MSc in Tourism Applied Strategic Studies

Course Overview

The MSc in Tourism Applied Strategic Studies is a 12 to 18-month executive-level Master's programme delivered by LSTITM in London for senior practitioners and career-progression candidates preparing to lead applied strategic work inside boards, national partnerships and consultancies at director and board level. Aligned with Tourism Society, Chartered Management Institute (CMI), Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) and World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) senior practice, the MSc combines research-informed teaching with an applied dissertation so that graduates hold a defensible executive credential when moving into consultancy partner, strategy director and executive director roles.

By graduation, you will be able to lead an executive-tier applied strategy programme, coordinate a board-facing evidence base and produce senior artefacts including strategic reviews, executive-tier strategy memos and a full dissertation. Modules blend research-informed teaching with executive workshops, applied client-engagement casework and structured supervision so that dissertation submissions consistently reach a defensible executive-tier standard for interview at consultancy partner and strategy director roles.

Key Features

• Aligned with Tourism Society, CMI, CIM and WTTC senior practice for executive-tier applied strategy
• Applied executive assignments using real UK and international destination strategy briefs
• Supervised research-informed dissertation covering an executive applied strategy question
• Tutor briefings from former destination strategy directors and consultancy partners
• Portfolio-quality outputs including strategic reviews, memos and full dissertation
• Careers coaching for executive applied strategy tourism roles across London and beyond
• Rolling intakes across on-campus, online and distance-learning routes for executive learners
• Structured executive careers coaching for consultancy partner and board-level appointments

What You Will Learn

• How to lead an executive-tier applied strategy programme across destinations and travel brands
• Designing a research-informed dissertation question with executive applied strategy rationale
• Producing structured strategic reviews with clean evidence and clear takeaways
• Writing board-facing memos with executive-tier rationale and one clear ask
• Aligning executive programmes with UK and international tourism strategy benchmarks
• Coordinating client engagements across UK and international clients at consultancy partner tier
• Managing cross-team stakeholder expectations at director and board tier
• Presenting a full executive dissertation defence to a tutor and industry panel

Who This Course Is For

• Bachelor-holders progressing directly into executive applied strategy study
• Senior tourism strategy practitioners preparing for consultancy partner and board-level roles
• International applicants targeting UK executive applied strategy appointments
• Career-changing senior strategy leaders entering tourism at executive tier
• Higher Diploma holders with 5+ years of senior tourism strategy experience

Career Pathways

• Tourism Strategy Director inside a UK travel brand or OTA
• Chief Tourism Officer inside a UK or international destination organisation
• Tourism Consultancy Partner inside a UK or international consultancy
• Head of Applied Strategy (Tourism) inside a UK travel brand
• Executive Director (Tourism Board) on an incoming applied strategy appointment path
• Tourism Corporate Development Director on a sub-board strategy track

The LSTITM careers service supports MSc learners with executive-level CV drafting, structured interview coaching and warm introductions to London and international consultancy partner, DMO and destination-brand executive teams. Learners also receive coaching on how to present executive-tier artefacts and dissertation defences during director- and board-level interview rounds, plus advice on how to speak credibly to boards about client engagement discipline, evidence base management and structured recommendation discipline at partner tier.

Entry Requirements

• A UK 2:2 (Lower Second Class) honours degree or overseas equivalent in any discipline
• Applicants without a first degree may be considered with 5+ years senior tourism experience
• IELTS 6.5 overall (no band under 6.0) or equivalent English proficiency
• A 500-word research statement on the applicant's chosen area of tourism specialisation
• Two academic or professional references and a short interview

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 that shape modern global tourism. Every LSTITM programme is aligned with UK bodies including the Tourism Society, Institute of Travel and Tourism (ITT), ABTA, CIM, CMI, WTTC and UKHospitality, giving graduates credible executive study behind them and a clean articulation route into consultancy partner and board-level tourism roles.

Our curriculum is written by former destination executives, consultancy partners and travel-industry board members, and delivered across on-campus, online and distance-learning routes so senior working professionals and international students can join. Dedicated executive careers services support every LSTITM learner with CV, LinkedIn, interview coaching and warm introductions to consultancy partners, DMOs and travel-brand executive teams across the UK and international markets.

Apply for MSc in Tourism Applied Strategic Studies

Applications open on a rolling basis, and the LSTITM admissions team will guide you through documents, English requirements, references, the admissions interview, research statement and cohort dates for on-campus, online and distance-learning routes so you can pick the pace that suits your executive schedule. MSc graduates typically progress into executive applied strategy roles including consultancy partner, strategy director and chief tourism officer appointments across UK boards, consultancies and travel brands. The admissions team confirms tuition, instalments and required documents at enquiry so you have full clarity on cost, dissertation supervision windows and cohort dates. Advance into executive tourism leadership with LSTITM. Enrol Now