How long is the MSc in Tourism Professional Practice?

The MSc in Tourism Professional Practice runs across twelve to eighteen months full postgraduate. Full-time on-campus students on the MSc in Tourism Professional Practice finish in twelve; distance learners extend to eighteen.

How is this MSc delivered?

The MSc in Tourism Professional Practice is delivered on-campus in London, online and via distance learning. Dissertation supervision for the MSc in Tourism Professional Practice is provided across all three routes.

Is this MSc UK-recognised?

The MSc in Tourism Professional Practice is a UK postgraduate Master's aligned with CMI, Institute of Hospitality and Tourism Society. The MSc in Tourism Professional Practice prepares graduates for practice-director roles.

What entry requirements apply?

Applicants to the MSc in Tourism Professional Practice need a UK 2:2 honours degree (or equivalent) or 5+ years of senior tourism experience. IELTS 6.5 is required for the MSc in Tourism Professional Practice.

How much does this MSc cost?

Tuition for the MSc in Tourism Professional Practice is banded with instalment plans and executive scholarships for eligible international students. LSTITM admissions publish tuition for the MSc in Tourism Professional Practice on request.

MSc Tourism Professional Practice | LSTITM | Harold International College of London

Course Overview

The MSc in Tourism Professional Practice is a Master programme within LSTITM's Travel Systems & Global Tourism portfolio, focused on research-informed executive practice in tourism professional practice across travel systems and global tourism. Delivered across a 12 to 18 months full postgraduate route duration band, the programme is aligned with UK tourism-sector standards referenced by Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) and BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT, and gives students structured, industry-referenced practice from the first week of study. Students explore executive practice as a tourism professional through a mix of tutor-led seminars, case-based labs and applied projects drawn from real London tourism organisations.

By the end of the MSc in Tourism Professional Practice, students should be able to graduate as a research-informed executive able to lead tourism professional practice programmes and produce a dissertation on applied professional questions. The syllabus mixes applied case study, tutor-led coaching and structured assessment so learners graduate ready to contribute to real tourism teams across London and internationally. Assessment blends short written pieces, applied projects and structured peer review so students build a portfolio they can share with prospective employers as evidence of ready-to-work practice.

Students on the MSc in Tourism Professional Practice join a peer group drawn from destination operators, travel-agency chains, DMOs and international tourism boards, and are taught by tutors with prior operational and strategic tourism experience across the UK sector. Guest speakers from Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA)-referenced organisations, London consultancies and tour operators contribute short masterclasses throughout the programme, giving students direct sight of live industry challenges and current recruitment expectations.

Key Features

UK content referenced against Tourism Society and CMI executive practice
Dissertation supervision from LSTITM professional practice specialists
Modules on tourism professional practice and executive research methods
Case notes from London tour operators, DMCs and consultancies
Career sessions on senior tourism professional roles
Delivered across online, on-campus and distance-learning routes

What You Will Learn

Lead tourism professional practice programmes at executive level
Structure executive research on applied professional questions
Coordinate dissertation-scale research on professional practice
Apply Tourism Society, CMI and ITT professional frameworks
Draft executive briefs for tourism boards and consultancies
Manage complex professional practice programmes across regions
Coordinate industry consultation for the dissertation
Present professional findings to executive and academic audiences
Support executive decisions on tourism professional practice

Who This Course Is For

Bachelor graduates targeting tourism professional leadership
Senior practitioners with 5+ years experience seeking research-informed practice
International applicants pursuing UK postgraduate tourism study
Career changers into executive tourism professional practice
Working directors seeking a formal research qualification

Career Pathways

Head of Tourism Professional Practice
Tourism Consultancy Partner
Tourism Strategy Consultant (senior)
Tourism Programme Director
Regional Tourism Director
Executive Director (Tourism Board)
Tourism Business Analyst (senior)
Chief Tourism Officer

The LSTITM careers service supports every MSc in Tourism Professional Practice student with CV, LinkedIn and interview coaching, plus warm introductions to London tourism boards, tour operators, OTAs and airline partners actively hiring across these career pathways. Graduates of the MSc in Tourism Professional Practice are supported through an alumni network spanning UK destination management organisations, international tour operators and consultancy houses, giving early-career candidates a credible route into interviews and structured progression conversations with sector employers.

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. Students on the MSc in Tourism Professional Practice benefit from that specialist focus at every stage of study.

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

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 alike. 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 Professional Practice

Applications for the MSc in Tourism Professional Practice are open across four intakes per year with rolling admissions for online and distance-learning candidates. Speak to an LSTITM admissions adviser about tuition, scholarship options and articulation into the next stage of the LSTITM tourism pathway. Advance into executive tourism leadership with LSTITM. Enrol Now.