Tourism and Heritage Management, MSc

About Tourism and Heritage Management, MSc - at Heriot-Watt University

MSc Tourism and Heritage Management develops specialised knowledge in the field of cultural heritage and resource management to open up a number of rewarding career opportunities:

• Managerial positions with museums, archives or heritage sites.
• Roles within Local, Regional and National Public Policy departments relating to culture and heritage issues.
• Positions in third-sector organisations such as Visit Scotland and equivalent cultural organisations and NGOs.
• Management positions with tourist sites and tourism / travel organisations.

Embracing a global outlook in its content, this programme capitalises on the thriving heritage industry and international cultural links of Edinburgh: a world-renowned 'festival city' and UNESCO World Heritage Site.

MSc Tourism and Heritage Management will teach you how to apply key theoretical concepts from heritage studies, intercultural studies and business management to heritage resources of cultural significance or interest to visitors. This will put you in the position to implement successful business strategies which support sustainable development of heritage resources by remaining sensitive to the latest professional codes of caring for both tangible and intangible heritage. You will gain key skills in:

• Heritage processes
• Project management
• Visitor Attraction Operations
• Business Development
• Visitor Experience Management

The programme also offers a variety of complimentary optional courses which allow you to tailor your studies to meet your particular interests.   Gaining expertise in issues such as cross-cultural hospitality, marketing, customer analysis or PR and communication will equip you with the ability to successfully design, deliver and manage memorable heritage experiences.

Much of the course content is sourced directly from the world-class research and academic expertise of Heriot-Watt's Intercultural Research Centre.  You will study with leading researchers to increase your understanding of complex heritage and intercultural issues with particular focus on themes such as tourism, gender, religion and language. You will gain new perspectives on how these factors impact on the management, promotion and perception of organisations within the arts, heritage, events and tourism industries.

This programme offers you the exciting opportunity to adapt your study to the industries and geographical markets of greatest interest and relevance to you. With a diverse cohort of students, this programme will see you interacting with colleagues from different parts of the world. Our tailored, international focus, sensitive to cultural differences, will ensure that you're well positioned to pursue cultural, heritage and tourism management jobs and opportunities globally.

Edinburgh: a thriving centre of cultural tourism

A city with a wealth of architectural heritage including museums, monuments and historic houses, Edinburgh was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site thanks to the 'exceptional historic and architectural interest' of its New Town and Old Town.

Tourism and Heritage Management is delivered at our Edinburgh Campus just outside the historic city which itself offers a fascinating case study into the potential and challenges of managing a complex heritage resource.

Edinburgh is regularly voted as one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world and it boasts a global reputation as 'The Festival City' thanks to annual cultural highlights including: the Edinburgh International Film Festival, the Edinburgh International Book Festival, the Edinburgh Art Festival and the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. During your programme you will also have the opportunity to discuss other festivals such as Beltane of Up Helly Aa and other international celebrations of heritage.

Scotland as a whole was selected by RoughGuides.com as the Number 2 country in the world to visit in 2017, following a year where employment in its tourism industry grew by 11% (Office for National Statistics).

Links to industry and heritage bodies

The teaching and research staff of Heriot-Watt University's Intercultural Research Centre have close links to industry-leading tourism and cultural heritage organisations including VisitBritain, National Trust for Scotland and Edinburgh World Heritage. Our relationship with these established organisations and researchers in the heritage and tourism fields provide opportunities for inspiring guest lectures throughout the year that will inform your learning.

Go places with international opportunities

With campuses in Edinburgh, Dubai and Malaysia, we offer you the exciting opportunity to complete your dissertation project, or part of your studies, at any of our three Heriot-Watt locations which all benefit from their own thriving tourism industries.

Heriot-Watt University also has a series of partners in other European countries that allow students to conduct primary research for dissertation projects through the Erasmus + programme.

Guest lectures given throughout the year by leading academics and researchers from global universities and tourism managers add to the international and intercultural flavour of this programme. International placements and internships can also be arranged with partners in China or Europe through the Scottish Confucius Institute for Business and Communication and the Erasmus Programme.

Notes about fees for this course

Status*Full-timePart-timePer courseScotland / Non-UK EU£6,960£3,480£870England / Northern Ireland / Wales£6,960£3,480£870Overseas£15,120£7,560£1,890

* If you are unsure which category you fall in to, you should complete a fee status enquiry form, which allows us to assess your fees.

** Fee per course

Scholarships and bursaries

We aim to encourage well-qualified, ambitious students to study with us and we offer a wide variety of scholarships and bursaries to achieve this. Over £6 million worth of opportunities are available in fee and stipend scholarships, and more than 400 students benefit from this support.

View our full range of postgraduate taught scholarships.

Entry requirements

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