Hotel Management

Develop your career in the international hospitality industry

The Hotel Management programme at VUM is designed for students who wish to build professional knowledge, practical skills and an international outlook for careers in hospitality, tourism and service management. Students combine academic study with applied learning, practical training, international exposure and preparation for professional development in the hospitality and tourism sector.

Why choose Hotel Management at VUM?

Strong professional foundation: Students develop knowledge and skills in hospitality, tourism, management and related business areas, including hotel operations, service management, marketing, finance, human resources, entrepreneurship, business communication and information technologies.
Internationally oriented education: The programme is taught in English and prepares students for work in international hospitality, tourism and service environments.
Practical training and internship experience: Practical training is an important part of the programme and supports the development of professional skills and sector-specific experience.
British degree opportunity in Bulgaria: Eligible full-time students may study towards both an accredited Bulgarian degree from VUM and the British BA (Hons) International Hotel and Hospitality Management awarded by Cardiff Metropolitan University.
Career opportunities: The programme is suitable for students who wish to pursue careers in hotels, hotel chains, restaurants, tourism organisations, travel companies, event and service industries, or to develop their own entrepreneurial projects in the hospitality and tourism sector.

Key Facts

Programme	Hotel Management
Mode of study	Full-time
Language of instruction	English
Degree awarded by VUM	Professional Bachelor or Bachelor, depending on the selected study route
International award option	Cardiff Metropolitan University award available for eligible students in the final year
Cardiff Met final award	BA (Hons) International Hotel and Hospitality Management
Practical training	Practical internship after each year of study
Location	Varna University of Management, Bulgaria *

* For international students admitted in the 2026/2027 academic year, Year 1 is delivered at VUM’s Dobrich campus; subsequent years are delivered in Varna.

Intakes

Route	September Intake	February Intake
Professional Bachelor	3 years / 6 semesters	3.5 years / 6 semesters
Bachelor	4 years / 8 semesters	4.5 years / 8 semesters

* February-intake students complete the same number of semesters over a slightly longer calendar period, allowing their studies to align with the programme’s standard September progression cycle, including, where applicable, the final-year Cardiff Met top-up route.

Programme Details

Curriculum

Select Degree route and year of intake

Professional Bachelor – 6 semesters	Bachelor – 8 semesters
Intake 2026-27	Intake 2026-27
Intake 2025-26	Intake 2025-26
Intake 2024-25	Intake 2024-25

* Curricula may vary depending on the year of admission. Applicants and students should consult the curriculum applicable to their intake. * Please note that elective modules and additional credit-bearing optional modules are subject to availability and student demand; therefore, not all such modules may be offered in every academic year. Additional optional modules may carry credits but do not count towards the required credits for the degree.

Admission Requirements

Admission to VUM is based on the applicant’s educational background, academic performance, motivation, English language proficiency and submission of the required application documents. The admission process is carried out in accordance with VUM’s admission rules and the applicable Bulgarian legislation. Additional requirements may apply depending on the applicant’s citizenship, educational background, chosen mode of study and, where applicable, progression to the Cardiff Met final-year option. Applicants with documents issued outside Bulgaria may also be required to complete recognition, legalisation and translation procedures.

View Admission Requirements and Application Steps

Tuition Fees, Scholarships and Student Loans

You can find detailed information about scholarship opportunities, semester tuition fees and student loans here.

Cardiff Met Degree - Key Information

The Cardiff Met top-up route is delivered at VUM in Bulgaria in the final year and is subject to meeting the applicable academic, English language, administrative and assessment requirements of both institutions. How the Cardiff Met Top-up Route Works The Cardiff Met option is available only in the final year of the full-time programme:

in Year 3 for students following the Professional Bachelor route;
in Year 4 for students following the Bachelor route.

During the earlier years of study, students are enrolled at VUM and follow the VUM curriculum. Students may be considered for registration with Cardiff Metropolitan University in the final year only after they have successfully completed the required VUM studies and met the applicable academic, English language and progression requirements. Admission Policy and Procedures for Cardiff Met Programmes at VUM Final Award The Cardiff Met top-up route follows Cardiff Metropolitan University’s model for modular degrees. To receive an honours degree, students must successfully complete a total of 360 British credit points. As this is a one-year top-up route, students who have successfully completed the required VUM curriculum for the earlier years of study are normally recognised for 240 British credit points through Cardiff Met’s applicable Accreditation of Prior Learning procedures. They then complete the final-year Cardiff Met modules delivered at VUM, corresponding to 120 British credit points. The final-year Cardiff Met modules include:

Module	British Credit Points
Critical Hospitality	20
Strategic Leadership and Change Management	20
Sustainable Hotel and Hospitality Management in a Changing World	20
Marketing Communications in the Digital Age	20
Dissertation or Enterprise Project	40
Total final-year credit points	120
Final Award: BA (Hons) International Hotel and Hospitality Management

* Disclaimer: Programme structures, modules and requirements may change due to academic, regulatory, validation-related or operational reasons. VUM makes every effort to keep website information accurate and up to date; however, applicants are advised to request the latest programme information during the application process.

Student Mobility

VUM students have opportunities to take part in international mobility for study or traineeships. Students may spend a semester or academic year at one of VUM’s partner universities or complete traineeships with partner employers abroad, where applicable and subject to Erasmus+ rules and selection procedures.

VUM works with more than 100 partner universities in over 20 countries and has long-standing partnerships with nearly 200 employers across Europe. For full-time students, traineeships are an important part of the study experience and are recognised towards the degree. Within the full educational cycle, students may take part in outgoing mobilities with a combined duration of up to 12 months.

You can find detailed information about Erasmus+ study and traineeship opportunities here

Career Development

The Hotel Management programme is designed to support students’ professional development and preparation for careers in hospitality, tourism and related service industries.

Graduates of the programme may pursue careers in areas such as:

hotels and hotel chains;
restaurants and hospitality groups;
tourism organisations;
travel agencies and tour operators;
event and service industries;
logistics and service companies;
public or international organisations related to tourism and hospitality;
entrepreneurship and family business development.

Typical professional roles may include hotel manager, front office manager, food and beverage manager, guest relations manager, tourism specialist, sales and marketing specialist, events coordinator, operations coordinator or entrepreneur in the hospitality and tourism sector.