'The UK's excellent hospitality and tourism training is based on practical, real-life experience'
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Tourism is an important contributor to national economies all over the world, and qualified professionals in travel and tourism are in great demand. The UK tourism industry employs about 2.65 million people and accounts for one in 12 of the UK's jobs. And as the 2012 Olympic Games demonstrated, the UK is a huge tourist destination. The month long event welcomed visitors from around the globe, including 17,000 athletes from 200 countries and 20,000 members of the media.
An industry of this size can only be maintained if tourism professionals are well trained and highly skilled: practical experience is as important as academic theory. Alongside college and university programmes, much of the UK's hospitality and tourism training is practical, real-life experience.
There's a huge variety of study and training at all levels: hospitality encompasses specialised skills such as baking, and broader fields such as hotel and restaurant management. Tourism offers practical routes such as tourism management, or a more theoretical approach, such as tourism studies. The Institute of Travel & Tourism regulates much of the training and offers a list of approved courses and training providers.
Hospitality
Schools and college: First steps towards a career in the hotel and catering industry could be GCSEs in Catering, Home Economics (Food and Nutrition), or Leisure and Tourism. From there, you can study AS- and A-levels, International Baccalaureate (or their Scottish equivalent) in subjects such as Hospitality and Catering as a single or a double award. BTEC National Certificates and Diplomas are available in Hospitality Supervision and Hospitality Business, as are several short courses in industry-related subjects. As part of a full-time college course, you may also gain qualifications in Kitchen Hygiene and Health and Safety at Work.
Some private language schools run hospitality training and diplomas alongside English language studies for students who want to improve their communication skills and career prospects. Good English language skills are highly valued by employers in the hospitality business.
At higher education level, vocational courses such as BTEC HNDs and Foundation Degrees feature strongly. Three-year courses in Hospitality, Hospitality Management, Hospitality and Tourism, Hospitality and Leisure or Events Management usually include a one-year work placement; some courses focus on the international tourist market.
An industry of this size can only be maintained if tourism professionals are well trained and highly skilled: practical experience is as important as academic theory. Alongside college and university programmes, much of the UK's hospitality and tourism training is practical, real-life experience.
There's a huge variety of study and training at all levels: hospitality encompasses specialised skills such as baking, and broader fields such as hotel and restaurant management. Tourism offers practical routes such as tourism management, or a more theoretical approach, such as tourism studies. The Institute of Travel & Tourism regulates much of the training and offers a list of approved courses and training providers.
Hospitality
Schools and college: First steps towards a career in the hotel and catering industry could be GCSEs in Catering, Home Economics (Food and Nutrition), or Leisure and Tourism. From there, you can study AS- and A-levels, International Baccalaureate (or their Scottish equivalent) in subjects such as Hospitality and Catering as a single or a double award. BTEC National Certificates and Diplomas are available in Hospitality Supervision and Hospitality Business, as are several short courses in industry-related subjects. As part of a full-time college course, you may also gain qualifications in Kitchen Hygiene and Health and Safety at Work.
Some private language schools run hospitality training and diplomas alongside English language studies for students who want to improve their communication skills and career prospects. Good English language skills are highly valued by employers in the hospitality business.
At higher education level, vocational courses such as BTEC HNDs and Foundation Degrees feature strongly. Three-year courses in Hospitality, Hospitality Management, Hospitality and Tourism, Hospitality and Leisure or Events Management usually include a one-year work placement; some courses focus on the international tourist market.
You can specialise in specific areas such as Beach Resort Management or Food Management, and combine courses with subjects such as Modern Languages and Business. At degree level, courses tend to contain a high proportion of business and management training. If you complete a BTEC HND or Foundation Degree many institutions will let you continue for a fourth year to convert it into a degree.
Travel and tourism
Schools and further education: GCSEs, AS- and A-levels, a BTEC First Diploma, or BTEC Nationals in Travel and Tourism will give you a good basis in this subject area at pre-university level. Suggested subjects to combine with these qualifications include Modern Languages (particularly Spanish) and Geography. You could study for an AS-level in Spanish, for example, alongside a BTEC National Certificate or Diploma. It may also be possible to combine other vocational qualifications on English Plus courses at a language college.
Higher education: Tourism includes management and business studies at degree level. You can study BA (Hons) and BSc programmes in Tourism Business Management, International Travel Management with Air Travel, and Airline and Airport Management. BTEC HNDs and Foundation Degrees dominate higher education provision, and many of these courses require just one A-level.
Professional qualifications
Many international students come to the UK to gain professional qualifications in travel, tourism and hospitality to improve their career prospects rapidly, rather than to prepare for university.
International colleges and language schools in the UK often offer opportunities to gain internationally recognised qualifications from professional organisations such as the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and the Institute of Hospitality. You can combine these with English language qualifications or other vocational qualifications, for example leisure spa skills (such as beauty therapy, reflexology) to international standards set by the Vocational Training Charitable Trust (VTCT).
Professional qualifications are equivalent to A-levels and BTECs (and recognised as such within the industry) usually associated with UK qualifications. The Institute of Hospitality also accredits courses at further and higher education level.
Travel and tourism
Schools and further education: GCSEs, AS- and A-levels, a BTEC First Diploma, or BTEC Nationals in Travel and Tourism will give you a good basis in this subject area at pre-university level. Suggested subjects to combine with these qualifications include Modern Languages (particularly Spanish) and Geography. You could study for an AS-level in Spanish, for example, alongside a BTEC National Certificate or Diploma. It may also be possible to combine other vocational qualifications on English Plus courses at a language college.
Higher education: Tourism includes management and business studies at degree level. You can study BA (Hons) and BSc programmes in Tourism Business Management, International Travel Management with Air Travel, and Airline and Airport Management. BTEC HNDs and Foundation Degrees dominate higher education provision, and many of these courses require just one A-level.
Professional qualifications
Many international students come to the UK to gain professional qualifications in travel, tourism and hospitality to improve their career prospects rapidly, rather than to prepare for university.
International colleges and language schools in the UK often offer opportunities to gain internationally recognised qualifications from professional organisations such as the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and the Institute of Hospitality. You can combine these with English language qualifications or other vocational qualifications, for example leisure spa skills (such as beauty therapy, reflexology) to international standards set by the Vocational Training Charitable Trust (VTCT).
Professional qualifications are equivalent to A-levels and BTECs (and recognised as such within the industry) usually associated with UK qualifications. The Institute of Hospitality also accredits courses at further and higher education level.
