MSc in Tourism Cultural Economy

Course Overview

The MSc in Tourism Cultural Economy is a research-informed executive LSTITM Master's programme for senior tourism practitioners working at the intersection of culture and destination economics. Delivered over 12 to 18 months across online, on-campus and distance modes, this postgraduate route sits within the Tourism and Destination Management department and is aligned with practice referenced by the Tourism Society, WTTC and the Chartered Institute of Marketing. Students work through modules on cultural economy theory, cultural heritage tourism, creative-sector partnerships, sustainability and applied research, culminating in a dissertation.

By graduation, students can lead cultural economy work for a UK or international destination, structure heritage tourism partnerships, translate cultural insight into destination policy and defend an original research dissertation before an academic panel.

Key Features

• Postgraduate curriculum aligned to executive UK tourism cultural economy practice
• Content referenced against Tourism Society, WTTC and CIM commentary
• Applied research dissertation supervised by senior LSTITM tutors
• Structured cultural partnership templates used across LSTITM Master's routes
• Executive coaching sessions across the postgraduate cycle
• Progression route into senior destination cultural leadership and consultancy
• Career mentoring with LSTITM alumni now in UK destination cultural roles

Every feature on the MSc in Tourism Cultural Economy is scaffolded so that undergraduate graduates and senior practitioners can move from graduate-level knowledge to executive cultural economy leadership. Tutors bring live UK and international destination cultural programmes so learners see how cultural strategy actually reaches board-level outcomes. Assessment blends portfolio work with observed executive facilitation across a supervised dissertation cycle.

What You Will Learn

• Leading cultural economy work for a UK or international destination
• Structuring heritage tourism partnerships at executive depth
• Translating cultural insight into destination policy contributions
• Defending an original research dissertation before an academic panel
• Reading cultural economy commentary from Tourism Society and WTTC
• Handling stakeholder trade-offs across residents, artists and visitors
• Facilitating executive cultural strategy workshops with senior stakeholders
• Preparing evidence packs suitable for national cultural tourism consultations

Skills are practised through executive cultural economy plans, heritage tourism partnership structures, destination policy briefings and applied research culminating in a full dissertation drawn from live UK cultural cases. Each learner leaves the MSc with a portfolio of executive cultural artefacts and a defended research dissertation ready for senior cultural tourism roles across London tourism employers.

Who This Course Is For

• Bachelor graduates progressing to executive tourism cultural leadership
• Senior tourism practitioners working across culture and destination
• International applicants seeking a UK research-informed cultural tourism Master's
• Career changers with 5+ years senior cultural or heritage experience

The MSc in Tourism Cultural Economy suits LSTITM BA graduates progressing to executive cultural tourism leadership, senior tourism practitioners working across culture and destination and international applicants seeking a UK research-informed cultural tourism Master's for their executive interviews across London tourism employers and international cultural agencies. Career changers with 5+ years senior cultural or heritage experience take this MSc as a tourism-specific executive translation credential ahead of senior destination cultural roles across UK boards and international agencies.

Career Pathways

• Heritage Tourism Manager
• Cultural Tourism Officer
• Head of Cultural Economy
• Regional Tourism Director (Cultural)
• Cultural Tourism Consultancy Partner
• Cultural Tourism Programme Director
• Head of Tourism Development (Cultural)

LSTITM's careers service supports MSc graduates with executive CV coaching, cultural portfolio guidance and introductions to UK tourism boards, cultural agencies and senior consultancies recruiting Master's-level cultural economy talent.

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 recognised UK tourism and marketing bodies including the Tourism Society, the Institute of Travel and Tourism, ABTA, the Chartered Institute of Marketing and UKHospitality, so graduates step into the sector with credible, industry-referenced study behind them.

Our curriculum is written by former destination directors, travel-industry technologists, tourism consultants and marketing leaders, and delivered across on-campus, online and distance-learning routes to fit working professionals and international students. LSTITM's articulation model means every Certificate and Diploma leads cleanly into an Advanced Diploma, Higher Diploma and full honours degree, with Master's routes for those aiming at consultancy, corporate development and executive tourism leadership.

Apply for MSc in Tourism Cultural Economy

Applications for the MSc in Tourism Cultural Economy open on rolling postgraduate cycles. Submit your undergraduate transcript or equivalent, a 500-word research statement, references, English-language proof and complete an interview with the LSTITM postgraduate admissions team. Advance into executive tourism leadership with LSTITM. Enrol Now