Studies & Degrees in International Hospitality Management
International Hospitality Management Study Programs
International hospitality management is the study of how hotels, restaurants, resorts and event venues are run as businesses, with a focus on companies and guests from more than one country. A degree combines general management subjects with the operations of the industry itself. The University of Surrey describes its degree as the study of core business and management areas, such as technology, innovation, sustainability and data, together with industry-based practical experience.
Typical modules are services marketing, human resources, revenue management, hospitality law, rooms division management and hotel investment. At Technological University Dublin (TU Dublin) the key areas of study are communications, management, law and industry studies, and students can add one European language: French, German, Spanish or Italian. The word "international" is usually made concrete through a placement or a semester in another country.
Qualifications and levels
- Bachelor's degree, United Kingdom. The International Hospitality Management BSc (Hons) at the University of Surrey takes 3 years full time, or 4 years with a Professional Training placement year. Fees for the 2027-28 academic year are £10,050 for UK students and £23,800 for overseas students.
- Bachelor's degree, Ireland. The Bachelor of Science (Honours) in International Hospitality Management at TU Dublin takes 4 years and has 240 ECTS credits. It includes a six-month work placement in Year 3 and one required semester abroad. The fees listed in October 2026 are €3,000 per year for EU students and €13,500 per year for non-EU students.
- American bachelor's degree. The BS in International Hospitality and Tourism Management of Schiller International University takes 4 years, has 120 American credits (240 ECTS), is taught in English and is offered on its campuses in Madrid, Paris, Heidelberg and Tampa.
- Master's degree, Spain. Official Spanish master's degrees have 60, 90 or 120 ECTS credits. The Open Faculty in Murcia, which presents itself as a private centre attached to a public university, offers a Máster Oficial en Gestión Hotelera that lasts 8 months and is taught in Spanish, on site or online.
- Vocational training, Spain. The higher vocational training (FP) qualification Técnico Superior en Gestión de Alojamientos Turísticos has 2,000 hours and prepares for posts such as head of reception or head of reservations.
Qualifications from private business schools vary. Ask each school what recognition its degree has in the country where you want to work.
Where to study
SpainExchange lists 10 active schools for international hospitality management: two each in the United States, Spain, the United Kingdom and Ireland, and one each in Germany and Italy. They include the University of Surrey in Guildford, London Metropolitan University, TU Dublin and Griffith College Dublin, Schiller International University in Heidelberg and in Tampa, New England College in Henniker, The Open Faculty in Murcia, UIBS / Barcelona Business School and the Swiss School of Management in Rome.
Most of these programmes are taught in English. International applicants need a language certificate: Surrey asks for IELTS Academic 6.5 overall, and TU Dublin for a minimum of IELTS 6 overall with nothing less than 5.5 in each component. The Open Faculty's hotel management master's is taught in Spanish.
Careers
Graduates start as supervisors or junior managers in hotels, restaurants, resorts, event companies, cruise lines and tourism businesses, and move into general management, sales, revenue or human resources roles. TU Dublin names guest relations manager, sales executive and staff trainer among the options. In Spain, the official vocational qualification lists posts such as deputy manager of a tourist accommodation, head of reception and events coordinator.
A degree is one of several ways into hotel management. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics describes three typical paths: a high school diploma with several years of experience in a lodging facility, a bachelor's degree in hospitality or hotel management, or an associate's degree or certificate in hotel management. It projects employment of lodging managers in the United States to grow 4 percent from 2025 to 2035, about as fast as the average for all occupations. The University of Surrey reports that 96% of its hospitality and tourism management graduates are in employment or further study (Graduate Outcomes 2026, HESA).
Frequently asked questions
How long does a degree in international hospitality management take?
Three to four years. The BSc at the University of Surrey takes 3 years, or 4 with a placement year. The degrees at TU Dublin and Schiller International University take 4 years and have 240 ECTS credits.
Is a work placement part of the degree?
Often, yes. TU Dublin includes a six-month work placement in Year 3 and a required semester abroad. Surrey offers an optional Professional Training placement year in the UK or abroad.
What level of English do I need?
It depends on the university. Surrey asks for IELTS Academic 6.5 overall, with 6.0 in writing and 5.5 in each other element. TU Dublin asks for IELTS 6 overall with nothing less than 5.5 in each component.
Do I need a degree to become a hotel manager?
Not always. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, lodging managers enter the occupation with experience, with a bachelor's degree in hospitality or hotel management, or with an associate's degree or certificate. It adds that full-service facilities may prefer candidates with a degree.