Options with travel and tourism
A degree in travel and tourism provides you with an understanding of the wider social and economic issues related to these areas. The multi-disciplinary nature of the course means you develop strong business management and communication skills, enabling you to compete for work within the travel and tourism sector as well as in other career areas.
Travel and tourism graduates are able to demonstrate:
The course also provides you with a range of transferable skills, including:
A course in travel and tourism may also develop your entrepreneurial skills and language abilities.
Gain as much practical experience as possible. Part-time and voluntary opportunities can be combined with your current study. It may be a good idea to work evenings or weekends in a hotel, travel agency or visitor attraction. You could also consider summer work experience or spending time working abroad. This could include working at holiday or theme parks, in a resort or at summer camps abroad. You could also purchase a student railcard and travel through Europe, widening your cultural knowledge and language abilities.
You may be able to take part in an exchange programme, spending some time studying abroad towards your degree. Consider looking at relevant short courses, such as TESOL or TEFL, which may present opportunities to work abroad teaching English language skills.
Although some of the jobs listed here might not be first jobs for many graduates, they are among the many realistic possibilities with your degree, provided you can demonstrate you have the attributes employers are looking for. Bear in mind that it’s not just your degree discipline that determines your options. Remember that many graduate vacancies don't specify particular degree disciplines, so don't restrict your thinking to the jobs listed here. Look at your degree... what next? for informed advice on career planning and graduate employment, or login/register with My Prospects to find out what jobs would suit you, a helpful starting point for self-analysis.
Explore types of jobs to find out more about the above options and related jobs.
Just under 29,000 people work in the tourist services industry in the UK (People 1st).
A 2012 HESA survey of 2011 graduates indicates that six months after graduation, nearly 65% of graduates with travel and tourism degrees had entered paid work. Demonstrating the wide-ranging and complex nature of the industry, 16% of graduates were in commercial, industrial and public sector management (including hotel, travel and tourism management), 9% were in business and finance professions, 1% found work in art, design, culture and sport professions and almost 4% were working in marketing, sales and advertising.
Additionally, around 20% of travel and tourism graduates were working in clerical or secretarial jobs and 26% working in retail and catering. These numbers show students working to gain experience or using the first position as a 'stepping stone' within the industry.
Travel and tourism comprises many different industries and sub-industries. These include:
See industry insights for further information on possibilities in other employment areas.
For an insight into potential employment areas, see the hospitality, tourism and sport job sector.
For further information on possibilities in other employment areas, see job sectors.
Statistics are collected every year to show what HE students do immediately after graduation. These can be a useful guide but, in reality, because the data is collected within six months of graduation, many graduates are travelling, waiting to start a course, paying off debts, getting work experience or still deciding what they want to do. For further information about some of the areas of employment commonly entered by graduates of any degree discipline, check out What Do Graduates Do? and your degree...what next?
A 2011 HESA survey of 2010 graduates indicates that six months after graduation just over 4% of graduates with travel and tourism degrees had entered further study, with a further 4% combining work with further study.
Specific in-house training is likely to be available within the industry and is often encouraged to enhance promotion prospects and knowledge of particular issues.
Relevant postgraduate study in this field includes courses with an emphasis on management skills, particularly in areas such as hospitality, heritage and sustainability. Postgraduate courses in specialist areas such as ecotourism or rural development may also be helpful. General business topics such as marketing or human resources could also be relevant and can be applied across various disciplines.
These trends show only what previous graduates in your subject did immediately upon graduating. Over the course of their career - the first few years in particular - many others will opt for some form of further study, either part time or full time. If further study interests you, start by thinking about postgraduate study in the UK and search courses and research to identify your options.
For details relating to finance and the application process, look at funding my further study.
