How long is the MSc in Tourism Experience Design?

The MSc in Tourism Experience Design runs 12 to 18 months full postgraduate at LSTITM. Part-time pacing lets senior practitioners complete the MSc in Tourism Experience Design alongside executive experience work.

How is the MSc delivered?

LSTITM offers the MSc in Tourism Experience Design on-campus in London, live online and by distance learning. The MSc in Tourism Experience Design syllabus is identical across all three routes.

Is this MSc UK-recognised?

Yes. The MSc in Tourism Experience Design is a postgraduate research-informed qualification aligned with Tourism Society, CIM and Institute of Hospitality references, so MSc in Tourism Experience Design graduates hold credible study.

What entry requirements apply?

You need a UK 2:2 honours degree or 5+ years of senior tourism experience, IELTS 6.5, a research statement and two references. An LSTITM interview is required for the MSc in Tourism Experience Design.

What does the course cost?

LSTITM publishes current MSc in Tourism Experience Design fees on the admissions page. Instalment plans and international scholarships apply to MSc in Tourism Experience Design applicants.

MSc in Tourism Experience Design | LSTITM | Harold International College of London

Course Overview

The MSc in Tourism Experience Design is a 12 to 18-month postgraduate LSTITM programme that develops research-informed executive capability in tourism experience design across destination journeys, attractions, cruise brands, hotel groups and travel-technology platforms. Designed for senior tourism practitioners and career-progression candidates targeting executive experience director, chief experience officer, head of visitor journey and consulting partner positions, the MSc is delivered on-campus, online or by distance learning across a rolling annual intake schedule for both UK and international candidates. The syllabus is aligned with Tourism Society, Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM), Institute of Hospitality, UKHospitality and BCS practitioner references, and includes a supervised dissertation.

By graduation you will be able to lead a research-informed experience-design project, contribute to an executive-level experience strategy at operator or DMO level, publish a supervised dissertation, and present research-based recommendations to a chief executive or experience board.

The MSc is delivered through structured lectures, seminars, applied research modules and a supervised dissertation, with a UK-referenced reading list, tutor-led feedback on every submission and a small cohort designed to keep discussion rigorous and executive-facing throughout.

Key Features

Postgraduate syllabus co-designed by former experience directors and destination consultants
Alignment with Tourism Society, CIM, Institute of Hospitality, UKHospitality and BCS references
Structured research training and supervised dissertation on a UK-relevant experience topic
Guided reading from ABTA, ITT, WTTC and UKHospitality on tourism experience practice
Structured induction to executive experience frameworks, service journeys and board-level readouts
Practical exercises writing experience strategies, dissertation chapters and board updates
Coaching on presenting research-informed experience options to a chief executive
Structured modules on sustainability, safeguarding, ethical experience research and inclusive design
LSTITM careers workshops on executive experience roles and consulting-partner tracks

What You Will Learn

Lead a research-informed experience-design project at operator or DMO level
Contribute to an executive-level experience strategy at tourism board or brand level
Publish a supervised dissertation on a UK-relevant experience topic
Read an experience performance dashboard for a UK tourism programme
Contribute to a business case for an executive experience intervention
Follow sustainability, GDPR, ethical research and inclusive-design principles
Support a supplier or partner conversation on shared experience goals
Draft an executive readout summarising experience research and next steps
Present research-informed experience options to a chief executive or board

Who This Course Is For

Bachelor holders progressing into executive-track experience design practice
Senior tourism practitioners moving into chief experience officer tracks
International students seeking a UK postgraduate experience-design qualification
Career changers holding a first degree and 5+ years of senior tourism experience
Working consultants formalising their experience-design executive portfolio

Career Pathways

Head of Experience (Tourism)
Customer Experience Director (Travel)
Tourism Product Manager (experience, senior)
Tourism Consultancy Partner (experience)
Destination Experience Director
Cultural Tourism Manager (senior)
Tourism Programme Director (experience)
Executive Director (Tourism Board, experience)
Tourism Research Director (experience)

LSTITM's careers service supports MSc students with executive CV writing, LinkedIn coaching, board-interview preparation and salary negotiation, plus warm introductions to London and regional DMOs, cultural attractions, cruise brands, hotel groups and travel-brand consultancies recruiting into executive experience roles. Weekly workshops include portfolio reviews of the experience strategies, dissertation chapters and board updates you produce during the MSc.

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 shaping modern global tourism. Every LSTITM programme is aligned with recognised UK bodies including the Tourism Society, ITT, ABTA, CIM, CMI, WTTC, Institute of Hospitality and UKHospitality, giving MSc graduates a credible reference base for their next executive experience application in a competitive UK market.

MSc students learn from former experience directors, destination consultants and consulting partners, in a research-informed curriculum with a supervised dissertation and a specialist tourism careers service that supports every executive application cycle with named coaches and warm introductions to LSTITM alumni across UK tourism.

Apply for MSc in Tourism Experience Design

Advance into executive experience design with the LSTITM MSc in Tourism Experience Design, delivered by a specialist London school for tourism and international travel management with a research-informed executive experience focus at its core and a strong UK sector reference base. You will graduate with an executive-grade portfolio of strategies, dissertation research, executive readouts and board updates built on real UK tourism-sector case material, ready to bring to interviews with chief executives at London and regional DMOs, attractions, cruise brands and travel-brand consultancies. Advance into executive tourism leadership with LSTITM. Enrol Now.