• Postgraduate

International Tourism and Aviation Management MA

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Overview

Overview

Would you like to enhance your career prospects in aviation or international tourism management? This Masters degree will equip you with the critical understanding and advanced research skills you need to work towards a managerial career in either of these growing service industries.

This Masters course stands out for the specialist mix of subjects available to study, taught by our highly experienced team. Throughout the course, you will have opportunities to apply theory, including work on industry briefs, fieldwork and trips, and industry guest speakers.

The coronavirus pandemic and other crises created challenges for the industry but also drove innovation and change across the sector. Join this Masters course and graduate in a strong position to be a part of the industry’s transformation.

Extended Masters and Enhanced Extended Masters options

If you have an undergraduate degree but do not meet the entry criteria for this course, you may qualify for our Extended Masters or Enhanced Extended Masters courses.

These courses feature four specially designed modules which will improve your academic and English skills. Once completed you can progress directly onto the regular Masters course. See below for more information.

A passenger about to board a plane on a sunny day

Select your desired study option, then pick a start date to see relevant course information:

Study options:
We support flexible study by offering some of our courses part-time or via distance learning. To give you real world experience before you graduate, we also offer some courses with a placement or internship. All available options are listed here. Your choices may affect some details of your course, such as the duration and cost per year. Please re-check the details on this page if you change your selection.

Start date:

If your desired start date is not available, try selecting a different study option.

Why study International Tourism and Aviation Management with us?

Why study International Tourism and Aviation Management with us?

A collage of students

What our students say…

I enjoy the lectures, very informative. Great teachers, with good knowledge and a good approach to teaching.

Noshaba Khan
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Industry links with Heathrow and British Airways
UWL is a member of The Council for Hospitality Management Education (CHME)
Industry focused teaching
70 years of teaching excellence
Course detail & modules

Course detail & modules

This aviation and tourism management course aims to equip you with the academic and industry-specific skills that will help you find suitable employment within a service-based industry.

You will be taught by an experienced team with backgrounds in tourism and/or aviation management. Many of our team members are extensively published and are asked to share their expertise at events and conferences throughout the world.

You will adopt an interdisciplinary approach to the study of tourism and aviation management. By drawing upon international case study material you will improve your understanding of the global operations of both the tourism and aviation sectors.

Our blended teaching and learning strategy makes use of lectures, tutorials, seminars, industry-based briefs, and self-managed personal research. Online learning support materials will be central to your studies. On this course you will be assessed through essays, reports, presentations, case studies, portfolios, audits, in-class tests, project plans, industry-based briefs, business games and workplace simulation, to name but a few.

Extended Masters and Enhanced Extended Masters

Our Extended Masters and Enhanced Extended Masters courses are intended for students who already have an undergraduate degree but don't meet the entry requirements to study for a Masters degree.

Over a full-time semester, you will study four modules specially designed to improve your academic and English language skills:

  • Advanced Study Skills
  • Critical Thinking, Analysis and Evaluation
  • Statistics
  • English (Business English on the Enhanced course)

Once completed, you will progress directly onto the core Masters course.

What's the difference between an Extended Masters and an Enhanced Extended Masters? The Enhanced Extended Masters is similar to the Extended Masters but with a greater focus on improving your English skills. It also includes a Business English module which will allow you to gain a full understanding of this critical subject area.

For more information on our Extended Masters and Enhanced Extended Masters, please visit our Extended Masters courses page.

Internship*

If you are taking the internship option, you will undertake a 30-week (min. 1000-hour) internship. This will allow you to put theory into practice in the real world, acquire new skills and explore career opportunities. You will need to secure your own internship, and you will be able to consult the Careers Team for relevant information.

*It is your responsibility to find your internship, with support from the Placement Team. Any student unable to secure an internship will automatically be transferred to the Dissertation route. This is to ensure you are still successful in being awarded a degree.

The internship route for this course is open to UK students only.

Compulsory modules

  • Critical Thinking, Analysis and Evaluation

  • Advanced Study Skills

  • Responsible Tourism and Aviation

    Being ‘responsible’ in tourism and aviation aims to address the economic, social/cultural and environmental issues raised by the two industries. The latter differs from traditional approaches to sustainability by asking individuals, organisations and businesses to take responsibility for their actions and impacts of their actions to make the aviation and tourism industries more sustainable. This module aims to bring together the disparate strands of thinking, action and applied research to provide a critical account of the origin of this movement, its development and impacts. You will gain a better understanding of this growing movement in tourism and aviation and the sustainable development debate.

  • Crisis Management in Tourism and Aviation

    With tourism destinations and aviation becoming increasingly prone to crises and disasters caused by environmental change or security risks, this module provides a strategic approach to understanding the nature of tourism crises and disasters.

    You will learn about tourism and aviation crisis and disaster planning, response and longer term recovery and knowledge management strategies. It applies a wide range of theoretical perspectives and concepts to improve your understanding of both organisational crises and natural disasters.

  • Aviation Management

    You will gain a thorough knowledge of basic principles and operational practice in aviation management providing an overview of their application within different aviation stakeholders. You will be introduced to different factors that impact the aviation industry and will learn about the procedures and strategies to manage them.

    The module covers the main theories in management and will help you assess and evaluate how technical, operational and safety performance of organisations impact the finances and economics of their operations. 

    Finally, the module aims to create a critical and collaborative learning environment that you can use to reflect on managing varied risks within organisations and their existence.

  • Destination Management and Marketing

    You will consider the central role of destination management within the tourist system. You will focus on how destinations are marketed, planned and managed, and reflects on how Destination Management Organisations (DMOs) conduct their business. You will consider major opportunities, challenges and issues DMOs face as well as their ability to compete in global leisure and business travel markets. 

  • Strategic Management for the Tourism and Aviation Industry

    You will cover the context of principles of strategic management through the application of ideas, concepts and theories applied to the tourism and aviation industry. Case studies and examples will be central to your study. 

    This module recognises tourism and aviation are services and certain aspects of strategic management are emphasised and the language is modified accordingly vis: operations, intangibility, perishability and quality.  

  • Entrepreneurship

    You will be introduced to both the theoretical and practical possibilities of entrepreneurship. You will be taken through a 'Dragons Den' style pitch and will take turns role playing investors, requestors and observers with the support of the Westmont Enterprise Hub.  

  • Project Dissertation

    You will have the opportunity to review the general principles of research methods and then to put them into practice by developing a body of independent research under supervision. The module is designed as a platform for you to demonstrate a synthesis of the knowledge and skills you have developed throughout the course by encouraging the application of appropriate research methodologies and materials to the field of international tourism and/or aviation management.

Compulsory modules

  • Critical Thinking, Analysis and Evaluation

  • Advanced Study Skills

  • Responsible Tourism and Aviation

    Being ‘responsible’ in tourism and aviation aims to address the economic, social/cultural and environmental issues raised by the two industries. The latter differs from traditional approaches to sustainability by asking individuals, organisations and businesses to take responsibility for their actions and impacts of their actions to make the aviation and tourism industries more sustainable. This module aims to bring together the disparate strands of thinking, action and applied research to provide a critical account of the origin of this movement, its development and impacts. You will gain a better understanding of this growing movement in tourism and aviation and the sustainable development debate.

  • Crisis Management in Tourism and Aviation

    With tourism destinations and aviation becoming increasingly prone to crises and disasters caused by environmental change or security risks, this module provides a strategic approach to understanding the nature of tourism crises and disasters.

    You will learn about tourism and aviation crisis and disaster planning, response and longer term recovery and knowledge management strategies. It applies a wide range of theoretical perspectives and concepts to improve your understanding of both organisational crises and natural disasters.

  • Aviation Management

    You will gain a thorough knowledge of basic principles and operational practice in aviation management providing an overview of their application within different aviation stakeholders. You will be introduced to different factors that impact the aviation industry and will learn about the procedures and strategies to manage them.

    The module covers the main theories in management and will help you assess and evaluate how technical, operational and safety performance of organisations impact the finances and economics of their operations. 

    Finally, the module aims to create a critical and collaborative learning environment that you can use to reflect on managing varied risks within organisations and their existence.

  • Destination Management and Marketing

    You will consider the central role of destination management within the tourist system. You will focus on how destinations are marketed, planned and managed, and reflects on how Destination Management Organisations (DMOs) conduct their business. You will consider major opportunities, challenges and issues DMOs face as well as their ability to compete in global leisure and business travel markets. 

  • Strategic Management for the Tourism and Aviation Industry

    You will cover the context of principles of strategic management through the application of ideas, concepts and theories applied to the tourism and aviation industry. Case studies and examples will be central to your study. 

    This module recognises tourism and aviation are services and certain aspects of strategic management are emphasised and the language is modified accordingly vis: operations, intangibility, perishability and quality.  

  • Entrepreneurship

    You will be introduced to both the theoretical and practical possibilities of entrepreneurship. You will be taken through a 'Dragons Den' style pitch and will take turns role playing investors, requestors and observers with the support of the Westmont Enterprise Hub.  

  • Project Dissertation

    You will have the opportunity to review the general principles of research methods and then to put them into practice by developing a body of independent research under supervision. The module is designed as a platform for you to demonstrate a synthesis of the knowledge and skills you have developed throughout the course by encouraging the application of appropriate research methodologies and materials to the field of international tourism and/or aviation management.

Compulsory modules

  • Critical Thinking, Analysis and Evaluation

  • Advanced Study Skills

  • Responsible Tourism and Aviation

    Being ‘responsible’ in tourism and aviation aims to address the economic, social/cultural and environmental issues raised by the two industries. The latter differs from traditional approaches to sustainability by asking individuals, organisations and businesses to take responsibility for their actions and impacts of their actions to make the aviation and tourism industries more sustainable. This module aims to bring together the disparate strands of thinking, action and applied research to provide a critical account of the origin of this movement, its development and impacts. You will gain a better understanding of this growing movement in tourism and aviation and the sustainable development debate.

  • Crisis Management in Tourism and Aviation

    With tourism destinations and aviation becoming increasingly prone to crises and disasters caused by environmental change or security risks, this module provides a strategic approach to understanding the nature of tourism crises and disasters.

    You will learn about tourism and aviation crisis and disaster planning, response and longer term recovery and knowledge management strategies. It applies a wide range of theoretical perspectives and concepts to improve your understanding of both organisational crises and natural disasters.

  • Aviation Management

    You will gain a thorough knowledge of basic principles and operational practice in aviation management providing an overview of their application within different aviation stakeholders. You will be introduced to different factors that impact the aviation industry and will learn about the procedures and strategies to manage them.

    The module covers the main theories in management and will help you assess and evaluate how technical, operational and safety performance of organisations impact the finances and economics of their operations. 

    Finally, the module aims to create a critical and collaborative learning environment that you can use to reflect on managing varied risks within organisations and their existence.

  • Destination Management and Marketing

    You will consider the central role of destination management within the tourist system. You will focus on how destinations are marketed, planned and managed, and reflects on how Destination Management Organisations (DMOs) conduct their business. You will consider major opportunities, challenges and issues DMOs face as well as their ability to compete in global leisure and business travel markets. 

  • Strategic Management for the Tourism and Aviation Industry

    You will cover the context of principles of strategic management through the application of ideas, concepts and theories applied to the tourism and aviation industry. Case studies and examples will be central to your study. 

    This module recognises tourism and aviation are services and certain aspects of strategic management are emphasised and the language is modified accordingly vis: operations, intangibility, perishability and quality.  

  • Entrepreneurship

    You will be introduced to both the theoretical and practical possibilities of entrepreneurship. You will be taken through a 'Dragons Den' style pitch and will take turns role playing investors, requestors and observers with the support of the Westmont Enterprise Hub.  

  • Project Dissertation

    You will have the opportunity to review the general principles of research methods and then to put them into practice by developing a body of independent research under supervision. The module is designed as a platform for you to demonstrate a synthesis of the knowledge and skills you have developed throughout the course by encouraging the application of appropriate research methodologies and materials to the field of international tourism and/or aviation management.

Compulsory modules

  • Critical Thinking, Analysis and Evaluation

  • Advanced Study Skills

  • Responsible Tourism and Aviation

    Being ‘responsible’ in tourism and aviation aims to address the economic, social/cultural and environmental issues raised by the two industries. The latter differs from traditional approaches to sustainability by asking individuals, organisations and businesses to take responsibility for their actions and impacts of their actions to make the aviation and tourism industries more sustainable. This module aims to bring together the disparate strands of thinking, action and applied research to provide a critical account of the origin of this movement, its development and impacts. You will gain a better understanding of this growing movement in tourism and aviation and the sustainable development debate.

  • Crisis Management in Tourism and Aviation

    With tourism destinations and aviation becoming increasingly prone to crises and disasters caused by environmental change or security risks, this module provides a strategic approach to understanding the nature of tourism crises and disasters.

    You will learn about tourism and aviation crisis and disaster planning, response and longer term recovery and knowledge management strategies. It applies a wide range of theoretical perspectives and concepts to improve your understanding of both organisational crises and natural disasters.

  • Aviation Management

    You will gain a thorough knowledge of basic principles and operational practice in aviation management providing an overview of their application within different aviation stakeholders. You will be introduced to different factors that impact the aviation industry and will learn about the procedures and strategies to manage them.

    The module covers the main theories in management and will help you assess and evaluate how technical, operational and safety performance of organisations impact the finances and economics of their operations. 

    Finally, the module aims to create a critical and collaborative learning environment that you can use to reflect on managing varied risks within organisations and their existence.

  • Destination Management and Marketing

    You will consider the central role of destination management within the tourist system. You will focus on how destinations are marketed, planned and managed, and reflects on how Destination Management Organisations (DMOs) conduct their business. You will consider major opportunities, challenges and issues DMOs face as well as their ability to compete in global leisure and business travel markets. 

  • Strategic Management for the Tourism and Aviation Industry

    You will cover the context of principles of strategic management through the application of ideas, concepts and theories applied to the tourism and aviation industry. Case studies and examples will be central to your study. 

    This module recognises tourism and aviation are services and certain aspects of strategic management are emphasised and the language is modified accordingly vis: operations, intangibility, perishability and quality.  

  • Entrepreneurship

    You will be introduced to both the theoretical and practical possibilities of entrepreneurship. You will be taken through a 'Dragons Den' style pitch and will take turns role playing investors, requestors and observers with the support of the Westmont Enterprise Hub.  

  • Project Dissertation

    You will have the opportunity to review the general principles of research methods and then to put them into practice by developing a body of independent research under supervision. The module is designed as a platform for you to demonstrate a synthesis of the knowledge and skills you have developed throughout the course by encouraging the application of appropriate research methodologies and materials to the field of international tourism and/or aviation management.

Compulsory modules

  • Crisis Management for Tourism and Aviation

    With tourism destinations and aviation becoming increasingly prone to crises and disasters caused by environmental change or security risks, this module provides a strategic approach to understanding the nature of tourism crises and disasters.

    You will learn about tourism and aviation crisis and disaster planning, response and longer term recovery and knowledge management strategies. It applies a wide range of theoretical perspectives and concepts to improve your understanding of both organisational crises and natural disasters. 

  • Innovation and Entrepreneurship

    This module aims to offer students a transformative educational experience by introducing them to the theoretical and the practical possibilities of entrepreneurship. The Westmont Enterprise Hub will provide students access to their hub for the semester to promote and foster entrepreneurial networking and support.

  • Sustainable Tourism and Aviation

    Being ‘sustainable’ in tourism and aviation aims to address the economic, social/cultural, and environmental issues raised by the two industries. This module aims to bring together the disparate strands of thinking, action, and applied research to provide a critical account of the origin of this movement, its development, and impacts. In doing so, it contributes to a better understanding of this growing movement in tourism and aviation and the sustainable development debate.

  • Destination Management and Marketing

    You will consider the central role of destination management within the tourist system. You will focus on how destinations are marketed, planned and managed, and reflects on how Destination Management Organisations (DMOs) conduct their business. You will consider major opportunities, challenges and issues DMOs face as well as their ability to compete in global leisure and business travel markets. 

  • Aviation Management

    You will gain a thorough knowledge of basic principles and operational practice in aviation management providing an overview of their application within different aviation stakeholders. You will be introduced to different factors that impact the aviation industry and will learn about the procedures and strategies to manage them.

    The module covers the main theories in management and will help you assess and evaluate how technical, operational and safety performance of organisations impact the finances and economics of their operations. 

    Finally, the module aims to create a critical and collaborative learning environment that you can use to reflect on managing varied risks within organisations and their existence.

  • Strategic Leadership for Tourism and Aviation

    This module seeks to represent a contextualisation of the principles of strategic leadership. This will be achieved through the application of concepts, ideas and theories applied to the tourism and aviation industry. The use of case studies and examples of strategic leadership will be central to the delivery of the module.

  • Dissertation (only for students on the Dissertation pathway)

    This module will ensure that you are fully prepared to undertake applied research at masters level. You will be able to pursue your research ideas and back them up with appropriate data and statistics.

    The assessment of the module will prepare you for the delivery of a dissertation proposal. The topics covered in the module include:

    • introduction to research
    • research process and developing research proposal
    • developing research objectives, choosing research methods, presenting & analysing data, and making conclusions
    • building a literature review
    • research methodologies in computing
    • research ethics
    • writing dissertation proposal
    • writing dissertation, managing references and using document tools
    • identification and use of subject-related library resources; Understanding plagiarism
    • developing a career plan.

  • Research Methods (only for students on the Internship pathway)

    The module aims to prepare you to conduct independent research and it covers a range of topics including theories and approaches to research, problem formulation, investigative methods of data collection and data analysis. It also looks at how to write up a research proposal.

Entry requirements

Entry requirements

You should have a good honours degree (2:2 or above) from a UK university or equivalent. We may also offer you a place based on work experience or previous learning.

All applications are considered individually. Find out more about our processes for recognising previous experience.

If you don’t have standard academic qualifications then we usually need an academic and a personal reference stamped by an employer / organisation.

If you are from the UK then you may also be asked to attend an interview.

Extended Masters Degree

To study the Extended Masters programme you will need:

  • a Bachelor's degree
  • international students need to meet our English language requirements of IELTS 6.5 or above and a minimum of 5.5 for each of the individual components (Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening).
Enhanced Extended Masters Degree

To study the Enhanced Extended Masters programme you will need:

  • a Bachelor's degree
  • international students must meet our English language requirements at IELTS 6.0 or above, and a minimum of 5.5 for each of the individual components (Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening).

Please note: If you qualify for a regular Masters, you will not be accepted on the Extended Masters or Enhanced Extended Masters course.

You need to meet our English language requirement - a minimum of IELTS 6.5, with at least 5.5 for each of the 4 individual components (Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening). Visit our English language requirements page for information on other English language tests we accept.

You also need Level 6 qualifications at the same level as UK applicants. In some countries where teaching is in English, we may accept local qualifications. Check for local equivalents.

We offer pre-sessional English language courses if you do not meet these requirements.

Find out more about our English Language courses.

Extended Masters Degree

To study the Extended Masters programme you will need:

  • a Bachelor's degree
  • international students need to meet our English language requirements of IELTS 6.5 or above and a minimum of 5.5 for each of the individual components (Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening).
Enhanced Extended Masters Degree

To study the Enhanced Extended Masters programme you will need:

  • a Bachelor's degree
  • international students must meet our English language requirements at IELTS 6.0 or above, and a minimum of 5.5 for each of the individual components (Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening).

Please note: If you qualify for a regular Masters, you will not be accepted on the Extended Masters or Enhanced Extended Masters course.

Fees & funding

Fees & funding

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Please note:

  • Fees for the 2026/27 academic year and onwards may be subject to Government regulation and change.
  • Tuition fees are charged for each year of your course. If your course runs for two years or more, you will need to pay the fee for each academic year at the start of that year.
  • If your course runs for less than two years, the cost above is for your full course and you will need to pay the full fee upfront.
  • If no fee is shown above then the fees for this course are not available yet. Please check again later for updates.

Funding your studies

If you are studying a Masters course you may be eligible to apply for a Postgraduate Loan, this may help contribute towards your course fees and living costs.

Additional funding is available to some types of students, such as disabled students or those with dependants.

We offer a range of scholarships and bursaries, including awards for specific subjects. Awards for hospitality and tourism students are also on offer.

View full details, including conditions and eligibility.

Help with funding
{{ formatCurrencyValue(currentVariantData.field_p_cv_int_main_fee.name) }} per year*

Please note:

  • Fees for the 2026/27 academic year and onwards may be subject to Government regulation and change.
  • Tuition fees are charged for each year of your course. If your course runs for two years or more, you will need to pay the fee for each academic year at the start of that year.
  • If your course runs for less than two years, the cost above is for your full course and you will need to pay the full fee upfront.
  • If no fee is shown above then the fees for this course are not available yet. Please check again later for updates.

International students - funding your studies

We offer scholarships for international students including International Ambassador Scholarships. 

Further information about funding and financial support for international students is available from the UK Council for International Student Affairs.

 

Financial support for international students
Teaching staff

Teaching staff

Dr Cristina Maxim

Dr Cristina Maxim

I joined the University of West London in September 2015. I am a scholar in Tourism Management with extensive teaching experience in various higher education institutions in the UK.

I joined the University of West London in September 2015. I am a scholar in Tourism Management with extensive teaching experience in various higher education institutions in the UK.

Study & career progression

Study & career progression

A smartly dressed man showing another man something on a tablet in front of a plane

On graduation, you could go on to work in a variety of sectors anywhere in the world, including: 

  • airside 
  • portside 
  • tour operations 
  • attractions management 
  • business travel.

If there is a particular area that you would like to explore at MPhil or PhD level, please see the research options at our specialist Graduate School.

How to apply

How to apply

Search for courses

Important notes for applicants

Disclaimer

*Modern universities - defined as higher education institutions that were granted university status in, and subsequent to, 1992.

**The National Student Survey 2023 and 2024 - Average of answers to all questions by registered student population. Excludes specialist institutions.

Testimonials - our students or former students provided all of our testimonials - often a student from the course but sometimes another student. For example, the testimonial often comes from another UWL student when the course is new.

Optional modules - where optional modules are offered they will run subject to staff availability and viable student numbers opting to take the module.

Videos - all videos on our course pages were accurate at the time of filming. In some cases a new Course Leader has joined the University since the video was filmed.

Availability of placements - if you choose a course with placement/internship route we would like to advise you that if a placement/internship opportunity does not arise when you are expected to undertake the placement then the University will automatically transfer you to the non-internship route, this is to ensure you are still successful in being awarded a degree.