How long is the MA in Hospitality Strategic Development?

The MA in Hospitality Strategic Development runs one year full-time or two years part-time, with online and distance routes sharing the same seminar and supervision structure as the on-campus cohort.

How is the MA in Hospitality Strategic Development delivered?

The MA in Hospitality Strategic Development combines weekly seminars, applied development labs, live sponsor briefs and one-to-one dissertation supervision from hospitality development directors.

Is this MA recognised in the UK?

Yes. The MA in Hospitality Strategic Development is a UK Level 7 research-informed Master's benchmarked against Institute of Hospitality, HOSPA and CMI senior-practice standards, closing with a supervised dissertation.

What are the entry requirements for this MA?

You need a UK Bachelor's (2:2+) or international equivalent, or 5+ years of senior hospitality development experience on portfolio. Non-native English speakers require IELTS 6.5 overall. A 500-word research proposal is required.

What does the MA cost and is funding available?

Full fees, staged instalment plans and scholarship eligibility for the MA in Hospitality Strategic Development are confirmed at enrolment. LSCAHM admissions issues written quotes and reviews sponsor arrangements with each applicant.

MA Hospitality Strategic Development | LSCAHM | Harold International College of London

Course Overview

The MA in Hospitality Strategic Development is a one-year full-time (or two years part-time) UK Level 7 research-informed programme aligned with Institute of Hospitality, Hospitality Professionals Association (HOSPA) and Chartered Management Institute (CMI) senior-practice standards. It is written for senior hospitality operators, brand directors, development leads and consultants shaping strategic development across brands, sites and cross-market portfolios.

By graduation, students are producing strategic development plans, briefing owners on site pipelines, running feasibility work for new openings, and closing with a supervised dissertation, capstone or sponsor project on a live hospitality strategic development question.

Key Features

Level 7 curriculum benchmarked to Institute of Hospitality, HOSPA and CMI senior-practice standards.
Dissertation, capstone or sponsor project supervised by practising hospitality development directors.
Case work drawn from London hotel groups, restaurant brand portfolios and hospitality developers.
Modules on brand strategy, site pipelines, feasibility, capital allocation and post-opening reviews.
Access to HOSPA and Institute of Hospitality postgraduate networking through LSCAHM.
Named academic supervisor plus a professional mentor from hospitality development.
Options for research-based, consulting-based or portfolio-based Master's exit.

What You Will Learn

Draft strategic development plans for hospitality brands and site portfolios.
Run feasibility work for new openings, refurbishments and market entries.
Interpret market data, competitor positioning and consumer trends for owners.
Model capital allocation, ROI and payback across development projects.
Coordinate with operations, brand, F&B, marketing and finance functions.
Manage owner and investor conversations at board level.
Lead post-opening reviews and stabilisation across new sites.
Deliver a supervised research or consulting project to Master's standard.

Who This Course Is For

Senior operators moving into development director roles.
Brand and portfolio leads building strategic development credentials.
Consultants advising hospitality investors on strategic development.
Executives managing site pipelines and feasibility processes.
International applicants preparing for senior hospitality development roles.

Career Pathways

Hospitality Development Director
Hospitality Business Consultant (Development)
Hospitality Strategy Analyst
Brand Development Manager (Hotels / Restaurants)
Group Operations Manager
Innovation Manager (Hospitality Development)
Guest Experience Director (New Openings)

The LSCAHM careers service connects postgraduate researchers with hospitality developers, hotel groups, restaurant brand portfolios and consultancies operating from London, and runs at least one industry-careers day each year focused on strategic development recruitment.

Entry Requirements

A UK Bachelor's degree (2:2 or above) or equivalent international qualification in hospitality, business, tourism or a related discipline.
IELTS 6.5 overall (no band below 6.0) for non-native English speakers.
Applicants without a Bachelor's degree but with 5+ years of senior hospitality development or portfolio experience are considered on portfolio.
One academic and one professional reference, ideally from senior hospitality development practice.
A 500-word research proposal or professional practice statement.

Why Study at LSCAHM

The London School of Culinary Arts and Hospitality Management is a specialist division of Harold International College of London teaching in small, tutor-visible cohorts. LSCAHM reads culinary arts, hospitality management, tourism, events and food business as interlocking disciplines, so strategic development leads learn to underwrite new sites, brands and markets against menu, service and destination realities.

Central London places hospitality developers, hotel groups, HOSPA and the Institute of Hospitality within a short tube ride of every classroom, and three parallel study modes let executives and consultants complete the Master's without leaving practice.

Apply for MA in Hospitality Strategic Development

Enrol on an LSCAHM Master's programme. Your dissertation, capstone or sponsor project is supervised by practising hospitality development directors, admissions responds within one working day, and named research supervision is confirmed at enrolment. Enrol Now