MSc in Tourism International Relations

Course Overview

The MSc in Tourism International Relations 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 cross-border tourism relationships and diplomatic-adjacent programmes at director and board level. Aligned with Tourism Society, World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) and Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) 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, chief tourism officer and international development director roles.

By graduation, you will be able to lead an executive-tier tourism international-relations programme, coordinate a board-facing evidence base across bilateral and multilateral partnerships, and produce senior artefacts including cross-border programme memos, international partnership reviews and a full dissertation. Modules blend research-informed teaching with executive workshops, applied international casework and structured supervision so that dissertation submissions consistently reach a defensible executive-tier standard for interview at consultancy partner and international development director roles.

Key Features

• Aligned with Tourism Society, WTTC and CIM senior practice for executive-tier international relations
• Applied executive assignments using real UK and international destination scenarios
• Supervised research-informed dissertation covering a cross-border tourism question
• Tutor briefings from former international tourism directors and consultancy partners
• Portfolio-quality outputs including partnership reviews, memos and dissertation
• Careers coaching for executive international-relations 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 tourism international-relations programme
• Designing a research-informed dissertation question with cross-border rationale
• Producing structured international partnership reviews with clean evidence and takeaways
• Writing board-facing memos with executive-tier rationale and one clear ask
• Aligning executive programmes with UK, WTTC-referenced and multilateral benchmarks
• Coordinating bilateral and multilateral partnerships across UK and international markets
• 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 tourism international-relations study
• Senior tourism practitioners preparing for consultancy partner and board-level roles
• International applicants targeting UK executive international-relations appointments
• Career-changing senior leaders entering cross-border tourism at executive tier
• Higher Diploma holders with 5+ years of senior international tourism experience

Career Pathways

• Chief Tourism Officer inside a UK or international destination organisation
• International Development Director inside a UK travel brand or DMO
• Tourism Consultancy Partner inside a UK or international consultancy
• Head of International Partnerships (Tourism) inside a UK travel brand
• Executive Director (Tourism Board) on an incoming international appointment path
• Global Tourism Manager on an executive corporate development 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 cross-border partnership discipline and multilateral programme design.

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 International Relations

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 international-relations roles including consultancy partner, international development director and chief tourism officer appointments. 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