International Study Centre

Surrey students walking outside on campus

Study hospitality and tourism in the UK

What is hospitality and tourism?

Hospitality and tourism is the industry which centres on travel, dining, entertainment and customer services. It includes areas such as lifestyle, travel, food and culture. You will learn how international tourism works, how it is a large contributor to economies globally, the sustainability of tourism and detailed topics such as customer demand and the supply chain.

Studying hospitality and tourism at university will equip you with the knowledge and skills required to succeed in your career. As one of the world’s most popular industries, it will cover a wide variety of topics within the subject.

Some of the industries hospitality and tourism covers include:

  • Hotels and resorts
  • Airlines, cruises and other transportation
  • Leisure and sports
  • Restaurants and catering
  • Tourist destinations

5 reasons to study hospitality and tourism?

There are many benefits to studying hospitality and tourism:

1. A limitless industry

Hospitality and tourism industries are constantly growing, responding to market shifts with modern advances. There is plenty of scope for careers which means you will never be limited when searching for work opportunities.

2. Desirable transferable skills

Studying hospitality and tourism will provide you will crucial skills that will help you have a successful career in a variety of industries. It will also encompass the learning of key business skills. Some of the transferable skills you will develop include: teamwork, communication and time management.

3. Opportunities to travel

Whether you decide to pursue a career in hotels, attractions, catering or any other hospitality and tourism industry, there are jobs you can follow across the globe.

4. . No day is the same

Whatever industry you work in, a variety of tourism jobs require you to be creative and think on your feet. There will typically be very few dull moments with everyday offering something new.

5. Be part of an exciting and developing industry

Hospitality is a sector that is constantly growing and transforming through the use of digital technology. You can be part of an exciting industry that is changing how we choose, buy and share our hospitality and travel experiences.

Why study hospitality and tourism at the University of Surrey?

Studying a degree in hospitality and tourism at the University of Surrey means you will be based in the School of Hospitality and Tourism Management. You will have the chance to develop the knowledge and skills needed to begin your career at a university with an international outlook and globally-renowned for excellence in the field.

Undergraduate hospitality and tourism courses at Surrey offer the chance to gain real-world experience through the Professional Training Year programme. You will apply your academic knowledge in a working environment that will help you develop the professional skills that make you a desirable employee. There is a range of partners you could do a Professional Training placement with, including:

  • Four Seasons Hotel
  • Hilton Worldwide
  • TUI UK & Ireland
  • Travelopia
  • The Hospitality Company.

Degree options at the University of Surrey

Discover the hospitality and tourism degrees you can study at Surrey after studying the relevant programme at the International Study Centre:

  • International Hospitality Management BSc (Hons)
  • International Hospitality and Tourism Management BSc (Hons)
  • International Hotel Management MSc
  • International Tourism Management MSc

Hospitality and tourism rankings

1st in the UK and 14th in the World for Hospitality and Tourism
(QS World University Rankings by Subject 2022)

1st in the UK and 3rd in the World for Hospitality and Tourism Management (Shanghai Global Ranking of Academic Subjects 2021)

4th for Hospitality, Leisure, Recreation and Tourism (The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2022) 

Top 10 in the UK for Tourism, Transport, Travel and Heritage (Complete University Guide 2022)


Accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)

Degree preparation at the International Study Centre

At the University of Surrey International Study Centre, we offer programmes that will prepare you for a variety of undergraduate or postgraduate hospitality and tourism degrees at Surrey. Our pathway programmes will give you the academic and English language skills needed to succeed at university. You will cover a range of modules, including subject-specific modules related to your chosen progression degree. You will develop key knowledge of hospitality and tourism as well as the skills you need to be successful in your desired career.

Surrey students reading books

Business, Economics, Law and Social Sciences

A two-semester pathway to a wide range of undergraduate degrees in areas such as accounting, business management, law and politics. Find out what you will study and progression degrees.

Explore Business, Economics, Law and Social Sciences
Surrey students talking in library

Management, Finance, Hospitality and Tourism

Study this pathway leading to postgraduate degrees in Economics, Accounting and Finance, and Marketing Management.

Explore Management, Finance, Hospitality and Tourism

Careers with a hospitality and tourism degree

Thanks to being one of the industries demanding an ever-growing workforce, graduates of hospitality and tourism will have a variety of career paths they could follow. Some of the roles you could go on to work in include:

  • Marketing
  • Tour operations
  • Events programming
  • Management
  • Restaurant staff
  • Sports and leisure

Studying hospitality and tourism at Surrey