Why should I choose a Master of International Hospitality and Tourism Management at VUM?
✔️ Varna University of Management (VUM) is one of the leading educational institutions with more than 20 years of tradition to train and develop leaders in the field of tourism and hospitality.
✔️ The language of instruction is English and students complete their education with two degrees. Upon successful graduation and meeting the requirements of our strategic academic partner Cardiff Metropolitan University, UK, along with their Bulgarian degree from VUM, they are awarded a British Degree MSc International Hospitality and Tourism Management.
✔️ The long-term efforts and work of VUM academic community have been internationally recognized and validated. From 2017 up to now, in terms of student mobility VUM was ranked 1st worldwide by the independent ranking system U-Multirank and in 2021 the International Hospitality and Tourism Management programme was ranked 14th worldwide by Eduniversal Best Masters ranking system.
General information
The courses are taught entirely in English. Classes are small and encourage crosscultural dialogue and personal connections. As a leading business school in Eastern Europe, VUM has the exceptional privilege to educate students from start to graduation in programmes leading to Cardiff Metropolitan University’s British degree. And this is without the usual requirement for students to spend a year in the UK. VUM students follow a synchronized curriculum with Cardiff Metropolitan University and have to meet the same high standards in learning and examinations.
Place of study
Varna
Language of instruction
English
Beginning of the learning process
October
Duration of training
3 - 4 semesters (depending on Bachelor’s field of science)
Detailed information about the possibilities for receiving a scholarship, the semester fees
At VUM, we offer short and clear steps for the admission of candidates who have decided to continue their education in the master's programs we offer. The main requirements for students are high motivation, good results from their bachelor's degree and a good level of English.
In the process of admission Varna University of Management strictly follows the rules and regulations of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Bulgaria.
Curriculum
The lectures are held on Thursdays and Fridays after 17:30 and Saturdays from 9:00 to 17:00. The program is made in a regular form, suitable for employees.
(Students follow 90 credits of core modules)
- Managing People and Markets across Cultures (10 ECTS)
- People, places and practice: contextualizing the T.H.E. Industries (10 ECTS)
- Research methods (10 ECTS)
- Exploring Hospitality and Tourism Landscapes (10 ECTS)
- Industry Project Management (10 ECTS)
- Dissertation (15 ECTS)
- Ethical Research Issues (5 ECTS)
- English for Academic Writing (10 ECTS)
- Internship (10 ECTS)
Only when the duration of study is 4 semesters, students take 3 out of 9 elective modules:
- Understanding the Behavioural Elements of Marketing: Knowing Your Consumer (10 ECTS)
- Revenue Management (10 ECTS)
- Digital Marketing in the Tourism Industry (10 ECTS)
- Management of Finance in T. H. E. Industries (10 ECTS)
- Market Segmentation and Positioning the Tourism (10 ECTS)
- Innovation Management in the Tourism (10 ECTS)
- Leadership and Change Management (10 ECTS)
- Accounting for Decision Makers (10 ECTS)
- Operations Management (10 ECTS)
*Note: Elective modules are subject to availability and demand; as such, not all elective modules may run in one Academic Year.
Optional modules* provide students with the opportunity to acquire knowledge and skills in various scientific fields. Optional modules are not related to the degree and they are not a compulsory component of the programme of study.
- Agrotourism (5 ECTS)
- Introduction to Agribusiness (5 ECTS)
- E- Business in the Agrarian Sector (5 ECTS)
- Crop Production (5 ECTS)
- Management Consulting in Agribusiness (5 ECTS)
- Computer Networks (5 ECTS)
- Business Applications (5 ECTS)
- Introduction to Multimedia Applications and Internet (5 ECTS)
- Robonomics (5 ECTS)
- Next foreign language (5 ECTS)
- Underwater Cultural Heritage (5 ECTS)
- Ethnology (5 ECTS)
- Folklore (5 ECTS)
- Marine Biology (5 ECTS)
*Note: Optional modules are subject to availability and demand; as such, not all optional modules may run in one Academic Year.
- Admissions Policy
All prospective students must satisfy Cardiff Metropolitan University’s admission requirements for students on Masters courses as specified in Cardiff Metropolitan University’s Academic Handbook: The normal minimum requirements for entry onto Master’s Degrees are:
- An initial degree awarded by another approved degree awarding body (2:2 or above); or
- A non-graduate qualification which is deemed to be of a satisfactory standard for the purpose of postgraduate admission
- Intake – September
- Language Requirements
For candidates whose first language is not English, such candidates are expected to have an acceptable IELTS score or equivalent if they have not undertaken their previous studies in the language. The IELTS score should be no lower than 6.0, with no sub score being lower than 5.5. For TOEFL. Applicants should have a minimum overall score of 72, which should be comprised of a minimum score of 20 in speaking, 17 in writing, 18 in reading and 17 in listening. - Curriculum, British credit points, Award
| Module Name | British credit points |
| Managing People & Markets across Cultures | 20 |
| Research Methods | 20 |
| People, Places and Practice: Contexualising the T.H.E Industries | 20 |
| Industry Project Management | 20 |
| Exploring Hospitality & Tourism Landscapes | 20 |
| Internship | 20 |
| Dissertation | 60 |
| Final Award – MSc International Hospitality & Tourism Management | 180 |
* Disclaimer: Programme and module changes could be triggered by a number of reasons; such as validation and revalidation, developments in the subject area, responsive changes in light of student feedback, changes to the academic staff, external requirements from regulators or accrediting bodies or updates in teaching and assessment methods.
We make every effort to ensure that information on this website relating to our degree Programmes is as accurate as possible, however, it is suggested that applicants request updated Programme information during their application process.
Career development
✔️ There are many benefits of obtaining IHTM degree at VUM and the most significant one is the great career opportunities for tourism and hospitality professionals.
✔️ VUM`s graduates become managers, leaders, and entrepreneurs within all the sectors of the hospitality and tourism industry in different parts of the world. By completing the IHTM program they are practically prepared for successful professional and career development in official tourist organizations, logistic companies and agencies, hotels and hotel chains, tour operating and travel agency companies, governmental and international institutions and organizations acting in the sphere of tourism management not only in Bulgaria but worldwide.
✔️ At VUM we prepare our IHTM master students for the highly competitive global labour market and provide them with practical advice and expertise. VUM maintains excellent contacts with business partners in Bulgaria, Europe, the USA, and more, thanks to which our graduates have the opportunity to spend up their practical training and to successfully start their career in various partner institutions and organizations all over the world.
