Select your course options:
Summary:
Applying through UCAS? Apply here (N87F)
Course Code: N87F
Applying through UCAS? Apply here (N817)
Course Code: N817
Applying through UCAS? Apply here (N807)
Course Code: N807
Where Are You Applying From?
How Would You Like To Study?
When Do You Want To Start Your Studies?
Which Campus Would You Like To Study At?
Which Options Would You Like With Your Course?
Why choose the School of Aviation, Marketing and Tourism
In the Complete University Guide (CUG) 2025, our tourism, transport and travel courses tied* 7th in their subject field for graduate prospects
We are conveniently located close to relevant employment opportunities, with London Luton Airport on the doorstep as well as TUI, Easyjet, and leading international hotel brands such as Hilton, Ibis and Marriott.
Option of a year-long placement, giving you industry experience and the chance to boost our future employability.
About the course
Combining theory and practice of tourism and aviation management, this course builds your understanding of the global issues affecting international tourism and aviation. It explores the industry’s challenges of rapid growth; the emergence of new destinations; climate change; and the ethics of managing a business in areas such as the environment and people leadership. Our teaching reacts quickly to industry updates, ensuring you are ready to hit the ground running when you start your career in the sector.
Industry links
The University of Bedfordshire is a member of the Association for Tourism in Higher Education (ATHE), the subject association for tourism in higher education in the UK. It represents universities that are leading providers of tourism programmes.
Facilities and specialist equipment
- Excellent Learning Resources Centre with an extensive library, giving you access to a wide range of academic and industry knowledge including e-journals, e-books and information databases as well as traditional printed books
- Our simulation software ‘Simulate’ allows you to take control of your own airline and gain key insights into airline management
Your student experience
Take advantage of local industry-relevant employment opportunities such as London Luton Airport, TUI, EasyJet, Luton Hoo Hotel, and leading hotel brands such as Hilton, Ibis and Marriott.
Field trips are organised in conjunction with the Student Union’s Tourism and Aviation Society and may include visits to London Luton Airport, TUI, Olympic Park and the World Travel Market.
Attend talks from international tourism professionals, broadening your understanding of what is possible in the field. Recent speakers have had influential positions at Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd, London Luton Airport, Enterprise Rent-a-car and Wizz Air.
Benefit from our Aviation Job Fair, attended by airlines and airports, providing opportunities to explore further employment or internships.
with Professional Practice Year
This course has the option to be taken over four years which includes a year placement in industry. Undertaking a year in industry has many benefits. You gain practical experience and build your CV, as well as being a great opportunity to sample a profession and network with potential future employers.
There is no tuition fee for the placement year enabling you to gain an extra year of experience for free.
*Only available to UK/EU students.
with Foundation Year
A Degree with a Foundation Year gives you guaranteed entry to an Undergraduate course.
Whether you’re returning to learning and require additional help and support to up-skill, or if you didn’t quite meet the grades to pursue an Undergraduate course, our Degrees with Foundation Year provide a fantastic entry route for you to work towards a degree level qualification.
With our guidance and support you’ll get up to speed within one year, and will be ready to seamlessly progress on to undergraduate study at Bedfordshire.
The Foundation Year provides an opportunity to build up your academic writing skills and numeracy, and will also cover a range of subject specific content to fully prepare you for entry to an Undergraduate degree.
This is an integrated four-year degree, with the foundation year as a key part of the course. You will need to successfully complete the Foundation Year to progress on to the first year of your bachelor’s degree.
Why study a degree with a Foundation Year?
- Broad-based yet enough depth to give you credible vocational skills
- Coverage of a variety of areas typically delivered by an expert in this area
- Gain an understanding of a subject before choosing which route you wish to specialise in
- Great introduction to further study, and guaranteed progression on to one of our Undergraduate degrees
The degrees offering a Foundation Year provide excellent preparation for your future studies.
During your Foundation Year you will get the opportunity to talk to tutors about your degree study and future career aspirations, and receive guidance on the most appropriate Undergraduate course to help you achieve this; providing you meet the entry requirements and pass the Foundation Year.
Course Leader - David Sutcliffe
David has more than 30 years’ aviation industry and higher education teaching experience.
He started his aviation industry experience on the British Airways Graduate Trainee Scheme , and has since worked with other airlines such as Virgin Atlantic Airways , and new startup airlines such as Arik Nigeria and Air Ivoire.
He has been fortunate to have worked in multicultural environments in the Caribbean, USA, the Middle East and Africa, as well as in the UK.
Course Leader - David Sutcliffe
David has more than 30 years’ aviation industry and higher education teaching experience.
He started his aviation industry experience on the British Airways Graduate Trainee Scheme , and has since worked with other airlines such as Virgin Atlantic Airways , and new startup airlines such as Arik Nigeria and Air Ivoire.
He has been fortunate to have worked in multicultural environments in the Caribbean, USA, the Middle East and Africa, as well as in the UK.
Course Leader - David Sutcliffe
David has more than 30 years’ aviation industry and higher education teaching experience.
He started his aviation industry experience on the British Airways Graduate Trainee Scheme , and has since worked with other airlines such as Virgin Atlantic Airways , and new startup airlines such as Arik Nigeria and Air Ivoire.
He has been fortunate to have worked in multicultural environments in the Caribbean, USA, the Middle East and Africa, as well as in the UK.
What will you study?
Studying our Travel, Aviation and Tourism Management BSc (Hons) course will provide you with the knowledge and skills in the combined areas tourism, aviation management and business. In core areas of study, our unit in Structure and Development of the Air Transport Industry will discuss the historical development of the industry, how it operates in business contexts, as well as introduce you to aircrafts and its manufacturers. In practical areas of study, you will discover the relationships between airports and airlines in our Strategic Airport Planning and Development unit, while being exposed to topics from airport marketing and finance to the environmental, economic and social impacts of airports. Building on the economic and finance principles of this unit, you will examine airline performance and pricing in our Airline Revenue Management unit and identify how to maximise seat revenue. These units will support you in your study of Global Airline, Airport and Cargo Operations Management where you will explore commercial, legal and operational areas of the airline industry.
To help with this, our unit in Applied Numeracy for Business will give you the confidence to develop the mathematical and numerical skills used for decision making and problem solving for businesses. Furthermore, you will learn of key marketing principles to help you design and implement marketing plans in our Marketing and Digital Transformation in Travel and Tourism unit. Another crucial aspect of aviation and airport management is safety, and this is where our Managing Safety and Security for Air Transport unit will introduce you to regulations and systems to increase safety and security while also investigating aircraft accidents and incidents. In areas of tourism study, you will explore the relationship between tourism and sociology in our Tourism and Society unit while also critically evaluating how tourism contributes to the development of tourist areas in our Tourism Destination Development unit. With a focus on sustainability, you will learn how this interacts with development and tourist destinations in our Managing Sustainable Destination unit.
Moreover, people-skills are just as important to have in the airline industry, and this is where our Managing People in Tourism and Aviation unit will develop your leadership, management, teamwork and people-management skills. Aside from this, our range of optional units include introducing you to the principles and norms of Employment Law; developing your awareness around Contingency Planning and Crisis Management; equipping you with the skills for Strategic Business Planning; and learning to enhance and create experiences in our Managing the Experience Economy unit. Additionally, you can gain a critical perspective of Management and Leadership theories; consider the negative implications on unethical practices in business in our Business Ethics and Corporate Social Responsibility unit; or explore key concepts in entrepreneurship in our Entrepreneurship and Business Excellence unit.
Finally, you will conduct a thorough piece of academic research and/or a practical project using a range of tools and approaches in our Business Project unit. To support you with this, our unit in Data and Research Methods for Business will provide you with the knowledge and skills to conduct research and analyse data in a business context. Furthermore, you will also have the opportunity to undertake a Professional Practice Year (Tourism and Aviation) for you to gain career-related experience. To prepare you for this, our unit in Beginning your Professional Business Journey will help to ease your transition into the workplace and provide an insight into professional business environments.
How will you be assessed?
In line with the Business School's commitment to practice-based education a large part of the assessment will relate to your demonstration of your ability to synthesise class room learning with real life scenarios within the international tourism and aviation industry. We will want to see that you understand the theory and have developed critical thinking skills which help you evaluate the relevance of what you have learned.
To assess this range of integration of theory and skills into sound practice we use a range of methods for example: written exams written assignments portfolios reports individual or group oral presentations and practical skills assessment. The assessments test the ability to construct a reasoned sustained and coherent argument and to articulate it fluently. Students are required to demonstrate an appropriate level of research of independent argument and to reference in an appropriate way. Unit assessment is based on specified learning outcomes and threshold criteria.
Careers
This course provides a pathway into the tourism and hospitality industry in roles such as tourism officer tour operator customer service manager ground service manager tourism information centre manager or travel agency manager.
Entry Requirements
Entry Requirements
Entry Requirements
Fees for this course
UK
The full-time standard undergraduate tuition fee for the Academic Year 2025/26 is £9,250 per year. You can apply for a loan from the Government to help pay for your tuition fees. You can also apply for a maintenance loan from the Government to help cover your living costs. See www.gov.uk/student-finance
Excellence Scholarships
Worth £2,500 per year of study over three years when you score a defined number of UCAS tariff points from specified qualifications*
» If you don’t qualify for an Excellence Scholarship but have 120 UCAS tariff points, you have enough points for one of our Achievement Scholarships offering £500 per year of study**
» Other scholarships, bursaries and financial support packages are available
* Points requirements vary depending on type of qualification.
** Threshold is 120 UCAS tariff points across all awarding bodies and qualifications.
International
The full-time standard undergraduate tuition fee for the academic year 2025/26 is £16,900 per year.
There are range of Scholarships available to help support you through your studies with us.
A full list of scholarships can be found here.
Fees for this course
UK
The full-time standard undergraduate tuition fee for the Academic Year 2025/26 is £9,250 per year. You can apply for a loan from the Government to help pay for your tuition fees. You can also apply for a maintenance loan from the Government to help cover your living costs. See www.gov.uk/student-finance
Excellence Scholarships
Worth £2,500 per year of study over three years when you score a defined number of UCAS tariff points from specified qualifications*
» If you don’t qualify for an Excellence Scholarship but have 120 UCAS tariff points, you have enough points for one of our Achievement Scholarships offering £500 per year of study**
» Other scholarships, bursaries and financial support packages are available
* Points requirements vary depending on type of qualification.
** Threshold is 120 UCAS tariff points across all awarding bodies and qualifications.
International
The full-time standard undergraduate tuition fee for the academic year 2025/26 is £16,900 per year.
There are range of Scholarships available to help support you through your studies with us.
A full list of scholarships can be found here.
Fees for this course
UK
The full-time standard undergraduate tuition fee for the Academic Year 2025/26 is £9,250 per year. You can apply for a loan from the Government to help pay for your tuition fees. You can also apply for a maintenance loan from the Government to help cover your living costs. See www.gov.uk/student-finance
Excellence Scholarships
Worth £2,500 per year of study over three years when you score a defined number of UCAS tariff points from specified qualifications*
» If you don’t qualify for an Excellence Scholarship but have 120 UCAS tariff points, you have enough points for one of our Achievement Scholarships offering £500 per year of study**
» Other scholarships, bursaries and financial support packages are available
* Points requirements vary depending on type of qualification.
** Threshold is 120 UCAS tariff points across all awarding bodies and qualifications.
International
The full-time standard undergraduate tuition fee for the academic year 2025/26 is £16,900 per year.
There are range of Scholarships available to help support you through your studies with us.
A full list of scholarships can be found here.
Virtual Tour
