Short Course: Contemporary issues in Tourism and Hospitality
About
Tourism and hospitality operate within a wider macro and policy environment which in turn influences and shapes how both have developed and are relevant in contemporary society.
The purpose of the module is to showcase a number of issues that have relevance for tourism and hospitality, respectively where their relevance may be theoretical and conceptual or applied and industry-specific.
Issues reflect the era in which they emerge and so the module allows for a wider examination of issues that have contemporary relevance, acknowledging that some will have long-term relevance and others may be very time limited. The essential aims of the module are to equip students with the ability to address and critique issues that are of relevance to both tourism and hospitality, respectively.
The module aims to instil in students an understanding of the how issues can help further develop scholarly debate and expand on fields of knowledge or have practical application and be of operational value.
Delivery format
- Teaching will be delivered face-to-face on the Belfast campus.
- This course is taught on a 3 day 'block' basis (usually Wed-Fri 9-5).
- The block structure will comprise of lectures, seminars, tutorials, case studies, workshops, as an integral part of the three-day block, and, where appropriate, guest lectures.
- The module is assessed 100% through coursework to include written essays and a presentation.
Campus
Belfast
Term Dates
Start Date: 11 February 2026
This course requires on-campus attendance, at our Belfast campus, during Semester 2 in 2026 and is timetabled for the following days:
- Wednesday 11 February 2026, 09:00am - 5:00pm
- Thursday 12 February 2026, 09:00am - 5:00pm
- Friday 13 February 2026, 09:00am - 5:00pm
You will also attend a support ‘learning set’ on either dates below :
- Wednesday 18 February 2026
- Wednesday 25 February 2026
Career Options
Roles associated with this sector include working for hotels, national tourist organisations, airlines, visitor attractions, tour operators, event venues, ferry/cruise companies, airport operations and hospitality management.
Whether you are currently working in the industry and want to progress your career to management level or are a recent graduate who wants to enter the sector for the first time the knowledge and skills learned will equip you for working in a diverse range of job roles.
Academic Profile
The course is taught by experience academics from Ulster Business School. Professor Stephen Boyd, Dr Peter Bolan, Mrs Frances Devine and Mr Simon Russell
Further Information
Modules
This is a 20 credit module short course.
The content of this module will have to be flexible given that over time issues impacting on tourism and hospitality will change where some will take on greater or lesser importance.
Issues that will be initially covered but which will change over the revalidation period include:
- Intercultural issues in the tourism and hospitality sectors
- Opportunities that the creative industries offer tourism and hospitality
- Rising importance of food and drink both as part of tourist experience but also as a critical aspect of hospitality provision
- The resilience and adaptive capacity of tourism and hospitality within conflict-ridden destinations
- Challenges in shifting toward tourism and hospitality that embrace slow principles with focus on heritage cuisines
Entry requirements
You should hold a Second-Class Honours Degree or better OR have significant managerial / business experience.
Eligibility
Places are limited and open to applicants who:
- are 18 or over at the point of enrolment;
- have a right to work and undertake training in the UK at the point of application and for the duration of the course and must not be disqualified from doing either by reason of their immigration status. Proof of this will be required to progress your application. Prove your right to work to an employer: Overview - GOV.UK
- meet the course specific entry requirements. See course pages for requirements.
- meet the Ulster University general entry requirements including competency in English (as evidenced by GCSE Grade C in English or alternative). For English competency, a degree taught in UK or Ireland covers this requirement. If your degree is from outside the UK or Ireland, please see our list of acceptable qualifications or tests.
- are available to register in person at the campus as required.
Apply now - limited places available
There are a limited number of places for this course. Offers will be extended to those applicants who meet the entry requirements following successful completion of the application process, and have provided evidence of such, on a first come, first served basis. Applications will no longer be accepted or processed once all offers are extended. Applications will no longer be accepted or processed once all places are filled. Applications cannot be considered once a course has started.
Please note you can only be funded by DfE for a maximum of two courses at any one time across all institutions who offer courses as part of SkillUp. You will only be permitted to study one course at Ulster in each academic year or a maximum of two microcredentials up to 45 credits per semester.
When creating your application you will need to have the following documents saved electronically as they need to be uploaded as part of the application process:
- Passport
- Evidence of having right to work and undertake training in the UK*
- Degree Certificate
- English Competency (If you have a degree from UK/ROI, you don't need to provide anything else)
* Holders of UK or Irish passports automatically have this right. if you hold a passport from another nation, please provide evidence of UK immigration permissions to include a ShareCode and/or BRP.
To select the correct course, in the field called Please select the subject area, select Hospitality and Tourism from the drop down box. Then select Contemporary Issues in Tourism and Hospitality from the next drop down box.
