International Tourism Management

Contents

Since the International Tourism Management programme prepares you for an international career, you will have plenty opportunities to gain international experience. You will participate in field trips and in a field research project, you will do a six-month placement abroad and you will have the possibility to participate in an exchange programme at one of the partner universities of NHTV all over the world.

The regular track of this programme takes four years, but fast tracks are possible for Dutch students with a vwo diploma or relevant mbo diploma (level 4). This may also be available to foreign students, depending on their previous education.

There is also a Dutch taught International Tourism Management programme called Management toerisme.

Specialisations

The International Tourism Management programme offers two specialisations:

International Tourism Management and Consultancy

This specialisation focuses on the international tourism destination. Special attention is given to applied research, connections between theory and (real-life) practice, and the context for rapid change in the international tourism setting. The analysis of destination dynamics prepares you for a global career in the public or private sector. The emphasis is on the dynamics of tourism development at destinations, emerging economies, local community involvement and business feasibility.

International Tourism and Travel Industry

As a manager in the Tourism and Travel Industry you are in charge of fine tuning holiday tours and business trips to the wishes and needs of your clients. This specialisation pays close attention to planning, buying, organising, publicising and distributing trips and tours on demand (tourists) and supply (tourism destinations) and extensively deals with developments and operations in the airline and airport industry. Special attention is also given to upcoming travel markets such as Brazil, Russia, India and China. You will be trained for a front or back office position in a commercial environment, where knowledge on aviation, the tourism market, the market for business trips, hotels, economics, marketing and management is pivotal.

Fast tracks

The International Tourism Management programme offers you the opportunity to finish your study in three years if you already have a pre-university education (vwo or Hochschulereifezeugnis) or a vocational education (mtro). You have to determine your choice for one of the two specialisations in advance.

Three-year track International Tourism Management and Consultancy

Year 1

To facilitate your integration in the second year of the regular programme, you follow two courses in Marketing and Tourism during the first six weeks of the year. These courses are taught parallel to the regular programme. You attend a semester focusing on Tourism and Development and a semester which revolves around The Destination. Both semesters are constructed of various courses, languages and training sessions which can be found in the curriculum of the programme. In the second semester you will participate in a fieldwork project abroad, where you will not only be introduced to research and consultancy work in tourist destination areas, but you will also actually set to work on this subject yourself, under expert supervision. .

Year 2

The third semester titled Business Planning contains courses such as Financial Accounting, Feasibility Study and Project Management. During this semester you prepare for your full-time work placement abroad which is scheduled in the fourth semester (January to June).

Year 3

In the final year - in semester 5, you can shape your study plan to meet your individual needs by choosing from the extensive courses and seminars. For your specialisation, you choose four courses and three seminars; participation in international tourism projects is compulsory in this semester. In semester 6 you will conclude your study mme by writing an internationally oriented thesis.

Three-year track International Tourism and Travel Industry

Year 1

The subject matter of this (first) ITTI year focuses on the introduction of tour operating and aviation management. Besides this, courses in marketing, operational management, research, concept and product development will be offered in a tourism context. The teaching method consists of projects and courses. In addition, you will be given a number of skill workshops and language courses.
After having obtained enough credits, you are allowed to proceed to your second year.

Year 2

In the first half of the second year you will be involved in a program that focuses on deepening your knowledge of tour operating, aviation, marketing and management.
Cross cultural issues will be part of the program as well, because it will help you to perform in international environments.
In the second half you will do a work placement. Students from abroad may choose for a placement in the Netherlands. Dutch students need to go abroad.

Year 3

In this graduation year you will write your thesis in the second semester. Before that you will have the opportunity to specialise (minor/individual specialisation) in a particular work field.
The first semester program emphasizes also on globalisation issues related to the travel and tourism industry.

Exchange programmes and double degree

Studying abroad for a while gives you an opportunity to broaden your horizons. You will live in an international environment, meet people with different cultural backgrounds and acquire knowledge. In addition, you will enhance your command of modern foreign languages. The long and the short of it is that studying abroad is a wonderful opportunity... Why not seize it?!

NHTV has built partnerships with a large number of universities all over the world which will be happy to accommodate your exchange. An exchange period lasts approximately 20 weeks. Possible countries are Spain, Australia, China, Italy, France, Ireland, Arizona (USA), Finland and Portugal.

Furthermore, you have the possibility of a double degree programme. This means that you will study at a partner institution the last year of your studies. After graduating you will receive two degrees: NHTV’s and the partner institution's.

Placement

During a 20- or 25-week placement, your knowledge and skills will be put into practice. You will simultaneously gain work and international experience at a tourism destination anywhere in the world! You will carry out a pre-formulated assignment that is in line with your studies. A placement abroad is mandatory, unless indicated differently by the department. Foreign students may perform their placement either in the Netherlands or abroad.

Graduation

In the final semester of your studies, you write a thesis on a subject of your choice, or on a subject commissioned by a company or governmental organisation. You will conduct independent research, either on an individual basis or sponsored by a commissioner. Some students decide to carry out their research abroad, others stay in the Netherlands. After finishing your thesis, you give a presentation of your findings to an examination panel, consisting of tutors and an external examiner.

Academic degree in one year

In the fourth year, all NHTV students are offered the chance to study a pre-master's programme in Strategic Business Management and Marketing. This degree enables you to continue with a Master of Science programme at several universities and earn a Master of Science (MSc) degree in one year's time.

Minor

In addition to the specialisation you have chosen in the second year, International Tourism Management offers you another opportunity to either broaden or deepen your knowledge. You can do so by following a minor. Many courses and seminars can be selected. Examples of minors are:

• Cross-Cultural Research
• Aviation Management
• Destination Branding
• Sustainable Tourism
• Marketing Communications

Accreditation

Accredited by: NVAO in: Netherlands

Funding details

Scholarships / Grants:

China Scholarship Counsil:
The scholarship programme is designed for good quality Chinese students who want to study or do research in the Netherlands for an academic year either during or after their studies in China. The main purpose of the China Programme is the exchange of talented Chinese and Dutch students.
For additional information: Website

NHTV Breda:
Per year there is a limited number of scholarships available for non-EU/EEA-students to contribute in the costs of the tuition fee.
For additional information: Website