UK - Educational Routes to Popular Courses

Indian students generally intend to pursue an academic stream, i.e., a degree course of 3 to 4 years duration in a foreign country. The aim is to continue and complete a postgraduate qualification and then return to India to take up a job. Many do, however, wish to stay on and work.

There are Foundation and Bridge courses which you could take before entering the university. These courses intend to `bridge the gap' between Indian education and British education.

After a degree or a postgraduate degree students register with professional organizations to become members. This assures them a status of professional competence

Studying Accountancy

In UK specialist professional bodies impart training and award qualifications in Accountancy. These qualifications are generally equivalent to under graduation.

Following are five major professional organizations in the area of Accountancy:

• Chartered Association of Certified Accountants, 29 Lincoln's Inn Fields, London WC2A 3EE
• Chartered Institute of Management Accountants, 63 Portland Place, London W1N 4A
• Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accounting, 3 Robert Street, London WC2N 6BH
• Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, Chartered Accountants Halls, PO Box 433, Moorgate Place, London EC2 2BJ
• Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland, 27 Queen Street, Edinburgh EH2 1LA

Chartered Association of Certified Accountants (ACCA) - The ACCA conducts the professional exams in 3 stages - Foundation, certificate and professional. Minimum eligibility is 2 A-levels and 3 GSCE in 5 separate subjects including English and Maths. Students who have work experience and are graduates may be exempted from the foundation exam. Partial waivers from the professional level are given to those who have done a degree or HND/HNC in Accounting. For membership of ACCA three to five years of experience is required. ACCA offers distance learning courses also. ACCA has examination centers in almost 100 countries.

Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) - The CIMA course has 4 stages of exams and practical training for membership. Applicants to the course require two A-levels and three GCSEs including English and Maths. Some exemption may be granted to those who have a BTEC (see BTEC in earlier sections) or higher national diploma or Degree in a relevant subject.

Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accounting (CIPFA) - CIPFA course is relevant for those keen on working for Public Bodies in UK. The course consists of three professional examinations for which the minimum entry requirements are 2 A-levels, 3 GCSE including Maths and English. Graduates are exempt from the foundation course if they have studied related subjects.

Association of International Accountants (AIA) - This has several branches in the world. In Asia, Hong Kong, Malaysia and Singapore have branches; AIA curriculum can be oriented to local requirements. The exam can be taken after study course for which eligibility is 2A levels. 3 GCSE passes including English and Maths or graduation from any discipline which may permit some course exemptions. AIA qualification is granted after 3 years work experience.

For information write to:

Association of International Accountants, South Bank building, Kingsway, Team Valley, Newcastle upon Tyne NE II OJS

Study of Maths, Business, Legal and Social Studies will also help in gaining exemption from part of the professional training.

Studying business studies

A degree in Business Studies is offered by several universities and colleges in UK. The subject includes study of economics, accounting and finance management, marketing, statistics, human resources, and law. Last year of the degree is normally spent in specialization in a branch of business management. Special feature of degree courses in UK is that it offers specialized degrees and even joint degrees. You could, e.g., do a specialized degree in strategic marketing or a joint degree in business studies and computer science.

Business studies in a degree course are offered as a sandwich course of 4 years duration or a non-sandwich course which takes 3 years.

Postgraduate courses - Postgraduate studies can be done in areas such as in management, finance, marketing, information systems, tourism management, human resource management, industrial relations etc. Course choices are diplomas, certificates or masters and last one to two years. The entry requirement is a degree/BTEC or a higher national diploma.

For MBA courses, experience and GMAT scores are considered for entry.

Professional membership - In Britain membership of professional bodies is sought for better employment prospects. In the area of Business Studies some of the professional qualifications of relevance are given by:

• City and Guilds, National Examination Board for Supervisory Management, 76 Portland Place, London, W1N 4AA
• Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators, 16 Park Crescent, London, W1N 4AH
• Chartered Institute of Marketing, Moor Hall, Cookham, Maidenhead, Berkshire 8L6 9QH
• Business and Technology Education Council (BTEC), Central House, Upper Woburn Place, London WC1H 0HH
• Institute of Management, Management House, Catt Ingham Road, Carby, Northamptanshire, NN 171 TT
• London Chamber of Commerce and Industry Examination Board (LCCIEB), Marlowe House, Station House, Sidcup, Kent DA 15 7BJ
• National Council for Vocational Qualification (NCVQ), 222 Eusten Road, London NW1 2BZ

NCVQ provides a national framework for vocational qualifications. The standards of this are laid down on the basis of the skills required in employment. Qualifications are structured by City and Guilds, and BTEC.

Studying management

In the UK, as in most parts of the world MBA or a postgraduate course in management is very popular. Most universities have a business school which conducts the MBA course as well as short management programs. In Britain private management colleges also offer short term courses as well as postgraduate courses in affiliation with universities. These MBA courses are designed to give practical inputs to managers along with academic skills. The standards as required in the job market are explored and then laid down as set standards in courses for potential managers. At the undergraduate level there are only management related courses available such as business studies. If you have studied Economics and Maths at school you certainly have better chances of entering an undergraduate course. Institutions have different entry requirements and generally 2 or 3 A-levels are required. Maths is certainly a valuable subject for someone who wishes to pursue studies in management, science and operational research. Postgraduate courses in management are of nine months duration followed by 3 months of project work. M.Sc or MA in Management offers specialization in project management, marketing, tourism, entrepreneurship, industrial relations, information systems, etc. MBA is offered as full time/part time course as well as through distance learning. In the UK most universities give favorable consideration to applicants with work experience.

Graduate Management Aptitude Test (GMAT) scores are valid for admission to most MBA courses. Students with an undergraduate degree and no work experience must opt for a diploma in management studies and then apply for a master's degree course.

Addresses for reference for applicants to MBA, MA, MS courses in Management

• Association of Business Schools, 344-354 Greys Inn Road, London WC1X 8BPX
• Institute of Management Services, 1 Cecil Court London Road, Enfield, Middlesex EN2 6DD
• Institute of Administrative, Management, 40 Chatsworth Parade Pitts Wood Orpington, Kent BR5 1RW, Web site : www.educationuk.org
• Business and Technology Education, Council Central House, Upper Woburn Place, London WC1H 0HH
• Institute of Management Specialists, Alexander House, 58 Clarendar Avenue, Royal Leamington Spa, Warwickshire CV32 45A

Studying art and design

The study of art and design incorporates a wide number of fields of study. Painting, fine art, printmaking, lithography, sculpture, film, photography, cinematography, performance and computer aided design.

Types of courses - Entry to an undergraduate course is usually after a foundation course of one year duration followed by 3 or 4-year degree courses. Art education follows 2 major patterns in UK. One is related to enhancing and exploring individual creativity while the other is more technical (applied) and oriented to the industry. There are courses in graphic design, e.g., which teach techniques for print making (typography, illustration) and design for film and television including computer graphics. Industrial design, i.e., designing of products, furniture, ceramics, plastics, interiors form part of three dimensional design.

There are courses in photography, textiles, fashion, audio-visual design and multidisciplinary courses in which the study of design and other subjects is integrated. At the postgraduate level art and design courses can be pursued at the higher degree level (through research work), diploma or certificate level.

Art Teachers certificate/diploma/courses are to train those holding a B Ed degree for teaching art subjects in schools. Indian applicants for Art Teachers Certificate (ATC), Art Teachers Diploma (ATD) or for Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) must apply to the art and design colleges.



Professional designers may seek membership of professional organisations in the UK, e.g., the Chartered Society of Designers. For membership portfolio has to be submitted and membership examination has to be cleared. The address for correspondence is as follows:

• Chartered Society of Designers, 29 Bedford Square, London WC1B 3EG
• Art and Design Admission Registry, Penn House, 9 Broad Street, Hereford HR4 9AP
• Chartered Society of Designers, 29 Bedford Square, London WC1B 3EG
• National Society for Education in Art and Design, The Gate house, Corsham Court, Corsham, Wiltshire SN13 0PZ
• National Association of Fine Art Education, Department of Art, Birmingham Institute of Art and Design, International House, Lancaster Street, Birmingham B4 7AT

Studying architecture

The study of architecture normally takes seven years in UK. A full time course is offered at schools of architecture in universities and other institutes of higher education. There are 2 professional bodies which regulate the course structure -

• The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), 66 Portland Place, London W1N 4AD.
• Architects Registration Council of the United Kingdom (ARCUK) 73 Hallam Street, London W1N 6EE.

The study of Architecture can be done in 3 stages. The first stage leads to an honors degree and lasts for 3 years. This is followed by a year of practical experience with an Architectural firm. The second stage of the training extends for 2 years. After completion of both these stages student can register with RIBA. The third stage is the Professional Practice Examination taken during the second stage of practical training. On completion of the seven-year period students can register as architects with the Architects Registration Council of UK and become members of professional bodies. For entry essential subjects are English, Maths and Science at the GCE `A' level or class XII level.

Studying tourism

Tourism courses can be studied through many types of courses: college awards, vocational qualifications, first degrees and postgraduate qualifications.

The GNVQs and NVQs are vocational courses in the travel industry. They are available for all types of jobs in the travel sector. The NVQ can be taken after registering with one of the professional bodies. Generally students are admitted to these courses after secondary education.

BTEC course in business studies covers travel and tourism also. British Travel Agents Association is a government authorized body for a career in travel. They run travel agents certificate course at 2 levels one for travel agents and the other for travel consultants. The Travel Training Company runs the International Air Transport Authority (IATA), Air Travel courses which deal with all aspects of air travel. IATA membership can be acquired on gaining the required training points.

Undergraduate courses are of 3 years duration. Sandwich courses need an additional year of work experience.

Relevant addresses are as follows:

The Travel Training Company, the Cornerstone, The Broadway, Woking, Surrey GU21 5(offers travel tourism courses through distance education.)

International Air Transport Association, Agency Services Office, Imperial House, 15-19 Kingsway, London WC2B 6UN

Studying hotel management

Hotel and Catering International Management Association (HCIMA) is a professional body which validates hotel management qualification. It admits members as Licentiate or Corporate Members.

HCIMA recognizes a 2-year certificate course and a diploma course of 3 years duration. Licentiate members of HCIMA are certificate holders. Corporate members are those with managerial experience. First degree courses are for 3 or 4 years and these provide exemption from the Hotel and Catering International Management Association's membership examinations. Postgraduate courses are of one year duration. Research degrees take longer. Information about HCIMA membership may be asked from:

Hotel Management Association, 191 Trinity Road, London SW17 7HN

Studying engineering

Engineering qualifications like most other qualifications can be studied at several levels. There exists the craft level, technician’s level, and the advanced technician level and degree courses accredited by the Engineering Council. There are exams conducted by the Engineering Council which provide an alternative route to technical personnel to get a degree. It is particularly meant for those who have not got a professional engineers status.

Those who register with the Engineering Council after acquiring a graduate/postgraduate qualification do not need it to practice engineering but only to establish there competence as an engineer in the international job market. The various branches of engineering civil, electrical and electronics, mechanical all follow the same training pattern. At the bottom of the rung is the crafts level which is training through jobs in the industry, qualifications being given by training boards. Next are the engineering technicians who take the BTEC national diploma or higher national diploma.

First degree courses are 3-year full time courses or 4-year sandwich courses leading to a Bachelor of Engineering. The Masters in Engineering takes another year. PhD or M.Phil studies are longer.

As in most other careers engineers too register with professional bodies concerned with their area of work and get the status of chartered engineers.

Here is a list of some professional bodies in various branches of engineering:

• Institution of Mechanical Engineers, 1 Birdcage Walk, London 8W1H 9J
• Institution of Mechanical Incorporated Engineers, 3 Birdcage Walk, London SW1H 9JN
• The Engineering Council, 10 Malt avers Street, London WC2R 3ER
• The Engineering Council, Examination Department, Essex House, 12-13 Essex Street, London WC2R 3EG
• Engineering Careers Information Service, 41 Clarendon Road, Watford, Herts WD1 1HS
• Institution of Electronics and Electrical Incorporated Engineers, Savoy Hill, Savoy Hill House, London WC2R 0BS
• Institution of Electrical Engineers, Savoy Place, London, WC2R 0BL
• Institution of Lighting Engineers, Lennox House, 9 Law ford Road, Rugby CV21 2DZ
• Institution of Electrical Engineers, Education and Liaison Service, Michael Faraday House, Six Hills Way, Stevenage, Herts SG1 2AY
• Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers, Delta House, 222 Balham High Road, London SW12 9BS
• Institute of Highway Incorporated Engineers, 20 Queensberry Place, London, SW7 2DR
• Institution of Civil Engineers, 1 Great George Street, London SW1P 3AA
• The Institution of Civil Engineering Surveyors, 26 Market Street, Altrincham, Cheshire WA14 1PF

Studying medicine

Postgraduate medical studies in the United Kingdom (UK) require taking Professional and Linguistics Assessments Board (PLAB). The PLAB test is designed to assess both knowledge and skills, and ability to work safely as a senior house officer in a British hospital. The test can be taken in two parts. Part one is held at centers in the UK and in certain other countries. It consists of a single computer markable paper to a standard set using the 'Angoff method'. Part two can only be taken in the United Kingdom. If consists of a 14-station objective structured clinical examination (OSCE). This tests both clinical and communication skills. Entry to second part requires passing the first part. The second part must be taken within two years of having passed the first. Results are either 'pass' or 'fail'. The costs for part one is £ 145 and for part two is £ 430. In India the British Council Division administers the test in Chennai, Mumbai, Kolkata and Delhi.

Registration is generally in September for the test usually held in November.

Addresses for Contact:

Chennai
British Council Divisioin, 737 Anna Salai, Chennai 600 002,
nirupa.Femandez@in.britishcounsil.org

Mumbai
Mittal Tower 'C' Wing, 2nd Floor, Nariman Point, Mumbai 400 021, vivek.singh@in.britishcouncil.org

New Delhi
17 Kasturba Gandhi Marg, New Delhi - 110001

Careers in Hospitality and Tourism Management

According to the World Travel and Tourism Council (1997), the economics of the 21^st century will be dominated by three industries: telecommunications, information technology and tourism. The travel and tourism industries have grown by 500% in the last 25 years and it is estimated that by the year 2007 tourists will spend US$884 billion in foreign countries on tourism related activities.

Travel and tourism represents a broad range of related industries. The growth of these industries has opened up many new job opportunities for graduates in areas such as:

• hotels
• restaurants
• retailing
• transportation
• travel agencies
• tour companies
• tourist attractions
• leisure, recreation and sport
• cultural industries

It is interesting to realise that in 1997 travel and tourism provides 10.5% of the total world employment, with up to 25% of all employment, in some areas, such as the Caribbean. It has been estimated that, by 2007, more than 100 million people world-wide will be employed in this sector. Because of this, tourism is now seen to be of importance to most countries of the world.

During this time, the nature of tourism has developed in scope and direction, away from traditional activities, such as the sunshine sand and sea holidays to a wide range of new activities such as cultural tourism, adventure tourism, sports and leisure activities and eco-tourism.

Given the potential for interesting and rewarding careers in these industries many young people are looking for suitable courses which will help prepare them for careers in management within the tourism and hospitality industries. The UK higher education system has a well developed range of courses, at all levels from Higher National Diploma, BA or BSc degrees and MA/MSc/MBA Masters courses and using alternative methods of studying, (including full-time, part-time and distance learning). When looking at courses in hospitality and tourism, there can seem to be a bewildering variety of course titles covering the main employment areas of travel, tourism, hotels and restaurants. Typical titles include:

For hotels and restaurant management:

• hospitality management
• international hospitality management
• hotel and catering management

For travel and tourism:

• tourism management
• tourism studies
• travel and tourism

There are also joint degrees where it is possible to study combinations of subjects, such as tourism and hospitality, tourism and leisure, hospitality and marketing. Most undergraduate courses (HND/BSc/BA) will include a period of work experience as part of the course, varying in length from 6 months to one year. This work experience is seen to be a central part of the course, where the student gets the opportunity to practise what they have learned in college or university. Employers also see great value in this work experience when considering the employment of graduates.

Given the international nature of these industries, another valuable part of any course is the study of languages. Most courses in hospitality and tourism provide access to language courses, either as core components or as options.

Courses at Masters level are becoming increasingly important in tourism and hospitality. These Masters level courses are useful to two groups of people:

- those who have completed a degree course in a subject other than hospitality or tourism but who are looking at ways of getting employment in the industry;

- those who have a degree or sub-degree qualification in hospitality or tourism together with significant management experience within the hospitality or tourism industries and who wish to develop themselves to a higher level or to seek a more senior position in industry. There are many Masters courses in Hospitality Management, Hotel and Catering Management and Tourism Management in universities and colleges in the UK.

In addition to the above courses, there are also more specialised Masters courses in Tourism covering areas such as Cultural Tourism, Tourism Marketing, Tourism Planning, Museum Management, Heritage Management, Cultural Tourism and Sustainable Tourism: these are suitable for people who have an interest in employment in a specific sector of the industry.

Within the UK there are many university and college courses to choose from, but each course will have its own unique characteristics. Before applying, you should think carefully about the type of career you want: if it is in a hotel are you interested in restaurant management or rooms division management? Do you see yourself as a practical hands-on person or someone who is happier to work behind the scenes in a desk based job? Do you aspire to become a general manager of a hotel which is part of one of the major world-wide groups, or do you want to manage your own operation? Are you more interested in one of the functional management areas, such as marketing, human resources, conferences. If you are interested in tourism do you want to work for a travel agency, a tour company, the management of a tourist attraction, or within the public sector-national, regional or local tourism planning organisations. Think about these types of question before consulting the prospectuses or WEB sites so that you can judge each course against your own preferences.

Tourism and English - a powerful combination

Students are set to benefit from joint initiatives by tourist attractions and English language schools in the UK. Oksana Higglesden explains….

Ask any student what makes a successful English language course and they will undoubtedly respond "excellent teaching and a dynamic social programme". Students are far more likely to remember the fantastic times they have had outside the classroom and, in response, schools are forging closer links with tourist attractions to ensure that they have a memorable stay.

The quality and variety of Britain’s attractions - ranging from hi-tech amusement to traditional entertainment and historic sites is hard to match. Schools are aware of the opportunities that social activities present for language learning while tourist attractions, in turn, increasingly recognise the significant contribution that this niche market segment offers and produce specially tailored education packs and tours. Their presence at the ARELS Social Organisers’ Conference earlier this year confirms their growing interest in the whole learning experience for student visitors to the UK.

What really puts English Language Teaching at the cutting edge is the continual quest for devising innovative and effective ways of teaching different types of learners with diverse needs. This is essential. Nowadays students expect far more from classroom teaching than grammar recital. They want to learn but at the same time they don’t want it to be a chore. Schools know that learning continues outside the classroom. Students are more likely to pick up new vocabulary and phraseology through different activities and situations and this is more likely to be retained in a relaxed and stimulating environment.

With this in mind, more school in Britain are opting for integrating social activities into the classroom curriculum. Visits are generally supported by extensive worksheets and projects with a strong language content. Assigning students a specific topic on which to report after their visit has some educational benefit and will give them a different perspective of British culture. Worksheets also provide the teacher with a basis for language work in the classroom. This material can be used for one or two lessons before the trip followed by a brief feedback session the following day.

Worksheets are given to students on the day before an excursion so that they have the greatest impact. Sometimes they include copy in basic English on the destination to be visited and its history followed by true/false questions and world searches; an itinerary so that students know exactly where they are going and when, and a task for them to carry out whilst on the trip. For students at a higher proficiency level, worksheets might include in-depth reading texts or a questionnaire related to the excursion.

Many tourist attractions are able to offer a range of structured tailor-made services. One of the most proactive, the Royal Palaces, provide special briefing papers, activity sheets and organise guided tours and slide presentations on various aspects such as tapestry conservation. Tudor etiquette or King Henry VIII. Students are given a unique cultural experience which gives them a greater empathy with the past and is structured in such a way that they do not wander aimlessly.

The Royal Palaces are able to help social organisers structure a visit and advise on what can be done on site, how this can be effective, how to prepare students in advance and how to follow up the visit afterwards. On arrival, students are usually divided into groups and asked to report on set aspects of their visit such as design or renaissance paintings and where possible given dictaphones on site to record their impressions in English. This exercise is often followed by group discussions on what students liked or disliked about various aspects of their visit.

As well as integrating excursions into classroom teaching, schools are turning their attention to the local community for additional sources of teaching material. Local people from all walks of life are invited to talk to students about their jobs, their hobbies and their own experiences. This encourages communication and gives students a lot of listening practice.

Integrating excursions and contact with the community into the classroom curriculum has numerous advantages for all those concerned. This approach provides teachers with a plethora of teaching material and gives them more flexibility to prepare classes. Students also benefit. They are more likely to retain information if they are taught in a fun and relaxed environment. Their listening and communication skills will also improve as they come into contact with many types of people.

A new all time record for Spanish tourism

The primary object of the internationally recognised Swiss Hotel Management School "Les Roches" Marbella is to prepare qualified Managers for the International Hospitality Industry of the 21st Century – one of the most professional fields with the greatest future global potential.

Established since 1995 in the unique environment of the Costa del Sol, one of the main Spanish tourist destinations, Les Roches Marbella constitutes a magnificent source of well-trained professionals for the Hotel Industry. Its teaching philosophy is geared towards offering top quality service and thus offer a value added to the current Spanish tourism offer. The massive exodus of (beach) seaside leisure tourist destinations of the past has now been left behind, when quality was replaced by quantity. Today, this sector has great vision and future potential for a high quality oriented tourism base and therefore, exists a wider offer geared to those new and demanding markets.

Nowadays, the primary aim of Travel and Tourism entrepreneurs is ultimate customer satisfaction. In this sector, more than in any other, the customers’ loyalty and quality assurance will determine the success and prosperity of the business. However, it is impossible to acquire the right level of customer satisfaction in an environment where employee satisfaction is low; Les Roches Marbella stresses the vital role of Human Resources Management in the achievement of future business objectives.

A well-trained professional with the capacity of executing the various and diverse responsibilities encountered by a Hotel Manager in this sector, as well as the proficiency in the most dominant foreign languages, will guarantee the satisfaction of even the most exigent of customers.

Thus, hotel management schools and the most experienced hotel managers agree on the advantages that a complete and comprehensive education have on individuals entering this field as means of ensuring the continuity and success of their businesses.

The change in the business mentality experienced in thelast recent years has promoted the growth of the Spanish tourism sector. A noticeable growth trend, not only because of the increasing number of tourists who choose our country as their vacation destination, but also because of the increasing number of destinations available and the level of professionalism offered in the hotel sector. Last year we observed an increase in the number of tourists visiting Spain (56,178,000 visitors) during the first nine months. More than half of those who chose Spain as their vacation destination travelled to our country during the summer season (June – September). During these four months, the number of visiting tourists registered surpassed those of the previous exercise by 9.6%.

Hospitality Tourism Education - A Canadian Perspective

Canada has made hospitality and tourism an art, and many of the country’s educational institutions specialize in preparing people for careers in this dynamic sector. It’s easy to understand why. Tourism has always played an important role in Canada’s economy, as for centuries people have enjoyed visiting this vast, beautiful country. Now every year millions of people visit hotels, restaurants, resorts and clubs across Canada - injecting millions of dollars into a sector that supports thousands of businesses and jobs.

Canada’s colleges and universities have in turn responded to the growing need for highly qualified staff with a wide variety of programs from basic hospitality training to the postgraduate management degrees. Because of its national importance, hospitality and tourism training in Canada achieves high, international standards. Training often combines both European and international traditions of quality and service coupled with models of North American efficiency and use of advanced technology.

Hospitality and Tourism encompasses numerous sub sectors including accommodation and lodging, food and beverage service, tourism, travel and transportation, and event management.

The extensive variety of programs in Canada mirrors the endless possibilities associated with a career in the hospitality and tourism industry. From short programs which can vary in length from ten to forty weeks, to the apprenticeship model, to one-year, two-year or three-year college vocational models, to four-year undergraduate, post-diploma and graduate degrees, the educational opportunities are limitless.

The wide range of programs ensures prospective students have a variety of career options. Hospitality and Tourism education in Canada can be accomplished through public and private institutions. The Canadian colleges offer a strong practical focus to prepare students for front-line positions in the industry. In addition industry-based partnerships result in extensive apprenticeship programs in cooking and baking. Specific colleges also cater to specific niche markets such as festival and event management and culinary specialties including Aboriginal, Chinese, Italian, Patissier, and Sommelier programs.

An easy path to obtaining a university degree, known as two plus two’s, combines hands-on skills acquired in a college program with university courses to make a highly employable individual. University undergraduate degree programs include either a Bachelor of Commerce, Bachelor of Business Administration, or a Bachelor of Applied Sciences. Graduate programs are in areas of administration and management.

Potential students should invest time, energy and resources to carefully research the program that best suits their needs. A careful review of curriculum is only one aspect of choosing the best hospitality program. Other factors to consider include institutional reputation, student awards, faculty publications and involvement in the industry, and graduate employment. Location and size are big factors as well. Metropolitan locations offer students the opportunity to benefit from the country’s rich and extensive multicultural communities and offer high quality work experience. Suburban and rural locations give students the benefits of a natural setting.

Students should also carefully consider facilities and resources available. The industry is ever-changing and the currency of the faculty should be reflected in its labs, theaters, computer technology and library. Furthermore, support services such as peer-tutoring programs, faculty mentoring, student advisory, housing and residency and financial aid are indicative of an institution’s service to a student.

3500 Students in Tourism - Would you like to join them?

Tourism is booming business, we know that because the Netherlands Institute of Tourism and Transport Studies is one of the oldest educational centres for tourism. The Institute exists since 1966 and has developed into one of the best known centres of expertise in tourism in Europe. Because of its volume the Institute is able to develop this expertise and also to develop further educational specialist areas. The curricula are constantly innovated. An example is the development of a specialism in sustainable tourism development.

Action learning
Real-life case studies are an essential part of the educational programmes at NHTV. The projects address problems taken straight from the professional world. In that way NHTV teaches and trains students how to act succesfully as a professional. Education mirrors the professional practice by doing so. Students are challenged to work together indepently and efficiently.

Your planning
Because of its size, the tourism programmes can offer you several possibilities to study at NHTV. You can choose one or several modules, but you can also choose the full programme.

NHTV offers several Master programmes. Those concerning tourism and hospitality management have been developed within a network of prominent European educational institutions. These programmes also offer you the possibility to study at two institutes in two different countries. In that way you can experience different cultures.

International Tourism Management and Consultancy
Dutch students and students from other nationalities can attend the International Tourism Management and Consultancy Programme (ITMC) after their first year of study. This programme is taught in English. Several specialization programmes are offered e.g. Sustainable Tourism Development. Students who wish to apply for ITMC should have completed at least one year of higher education at university level. Students who complete the full programme will be awarded the Dutch equivalent of a Bachelor's degree.

European Tourism Management
The postgraduate programme European Tourism Management is an answer to the increasing demand for international managers in the tourism industry. It aims to produce potential managers for both private companies and public bodies involved in tourism. The necessary insight and understanding of the existing cultural differences between countries is essential for the future international manager. This is fostered by letting students work in international project teams.

Hospitality Management
The Masters programme in Hospitality Management offers you a complete postgraduate programme. It will expose participants to hospitality management practitioners in major centres of European hospitality education. The purpose of this course is to meet the latest developments in the needs of the hospitality industry at managerial level.

Master of Business Administration
Apart from the specialist Tourism programmes, NHTV offers the following Master programmes:

• MBA European
  
• MBA International Financial Management
  
• MBA Human Resource Management
  
• MBA European Social Work
  
• MSc in Transport and Distribution Management

International student community
The Institute hosts students from about 40 different nationalities. NHTV policy aims at a full internationalisation of both the curricula and the organisation.

Breda
Breda is a city located in the south of The Netherlands at an hour's travel from both Amsterdam and Brussels. This historic city with 160,000 inhabitants and 16,000 students is full of atmosphere and is very much appreciated by students.

NHTV
The Netherlands Institute of Tourism and Transport Studies is a medium-sized university of professional education in The Netherlands (4100 students), specializing in logistics, physical planning, recreation, tourism, traffic management, and leisure studies. The Institute aims to be a centre of expertise in these disciplines. NHTV is also known for its increasingly international orientation.

Specialisation programme: Sustainable Tourism Development
Tourism is the world's largest industry and provides employment and livelihood for hundreds of millions of people. A downside, however, is that social and cultural structures, and natural environment suffer under its impact.

At the same time, the growth in tourism offers new possibilities for maintaining social and cultural integrity and for preserving the natural environment. To protect destinations for generations we have to counter the negative effects and work for a sustainable development of tourism in the future.

Stakeholders in tourism, destinations, tour operators, and tourists all have their own responsibilities for the sustainable development of tourism. NHTV has created - in co-operation with partners within European Tourism Management - the Chair for Sustainable Tourism Development. With this Chair NHTV wants to play an active role in contributing to sustainable tourism development through international education and research.

Further Information
Netherlands Institute of Tourism and Transport Studies
The International Office
P.O.Box 3917
4800 DX Breda
The Netherlands
Tel: +31 76 530 2203
Fax: +31 76 530 2205
E-mail: international.office@nhtv.nl
Website:www.nhtv.nl