Do you have a passion for travel and tourism and an interest in the world of business? You can combine the two with a business and tourism degree with foundation year. Our foundation level degrees give you the opportunity to develop the academic skills you need to successfully complete an undergraduate degree, helping you learn about the tourism sector from both a local and global perspective. This degree really does have the potential to take you anywhere!
Today, the tourism industry requires qualified graduates who can create and lead successful businesses that will support sustainable tourism in challenging global circumstances. This tourism degree with foundation year will help you grasp how global tourist destinations, visitor attractions, and accommodation services are managed and marketed. You’ll also study tourism crisis management and explore future tourism trends, as well as learning about vital business areas such as organisational transformation, ethics, finance, and more.
Our foundation degrees are the perfect choice if you feel you need a bit more support as you start your degree, of if you don’t meet the entry requirements for a standard degree course. This programme has developed with input from world-leading organisations and researchers so that you are exposed to the most relevant advancements and trends in the tourism industry, which means you’ll be able to show future employers that you have the knowledge required to fill current skills gaps in the field.
During your studies you’ll gain a wider understanding of tourism functions, operations, and technologies. You’ll also develop new personal and professionals attributes in dedicated skills-related modules to help build your soft skills and decision-making abilities. Learning research and data analysis techniques using academic and industry focused texts, articles, and reports, you’ll gain a better understanding of contemporary tourism, management, and overall business functions, with the ability to analyse practical case studies drawn from a range of international organisations.
Using our business simulation software, you’ll be able to access a virtual tourism business and run it as your own enterprise – managing activities such as tourism, sales, finances, people, product development, operations, and your supply chain.
You’ll also have access to our Digital Enterprise Hub throughout your course, which provides you with additional software and resources as well as real-world mentors and industry experts to draw knowledge from. The Digital Enterprise Hub also gives you the chance to engage in social learning with your classmates, developing your collaborative skills and providing the opportunity for networking with fellow professionals.
It’s a great way to study if you’re looking for flexibility. It was challenging to balance a full-time job with my degree but once I was in a routine, it was much easier to manage everything. Online learning has actually helped me become very good with time management and given me the ability to prioritise tasks.
You have 4-12 years to complete this course, which means you can take up to 3 years to complete each level. Most of our students, however, aim to complete the course within 4 to 6 years.
Unlike on more traditional degree courses, you don’t need to sit any exams on the BA (Hons) Business Management (Tourism) with Foundation Year, and you won’t need to spend the summer at home writing a dissertation either. Your assessments have been designed to help you apply your learning to real-word scenarios. This means you’ll be better prepared to apply the skills you’ve gained on the course to your professional role after graduation.
As you work through your course modules you’ll have the chance to complete a range of useful assessment methods such as individual reports, case study analyses, group presentations, and personal independent assignments devised in consultation with your course module leader. Your assessments will have an emphasis upon personal discovery, digital technology, the application of theory to real world business, and management practice and innovative thinking.
We encourage you to be innovative when carrying out your assignments and assessments. You can create podcasts, videos, infographics, consultancy reports, campaigns, posters, interviews, debate sessions, and more. This approach will help you develop skills you'll use in the real world, and most of all, is a fun and engaging way to demonstrate your knowledge and development.
At Arden University we consider applications on a case by case basis. If you have significant work experience, have qualifications you have gained elsewhere, or a degree or qualification that isn't a clear pathway to this degree - we are more than happy to discuss your application.
To be able to study this course, we need to see that you have:
We also offer an internal English test for applicants who are unable to provide the above evidence of English proficiency. More information can be found here.
Whilst you can read your study materials on your smart phone or tablet, to make the most of your learning experience, you will need access to a laptop or computer (we recommend one running the latest version of Windows), and a good stable internet connection.
For a limited time only, UK applicants can save £2,000 on the cost of BA (Hons) Business Management (Tourism) with Foundation Year. To qualify, you need to enrol to start studying with us on our July or October 2023 start dates. Eligible students who take advantage of this offer will have their fee per level reduced to £6,435. Terms and conditions apply.
Here at Arden University we strive to provide a fresh and unique approach to your business and management education. With ideas and experiences taken from employers and thought leaders across the world, we give you the opportunity to put proven business skills and techniques into practice during your studies. I look forward to welcoming you to the Arden University family.
Perhaps you have a strong idea of where you want to go with your tourism degree, or maybe you want to keep your career options open for now? Either way, don’t worry if you’re still a little unclear about what the future holds. Our tourism bachelor’s course will give you a range of in-demand and transferable skills that will help you understand how modern organisations work. This gives you the freedom to take your time deciding where in the business ecosystem you’ll fit best, be it as an entrepreneur, manager, or if you’re an experienced professional looking for a career change.
As well as developing important soft skills, up-to-date knowledge of business functions, and career planning abilities, you’ll also be encouraged to develop a Personal Development Plan as you work through your degree. With support from our lecturers, this will help you track your progress and identify areas where you excel.
On the course, your assessments will be linked to real-world workplace issues and practices. Added to the benefits of our enterprise simulation software and Digital Business Hub, you’ll graduate with hands-on experience in problem solving and identifying areas for business growth – all highly desirable skills for today’s employers.
The BA (Hons) Business Management (Tourism) with Foundation Year will also give you the chance to:
Your degree in tourism will open up a wide range of career opportunities across the tourism sector. As you study with us you’ll have access to our dedicated career services portal, where you can access additional 'bolt-on' e-learning courses, employer presentations, and search for jobs worldwide. Of course, your course lecturers are always on-hand to provide advice and guidance when it come to your professional future. Just a few of the possible roles you might want to consider after graduation could include:
This course is recognised by the ITT. The Institute of Travel and Tourism (ITT) is the only membership organisation for travel and tourism professionals, suppliers, educators, and students across all sectors of the tourism sector. The institute's primary function is to elevate professional standards in the travel industry and to provide tourism organisations and professionals with support and guidance.
As an Arden student, you'll have free membership with the ITT throughout the duration of your studies. This provides you with access to a wealth of industry resources, continued education and training, careers advice, networking opportunities, and professional recognition that will improve your career prospects. In addition to this, you'll also have the opportunity to attend regular UK-based events and industry conferences.
The Tourism Management Institute (TMI) is the professional organisation for anyone working in tourism destination management, supporting professionals who promote and develop destinations across the UK, Europe, and worldwide. The TMI supports professionals throughout their careers by providing opportunities for professional networking and sharing knowledge and expertise in destination management.
As an Arden student, you'll have free membership throughout the duration of your studies, giving you access to a wealth of industry resources, career development guidance, and the TMI job vacancy portal, as well as networking opportunities and professional recognition that will improve your career prospects.
In addition to this, once you graduate with a TMI recognised degree, you'll automatically be eligible for Associate membership of the TMI.
Arden University is a member of the prestigious Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). AACSB International is a global association of leaders in education and business dedicated to supporting and advancing quality business education worldwide.
This membership reflects the fact that Arden University has successfully matched the high standards required by the AACSB, and enables the sharing of ideas and the exchange best practises between global business schools. Membership also gives our faculty members access to in-depth data and research to support the development of our courses and teaching methods, ensuring that we are able to provide you with the best possible university experience.
This course awards a CMI Level 5 Certificate in Leadership and Management.
The Chartered Management Institute (CMI) promotes excellence in UK management and leadership. The institute aims to boost career development across the management sector and connect you with like-minded professionals across diverse sectors.
The CMI is the only organisation in the UK that can award Chartered Manager status – the gold standard in management. They are also active in business policy-making across the globe and ensure that their more than 140,000 members are represented in policy decision-making.
You will have free CMI Membership throughout your studies, giving you access to a range of exclusive resources, mentoring services, and networking events.
Upon completion of one of Arden University’s CMI-accredited courses, you will be automatically awarded CMI Foundation Chartered Manager (fCMgr) status. This recognises you have the skills needed to be an effective manager, helping you stand out from the competition and start your management career journey - with a clear pathway to full Chartered Manager status.
During the course you’ll learn about some of the most prominent cloud-based tools used in business currently, allowing you to independently acquire certification from Salesforce and Amazon to add to your degree qualification. This will give you concrete evidence of skills in leading software packages, green-stamped by two of the world’s most respected business service providers. Certification from Salesforce and Amazon will help you perform at the cutting edge of your industry by understanding how to process real time data and insights to create more meaningful relationships with your customers. You’ll also gain important transferable skills that you’ll be able to apply to similar software packages that you may work with in the future.
The BGA is a membership and quality assurance body. As a member, Arden University have signed up to the BGA Charter, committing their institution to responsible management practices and lifelong learning, positively impacting their students, communities, and the economy. This shows our students that we are demonstrating responsible management ourselves, as well as it being a central theme that runs through our own courses.
As Arden University is a member of the Business Graduates Association (BGA), students will receive complementary BGA student and graduate membership. Through this membership, current students will have access to the BGA Career Development Centre, packed with interactive tools, e-learning content, partner discounts and the latest job opportunities. This is a lifetime access, which means students will continue to have access to these services even after they graduate.