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Hospitality Business Management (Top-up) BA(Hons)

2024-25 (also available for 2025-26)

It’s not too late to apply for September.
It’s not too late to apply for September.

Start date

16 September 2024

Duration

1 year full-time

Places available (subject to change)

50

About the course

Reasons to study

  1. Our staff rank in the top three in England for the proportion who hold doctorates, who have higher degrees, and hold teaching qualifications (HESA 2022).
  2. We are second in the country for National Teaching Fellowships, which mark the UK’s best lecturers in Higher Education, winning a total of 18 since 2008.
  3. Study at an AACSB International accredited Business School. Globally, less than 6% of institutions offering business degrees achieve this accreditation.

Why Hospitality Business Management?

Develop your knowledge, management skills and gain a solid understanding of the hospitality industry on this top-up course. It aims to help you understand global hospitality management so you can find your own rewarding path in your desired career.

How will you learn?

You will learn through practical application and creatively delivered lectures, workshops, seminars and group work sessions.

  • You’ll have the opportunity to learn how to organise business operations, how to get your ideas across and how to manage other people.
  • The course focuses on the corporate level of hospitality.
  • You’ll have the chance to study things like operations, strategy, organisation and management.
  • And you’ll become familiar with the key issues that affect the strategic development of companies in the hospitality sector.
  • We also give you the chance to carry out a project in an area that interests you. It’s all about giving you the hands-on experience you need to have the chance to become a hospitality manager in the future.

The hospitality industry is expanding rapidly, and businesses are looking for creative and talented managers who can manage all the complexities. We could help you develop your career in this exciting sector.

What subjects will you cover?

You’ll explore subjects such as Management of Organisations for the Hospitality Industry, Hospitality Operational Analysis, International HRM for the Hospitality Industry, and Strategy in context, .

Course detail

Core modules:

Strategy in Context

In this module you’ll gain an understanding of how organisations develop their strategies in relation to different aspects of their environment. You’ll study how both the internal context (e.g. organisational structure, routines and resources) and external context (e.g. institutional systems, industry structures and competition) shape organisational activities and the strategic decisions that individual managers make.

Management of Organisations for the Hospitality Industry

This module explores theories and applied concepts in contemporary management thinking for the hospitality industry. You’ll engage with issues such as business ethics, values, vision and mission, corporate social responsibility, leadership, learning and decision-making, managing performance, corporate and occupational identity, organisational and occupational culture, organisational and occupational commitment, innovation and adaptive change processes in the hospitality industry.

Hospitality Operational Analysis

This module aims to develop your analytical skills when faced with performance management of the hospitality industry. Emphasis will be placed on extending the process of operational management to include operational strategy, with key aspects focusing on the implementation and development of management in a variety of hospitality models, the analytical and conceptual tools available to improve and increase revenues and performance and productivity. The expansion of the hospitality and service sector businesses will also be examined in a variety of settings using contemporary evidence to underpin the findings.

International HRM for the Hospitality Industry

The aim of this module is to provide you with a good knowledge and understanding of theory and practice in relation to International Human Resource Management, with a focus on the Hospitality, Tourism and Leisure and Events industry. The subjects you’ll study include the impact of national culture on organizations, international labour markets, convergence and divergence in HRM, resourcing and rewarding, employment flexibility, employee relations, employee voice, managing workplace diversity, strategic HRM, International assignments, the impact of the EU on HRM and future developments.

Option modules:

Choose two from a list which may include:

Research Project

This module helps develop your skills and ability to carry out a substantial investigation into a particular aspect of hospitality management of your choice. In the early stages of project development, seminars and workshops are organised to provide guidance in various important aspects of project formulation and development, such as choice of appropriate methodology, identification of sources of appropriate information, literature review techniques and report writing skills.

Creativity and Innovation

This module takes an alternative approach to problem solving for anyone involved in managing a business. The focus is on the development of creative ideas and the implementation of innovative solutions in functions critical to the successful management of a business. You are encouraged to gain a greater understanding of the creative process and how it is fundamental to the evolution of life. The emphasis throughout is on the development and application of the knowledge and skills inherent in successful innovation. Entrepreneurship is evaluated and explored as a concept and paradigm that is available to anyone who wishes to engage in the process. A sound theoretical and conceptual appreciation and application of the relevant creative and innovative literature underpin the entire course and workshop sessions

International Marketing

The aim of this module is to help develop your understanding of the marketing theory and principles within the international or global business arena. It involves the consideration of the international marketing environment and the application of marketing principles for companies operating in foreign and world markets.

Sustainable Tourism

This module aims to provide a critical understanding of sustainability and its application to the general tourism industry (including sectors such as tourism attraction, hotel, restaurant, transportation and etc). It critically evaluates sustainable development principles with analysis of economic, environmental and social-cultural impacts. Planning for tourism at local, national and international level will be appraised in terms of the application of these principles through a range of case studies. This module will equip you with the abilities to identify issues and propose managerial implications in accordance with sustainability/responsibility, and will provide opportunities for you to develop and apply theories/concepts, sustainable principles and planning approaches to inform professional practice in the general tourism sectors.

Global Events and Festivals

This module is designed to provide an in-depth knowledge of the contemporary issues involved in bidding for and staging mega events and festivals. You’ll study the strategies and policies which are necessary for host nations to deliver a lasting legacy from these highly prestigious and costly events. You’ll research and evaluate a wide range of case studies of contemporary events from the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games to Olympics to Formula 1, to the Ryder Cup and International Film Festivals. This will provide you with the necessary tools to review previous policies and suggest alternative approaches. You’ll study the role Global Events and Festivals has in developing destinations and you’ll be able to use various models to assess the impact specific types of events has on destinations.

Entry requirements

Entry requirements for this course are normally one of the following:

  • A Foundation degree or equivalent including a Business related subject.
  • 120 ECTS or equivalent in a business related subject
  • HCIMA final membership with a minimum of five years supervisory experience.

We welcome applications from Higher Diploma and associate degree holders from outside the UK.

If your first language is not English, you will need to meet the minimum requirements of an English Language qualification. The minimum for IELTS is 6.0 overall with no element lower than 5.5, or equivalent. Read more about the University’s entry requirements for students outside of the UK on our Where are you from information pages.

What our students have to say


The University of Huddersfield offers a diverse and vibrant student environment, located on one central town centre campus site. Huddersfield Business School provides you with a modern, professional environment in which to learn and develop, located right next to the Huddersfield Narrow Canal it's in a leafy and picturesque location at the heart of the campus.

Watch our profile video to hear Chloe describe why she chose the University of Huddersfield.

Your Career


Previous graduates from this subject area have gone on to roles such as Customer Service Rep, Sales & Marketing Manager, International Account Executive, Sales Manager and Food & Beverage Manager in organisations including award winning boutique hotel chain Red Carnation, Wyndham Worldwide, Inventive Leisure, Optimum Medical, Radisson and Marriott Hotel (US) and Country Club.**

* Percentage of graduates from the Business School who are in work and/or further study fifteen months after graduating (HESA Graduate Outcomes 19/20, UK domiciled graduates)

**Source: LinkedIn

88.4% Graduates employed*

Student support

At the University of Huddersfield, you'll find support networks and services to help you get ahead in your studies and social life. Whether you study at undergraduate or postgraduate level, you'll soon discover that you're never far away from our dedicated staff and resources to help you to navigate through your personal student journey. Find out more about all our support services.

Within Huddersfield Business School, there are numerous student support services that you can access to ensure that you make the most of your time with us. In terms of academic support, we have highly qualified Academic Skills Tutors who are able to provide support to those of you who require help in improving your academic skills in areas such as academic writing, presentation techniques, referencing etc. We also offer additional support to our International students by giving free language support sessions to our Final Year/Top-Up and Postgraduate students and co-ordinate the ‘Bud In Hud ‘ programme which provides opportunities for both International and Home students to meet and socialise in an informal setting.

We also have a team of Student Guidance and Support Officers within the School who can provide support and advice to you with any non-academic issues such as health, finance or personal issues you may be facing which are having an effect on your ability to study to the best of your abilities. Drop in sessions are always available so you can pop in and have a confidential chat about how we can help and what support is available to you.

Our support services are here to ensure that you are able to achieve your academic, professional and personal potential during your time with Huddersfield Business School.

Important information

We will always try to deliver your course as described on this web page. However, sometimes we may have to make changes as set out below.

Changes to a course you have applied for

If we propose to make a major change to a course that you are holding an offer for, then we will tell you as soon as possible so that you can decide whether to withdraw your application prior to enrolment.

Cancellation of a course you have applied for

Although we always try and run all of the course we offer, we may occasionally have to withdraw a course you have applied for or combine your programme with another programme if we consider this reasonably necessary to ensure a good student experience, for example if there are not enough applicants to ensure you have a good learning experience. Where this is the case we will notify you as soon as reasonably possible and we will contact you to discuss other suitable courses with us we can transfer your application to. If we notify you that the course you have applied to has been withdrawn or combined, and you do not wish to transfer to another course with us, you may cancel your application and we will refund you any deposits or fees you have paid to us.

Changes to your course after you enrol as a student

We will always try to deliver your course and other services as described. However, sometimes we may have to make changes as set out below:

Changes to option modules

Where your course allows you to choose modules from a range of options, we will review these each year and change them to reflect the expertise of our staff, current trends in research and as a result of student feedback or demand for certain modules. We will always ensure that you have a range of options to choose from and we will let you know in good time the options available for you to choose for the following year.

Major changes

We will only make major changes to the core curriculum of a course or to our services if it is necessary for us to do so and provided such changes are reasonable. A major change in this context is a change that materially changes the services available to you; or the outcomes, or a significant part, of your course, such as the nature of the award or a substantial change to module content, teaching days (part time provision), classes, type of delivery or assessment of the core curriculum.

For example, it may be necessary to make a major change to reflect changes in the law or the requirements of the University’s regulators; to meet the latest requirements of a commissioning or accrediting body; to improve the quality of educational provision; in response to student, examiners’ or other course evaluators’ feedback; and/or to reflect academic or professional changes within subject areas. Major changes may also be necessary because of circumstances outside our reasonable control, such as a key member of staff leaving the University or being unable to teach, where they have a particular specialism that can’t be adequately covered by other members of staff; or due to damage or interruption to buildings, facilities or equipment.

Major changes would usually be made with effect from the next academic year, but this may not always be the case. We will notify you as soon as possible should we need to make a major change and will carry out suitable consultation with affected students. If you reasonably believe that the proposed change will cause you detriment or hardship we will, if appropriate, work with you to try to reduce the adverse effect on you or find an appropriate solution. Where an appropriate solution cannot be found and you contact us in writing before the change takes effect you can cancel your registration and withdraw from the University without liability to the University for future tuition fees. We will provide reasonable support to assist you with transferring to another university if you wish to do so.

Termination of course

In exceptional circumstances, we may, for reasons outside of our control, be forced to discontinue or suspend your course. Where this is the case, a formal exit strategy will be followed and we will notify you as soon as possible about what your options are, which may include transferring to a suitable replacement course for which you are qualified, being provided with individual teaching to complete the award for which you were registered, or claiming an interim award and exiting the University. If you do not wish to take up any of the options that are made available to you, then you can cancel your registration and withdraw from the course without liability to the University for future tuition fees and you will be entitled to a refund of all course fees paid to date. We will provide reasonable support to assist you with transferring to another university if you wish to do so.

When you enrol as a student of the University, your study and time with us will be governed by a framework of regulations, policies and procedures, which form the basis of your agreement with us. These include regulations regarding the assessment of your course, academic integrity, your conduct (including attendance) and disciplinary procedure, fees and finance and compliance with visa requirements (where relevant). It is important that you familiarise yourself with these as you will be asked to agree to abide by them when you join us as a student. You will find a guide to the key terms here, along with the Student Protection Plan, where you will also find links to the full text of each of the regulations, policies and procedures referred to. You should read these carefully before you enrol. Please note that this information is subject to change and you are advised to check our website regularly for any changes before you enrol at the University. A person who is not party to this agreement shall not have any rights under or in connection with it. Only you and the University shall have any right to enforce or rely on the agreement.

The Office for Students (OfS) is the principal regulator for the University.

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