BA (Hons) Business and Tourism Management with Foundation Year

This module introduces you to the fast-moving world of digital business and how technology is transforming the way organisations operate, compete, and grow. You will explore key concepts such as digital transformation, innovation, and business models, and learn how digital capabilities like cloud computing, AI, and blockchain are reshaping industries. During the module you will gain insight into how businesses use digital tools to create value, improve customer experiences, and stay ahead of competitors. You will examine enterprise systems, information management, and understand how big data and business intelligence drive smarter decision-making. Legal, ethical, and regulatory issues will also be covered, helping you think critically about the risks and responsibilities of operating in a digital environment. This module blends theory with practical examples, giving you a strong foundation in digital business transformation, strategy and systems thinking. Whether you’re aiming for a career in business, marketing, technology, or entrepreneurship, you will leave with the skills and confidence to navigate the digital landscape and contribute to innovation in any organisation

This extended induction module supports your transition into university life and introduces you to the requirements of academic skills. It helps you build confidence, develop a strong academic identity, and understand the expectations of university study. You’ll explore key academic practices including independent learning, digital literacy, and ethical academic conduct—such as referencing, plagiarism awareness, and the responsible use of artificial intelligence in line with university policy. You will also be introduced to some of the tools and databases relevant for your studies. The module is structured around seven themes identified by students as essential to their university experience: Ready to Study: Clear guidance on expectations, transitions, and workload planning. Academic Skills and Educational Gain: Development of foundational academic skills including time management, critical thinking, and digital fluency. Career Readiness and Professional Identity: Early exploration of career pathways, CV building, and professional behaviours. Personal Development and Belonging: Activities that foster confidence, inclusion, and identity within the university community. Social Engagement and Community Building: Opportunities to connect with peers, staff, and wider university life. Feedback and Reflective Practice: Structured opportunities to receive, apply, and reflect on feedback to support growth. Wellbeing and Student Support: Embedded access to holistic support services and strategies for success. This module lays the foundation for future development, including the Level 5 Professional Development module/embedded placement experiences.

This module introduces you to the dynamic world of tourism, travel, and culture, helping you understand how destinations develop, attract visitors, and respond to global challenges. You will explore the foundations of the tourism industry and learn how destinations are shaped by cultural, social, economic, and environmental factors. Through lectures, workshops, and case studies, you will apply key tourism models such as Butler’s Tourism Area Life Cycle (TALC), the 4As framework, and push–pull motivation theory to real-world examples. You will also develop essential academic and professional skills, including research, analysis, and digital communication, which will prepare you for further study and careers in tourism and related sectors. Assessment is designed to reflect professional practice: you will complete an individual 15-minute pre-recorded presentation focused on a destination of your choice, analysing its tourism development, visitor motivations, and impacts. This task allows you to demonstrate your understanding of how destinations evolve and to practise presenting your ideas clearly and creatively. By the end of the module, you will have a strong foundation in tourism studies, an awareness of sustainability and cultural diversity, and the confidence to apply theory to real-world tourism contexts.

This module introduces you to key ideas and current topics in leisure research. You will explore how different researchers study leisure, why it matters in today’s world, and what we can learn from their work. The module is flexible, so new trends and issues in leisure can be added as they develop. Together, we will look at examples from different places and cultures to understand how leisure connects to people’s lives locally and globally. You will take part in discussions, read current studies, and reflect on how research helps us understand the role of leisure in society. By the end of the module, you will feel more confident reading and interpreting leisure research and will be able to apply this understanding to your own area of interest.

This module develops your understanding of how organisations design, manage, and improve operations and supply chains, while also introducing core principles of project management. You will learn key operational concepts such as process efficiency, capacity planning, lean management, and sourcing strategies. You will apply project planning tools, including Gantt charts, stakeholder analyses, critical path analysis, and risk registers, to plan and evaluate real or simulated projects. Through practical group activities, you will build teamwork, negotiation, and communication skills essential for managing performance and coordinating across functions. The module also encourages you to reflect on the professional behaviours required in project and operations environments, including accountability, adaptability, collaboration, and ethical decision-making. By the end of the module, you will be able to analyse operational challenges, propose improvements, and plan and manage projects that balance stakeholder expectations, sustainability considerations, and organisational goals.

This module builds on the foundational skills and reflective practices introduced in the Level 4 'Succeeding at University' module, supporting students to deepen their professional identity and career readiness. It is designed to support students in developing the knowledge, skills, and reflective practices essential for continuous professional growth in a dynamic and evolving workplace. Through a mix of practical experience and professional development sessions, this module will enable students to explore essential themes such as personal effectiveness, leadership, communication, ethical practice, and lifelong learning. Drawing directly from work experience and/or professional setting, students will reflect on their real-world experiences to deepen their understanding of what it means to grow and succeed in their chosen field. Students may draw on case studies or sector examples to connect theory to practice. Students will engage in self-assessment, goal setting, and action planning to identify their strengths and areas for development. The module emphasizes reflective practice as a tool for professional learning and encourages learners to critically evaluate their experiences and performance in real-world contexts. Specialist professional knowledge areas aligned with the expectations of the Institute of Hospitality and the Institute of Travel & Tourism are embedded throughout the module in relation to relevant career pathways. This enables students to begin aligning their personal skills, professional behaviours, and reflective practices with sector-recognised professional standards. Formalised continuing professional development (CPD) planning supports students in taking ownership of their learning and professional identity, enhancing employability and supporting progression within hospitality, tourism, and related service industries.

The module critically explores the challenges and opportunities of creating sustainable futures within the global tourism and hospitality industries. It addresses the environmental, social, and economic challenges facing tourism and hospitality and evaluates the strategies, policies, and innovations that can support a transition towards more responsible and resilient futures. The module encourages you to analyse the impacts of tourism and hospitality activities on communities, cultures, and ecosystems, while exploring approaches that balance commercial viability with ethical responsibility. You will engage with global sustainability frameworks, including the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and consider their application to tourism destinations, hospitality operations, and wider supply chains. On completion of the module, you will be able to demonstrate a critical understanding of sustainability concepts and frameworks, evaluate the effectiveness of current practices, and articulate strategic proposals for advancing sustainable futures in tourism and hospitality.

This ultimate module provides students with the opportunity to undertake an independent study that blends learning from previous subjects. It is designed to showcase individual strengths and apply advanced knowledge to a practical business context. Students will create a professional business project that demonstrates their ability to address real-world challenges or opportunities. Emphasis is placed on critical thinking, problem-solving, research planning, data analysis and professional communication skills. By completing this module, students will demonstrate autonomy, innovation and the ability to integrate theory with practice - key attributes for advancing in professional and managerial roles.

This module critically explores the contemporary trends and emerging markets shaping the future of global tourism. You will examine how social, technological, economic, environmental, and political forces are transforming patterns of tourism demand and supply. This will include how technological innovation, demographic change, shifting consumer values and responsible tourism practices are transforming the structure and dynamics of the tourism industry. You will engage with current market intelligence data, case studies, and industry insights, to analyse patterns of growth in emerging markets and tourism regions across the globe. Emphasis is placed on understanding how destinations and organisations can anticipate and adapt to these evolving forces. By the end of the module, you will have developed the analytical and strategic skills to identify, interpret, and respond to emerging trends. You will be equipped to assess the potential of new tourism markets and to make informed, forward-thinking recommendations for organisations and destinations operating in an increasingly dynamic and interconnected global environment.