MSc in Tourism Career Development
Course Overview
The MSc in Tourism Career Development is a postgraduate MSc route running 12 to 18 months full postgraduate route, aligned with executive tourism practice. Delivered by the Travel Systems & Global Tourism department at LSTITM, the programme concentrates on a postgraduate programme covering executive career development within UK and international tourism sectors within the wider UK visitor economy.
By the end of the msc route you will be leading career development programmes for tourism teams, from graduate recruitment through executive succession, ready to contribute in travel systems & global tourism settings across London and comparable UK tourism environments.
The MSc in Tourism Career Development gives postgraduate depth to the discipline of shaping careers in UK tourism, including pathway architecture research, graduate scheme design, executive succession planning and a dissertation engaging a genuine career development question with executive audience readiness.
Key Features
- Programme content aligned with IATA (International Air Transport Association) (referenced), Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA), Institute of Travel and Tourism (ITT) and BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT themes
- Delivered fully in UK English through the Travel Systems & Global Tourism department
- Structured articulation from LSTITM Certificate through Diploma, Advanced Diploma, Higher Diploma and honours-level study
- Focus areas include career pathway design, graduate development, executive succession, dissertation practice for the MSc in Tourism Career Development
- Dedicated career support covering CV, LinkedIn and interview coaching for UK tourism roles
- Access to LSTITM's employer network across tour operators, OTAs, DMOs and London hospitality partners
- Formative and summative assessment reviewed by tourism industry practitioners
What You Will Learn
- Design career pathways across UK tourism organisations
- Lead graduate development programmes with UK employers
- Manage executive succession planning across tourism teams
- Recognise CMI professional-body themes in tourism career development
- Manage a dissertation on a chosen career development question
- Compare UK tourism career practice with wider industry benchmarks
- Coach mid-career professionals on progression choices
- Present career development programmes to executive tourism audiences
Alongside taught content, the MSc in Tourism Career Development embeds postgraduate research through applied people projects with UK and international partners. Learners plan career pathway studies, prepare succession case studies, complete supervised research and shape a final dissertation on a live career development question drawn from their partner engagement with a UK or international employer.
Who This Course Is For
- Senior HR and L&D leaders in UK tourism organisations
- Bachelor graduates targeting tourism people-leadership careers
- International candidates preparing for UK career-development roles
- Career changers from HR and coaching backgrounds into tourism
MSc learners join people-focused executive sessions with UK and international tourism partners, hearing directly from senior L and D leaders on the postgraduate research habits that separate strong new career specialists from weaker ones, and on the executive briefings that prepare postgraduate career research for boards and people committees.
Career Pathways
- Head of OTA Account
- Head of Airline Operations Coordinator
- Head of Tour Wholesaler
- Head of Ground Handling
- Head of Travel API Integration Specialist
- Head of Distribution Systems Consultant
LSTITM's careers service supports every MSc in Tourism Career Development learner with CV coaching, interview practice and warm introductions across London tourism boards, tour operators, OTAs, airline partners and hospitality employers, aligned with senior and executive tourism careers in the UK visitor economy.
Postgraduate MSc graduates commonly enter senior L and D director, head of career development and executive people-leadership roles at UK and international tourism organisations.
Entry Requirements
- A UK 2:2 (Lower Second Class) honours degree or overseas equivalent in any discipline, with a stated interest in tourism career development
- 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
The MSc in Tourism Career Development also connects learners to LSTITM's UK and international career-development partner network, giving direct exposure to L and D leaders shaping tourism career programmes.
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.
Students on every LSTITM route are supported by dedicated career services covering CV, LinkedIn, interview coaching and introductions to London tourism boards, tour operators, OTAs, airline and hospitality partners.
Apply for MSc in Tourism Career Development
Applications for the MSc in Tourism Career Development are open all year through the LSTITM admissions portal, with the admissions team available to guide UK and international applicants through documentation, English requirements and instalment plans. Once accepted, postgraduate learners receive a full induction covering module timetables, dissertation supervision, tutor introductions and a quick primer on UK and international tourism career practice that new MSc students commonly find useful in the transition to postgraduate study. Applicants can request a call with a career MSc tutor before enrolling to confirm module choices, dissertation supervision and executive research expectations for this MSc. Advance into executive tourism leadership with LSTITM and secure your place on this MSc in Tourism Career Development cohort. Enrol Now.
