MSc in Tourism Consultancy and Advisory Studies
Course Overview
The MSc in Tourism Consultancy and Advisory Studies is a research-informed 12 to 18-month LSTITM postgraduate route for senior practitioners moving into consultancy and independent advisory practice. Sitting within the Tourism Professional and Strategic Studies department, the MSc is aligned with references from CMI, the Tourism Society, CIM and the British Chambers of Commerce.
By graduation you will be able to lead advisory engagements from origination to close, sponsor multi-client portfolios, defend a dissertation on advisory practice, and step into partner and director-track roles at UK and international advisory firms. The dissertation is supervised by former advisory partners and defended in an oral examination pitched at partner-review standard.
The MSc places heavy weight on the professional-standards discipline that distinguishes serious advisory work: independence, conflict-check, quality assurance and public-standards conduct. Executive practice modules cover the difficult conversations that shape a mature advisory practice, from partner disagreements through to client resets.
Key Features
- Research-informed MSc with advisory practice modules and dissertation
- Alignment with CMI, Tourism Society, CIM and British Chambers of Commerce references
- Case studies from UK and international tourism advisory engagements
- Coaching on origination, engagement leadership and independence frameworks
- Dissertation supervised by former advisory partners
- Access to LSTITM's London advisory-partner network
What You Will Learn
- Lead tourism advisory engagements from origination to close-out
- Sponsor multi-client advisory portfolios at partner level
- Design engagement economics, staffing and QA at scale
- Manage independence, conflict-check and professional-standards frameworks
- Follow governance, safeguarding and inclusion frameworks at executive level
- Present findings to boards, sponsors and public-facing forums
- Defend a dissertation contributing to tourism advisory practice
- Coach senior teams through advisory routines and controls
Who This Course Is For
- Senior tourism managers moving into advisory or consultancy partnership
- Consultancy partners preparing for principal-advisory tracks
- DMO and tourism-board executives moving into independent advisory
- International applicants with 2:2 honours and senior tourism experience
Career Pathways
- Tourism Strategy Consultant at partner level
- Tourism Consultancy Partner at senior-partner level
- Head of Tourism Development at advisory-partner level
- Tourism Programme Director at advisory-partner level
- Regional Tourism Director at advisory-partner level
- Chief Tourism Officer at senior-advisory level
LSTITM's careers service provides senior CV coaching, executive-search introductions and warm connections to UK and international advisory firms for MSc candidates. Graduates progressing beyond the MSc into independent-advisory or non-executive-director positions continue to receive careers support and often build portfolio careers combining senior advisory work with board and advisory appointments across the tourism sector. Assessment across the MSc in tourism consultancy and advisory studies includes examined executive practice modules, a research-informed dissertation and an oral examination pitched at partner-review standard, demonstrating executive-ready advisory capability to prospective firms. Optional intensives cover independence and conflict frameworks, mid-career profile-building and the succession-planning conversations that shape long-term advisory-partner pipelines. Candidates also present short work-in-progress talks each term to build executive-audience presentation craft alongside dissertation and applied advisory technique for future partner-track interviews at UK and international tourism advisory firms.
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 of senior advisory experience
- IELTS 6.5 overall (no band under 6.0) or equivalent English proficiency
- A 500-word research statement on the applicant's chosen advisory area
- Two academic or professional references and a short interview
Why Study at LSTITM
LSTITM is Harold International College of London's specialist tourism division. Every LSTITM programme is aligned with recognised UK bodies including the Tourism Society, ITT, ABTA, CIM, CMI and UKHospitality.
MSc students are taught by former advisory partners and dissertation supervisors, and every route is supported by LSTITM's careers service and its London advisory network.
Advisory Master's candidates on the LSTITM route benefit from a small-cohort model and access to LSTITM's advisory-mentoring circle, which pairs candidates with practising advisory partners on a structured, six-session engagement. This mentoring is regularly cited as the most valuable element of the MSc by graduates preparing for partner-track roles.
Candidates also receive coaching on portfolio building, business development and the profile-building activities that shape a credible independent-advisory career over the medium term. Alumni-in-residence sessions extend the network by connecting current MSc candidates with recent graduates now serving as advisory partners and non-executive directors at UK and international tourism organisations and specialist advisory firms.
Apply for MSc in Tourism Consultancy and Advisory Studies
Applications for the MSc in Tourism Consultancy and Advisory Studies are reviewed on a rolling basis and cohorts start on scheduled intake dates. The LSTITM admissions team welcomes pre-application interviews so senior candidates can align dissertation direction with a supervisor whose partner-level advisory experience matches their intended focus. International candidates receive additional guidance on visa, English-language evidence and payment routes tailored to their country of residence, and pre-application interviews can be arranged in multiple time zones. Advance into executive tourism leadership with LSTITM by submitting your online application today. Enrol Now
