How long is the MSc in International Tourism Strategy?

The MSc in International Tourism Strategy runs for one year full-time on-campus, or up to two years part-time through online and distance-learning routes, with the dissertation in the final term.

Can I study the MSc in International Tourism Strategy fully online?

Yes. The MSc in International Tourism Strategy is delivered on-campus, fully online with weekly live strategy seminars, and by distance learning, all assessed against the same destination-strategy capstone.

Is the MSc in International Tourism Strategy recognised in the UK?

Yes. The MSc in International Tourism Strategy is a UK postgraduate degree aligned with ABTA, Institute of Hospitality and GSTC standards, recognised by UK and international DMOs and tour operators.

What are the entry requirements for the MSc in International Tourism Strategy?

A UK 2:2 honours degree (or five years' senior experience), IELTS 6.5, references and a 500-800 word proposal. The MSc in International Tourism Strategy values DMO or tourism-ministry experience.

What does the MSc in International Tourism Strategy cost and are scholarships available?

Tuition for the MSc in International Tourism Strategy varies by route and domicile. Means-tested bursaries and merit scholarships are offered each intake — contact LSCT admissions for the current fee schedule.

MSc in International Tourism Strategy London | LSCT | Harold International College of London

Course Overview

The MSc in International Tourism Strategy at the London School of Commerce and Technology (LSCT) is a one-year UK postgraduate degree for working tourism leaders ready to take on senior policy, sustainability and destination-strategy roles. The syllabus is shaped by the UN World Tourism Organization framework, the Global Sustainable Tourism Council standards, VisitBritain strategy, and the regenerative-tourism agenda reshaping European city authorities and small-island states.

You will produce a destination strategy paper at policy-document grade, build an economic impact model for a real destination, undertake a research dissertation defended in viva. By graduation you can contribute to senior policy discussions at a Destination Management Organisation, a tourism ministry or a major international tour operator.

You will study in small, tutor-visible cohorts; meet visiting professionals fortnightly; and work to deadlines that mirror professional practice in the hospitality & tourism sector. The UK hospitality and tourism economy has been reshaped by post-pandemic operating models, the Brexit recalibration of workforce planning and the move towards sustainable and regenerative travel; the syllabus tracks these working realities week by week.

Key Features

ABTA, Institute of Hospitality and GSTC-aligned syllabus, with guest sessions from working DMO executives, UNWTO programme leads and tour-operator strategists.
Three study modes — on-campus in London, fully online with weekly live strategy seminars, or distance learning with structured deadlines.
Destination-strategy capstone — produce a Cabinet-grade strategy document for a real DMO partner.
Economic impact modelling module — UNWTO and tourism satellite-account methodology.
Regenerative-tourism module — taught with current European city case studies.
Research dissertation defended in viva.
Service-standards peer review — fortnightly LQA-style mystery-shop review with cohort and a named tutor.

What You Will Learn

The MSc combines policy analysis, economic modelling, sustainability strategy and research. You will graduate able to write a strategy a ministry will publish, model the impact of an intervention and contribute to senior policy debates with academic rigour and operational realism.

International tourism policy.
Destination management at strategic level.
Tourism economics and satellite accounts.
Sustainable and regenerative tourism under GSTC.
Tourism politics — overtourism, levies, visas.
Crisis and resilience strategy for destinations.
Research methods for tourism scholars.
Dissertation and viva.
Operational decision-making under shift-pattern pressure and customer escalations.
Cross-cultural service in a London international market of returning and first-time visitors.

Across every module you keep a structured working portfolio of operational reports, service-recovery notes and trading reviews — a single source of truth you can show at interview and continue to maintain after graduation. Programme assessment combines coursework, in-class exercises and a substantial practice-led piece of work assessed by a working senior manager.

Who This Course Is For

The MSc suits senior tourism professionals and policy leaders.

Working tourism managers stepping into strategy and policy roles.
International tourism-ministry and DMO staff seeking UK postgraduate study.
Career changers from policy, journalism or business into tourism strategy.
Aspiring doctoral researchers in tourism and destination studies.
Returners to work re-entering UK hospitality after a career break or family leave looking for an assessed credential.

Career Pathways

LSCT MSc in International Tourism Strategy graduates move into senior strategy, policy and consultancy roles across DMOs, tourism ministries, tour operators and international development agencies. Typical destinations include:

Destination Strategy Lead (DMO)
Tourism Policy Adviser (ministry or international organisation)
Sustainability Director (tour operator or hotel group)
Tourism Consultant (boutique or Big 4)
Senior Research Officer (UNWTO, World Travel & Tourism Council)
Doctoral candidate (PhD)
Guest Experience Manager at a London hotel, attraction or destination

The MSc in International Tourism Strategy is a strong foundation for doctoral study and senior policy practice.

LSCT careers service maintains a working contact book of UK hospitality and tourism employers, hosts at least one industry-careers day per academic year and offers structured one-to-one application support during your final stage. Many graduates also build long-term professional networks through UKHospitality, ABTA and Institute of Hospitality London engagement events that LSCT students are encouraged to attend.

Entry Requirements

A UK 2:2 honours degree (or international equivalent) in tourism, business, social sciences, geography, economics or a related discipline.
Applicants from non-cognate fields may apply with five years' senior professional experience in tourism, travel or policy — direct DMO or tourism-ministry experience is particularly valued for the MSc in International Tourism Strategy.
IELTS 6.5 overall (no band below 6.0) for non-native English speakers.
A personal statement, two references and a research proposal of 500-800 words.
Applicants with front-line hospitality or travel-industry experience and supervisory shifts are particularly encouraged to mention these on the application form for the programme.

Why Study at LSCT

The London School of Commerce and Technology (LSCT) is a specialist higher-education provider based in central London and part of Harold International College. We teach in small cohorts so every student is visible to their tutor, run a single intake schedule that students can rely on, and partner with UK professional bodies so qualifications carry weight with employers. London puts Whitehall, the City, Silicon Roundabout, the Royal Courts of Justice, the West End and the NHS estate within a short tube ride of every classroom. For tourism MSc students the World Travel & Tourism Council's London headquarters, VisitBritain's HQ and the major international tourism-policy forums hosted in London are part of your weekly study orbit.

Our hospitality and tourism students complete operator-shadowing weeks at London hotels, restaurants, attractions and tour operators as part of the assessed coursework. Students also benefit from our partnership with Harold International College of London, with shared library access, careers-service connections and the option to take a small number of elective modules across the wider Harold International programme catalogue subject to availability.

Whichever study mode you select, you will join a single, intake-aligned cohort with weekly tutor visibility, a named programme tutor for the duration of your studies, an institutional access plan offering peer support and structured careers advice, and the full library and online-resource subscription package of Harold International College of London. Many students travel to London for two short on-campus residentials per academic year — these are optional for online learners but supported by LSCT for students who can attend.

Apply for MSc in International Tourism Strategy

Specialise at postgraduate level with the MSc in International Tourism Strategy. Click Enrol Now to apply; admissions teams reply within one working day with scholarship and funding guidance and a short conversation with a tourism research tutor.