Tourism Studies

Entry requirements

Applicants typically require a first or upper second degree or equivalent with research components. You must demonstrate academic proficiency and a commitment to the core research themes of the School of Social & Environmental Sustainability.

Months of entry

Anytime

Course content

This programme is based at the School of Social & Environmental Sustainability, Dumfries Campus. Our staff are experts in tourism policy, planning and sustainable development. Our world-leading interdisciplinary research addresses the complexity of the tourism ecosystem and proposes sustainable, innovative and impactful solutions to its challenges.

Our Tourism Studies Research Group promotes research and debate about the contemporary challenges posed by the analysis of tourism as a socio-economic phenomenon. The ultimate goal of our work is to inform the sustainable practice of tourism management, through world-leading interdisciplinary research.

We are committed to the global effort towards sustainable and inclusive economic development. In a post-pandemic era, the recovery of the tourism sector is pivotal for a renewed prosperity based on communities’ wellbeing. Our research in tourism acknowledges the complexity of the current research agenda and the need to work at the boundaries of diverse disciplines to propose creative, innovative and impactful solutions.

The group encompasses a comprehensive range of expertise in tourism and beyond such as:

• tourism and regional development
• sustainable cultural tourism
• the geography and history of tourism
• tourism economics
• cultural economics
• tourism entrepreneurship
• philosophy
• heritage conservation
• architecture and planning

All research students have two supervisors, providing complementary expertise. You will receive training in Dumfries, as well as benefit from training opportunities in Glasgow in Research Design, Qualitative Methods, Quantitative Data Analysis, Introduction to Social Theory for Researchers, Applied Qualitative Methods, and Generalised Linear Models.

Opportunities for postgraduate funding are available through the Scottish Graduate School of Social Sciences and other grant funded programmes, and applications from self-funded students are also welcome.

Information for international students

International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic and Academic Online (not General Training)

• 7.0 overall with no subtest less than 6.5
• IELTS One Skill Retake Accepted
• Tests must have been taken within 2 years 5 months of start date. Applicants must meet the overall and subtest requirements using a single test.

Fees and funding

Fees are based on the annual fee for full-time study. Tuition fees for part-time study will be charged at half the full-time annual fee.

Irish nationals who are living in the Common Travel Area of the UK, EU nationals with settled or pre-settled status, and Internationals with Indefinite Leave to remain status can also qualify for home fee status.

Fee status and policies

Alumni discount

We offer a 20% discount to our alumni on all Postgraduate Research and full Postgraduate Taught Masters programmes. This includes University of Glasgow graduates and those who have completed a Study Abroad programme, Exchange programme, International Summer School or Erasmus programme with us. This discount can be awarded alongside most University scholarships. No additional application is required.

Possible additional fees

• Re-submission by a research student £540
• Submission for a higher degree by published work £1,355
• Submission of thesis after deadline lapsed £350
• Submission by staff in receipt of staff scholarship £790

Depending on the nature of the research project, some students will be expected to pay a bench fee (also known as research support costs) to cover additional costs. The exact amount will be provided in the offer letter.