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Hospitality Management BA (Hons)

Key Facts

  • Level

    UndergraduateUG BA (Hons)

  • Duration

    3 years Full-Time
    4 years with Foundation

  • Starting

    September

Updated 23/10/2024

Updated 23/10/2024

Get in touch

For questions regarding study and admissions please contact us:

UK/EU STUDENTS ENQUIRIES

study@northampton.ac.uk
0300 303 2772

INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS ENQUIRIES

international@northampton.ac.uk
44 (0)1604 892134


Are you creative and passionate about designing and delivering high quality hospitality, event and tourism experiences that bring people together? Do you strive to build a career in a dynamic environment where no two days are ever the same? Our new BA (Hons) Hospitality Management course with pathways in events management and tourism management offers an excellent balance of theory and practice that will prepare you for the real world of work in the hospitality, events and tourism industries.

The course focuses on technical and managerial skills and knowledge needed to work in and lead hospitality organisations. Our bespoke pathways – available to take in Year 2 and Year 3 – give you the opportunity to further specialise in either events management or tourism management, or to continue with your broad hospitality management training. This course offers ample opportunities to apply your learning in real life settings, through our partnership with leading local hospitality, events and tourism employers. The key themes of sustainability; equity, diversity and inclusion; innovation; business decision making and risk management, and professional development are woven through your learning at every level, and support you in deepening your subject knowledge and competencies as you progress through your University experience with us. Experiences are at the heart of this Hospitality Management course and offer you a wealth of opportunities to design, plan, deliver and evaluate practical, industry-related projects, in every year of study. These projects are supported by our extensive network of industry and third sector partners, so that by the time you graduate you already have substantial evidence of your professional skillset, which will support your transition into graduate roles. The course also provides numerous opportunities for you to engage in field visits, sector-specific professional experience, additional (extra-curricular) project work and to grow your own professional network with hospitality, events and tourism professionals within the region, nationally and internationally.

Highlights


  • Collaborations with industry partners from across the hospitality, events and tourism sectors embedded within the course curriculum
  • Personalise your learning through pathways in events, tourism and hospitality
  • Experiential learning and a broad range of innovative assessments provide opportunities for students to get hands-on experience to build their CVs and skills base as part of the course content
  • Integrated Foundation Year and Placement Year options available
  • HP laptop and software included with this course for eligible students. Eligibility criteria and terms and conditions apply.

 

Entry Requirements


A typical offer for the degree in Hospitality Management would be:

  • BCC at A Level or
  • DMM at BTEC/Cambridge Technical or
  • Pass (C and above) at T Level

We welcome applications from students with a mix of A levels and BTEC/Cambridge Technical qualifications.

  • For more more information on how to make an application, please visit our How to Apply page.

    If you are an International student and would like information on making an application, please see our How to Apply page.

  • The standard entry requirements for the Integrated Foundation Year are:

    • DEE at A level or
    • MPP at BTEC/Cambridge Technical or
    • Pass (D or E) at T Level

    We welcome applications from students with a mix of A levels and BTEC/Cambridge Technical qualifications.

  • All International and EU students applying for a course with us must meet the following minimum English language requirements:

    • IELTS 6.0 (or equivalent) with a minimum of 5.5 in all bands for study at undergraduate level

    For information regarding English language requirements at the University, please see our IELTS page.

Course Content


  • The University of Northampton Hospitality Management degree is designed to contribute towards achieving the following United Nations Sustainable Development Goals:

    • SDG9 Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
    • SDG10 Reduced Inequalities
    • SDG11 Sustainable Cities and Communities
    • SDG12 Responsible Consumption and Production
    • SDG13 Climate Action

    This course offers a practical approach to the successful design and management of hospitality, events and tourism projects and organisations. The curriculum offers numerous opportunities to engage in practical project work, work placements, work experience and to network with successful hospitality, events and tourism businesses. Throughout this course you will learn the principles and theoretical frameworks related to hospitality, events management and tourism, and will have plenty of opportunities to apply these in practice. You will cover the following course themes: experience economy, customer service, logistics and operations management, risk management, health and safety, destination management, strategy, leadership and organisational culture, finance, integrated marketing communications, digital marketing, project management, public relations, sustainability, economic, environmental and social impacts of events, tourism and hospitality.

    Engage with our Industry Partnership Group

    Our Industry Partnership Group is made up of local, national and international events management, hospitality and tourism organisations, such as the Power of Events, Marriott International, Silverstone, Canal and River Trust, Delapre Abbey, McManus Pubs and CJS Event Solutions, and we are delighted to collaborate with such illustrious partners across the hospitality, events and tourism sector with local and global reach and impact. Interacting and engaging with our partners is an integral and unique element of our hospitality course and gives you, the student, excellent opportunities to not only develop your skills, but also your professional network from Day 1 of your enrolment.

    Our industry partners contribute to the programmes through live case studies, guest lectures, and sharing their specialist knowledge as well as offering placements, work experience opportunities and applied research project work. Industry partners are also involved in contributing to our bespoke Student Futures Week programmes with mock assessment centres, panel discussions, workshops, our subject-specific careers fair, and research presentations. Our partners are core to how the course develops and they actively contribute to course and module development thus impacting both our student experience and graduate outcomes. You can see who our industry partners are and how we work with them in the ‘Industry Partners’ section below.

    Experiential Learning

    The University of Northampton Hospitality Management with pathways course offers more than just knowledge and information. We create countless opportunities for our students to get essential hands-on experience that builds their CVs and their skill base. These opportunities for paid work in the hospitality, events and tourism sectors, together with hundreds of opportunities for voluntary experiences, enable our students to challenge themselves and explore the sectors more broadly. We encourage our students to gain experience and broaden their horizons, enabling them to find their individual niche and preferred career paths.

    • In your first year, you will be exposed to a broad range of hospitality-related business management topics, including an introduction to experience economy, industry-specific business practice and principles of sustainability. You will also take bespoke modules introducing you to the three dedicated pathways (hospitality, tourism & events) and will conclude your first year with a live project that will provide you with an opportunity for practical application of the concepts you studied all year. You will also be supported to engage with appropriate professional development opportunities and evidence your growth via a graded portfolio.

    • In your second year you will have the opportunity to continue with your broad hospitality management training OR choose a separate dedicated pathway in either tourism management or events management. Core curriculum includes:

      Shared topics include:
      • Project and Stakeholder Management
      • Research in Practice
      • Professional Development (including industry-specific professional experience)
      • Marketing Communications
      Hospitality pathway-specific topics include:
      • Hospitality Cultures
      • Sustainable Innovation
      Tourism Management pathway-specific topics:
      • Responsible Tourism
      • Visitor Attractions Management
      Events Management pathway-specific topics:
      • Event Health & Safety
      • Live Event
    • Your final year will provide you with ample opportunities to apply the core hospitality, tourism and events management concepts in practice.

      Shared topics include:
      • The capstone Applied Project module (40 credits) will give you the freedom to complete a substantial piece of industry consultancy specific to your chosen pathway and strengthen your professional portfolio.
      • The Hospitality, Events & Tourism Futures (20 credits) will support you in identifying the future directions for your preferred industry and in building your own professional network in order to promote your unique professional expertise.
      • The Research Project module (20 credits) will allow you to complete a piece of academic research on your preferred topic.
      Hospitality Management pathway-specific topics include:
      • Sustainability for Hospitality (20 credits)
      • Designing Hospitality Experiences (20 credits)
      Tourism Management pathway-specific topics include:
      • Responsible Tourism in Action (20 credits)
      • Destination Management (20 credits)
      Event Management pathway-specific topics include:
      • Strategic and Sustainable Event Operations (20 credits)
      • Marketing Communications for Events (20 credits) – title TBC

      *All module titles and content are subject to validation.

  • At the University of Northampton, everything we do, from funded trips to paid internships, is to give you everything you need to make a difference when you leave.

    If you join our full-time degree in Hospitality Management at Northampton, you will receive a laptop when your course begins*. The laptops are built to a bespoke custom specification ideal for use in the seminar room, collaborative group work or studying at home.

    Whatever your ambitions, we’re here to help you to achieve them. We’ll support you to identify the skills you’re learning during your course, find your strengths and secure practical experience so that when it comes to applying for jobs or further study you’ll feel confident in standing out from the crowd. We’ve created the Northampton Employment Promise because we are so confident that if you focus on your studies and complete one of our awards you’ll be highly employable by the time you graduate. Putting you in a great position to secure employment or continue your studies.

    To check out the full list of perks, visit our Student Perks page or dedicated International Perks page.

    * UK fee payers only (see Terms and Conditions for further details)

  • The Integrated Foundation Year (IFY) offers a new and exciting route into studying for an Hospitality Management course, attracting ambitious and driven students who are willing to learn and advance.

    If you have non-standard qualifications or do not quite meet the admissions requirements we can offer you a fantastic opportunity to study a four year programme which includes an Integrated Foundation Year. The Integrated Foundation Year will help you develop the theoretical/practical and academic skills you need, in order to successfully progress to the full award.

    Our four-year courses will enable you to successfully follow the degree pathway of your choice while gaining essential study skills. The foundation year of your chosen degree will be studied on a full-time basis and is aimed at supporting the transition to higher education. Years two, three and four are then studied as a standard degree programme.

    Please see our Integrated Foundation Year page for more details.

  • The University of Northampton’s Events Management courses are a member of The Association for Events Management Education (AEME). AEME was established in 2004, with the aim to advance events education within the UK and overseas.

  • How will I learn?

    Our Hospitality Management course uses the active blended learning approach to teaching and learning and weekly sessions are delivered in workshop format, usually for 12 hours per week. Some of your studying will be completed online, enabling you to complete some of the work at a time that is most convenient for you.

    You will have a supportive network around you, including your course leader and personal tutor. We recommend that you spend 30 hours per week in self-directed study time.

    How will I be assessed?

    A variety of individual and group-based assessments are used including reports, presentations, podcasts, posters, e-portfolios, projects, client briefs, videos and professional discussions/interviews. All assessments are designed based on industry work products you are likely to encounter in your work post-graduation, and give you excellent opportunities to develop these skills before you enter the workplace.

    What type of events have students organised whilst studying this course?
    We have a dedicated YouTube playlist of our student-ran events so you can see the types of events that have been organised in the past.

    Will I go on any study trips?

    In previous years our undergraduate students have participated in optional study trips to London, Liverpool, Leeds, Wakefield and Silverstone, as well as a residential trip to York, and an optional study trip to a European destination. The cost of the 3-day residential trip to York is part-funded by the University and student participation fee should not exceed £90, which will cover travel, accommodation and tours/activities. The cost of the fully optional trip to Europe should not normally exceed £500 for flights, accommodation and activities, although you will need to allow an additional £100 for your individual expenses. The European trip is costed at the beginning of the academic year and is subject to minimum numbers.

    We also aim to provide a regional or national study trip annually to a venue or event. In some cases you may be required to contribute to the cost of entry; this would normally not exceed £50.

    Are there any special features on the Hospitality Management programme?
    • Many students choose to undertake work placements of around 4 months’ duration in the summer break (June-September) or work on internships a couple of days each week. Some work-related experience is also embedded within our employability modules, taken in each year of study. Volunteering is actively encouraged and supported throughout the course to enable students to gain experience and practice their skills, and our industry partner group also offer a range of temporary paid work experience opportunities throughout the academic year, including in the summer period.
    • We are building a student community and encouraging cross-year collaboration. Many first and second year students will volunteer to work at events that are hosted and fully organised by our final year students. We share industry news and encourage collaboration through our subject area social media on Instagram (@ETHNorthampton) and LinkedIn.
    • We regularly invite industry professionals to provide you with their insight and experience as guest speakers within module sessions and in our Student Futures Weeks, as well as involving them in live-client projects and allowing you to present your project ideas to external clients. Our Industry Forum ensures that we keep our course content as up to date and relevant as possible and provides connections for students to engage with the industry throughout your studies. We also host a hospitality, tourism and events-focused careers fair every year, which showcases a wide range of opportunities employers are recruiting to locally.
power-of-now

Fees and Funding


2024/25 Tuition Fees

Fees quoted relate to study for the Hospitality Management BA degree in the Academic Year 2024/25 only and may be subject to inflationary increases in future years.

  • UK Full Time: £9,250
  • UK Part Time: £1,540 per 20 credit module
  • UK Integrated Foundation Year: £9,250 for the foundation year; thereafter standard fees apply
  • There are no additional costs for the Hospitality Management degree for students beginning their studies in September 2024. Should this change, applicants and students will be contacted by the university with details of the costs.

  • For information on the scholarships available to you, please see our scholarships page.

    For more information about possible funding options, please visit our Fees and Funding pages.

  • Fees quoted relate to study for the Hospitality Management BA degree in the Academic Year 23/24 only and may be subject to inflationary increases in future years.

    • UK Full Time: £9,250
    • UK Part Time: £1,540 per 20 credit module
    • UK Integrated Foundation Year: £9,250 for the foundation year; thereafter standard fees apply

Staff


Placeholder image for Ivna Reic, Head of Events, Tourism & Hospitality

Head of Events, Tourism & Hospitality
Faculty of Business and Law

Ivna Reic
Claire Drakeley, Senior Lecturer in Events Management

Senior Lecturer in Events Management
Faculty of Business and Law

Claire Drakeley
Placeholder image for Alan Lovell, Senior Lecturer in Tourism Management

Senior Lecturer in Tourism Management
Faculty of Business and Law

Alan Lovell
Anna Borley-Russell, Senior Lecturer in Leisure Management

Senior Lecturer in Leisure Management
Faculty of Business and Law

Anna Borley-Russell
Placeholder image for Elaine Vyner-Mayes, Senior Lecturer in Events & Hospitality

Senior Lecturer in Events & Hospitality
Faculty of Business and Law

Elaine Vyner-Mayes
Placeholder image for Claire Leer, Senior Lecturer in Events Management & Tourism

Senior Lecturer in Events Management & Tourism
Hospitality Management BA (Hons)

Claire Leer
Fabio Carbone, Senior Lecturer in Tourism Management & Marketing

Senior Lecturer in Tourism Management & Marketing
Faculty of Business and Law

Fabio Carbone
Alex Young, Lecturer in Tourism and Hospitality Management

Lecturer in Tourism and Hospitality Management
Faculty of Business and Law

Alex Young
Sarah Thangadurai, Senior Lecturer in Hotel Management

Senior Lecturer in Hotel Management
Faculty of Business and Law

Sarah Thangadurai

Careers and Employability


Our students graduate with a highly useful toolbox of skills and abilities, which enables you to work in a range of roles within the hospitality, events and tourism sectors and beyond and previous graduates have gone on to work in hotel and restaurant management, motorsport events, visitor attractions, events management production, festival management, travel operations and other sectors in these exciting industries.

Master’s Opportunities

On successful completion of your BA Hospitality Management degree, you can further your knowledge and understanding by studying one of our Master’s courses. Benefit from our 20% alumni discount on postgraduate fees to give you a CV that will catch the eye of employers. Some industry related events, hospitality, and tourism Master’s degrees include:

Facilities


The academic team collaborates closely with the University Catering and Events teams and students have the opportunity to be involved in some of these activities which utilise various aspects of the University estate.

Our close links with industry employers local to Northamptonshire also give our students opportunities to shadow or do paid work experience in a range of industry settings.

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