By clicking on or navigating the site, you agree to allow us to collect information on and off Studee through cookies. Studee cookies policy

Studee Logo Home

    Study tourism abroad

    An in-depth guide to studying tourism as an international student.

    Find a program

    Explore tourism programs abroad

    See other programs in tourism

    Tourism degrees abroad

    Tourism is one of the fastest-growing sectors in the world, employing hundreds of millions of people all over the world. By studying a tourism degree abroad you’ll get the skills and experience you’ll need for an exciting career in this dynamic industry.

    Tourism degree programs can cover a wide range of disciplines including business, geography, management and finance. You’ll learn about the major trends and developments in tourism around the world and often get the chance to travel and experience tourist attractions in the local area and further afield.

    As an international student, studying abroad will give you a real insight into global tourism management. You can study in tourism hotspots and get firsthand experience of how the industry works, at the same time as expanding your own personal horizons.

    Tourism program structure

    Tourism programs are often offered in combination with other subjects like event management, hospitality or business. In some countries, tourism programs are often referred to as tourism management or international tourism management.

    As an international undergraduate student, there is a range of degree qualifications you can study in tourism including foundation, certificate, diploma and bachelor’s. A BA in tourism will usually take three to four years to complete, and often comes with the option of spending a year abroad or on a work placement.

    If you study in the US, you’ll have the option of studying tourism as a major or minor subject at bachelor’s level. The liberal arts model means you can study a variety of disciplines at the same time as specializing in one or more major subjects.

    You can also study tourism at master’s level as an MA, or as an MSc depending on the precise program you choose. At postgraduate level many programs are offered as a specialization of tourism focusing on things like business, management or marketing.

    Most tourism programs are taught through lectures, seminars and group workshops, but many also include regular field trips to local tourist destinations. The content of every tourism program will be different, but here are some common subjects and modules you can expect to cover:

    • The tourism industry
    • Marketing for tourism
    • Business for tourism
    • Hospitality
    • Tourism and globalization
    • Professional development
    • Sustainable tourism
    • Attraction management

    Best countries to study tourism

    Best universities to study tourism

    See all universities offering tourism programs

    How to study tourism abroad

    1. Universities & programs

      Find the right program for you and your career aspirations

    2. Application assistance

      Be guided through your application process

    3. Visa & embassy guidance

      Maximise your chances of being granted a visa

    4. Enrollment & travel advice

      Get support all the way to your first day at university

    Speak to a personal advisor (free service)

    Tourism study abroad programs

    Tourism undergraduate programs

    Bachelor's in tourism

    • false

      Tourism and Hospitality Management - BA (Hons) C3S Business School, Spain

      Program type
      Bachelor's
      Duration
      3 years
      Tuition fees per year
      6,000 EUR
      Start date
      February, September
      Show program overview about Tourism and Hospitality Management
    • false

      Recreation and Tourism Management - Hospitality Emphasis - BSc Concord University, USA

      Program type
      Bachelor's
      Duration
      4 years
      Tuition fees per year
      18,186 USD
      Start date
      January, September
      Show program overview about Recreation and Tourism Management - Hospitality Emphasis
    • false

      Tourism: Sustainable Tourism and International Development - BSc University of Applied Sciences of the Grisons, Switzerland

      Program type
      Bachelor's
      Duration
      3 years
      Tuition fees per year
      3,100 CHF
      Start date
      September
      Show program overview about Tourism: Sustainable Tourism and International Development
    • false

      Business (Tourism) - BA Arizona State University, USA

      Program type
      Bachelor's
      Duration
      4 years
      Tuition fees per year
      30,634 USD
      Start date
      January, May, August
      Show program overview about Business (Tourism)
    • false

      Hospitality, Restaurant & Tourism Management - Human Resources Emphasis - BA University of Nebraska-Lincoln, USA

      Program type
      Bachelor's
      Duration
      4 years
      Tuition fees per year
      27,000 USD
      Start date
      January, June, August
      Show program overview about Hospitality, Restaurant & Tourism Management - Human Resources Emphasis
    See all bachelor's degrees in tourism

    Diploma in tourism

    • false

      Tourism & Hospitality Management - Level 6 - Dip C3S Business School, Spain

      Program type
      Undergraduate diploma
      Duration
      1 year
      Tuition fees per year
      6,000 EUR
      Start date
      February, September
      Show program overview about Tourism & Hospitality Management - Level 6
    • false

      Tourism - Travel Services Management - Dip Humber College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning, Canada

      Program type
      Undergraduate diploma
      Duration
      2 years
      Tuition fees per year
      15,412 CAD
      Start date
      January
      Show program overview about Tourism - Travel Services Management
    • false

      Tourism - Travel Services Management - Dip Centennial College, Canada

      Program type
      Undergraduate diploma
      Duration
      2 years
      Tuition fees per year
      16,531 CAD
      Start date
      January, May, September
      Show program overview about Tourism - Travel Services Management
    • false

      Adventure Tourism and Guiding - Dip Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology, New Zealand

      Program type
      Undergraduate diploma
      Duration
      9 months
      Tuition fees per year
      18,900 NZD
      Start date
      February, July
      Show program overview about Adventure Tourism and Guiding
    • false

      Tourism & Hospitality Management - Dip North Island College, Canada

      Program type
      Undergraduate diploma
      Duration
      2 years
      Tuition fees per year
      19,215 CAD
      Start date
      January, September
      Show program overview about Tourism & Hospitality Management
    See all undergraduate diplomas in tourism

    Pathway in tourism

    • false

      International Tourism Management (Foundation) - UGP Leeds Beckett University, UK

      Program type
      Undergraduate pathway
      Duration
      2 years
      Tuition fees per year
      10,900 USD
      Start date
      January, September
      Show program overview about International Tourism Management (Foundation)
    • false

      International Tourism and Events Management Pathway - UGP Glasgow Caledonian University, UK

      Program type
      Undergraduate pathway
      Duration
      4 years
      Tuition fees per year
      11,845 GBP
      Start date
      September
      Show program overview about International Tourism and Events Management Pathway
    See all undergraduate pathways in tourism

    Associate in tourism

    • false

      Tourism and Hospitality - ASc Black Hills State University, USA

      Program type
      Associate
      Duration
      4 years
      Tuition fees per year
      9,422 USD
      Start date
      January, August
      Show program overview about Tourism and Hospitality
    See all associate degrees in tourism

    Certificate in tourism

    • false

      Global Tourism & Hospitality Management - Cert North Island College, Canada

      Program type
      Undergraduate certificate
      Duration
      8 months
      Tuition fees per year
      13,635 CAD
      Start date
      January, May, July, September
      Show program overview about Global Tourism & Hospitality Management
    See all undergraduate certificates in tourism

    Tourism graduate programs

    Master's in tourism

    • false

      Business and Services: Tourism - MSc University of Applied Sciences of the Grisons, Switzerland

      Program type
      Master's
      Duration
      2 years
      Tuition fees per year
      3,100 CHF
      Start date
      September
      Show program overview about Business and Services: Tourism
    • false

      Entrepreneurship for the Global Hospitality and Tourism Industry - MA César Ritz Colleges, Switzerland

      Program type
      Master's
      Duration
      1 year
      Tuition fees per year
      42,600 CHF
      Start date
      January, April, July, October
      Show program overview about Entrepreneurship for the Global Hospitality and Tourism Industry
    • false

      Global Management (Sustainable Tourism) - MGM Arizona State University, USA

      Program type
      Master's
      Duration
      2 years
      Tuition fees per year
      25,714 USD
      Start date
      August
      Show program overview about Global Management (Sustainable Tourism)
    • false

      Leisure and Tourism - MPhil University of Newcastle, Australia

      Program type
      Master's
      Duration
      2 years
      Tuition fees per year
      28,895 AUD
      Start date
      February, July, September
      Show program overview about Leisure and Tourism
    • false

      Tourism Management - MA Bournemouth University, UK

      Program type
      Master's
      Duration
      1 year
      Tuition fees per year
      14,000 GBP
      Start date
      January, September
      Show program overview about Tourism Management
    See all master's degrees in tourism

    Diploma in tourism

    • false

      Tourism - Travel - OCDip Fanshawe College, Canada

      Program type
      Postgraduate diploma
      Duration
      14 months
      Tuition fees per year
      17,052 CAD
      Start date
      September
      Show program overview about Tourism - Travel
    See all postgraduate diplomas in tourism

    Certificate in tourism

    • false

      Sustainable Tourism Management - PGCert Central Queensland University, Australia

      Program type
      Postgraduate certificate
      Duration
      6 months
      Tuition fees per year
      13,920 AUD
      Start date
      March, July, November
      Show program overview about Sustainable Tourism Management
    • false

      Hospitality and Tourism Operations Management - PGCert Humber College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning, Canada

      Program type
      Postgraduate certificate
      Duration
      1 year
      Tuition fees per year
      16,532 CAD
      Start date
      September
      Show program overview about Hospitality and Tourism Operations Management
    • false

      Food Tourism - PGCert Centennial College, Canada

      Program type
      Postgraduate certificate
      Duration
      1 year
      Tuition fees per year
      16,531 CAD
      Start date
      September
      Show program overview about Food Tourism
    • false

      Hospitality and Tourism Operations Management - OCGCert Fanshawe College, Canada

      Program type
      Postgraduate certificate
      Duration
      2 years
      Tuition fees per year
      14,376 CAD
      Start date
      January, September
      Show program overview about Hospitality and Tourism Operations Management
    See all postgraduate certificates in tourism

    Pathway in tourism

    • false

      Management, Finance, Hospitality and Tourism, Pre-Masters - PGP University of Surrey, UK

      Program type
      Postgraduate pathway
      Duration
      6 months
      Tuition fees per year
      11,500 USD
      Start date
      February, September
      Show program overview about Management, Finance, Hospitality and Tourism, Pre-Masters
    • false

      Events, Tourism and Hospitality Management, Pre-Master’s - PGP Bournemouth University, UK

      Program type
      Postgraduate pathway
      Duration
      1 year
      Tuition fees per year
      13,230 GBP
      Start date
      September
      Show program overview about Events, Tourism and Hospitality Management, Pre-Master’s
    • false

      Business, Hospitality, Tourism and Social Sciences, Pre-Master’s - PGP University of Brighton, UK

      Program type
      Postgraduate pathway
      Duration
      1 year
      Tuition fees per year
      13,230 USD
      Start date
      June, July, August
      Show program overview about Business, Hospitality, Tourism and Social Sciences, Pre-Master’s
    See all postgraduate pathways in tourism

    Future tourism careers

    Tourism management graduates are well placed to pursue an exciting career in the tourism industry. There are a wide range of job roles you’ll have the skills to take on, including:

    • Hotel manager
    • Travel representative
    • Tourism officer
    • Travel agent
    • Air cabin crew
    • Tour manager
    • Event manager

    Many tourism degree programs give you the chance to spend a year on placement gaining real-world experience. This is a great way to get a taste for working in the tourism or hospitality industry and could help you work out which role would suit you best. It also means you’ll have valuable experience to put on your CV when you’re looking for a job after university.