tourist Council, the tourism sector supports 1 in 10 jobs globally.

According to Statistics Netherlands (CBS) the Dutch Tourism Industry employs over 650 thousand persons in the country.

Employment tourism sector per activity, 2016, the Netherlands

“Around three-quarters of employment in the Netherlands Tourism industry are typical tourism jobs, e.g. jobs in hotels and restaurants, aviation, the travel industry (tour operators and travel agencies) and art and culture. The other 25 percent concern jobs in e.g. retail trade, public transport and taxi companies.

“All segments of the tourism sector recorded a rising volume of labour in 2016 compared to the previous year. Hotels and restaurants posted the sharpest job growth at over 4 percent. In comparison with 2010, the labour volume in this segment was up by 20 percent.”

Source: https://www.cbs.nl/en-gb/news/2017/34/tourism-sector-continues-to-grow

The industry is looking for graduates with an integrated range of skills, including those in critical thinking, administration, communication, programme planning, leadership, and global outlook. These skills are essential to almost every tourism-related job in the world and are easily applied to careers that involve customer services and management.

Classic jobs in the tourism industry include Travel Agency Managers, Travel Consultants, Destination Managers. Master of Management graduates can also expect to find employment in NGOs, development agencies, but also in local, regional and national government organisations.

Graduating from a highly international institute such as Wittenborg that places high emphasis on a combination of academic research and company and professional exposure means that the career prospects of graduates from the Master of Business Management, specialised in Tourism & Travel are multiple and global.

Often WUAS graduates aspire to continue their studies, with a DBA or a PhD research degree; however, many students move directly into business, sometimes as a result of their work placement, and their final project which is often company based.

The admission requirements (criteria) for the Master of Business Management programmes (all specialisations) are as follows:

• A bachelor's degree or equivalent recognised qualification.
  • ​Applicants are requested to provide an academic reference from their previous education institute.
  • It is necessary to have obtained a bachelor's degree from the domains of business, management, economics or trade. In their bachelor's degree applicants must have completed an academic piece of work (final project or dissertation) that demonstrates a degree of academic writing and research experience.
• No professional experience is required for these master's programmes.

English Language Requirements

IELTS 6.5 or TOEFL equivalent. Click here for an overview of the equivalent scores.
TOEFL Code of Wittenborg is 4889.

The English language proficiency level requirement is ½ a point higher than the minimum national requirements in the Netherlands.

Selection procedure

There is no specific selection criteria for students wishing to enter the master's programmes at WUAS; however, all students are interviewed and must demonstrate motivation. Students will be advised of their suitability prior to signing an initial study agreement as a pre-requisite to obtaining admission (offer letter).

Non-EU students requiring sponsored visa for study

Non-EU (visa) students are “screened” according to their background, in order for the institute to be able to guarantee their immigration status.

The screening comprises of an interview, collection and correlation of all IND required documents, including proof of sufficient funds, taking into account any scholarships provided by Wittenborg (Orange Tulip Scholarship, for instance) or by third parties (NUFFIC, EU, etc).

Details on Scholarships at Wittenborg can be found at http://www.wittenborg.eu/wittenborg-financial-assistance.htm

Applicants are required to provide a motivation letter in which they describe the reasons for choosing Wittenborg’s programme, as well as the reason for wanting to study in the Netherlands (international students). Student motivation is important as the programmes are demanding and especially for international students there is a criteria that they complete at least 50% of all their credits in a year.