BA in Tourism International Relations
Course Overview
The BA in Tourism International Relations is a full LSTITM honours degree that integrates tourism international relations, cross-border partnership work, tourism diplomacy, inbound market development, cultural exchange and applied research to produce graduate-ready tourism and travel professionals for the UK sector. The full honours route runs 36 months with a placement year coordinated by the LSTITM careers service, and top-up routes are available for Higher Diploma holders. The syllabus is aligned with Tourism Society published references, Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) global-strategy conventions, Chartered Management Institute (CMI) leadership practice, British Chambers of Commerce trade-development material and World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) outlook material.
By graduation you will be able to lead an international relations project inside a UK tourism employer, contribute to a bilateral or multilateral tourism partnership, run applied research to inform international policy decisions, and present board-level options with confidence.
The BA is delivered through structured lectures, seminars, applied projects and a dissertation or capstone project, with a UK-referenced reading list, tutor-led feedback on every submission and a small cohort designed to keep discussion sharp.
Key Features
- Full honours syllabus co-designed by former tourism diplomats and DMO international leads
- Alignment with Tourism Society, CIM, CMI, British Chambers of Commerce and WTTC references
- Placement year coordinated by the LSTITM careers service with London tourism employers
- Guided reading from ABTA, ITT and UKHospitality on tourism international relations
- Structured induction to bilateral partnership planning, tourism diplomacy and treaty vocabulary
- Practical exercises writing international briefs, partnership plans and executive readouts
- Coaching on presenting international options to a senior tourism-board or brand board
- Structured modules on sustainability, safeguarding and inclusive-market access
- LSTITM careers workshops on graduate international relations roles across UK tourism
What You Will Learn
- Lead an international relations project inside a UK tourism employer
- Contribute to a bilateral or multilateral tourism partnership at operator level
- Run applied research to inform international tourism policy decisions
- Draft a full honours-grade dissertation or capstone project on international tourism
- Read an inbound market performance dashboard for a UK destination
- Contribute to a business case for an international tourism programme
- Follow sustainability, GDPR and inclusive-market principles
- Support a supplier or partner conversation on cross-border tourism goals
- Present board-level international relations options with poise
Who This Course Is For
- School leavers holding A-Levels or IB targeting a full honours international tourism degree
- LSTITM Higher Diploma and Advanced Diploma holders on the top-up route
- International students seeking a UK honours-grade international relations qualification
- Career changers holding a first degree in a related discipline
- Working professionals moving into an international relations tourism career
Career Pathways
- Tourism Policy Officer
- Tourism Development Officer (senior)
- Destination Manager (international)
- Tourism Board Coordinator (international)
- Tourism Corporate Development Manager
- Regional Tourism Director (junior)
- Global Tourism Manager
- International Development Manager (junior)
- Head of Tourism Development (junior)
LSTITM's careers service supports BA students with CV writing, LinkedIn coaching, mock interview practice, salary preparation and placement-year matching, plus warm introductions to London tourism boards, national development bodies, inbound tour operators and travel-brand consultancies recruiting into graduate international relations roles. Weekly workshops include portfolio reviews of the international briefs, partnership plans and executive readouts you produce during the BA, and one-to-one coaching.
Entry Requirements
- A-Levels (BBC or above) or IB (26+ points) or overseas equivalents
- A completed Higher Diploma or Advanced Diploma for top-up routes
- IELTS 6.0 overall (no band under 5.5) or equivalent English proficiency
- Personal statement outlining career objectives in the tourism and travel sector
- Two academic or professional references
Why Study at LSTITM
LSTITM is the London School of Tourism and International Travel Management, a specialist division of Harold International College of London focused on the destination, business, systems and strategic disciplines shaping modern global tourism. Every LSTITM programme is aligned with recognised UK bodies including the Tourism Society, ITT, ABTA, CIM, CMI, British Chambers of Commerce, WTTC and UKHospitality, giving BA graduates a credible reference base for their next graduate international application in a competitive UK market.
BA students learn from former tourism diplomats, DMO international directors and travel-brand consultants, in a curriculum that articulates cleanly into LSTITM Master's-level programmes, ready for later executive career progression into head of international, chief tourism officer and consultancy partner roles across UK tourism.
Apply for BA in Tourism International Relations
Apply for your full LSTITM undergraduate tourism degree with an international relations specialism, delivered by a specialist London school for tourism and international travel management with a full honours diplomacy focus at its core. You will graduate with an international-grade portfolio of briefs, partnership plans, executive readouts, dissertation research and placement-year evidence built on real UK inbound and diplomatic case material, ready to bring to interviews with London tourism boards, national development bodies and travel-brand consultancies. Apply for your full LSTITM undergraduate tourism degree and articulate cleanly into a Master's route when you are ready. Enrol Now.
