BA in Tourism Policy and Strategic Studies
Course Overview
The BA in Tourism Policy and Strategic Studies is a 36-month full honours degree (with top-up routes for Higher Diploma holders) preparing graduates for tourism policy, public affairs and strategic studies careers at tourism boards, DMOs, government bodies and consultancy partners. It sits within LSTITM's Travel Systems and Global Tourism portfolio and is aligned with frameworks used by the Tourism Society, WTTC, CMI and British Chambers of Commerce.
By graduation, students can design a tourism policy programme, plan and deliver a placement-based policy project, complete an applied dissertation and step into a graduate policy or strategic studies role.
Undergraduates work through supervised policy studios, placement induction sessions and structured research seminars so every graduate leaves with a placement report, a policy portfolio and an honours dissertation credible with recruiters.
Every undergraduate carries a rolling policy project across the three years, gradually building a personal portfolio of tourism policy artefacts that a recruiter can review at graduation time.
Undergraduate assessment is spread across coursework, placement report and final honours dissertation, so students build a coherent long-form portfolio credible with tourism policy recruiters at graduation.
Key Features
- Full BA honours qualification with dedicated tourism policy modules
- References to Tourism Society, WTTC, CMI, British Chambers of Commerce and CIM
- Delivered online, on-campus in London and by distance learning
- Placement year with tourism boards, DMOs or government tourism bodies
- Applied dissertation on a live tourism policy challenge
- Progression into LSTITM Master's routes in tourism strategy and leadership
- Careers-service support with tourism boards and public affairs partners
- Live weekly policy studio clinics with lecturer and peer critique
- Curated pattern library of UK and international tourism policy playbooks
What You Will Learn
- Tourism policy design and programme lifecycle governance
- How to build a tourism strategic studies briefing from evidence
- Advanced public affairs and stakeholder engagement in tourism
- How to compare tourism policies across two or more countries
- Governance, sustainability and community consent in tourism policy
- How to run a placement policy project end to end
- How to present a tourism policy paper to a senior board
- How to write an applied honours dissertation on tourism policy
- How to lead a small policy consultation across a DMO partner network
- How to structure a placement report grounded in a live policy challenge
- How to write a graduate-level tourism policy paper grounded in applied research
- How to prepare a fully worked stakeholder engagement plan for a regional tourism body
Who This Course Is For
- School leavers targeting a full honours tourism policy degree
- Higher Diploma holders progressing via a top-up route
- International applicants aiming at tourism policy graduate careers
- Career changers building a graduate qualification in tourism policy
- Placement seekers targeting tourism boards and public affairs teams
- International students seeking a full UK honours policy degree in tourism
- Working travel practitioners on flexible study routes towards a full degree
Career Pathways
- Tourism Policy Officer
- Tourism Development Officer (policy-led)
- Tourism Board Coordinator (senior policy)
- Tourism Research Analyst (policy)
- Tourism Consultant (policy track)
- Sustainable Tourism Officer (policy)
- Heritage Tourism Manager (policy)
- Cultural Tourism Officer (policy)
- Junior Tourism Policy Consultant
- Graduate Tourism Policy Executive
The LSTITM careers service supports BA students with placement matching, CV coaching, mock interviews and warm introductions to tourism boards, DMOs and public affairs partners across London.
Placement partners include a rotating pool of tourism boards, DMOs and public affairs teams, and the careers team meets each undergraduate individually every semester to review placement outcomes.
Recent BA cohorts have moved into tourism policy consultancy graduate schemes, tourism board policy executive roles across London and DMO policy tracks with London-based tourism authorities.
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 division of Harold International College of London focused on destination, business, systems and strategic tourism disciplines. Every route is aligned with recognised UK bodies including the Tourism Society, WTTC, CMI, British Chambers of Commerce, CIM and UKHospitality.
The BA in Tourism Policy and Strategic Studies is delivered by lecturers drawn from tourism policy leadership, DMO directorships and consultancy backgrounds, plus a dedicated careers team and placement partners across London.
The BA in Tourism Policy and Strategic Studies articulates cleanly into the LSTITM Master's routes in destination management and industry leadership, giving graduates a clear path into executive tourism policy leadership.
Undergraduates also access weekly guest lectures from London tourism policy leaders, DMO chief executives and consultancy partners, so their applied learning stays close to live UK sector practice.
Apply for BA in Tourism Policy and Strategic Studies
The BA in Tourism Policy and Strategic Studies is a full honours route into UK-anchored tourism policy careers. Applications open on a rolling basis for on-campus, online and distance-learning routes. Apply for your full LSTITM undergraduate tourism degree. Enrol Now.
